Orthodox and Catholic Icons: The Complete Buyer's Guide

Buying a religious icon is different from buying almost anything else. An icon is not decoration that happens to be religious — it is a devotional object, often given for a baptism, a first Holy Communion, a wedding or a name day, and often kept for a lifetime. This guide explains what icons are, how they are made, what sizes and prices to expect, and how to choose one that will still mean something in twenty years.

What exactly is an icon?

An icon (from the Greek eikōn, "image") is a religious image painted or printed on wood, used in prayer and veneration — not worship. Icons have been part of Christian practice since the first centuries, were formally defended during the iconoclasm controversy, and remain central to Orthodox and Eastern Catholic devotion. Today they are also widely used by Roman Catholic and Protestant families as aids to prayer and as religious art.

Icons are not portraits. They are theological statements: colours, gestures, garments and inscriptions all carry meaning. That is why a serious icon of Christ, of the Virgin Mary or of a saint follows a canon rather than an artist's imagination.

How our icons are made

Every icon in our collection is produced in Poland. The image is printed directly onto a solid alder wood board, and the surface is then finished by hand with genuine gold leaf, which gives each piece its characteristic luminous halo. Because the gilding is applied by hand, no two icons are identical.

This technique sits between two extremes. It is not a mass-produced paper print, and it is not a fully hand-painted icon that would cost several hundred euros. It is the option most families actually choose: an icon with real wood, real gold accents and a genuine devotional presence at a price that makes it possible to give one as a gift.

You can read more about our workshop on the About Us page.

Icon sizes and prices: what to expect

Most icons in our collection are available in several sizes, from small icons suitable for a bedside table or a small prayer corner up to large formats for a chapel or a church. Because the price follows the size, the same subject is usually available at several price points — from around 48 USD for the smallest format upwards.

• Small icons (approx. 10 x 14 cm / 4 x 5.5 in) — bedside tables, desks, travel, small gifts.
• Standard icons (approx. 15 x 30 cm / 6 x 12 in) — the classic home icon, wall-mounted or standing.
• Large icons (approx. 20 x 25 cm and above) — family prayer corners, larger rooms, statement pieces.
• Cathedral formats — made to order for churches and chapels.

Prices on each product page reflect the size you select, so you always see the exact price of the icon you are ordering.

How to choose an icon

1. Start with the subject

The subject matters more than anything else. An icon of a patron saint connects a person with their name saint. An icon of the Virgin Mary or of Christ belongs in the prayer corner. Guardian angel icons are the most common baptism gift. If you are choosing for someone else, the name day or the saint the person was named after is the safest starting point — our Saint Icons A-Z index lists every saint we carry.

2. Choose the size for the place

Measure the wall or shelf before you order. A small icon disappears in a large room, and an oversized icon can overwhelm a bedroom. If the icon is a gift, the standard format is almost always the right answer.

3. Choose a feast or a place

Many of the most loved icons are tied to a place or an apparition — Our Lady of Fatima, Lourdes, Walsingham or the Black Madonna — which makes them especially meaningful for families with a connection to that devotion.

4. Think about how it will be displayed

Wooden icons can be hung on a wall or placed on a stand. If the icon will stand, order it in a larger size so it is stable, and keep it away from direct sunlight and radiators.

Can Catholics use Orthodox icons?

Yes. The icon tradition is shared: the first icons were created long before the East-West schism, and the Second Council of Nicaea (787), which defended the veneration of icons, is recognised by the Catholic Church. Roman Catholics venerate icons in the same way they venerate statues and religious paintings — as images that point beyond themselves. Catholic households commonly use icons of Christ, of the Virgin Mary and of the saints; the difference between an "Orthodox" and a "Catholic" icon is usually in style and in the choice of subject, not in doctrine.

How much does an icon cost?

Prices depend on how the icon is made and how large it is. Printed paper images are inexpensive; fully hand-painted icons by a trained iconographer start at several hundred dollars and rise quickly with size. Hand-finished wooden icons with gold leaf — the type we make — sit in the middle, typically from around 48 USD for the smallest sizes.

As a rule of thumb, buy the largest icon your budget and your wall can comfortably accommodate: an icon is not replaced every few years, and larger formats read better from a distance in a prayer corner.

Where to buy icons online

When buying an icon online, check three things: whether the wood and the finish are described honestly, whether the sizes are stated in centimetres and inches, and whether the shop ships internationally with tracking. Our icons are shipped worldwide from Poland — see delivery and shipping information for details, times and costs.

Browse our collections:

• Icons of Jesus Christ — Pantocrator, the Good Shepherd, the Sacred Heart, gospel scenes.
• Icons of the Virgin Mary — the Theotokos, the Black Madonna, Fatima, Lourdes, Walsingham.
• Icons of the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
• Icons of Guardian Angels — the classic baptism and first Communion gift.
• Icons of the Archangels — Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
• Icons of Saints and Blesseds — more than 400 saints, from the apostles to the modern blesseds.
• Icons of the Holy Cross and crosses for the home.

How to care for a hand-finished icon

Keep the icon out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources: the gold finish and the wood both dislike rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Dust it with a soft, dry cloth — never use water, alcohol or household cleaners on the gilded surface. If the icon is displayed in a church or a chapel, ask us about larger formats and finishes.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to buy Orthodox icons?

Buy from a maker who describes the materials and the technique honestly and who ships with tracking. Buying directly from a workshop in a country with a long icon tradition — Poland, Greece, Romania or Russia — usually gives better value than buying imported icons from a general gift shop.

Are your icons hand-painted?

No — and we say so plainly. Our icons are printed on a solid alder wood board and then finished by hand with genuine gold leaf. Fully hand-painted icons are a different product at a very different price.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. We ship from Poland to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and further afield. See delivery and shipping.

Can I order a larger or custom size?

Yes. Larger and cathedral formats, as well as icons prepared without the saint's name, can be ordered on request — contact us with the subject and the size you need.

What is the best icon for a baptism gift?

A guardian angel icon or an icon of the child's patron saint. Both are available in small formats with gift-ready presentation, and both are meaningful for the whole life of the child.