What incense or blend do you use?

[gtsecc]

I have posted this in 3 Forums:
One Bread, One Body – Catholic
The Ancient Way - Orthodox
Scripture, Tradition, Reason – Anglican



What incense or blend do you use?
Where do you buy it?
Where can I buy it online?

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

I actually don't use incense in my personal prayer time (but many Orthodox do), but you can order it here: www.easternchristian.com (http://www.easternchristian.com).

[countrymousenc]

There's also a nice selection here: http://www.holycross-hermitage.com/

My favorite is Blachernae Rose. The charcoal is a bit less expensive at Light and Life Publishing.

[Matrona]

I have posted this in 3 Forums:
One Bread, One Body – Catholic
The Ancient Way - Orthodox
Scripture, Tradition, Reason – Anglican



What incense or blend do you use?
Where do you buy it?
Where can I buy it online?
http://orthodoxproducts.com/

I recommend starting out with regular frankincense since it is much less expensive than other kinds and it smells wonderful. You will need to get charcoal, too, and a censer, which you can get from Ascension as well. Let us know if you need any help. Charcoal incense can be a bit tricky to use.

[gtsecc]

I know my church uses one called "Charisma."
Is that a well known brand?

[Reader Nilus]

Our parish gets its incense from Holoviak's Church Supply (http://holoviak.com/acatalog/Holoviaks_Incense_58.html), Tsaritsa is great although not cheap.
Jeff the Finn

[gtsecc]

Our parish gets its incense from Holoviak's Church Supply (http://holoviak.com/acatalog/Holoviaks_Incense_58.html), Tsaritsa is great although not cheap.
Jeff the Finn

Yeah! They carry Byzantium, which we also use.

[Reader Nilus]

http://orthodoxproducts.com/

I recommend starting out with regular frankincense since it is much less expensive than other kinds and it smells wonderful. You will need to get charcoal, too, and a censer, which you can get from Ascension as well. Let us know if you need any help. Charcoal incense can be a bit tricky to use.Frankincense reeks, if one is going to use incense one should use something that smells nice.
Jeff the Finn

[Matrona]

Frankincense reeks, if one is going to use incense one should use something that smells nice.
Jeff the Finn
Well, Jeff, thank you for insulting the incense I use, but the kind I buy from Ascension Monastery smells heavenly and doesn't break my budget. Not all of us can afford to buy incense that costs forty dollars a pound, for crying out loud.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Frankincense reeks, if one is going to use incense one should use something that smells nice.
Jeff the Finn

I am glad God doesnt feel that way, or he might reject the Frankincense and Myrhh which I burn when writing icons!

[Michael the Iconographer]

Next thing I know it you are going to tell me the incense cones which I burn when doing morning prayers in my prayer corner-and they are the perfect size to burn for personal prayers-are not incense enough to burn there?

[CyberSponge]

so is there a standard type of incense that's used at church? everyone refers to it as incense, but there are so many types (not to mention blends) of incense.

Also, if there is a standard (official, or de facto), what is the reason for that particular incense?

Thanks!

[xenia]

There is a type of incense called Gloria Incense that I really like.

[gtsecc]

As far as I know, there is no standard. I am Anglican, but I am almost certain there is no standard for any Christian denomination.

[Michael the Iconographer]

There is a type of incense called Gloria Incense that I really like.

I just bought a pound of Gloria Incense on Friday when Matrona and I went to an Orthodox Bookstore in Columbia called Unexpected Joy. If anyone ever is in that area you should stop in there. The shop keeper is this very friendly guy and it is good to support Orthodox shoppes like this.

[Michael the Iconographer]

so is there a standard type of incense that's used at church? everyone refers to it as incense, but there are so many types (not to mention blends) of incense.

Also, if there is a standard (official, or de facto), what is the reason for that particular incense?

Thanks!

Incense is a general word, which also includes frankincense and myrh. There is no standard brand or scent of incense, but I am sure there are some which are more popular with churches for church use.

[Photini]

I purchase my incense from a monastery. I don't know if you can order it or not. The nuns there make it. www.holyannunciation.org (http://www.holyannunciation.org)

[Suzannah]

Ours comes from Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline. The Lily of the Valley is my favorite.

And it's not too expensive.
:)

[Reader Nilus]

Ours comes from Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline. The Lily of the Valley is my favorite.

And it's not too expensive.
:)Also from Holy Transfiguration Monastery is SINAI which is very expensive, $80 a pound, which our parish only uses during Pascha and Bright Week because it is so expensive. But is good, the best around IMHO. As a lead Altar Server I get to smell incense and we are burning far more in a parish than one would at home. I do not like the smell of Frankincense, we only use it during Great and Holy Lent. But it is one of personal taste.
Jeff the Finn

[Matrona]

I just bought a pound of Gloria Incense on Friday when Matrona and I went to an Orthodox Bookstore in Columbia called Unexpected Joy. If anyone ever is in that area you should stop in there. The shop keeper is this very friendly guy and it is good to support Orthodox shoppes like this.
That's right. If any of you are ever around Columbia, The Unexpected Joy Orthodox Bookshop is at 942 1/2 Harden St., in Five Points, very close to the campus of the University of South Carolina. The man who runs it is very kind and prayerful. It's tiny but it's really neat.

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

That's right. If any of you are ever around Columbia, The Unexpected Joy Orthodox Bookshop is at 942 1/2 Harden St., in Five Points, very close to the campus of the University of South Carolina. The man who runs it is very kind and prayerful. It's tiny but it's really neat.
I would give anything if my area had some sort of Orthodox supply/book store! I've never even heard of them, other than just the online ones. I'd like to actually get to look at what I'm buying.

Do you guys just burn the incense during prayer? Do you have to bury the ashes left over?

[Reader Nilus]

Weird I had to post to get to page 3 of the thread.
Jeff the Finn

[Akathist]

I buy my incense from church. I don't know what kind it is. The Priest buys it in bulk and packages it into zip lock baggies for only $2 each. I haven't used up the baggie I bought yet but it appears to have three or four weeks worth at the rate I use it.

I burn it in the morning and in the evening. I asked Fr. about what to do with the ashes and he said to just throw them away as they are not sacred in and of themselves.

I tend to burn only one or if small, two "rocks" of incense each time. They don't last throughout the entire prayer time though. Some times I use more, but only one or two at a time and I add more with a little metal bookmark I have that has a dove on it. Fr. suggested adding it with tweezers but I find this book mark works better at this then as a book mark. I also use the book mark to scrape the ashes as needed.

I burn my insense in this vigil lamp/incense burner thingy. It has a vigil lamp that is the size of a voltive candle holder and the incense part of it is a little boul with three "leggs" that rest along the edges of the voltive holder.

[xenia]

Whenever I visit a new church or monastery or EO shop I make it a point to buy some incense from them.

[vlinder]

To Life Immortal

I get incense from the same place I get my clothes. It's a little Indian/Pakistani shop in the Orthodox Muslim neighbourhood I live near. I like their insence because they have more variety and better quality than other stores. I got a tube of cinnamon, orange, frankincense and myrrh. 4 seperate boxes $6 all together. When I find a good online Orthodox store, I'll buy incense and jewellry from them. :holy:

I'm in the process of changing my altars to a proper Orthodox one. I had 2 altars in the house as a Pagan and I'm renovating them now. It's about time. :crosseo:

Peace and Long Life
~*~ Balafenn ~*~

[Matrona]

I always flush my ashes down the toilet. That way if there is still a spark in them it won't set a wastebasket on fire, it's put out immediately when it hits the water.

[countrymousenc]

I've been keeping the ashes to give to my sons (in a nice container) when they move away from home, to help them remember that I'm praying for them. Eventually I'll have more ashes than needed... maybe they'd be good around the rose bushes?

[Marjorie]

I've been keeping the ashes to give to my sons (in a nice container) when they move away from home, to help them remember that I'm praying for them.What a sweet idea!!!

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[Suzannah]

Weird I had to post to get to page 3 of the thread.
Jeff the Finn

Sorry Jeff,

that's a bug within the coding of CF that rarely raises its head, but when it does, it's a bear...
:(

[xenia]

I had 2 altars in the house as a Pagan and I'm renovating them now. It's about time.

Better throw some holy water on them!

Love, Xenia

[gtsecc]

I ordered some from Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Boston, Massachusetts:

http://htmadmin.phpwebhosting.com/incense.htm (http://htmadmin.phpwebhosting.com/incense.htm)



They have around 50 different scents, and I could buy in small 2ounce boxes. I ordered Bethleham, Tsaritsa, Byzantium, Gethsemane, and a rose scent not listed on the page. The monk I talked to by telephone was really friendly and helpful.

[Eusebios]

Unfortunately, I usually use a cheap Frankincense that I buy from a local Greek/Italian grocery. (they also carry charcoal and some icons) I agree with JTF, it can be quite pungent at times, though I believe it to be a reflection on the quality of the incense and not the type. I actually love a good Frankincense, and have some essential oils that are a frankincense/mhyr blend that are absolutely beautiful. I've been thinking about getting some better incesnse at the large Greek parish in town, just too cheap I guess! :sorry:
In Xp,
Eusebios.
:bow: