They broke the icon, what should I do? The meaning of the icon for a person. If the image crashes frequently
It is known that if an icon falls, this is certainly a bad omen. There are many signs and ancient traditions that are associated with images of saints. For example, the question of whether it is possible to give an icon cannot be answered unambiguously; the found image of a saint is also a rather contradictory sign.
In the article:
An icon fell - a sign
If an icon has fallen in your house, or even worse - images of saints are constantly falling, this is a bad omen. First you should pick her up, kiss her and put her back in the place where she was before she fell. And after that, think about why the icon fell, because this sign has more than one meaning. 
A fallen icon may indicate the presence of evil spirits in the house. Sometimes icons fall in houses where a very good man lives, who, although considered a kind creature, is still in a difficult relationship with the church. If you think that evil spirits might have taken up residence in you, then go to the premises. You can read about ways to expel from an apartment what should not be there on our website.
Occasionally, paintings are damaged when dropped - severely scratched or broken. If this is the image of the Mother of God, it means that you will experience the loss or serious illness of a loved one or relative. If an icon of the Savior or one of the saints breaks, this foreshadows the death or serious illness of someone among distant relatives.
Sometimes consecrated objects fall to warn you of some trials or that you are making a mistake or behaving incorrectly.
All the signs about fallen icons are true if it fell on its own, that is, it was not pushed by a pet or someone in the household.
After the fall of the icon, it is advisable to go to church, talk to the priest, and confess. Prayers to the saint depicted on it are obligatory. You can order a prayer service for him. Blessing a fallen object in a church is also a good measure. If you think that these are the consequences of your mistake or bad deed, correct what you did.
Is it possible to give icons and signs?
There are several rules that should be followed. For example, personalized icons are usually given for birthdays. A sick person is presented with images of saints who... If you are going to give a gift to a business partner, boss or colleague, choose an image of a saint who helps in business. In any case, a good option would be the patron of a person’s profession or favorite activity. There are also family images; they are given if the gift is intended for the whole family and not just one person.
Icons are required to be given to newlyweds for a wedding, but only parents or other close relatives should do this. The bride is given the image of the Virgin Mary, and the groom is given the image of Jesus Christ. They must be beautiful, expensive, and have high-quality salaries. The fact is that images of poor quality are rarely displayed, and this is not good; you should not hide the faces of saints in the closet.
There is an opinion that girls should be given images of female saints, and men - male ones.
Finding an icon on the street is a sign
Finding an icon somewhere on the street is a very contradictory sign. We have heard the fears of our ancestors about things picked up on the street and especially near intersections. It is believed that they are damaged by damage and other negativity. Any thing that lies on the ground could be used in the ritual. As a rule, people don’t just throw things away.
Possible reasons for the previous owner's desire to get rid of the icon are atonement for a mortal sin, magical treatment of a fatal illness, or the finding of this image over a dead person. Not everyone knows that after such manipulations the image should be taken to the temple. Of course, you should never take such negativity home.
But still, the icon is a holy symbol, and it is not allowed to pass by it. At the same time, in the past it was believed that finding an icon was a good omen. It means the support of higher powers, a certain sign from above of a positive nature. Therefore, if you do not take away the ownerless icon lying on the ground, you may lose divine support.
But still, it is not recommended to immediately bring the find into the house. It is known that any icon must be consecrated in the church. If you find it, take it to the church and ask to be blessed. Some do not even take the found icons into the house because of superstitions and leave them in the temple. But after consecration, you can not be afraid of negative consequences and take into your home what is most likely intended just for you. After consecration, all the negativity that was placed on the icon will disappear without a trace.
Other signs about icons
An incorrect attitude towards icons can not only not help, but even incur the wrath of the Almighty on you. Few people know how to properly handle these objects of Orthodox cult.
The main rule is that you cannot pray to an image that has not been consecrated in the temple. If you don’t know whether special prayers were read over it by the priest in the church, then you should take the icon to be consecrated. If you decide to embroider or draw an image of a saint for yourself, it should also be subjected to this procedure.
You can't burn icons. There are many stories among people about communists who took them away from people and burned them in the same oven that was in the house. This can lead to bad consequences and even death.
There is no point in hanging images of saints on the wall. This is due to the method that Judas chose for his suicide. They are placed, not hung, it is disrespectful.
It was forbidden to swear or spit in front of them; they believed that this would lead to death. It's really not a good idea to behave indecently in a room where there are images of saints. If you are planning a party or noisy feast in such a room, move them temporarily or cover them with a cloth.
Icons crack before someone in the family dies. This is a warning; you should take a closer look at the well-being of your loved ones. Its consequences can be avoided if you introduce fasting and regularly read sincere prayers. How long to fast? Until the one that is going on at this time ends, or the next one, if there is no fast at the moment, or it is almost over.
An icon is not a simple object, and, of course, it is not an interior decoration.
Icons always stand in the homes of Christian believers; they are an obligatory attribute in the home of a religious or even just a baptized person.
Our ancestors considered it their duty to keep at least one image of a saint in their house, in a special place. And in our time it is difficult to find a house that does not have at least one icon.
This is a sacred attribute of faith, a very valuable and important thing that has a mystical connection with higher powers, protects the house and everyone living in it. And prayer in front of images can greatly alleviate suffering and bring happiness.
What signs are associated with the images? There are not many of them, and in general it is worth understanding that priests do not recommend believing in omens.
However, almost all people are superstitious to one degree or another, and if an icon in the house suddenly fell for no reason, or you suddenly happened to find it on the street, then it is always interesting to know what it is for.
Naturally, such events do not happen just like that, and thus higher powers send you a sign. It is not difficult to find the answer to what exactly this sign is, and what the signs say about this.
What to expect?
But there are some options, for example, if it suddenly fell in the house, by itself or by your accident, or you happened to lose the icon or find it right on the street. What's all this for?
1. Finding an icon is a good and kind omen. There are such small pocket icons that many people carry with them - for example, in a wallet, for protection.
And if someone has lost such an icon, and you happen to find it, this means that you need it. Consider that she herself found you, and will protect and protect you. It is this saint, who is depicted on the icon, who will be your patron and protector.
However, if you are lucky enough to find someone’s lost icon, do not rush to take it to your home. After all, this item stores a lot of information and carries the energy of the former owner. And who knows what the man prayed in front of her, what sins he atoned for, and in general, what he was thinking about.
So that the icon that you manage to find by chance does not bring trouble, but protects and takes care of it, you should immediately find a temple nearby and be sure to consecrate it in this temple. After this, you don't have to worry about anything.
2. If you have lost an icon, don’t worry. This may seem like a bad omen, but it really isn't. Superstition says that if you have lost the icon, it means that it has already done everything for you, as if it had completed its job, and has left you.
Don’t be upset, go to church, pray, and buy a new icon for yourself. It must be consecrated, and after that it will become a talisman and amulet for you.
If she fell, it means something bad portends. Don't panic or be afraid - everything will be fine. When icons fall, this is how higher powers warn you, indicate that you need to be more careful, perhaps even this is a hint that you have gone astray.
To prevent troubles and misfortunes, you need to carefully pick up the icon that has fallen, kiss the image of the saint and ask for forgiveness from the bottom of your heart. After this, you need to put her in her place and pray, ask for protection.
And by the way, it’s worth checking whether the icon stands securely, and why it falls - maybe the wrong place was chosen for it? Treat this thing very carefully and reverently.
What not to do
1. They do not pray to an unconsecrated icon. If it is new, it must first be consecrated in the temple - this is a prerequisite.
In general, there is no place for an unconsecrated icon in the house, it will be of little use, and according to church rules it is not customary to keep such a thing at home, much less pray in front of it and be baptized.
2. You cannot be in front of images wearing a headdress - this is not just a sign, but a rule that has existed for many centuries. If you visit a temple, you know that a woman or girl must certainly cover her hair with a modest scarf, and men must take off their hat.
Today, many women come to church in winter wearing hats instead of scarves - this is hardly appropriate in relation to saints. If you are a believer, go to church at least sometimes, and keep images at home, you should adhere to simple rules. Moreover, they are not at all complicated.
Hanging the faces of saints on the wall is unacceptable. Designate a special place in the house where your images, or at least one, will stand.
There may also be church candles there. There should be no unnecessary items or interior decorations on this shelf!
4. Of course, in the room where the faces of saints stand, you cannot swear, swear, use foul language or spit. It’s not even worth talking about - but, alas, some people sometimes forget about such seemingly elementary things.
An adult son or daughter can give such a gift to parents, this is quite acceptable, or a grandmother can give it to her grandchildren. Then it will be a reliable amulet that will protect and protect from harm. Do not forget that it must be consecrated in the temple.
Superstitions, signs and customs are closely related to the culture of our ancestors, and everything related to icons must be taken seriously. These are not just signs, but rules that must be respected so as not to cause trouble and not pay later.
Treat your faith with respect, and there will be peace and security in your home. Author: Vasilina Serova
They are considered amulets against evil spirits, bring good to the house, and also protect its owners from troubles and sinful acts. However, in some situations, images fall, often without reason. What does it mean? Why is an icon falling in a house a sign? And although the clergy advise not to attach much importance to such a sign, the fall of the icon does not bode well for you. Pay attention to what image falls, what saint is depicted on the icon, and what happens next. The reason for the fall also matters.
Poor fixation
Icons are often placed on bedside tables, tables or in a red corner. However, many begin to hang icons on nails or simply place them on unstable structures. If your icon falls in such a situation or during cleaning, there is nothing to worry about. It is quite natural that if it is poorly secured, it will fall and there will be no changes in your life until you put it in another place or securely strengthen it.
The same can be said if the icon accidentally fell during cleaning. And after you put it in place, nothing like that happened again.
Other cases
So, if the icon is very well fixed and until a certain moment it was not subject to falls, then why is the icon falling in the house a sign? This means that something very bad is about to happen, however, contrary to ancient predictions, this does not always mean the death of a family member.
If an icon constantly falls in your house, then misfortune can be of various kinds. For example, this can happen if someone in the house was doing fortune telling, casting spells, love spells, and spiritualism. Especially, he performed rituals on blood using black magic. In such a situation, it is better to consecrate the apartment so that evil spirits do not dominate it.
If the icon begins to fall constantly, pay attention to who exactly is depicted on it. If this is a male saint, then misfortune can happen to a man. This could be adultery of a spouse, divorce, apostasy from God, or physical death or danger to life. If a son grows up in a family, he may fall into bad company. If an icon constantly falls down, with which someone’s parents blessed someone for marriage, this may be a sign of family breakdown, betrayal of one of the spouses, as well as a sign of a family curse.
The fall of a female icon can predict misfortune for a woman. This could be either physical death, danger or illness, or a wife leaving her husband, a daughter’s separation from the family, and with scandals and quarrels. Sometimes this is a sign that something is wrong with her.
What to do in such cases
First of all, you need to rearrange the icon and go to the temple. Take the sacrament and repent if you are committing or have committed some terrible sin. You also need to warn family members so that they are careful in everyday life and listen to their intuition. Then knowing why the icon in the house falls - a sign - will help you cope with any difficult situation or successfully prevent it. Remember that through sincere prayers the Lord protects a person, but if he needs some kind of life test for salvation, he will help him pass it with dignity and ease.
Often on Orthodox forums or other Internet discussions you can meet a frightened person asking what to do, if you broke an Orthodox icon he's his by accident. Others write about inexplicable events when an icon fell and broke in their house, foreshadowing, as it later turned out, not the most rosy events. Let's try to look at what the Bible and the clergy say on this matter.
Accidentally broke an icon - should one expect bad consequences?
If we turn to history and remember the era when icon painting was just emerging, then the harsh iconoclastic period immediately comes to mind. At that time, some classified the icon as an idol, and the people who worshiped it as pagans and idolaters. Then, at the Ecumenical Church Council, the main dogmas of the icon were proclaimed, one of which is the worship not of the icon itself, not of the paints and not of the wooden frame, but of what the image represents. Therefore, if a person broke an icon, then this does not mean that it is on him. Don't look for any hidden meanings. Try to restore the icon: if the glass is broken, replace it; if the frame is cracked, glue it together. After all, the main thing is that your faith in the Lord God is also strong and unshakable.
If an icon breaks, how to avoid bad events?
Many believers believe that body icons carry special energy; they are more prayed for and are more closely connected to the wearer with special threads. The priests say that these are superstitions that have been ineradicable from the Russian Orthodox soul for many centuries, like the belief in brownies and the black cat.
The Bible clearly states that the Lord told Moses not to make any likeness to himself. By attaching ourselves to a body icon, endowing it with certain powers that are not inherent to it, we stop using it as a way of turning to the Lord, creating an idol for ourselves.
If your son, relative or just an acquaintance broke an icon, advise him to find and buy another icon, for example through an online store. And with broken fragments, if they cannot be restored, it is advised to do the following: put them together and lower them to the bottom of the river, or to another secluded place. Then go to the temple to pray, or simply worship the Invisible, but Omnipresent Lord. Be strong and steadfast in your faith.
To prevent icons from breaking, buy an embroidery kit and create your own home icon with your own hands.
If you have free time, then read
Text of the Orthodox prayer to the holy Venerable David of Gareji
O all-bright, God-praised, Abba David, holy saint of God! You, by the power of good law, have appeared to us, bound and overcome by the snares of the evil one, as a mentor in repentance and a helper in prayer. For this reason, you have been given the working of miracles, the resolution of our sins and the remission of sins, the healing of illnesses and the driving away of the devil’s slander. Also, by your fatherly mercy in the divine understanding, by your many laborious prayers and supplications, and especially by your unceasing intercession for us, the servants of God (names), may the Lord God raise up us, who have fallen into sin, with His invincible power against every visible and invisible enemy, so that we may give thanks. Celebrating your holy memory, we desired to worship the Eternal God in the One Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
When turning to God, believers usually approach the images, thus becoming closer to Heaven. In this regard, the attitude towards the faces of saints is special. Many are convinced that through them they can receive a sign from above, so a believer will be seriously saddened if an icon falls in the house. But not everyone knows why the icon falls and what to do in such cases.
Signs about the fallen icon
First of all, when an icon falls in the house, it is alarming for the reason that it is used only for visual contact. But it is not customary to pick up images, much less carry or rearrange them. So people begin to look for reasons why the shrine could fall out of the blue.
About superstition
Signs say that if the icon fell on its own, then it will not bring anything good. But only if this really happened without outside interference (repairs, earthquake, perhaps children, animals were running nearby, etc.).
Although there is no need to panic. The event predicted by the fall of the icon does not have to be irreparable or bring great grief. This may well be a signal from above that you should be more careful. They advise you to calm down and remember what conversation preceded such an unpleasant incident or what thoughts were occupied by your head at that moment. Maybe you have been planning something for several days now and have received a sign associated with it.
You should be especially wary if the image of the Mother of God has fallen.
If this happens more than for the first time and with more than one icon, signs interpret this as the machinations of evil spirits.
About dreams
You can also see the fall of an icon in a dream, and this is not very pleasant. The dream is interpreted as a reminder of serious life mistakes. If we are talking about an icon of Jesus Christ that falls and breaks, then this may mean a serious illness for one of the relatives, perhaps not the closest ones.
What to do?
The main thing is not to fall into despair, this will be completely wrong. You should immediately pick up the icon, kiss it and put it in its place. Then you should read a prayer next to her, in which you sincerely ask for forgiveness for not following and allowing the fall.
The next thing to do is, of course, to check the place where it fell and whether the nail (or other holder) is securely fastened. Moreover, knowledgeable people say that you should not hang images on the walls at home. For them you need to install separate shelves, on which nothing else should stand except church candles.
If icons of several saints have fallen in the house, and the owners are confident in the reliability of the fasteners, then, undoubtedly, the house needs to be consecrated. You can also invite a priest to a previously consecrated home, having first told about your suspicions.
And in principle, going to church will not be superfluous in such a situation, even if it happened in a dream. A believer always feels calmer in his soul after visiting a temple.
If the icon is broken
A broken icon is undoubtedly even more terrible than a fallen one. There are no good signs about this either:
- expect trouble in the house;
- illness of a loved one;
- of death.
What to do with a broken icon?
Throwing away like ordinary garbage or burning the fragments of a holy image is strictly prohibited. First, the icon should be inspected: if the damage is minor, you should try to repair it yourself or take it to a master so that he can try to restore it (when the glass cracks, the frame or icon breaks into small pieces).
However, it may happen that it is not possible to return the shrine to its original appearance. Then they take it to the river to gently lower it to the bottom. If you have access to another body of water, you can use it, the main thing is that unauthorized persons do not stumble and are not injured by the fragments.
The logical conclusion would be to go to church, where you need to light a candle and pray.
The opinion of clergy
The above signs, naturally, are popular speculation based on people’s personal experience or fear, so the surest way to understand the question of what to expect when an icon falls, what it means, is the priest’s answer. Only his advice will be the only wise decision.
The meaning of the icons
First of all, the church teaches not to highly extol icons in one’s home, since such an attitude towards them can distance one from true faith and convictions. The faces themselves will turn into the likeness of idols.
Of course, you need to place images in your home so that you always have images of your favorite saints before your eyes, so that you can turn to them at any moment. But we must not forget that this is only an artistic image. Then how can it signal about events awaiting a person in the future?
What will the priest say?
Icons can hang in the same place for years, and then suddenly fall down. The clergy themselves do not see this as a sign, neither good nor bad, and certainly do not believe that evil spirits are involved in this. They usually recommend better mounting of holy images. They definitely won’t be angry with a person or reproach him in any way for this.
A competent servant of God will tell you that the Creator will not play complex puzzles with a person if he wants to tell him something.
Why do images fall?
Icons are painted on the ground, by people, using ordinary materials (wood, paints, etc.). Then they are secured or placed in a corner by the same people. Well, what person is not immune from mistakes? Anyone can nail a nail poorly, choose a slippery shelf, etc.
What is the danger?
To tell the truth, any superstition is alien to the church. To believe that if an icon falls, it warns a person about death, illness and other misfortunes means to stand next to a pagan, to think in the same way, turning into an icon venerator, or to put the icon itself on a par with a black cat, empty buckets and other magical objects from ancient superstitions, originating from anywhere but the Bible. It’s not possible to stand somewhere in the middle.
The icon fell. Is this a sign for me? Priest Pavel Krysanov
Dimitry Smirnov Why Icons Fall
Folk signs about icons
As mentioned above, sad thoughts and self-inflation, anticipation of trouble is in itself a sinful act. Treating a fallen image as a fact that has come true, which is not in your favor, is at least unreasonable, therefore, you need to drive away confusion and disappointment from yourself, enlightening your head with good prayer and noble deeds.
