Random question for Christians (1 Viewer)

[Ahsoka]

So basically I was given a handheld thingy from my religious grandmother. I'm not religious and to this day don't know what it's called. It has a depiction of a saint, and my grandma claims that it protects you from bad things. I don't believe in that necessarily, but I'm kind of just curious what the thing is called in English, so I was wondering if anyone knew the answer? I tried asking google and chatGPT but they weren't helpful so ig I'll ask you guys She called it an icon (in Russian) but idk if has a different name in English because I'm not finding anything through google that looks similar. I don't know if it's a thing in all forms of Christianity, she's Eastern Orthodox.

Spoiler: What it looks like

 

[Soogi]

im not christian, but generally speaking wouldn't that be an amulet or talisman or something? unless christians have a special term for it ofc

 

[frocho]

My mother has one similar to it but I can't remember the name. My mom has one that has Saint Peter on it so it could be something like similar to it since she has it everywhere with her so it would "protect" her. She's catholic though so I'm not sure if it's the same thing. I wouldn't know a lot myself since I tend to break a lot of the rules of Christianity and Catholicism that I'm sort of losing faith. I'll try to do some more research for you though.

 

[Ahsoka]

im not christian, but generally speaking wouldn't that be an amulet or talisman or something? unless christians have a special term for it ofc

I was under the impression that amulets and talismans are generally condemned in the Bible, but this thing does seem to fit under those definitions and googles telling me people used them anyways even if the Bible said not to. Maybe this is a case of that, I wasn't sure if this thing was considered special somehow.

 

[Tickita]

I'm getting icon too, or pendant in searches. But if it was a pendant you could put it on a chain? I've never encountered these - might just be an Eastern Orthodox thing.

 

[ChiaraStar169]

yeah, it's an icon according to Google Image search

 

[frocho]

My mother has one similar to it but I can't remember the name. My mom has one that has Saint Peter on it so it could be something like similar to it since she has it everywhere with her so it would "protect" her. She's catholic though so I'm not sure if it's the same thing. I wouldn't know a lot myself since I tend to break a lot of the rules of Christianity and Catholicism that I'm sort of losing faith. I'll try to do some more research for you though.

I found something pretty quickly lol from Google image search. From what I found, most people are calling it a icon or pendant. I do think there is some sort of Saint on there (not sure who) since all of them have some important religious figures most of the time (most of them being Saints). This isn't the one you have but it's similar:

This guy looks similar but they all do I guess:

(https://www.etsy.com/listing/641948990/st-nicholas-the-wonderworker-miniature, https://www.livemaster.com/item/15647439-mixed-technique-icon-st-sergius-of-radonezh)
I'm just guessing it's called a pendant and/or an icon. Hope this helps! <3

 

[x_x]

looks a lil different but similar, also in purpose, but in catholicism calls them devotional medals/saint medals :p

 

[Ahsoka]

yeah, it's an icon according to Google Image search

I wasn't sure because I think icons any depiction of various religious subjects. I don't think they're typically handheld and intended to be carried. Maybe this is just considered a mini icon though, not sure.

 

[Ahsoka]

I found something pretty quickly lol from Google image search. From what I found, most people are calling it a icon or pendant. I do think there is some sort of Saint on there (not sure who) since all of them have some important religious figures most of the time (most of them being Saints). This isn't the one you have but it's similar:

This guy looks similar but they all do I guess:

(https://www.etsy.com/listing/641948990/st-nicholas-the-wonderworker-miniature, https://www.livemaster.com/item/15647439-mixed-technique-icon-st-sergius-of-radonezh)
I'm just guessing it's called a pendant and/or an icon. Hope this helps! <3

I think mine has Saint Nikolai yeah. I guess it probably is just a small icon, without another name. Thanks for your help

 

[Boyo]

I’m a different breed of Christian , but yes, it’s an icon. There are these mini icons what you can hold in your hand or you can put them on the top of your commonde.