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I doubt that it is legitimate to burn incense sticks. The incense made by monasteries has as its base frankincense, at least all I have encountered contains at least some. Different scents may be blended into that for the final scent, but it contains at least some. The symbolism in that is obvious.

Incense sticks are another situation altogether. Besides being of different composition, I repeat my earlier statement: buying incense from monasteries supports our monastics. Buying stick incense supports???? Pagans? Who?

I guess I am spoiled. I live near a lot of religious goods stores, including Byzantine ones. But these supplies can be bought on line too.

the incense burner is called a "kadilo", Russian for smoke. The proper term in the Latin Church is a thurble, the altar server who carries it is called a thurfer.

I've known self-light charcoal since my days as an altar boy in the early 60's. The one you got that takes 20 minutes to burn is outdated. I got a kadilo in a Muslim shop for about $20. They have hand held ones on line from the various Monasteries. (Mostly Orthodox.)

Yes, I like Prinknash incense also. I have some from Holy Transfiguration in MA. They have a nice variety. I used "Spruce Island" this morning. Ihave "Lily of the Valley " for Spring time, and "Honeysuckle" for Summer.

Although people have warned about buying form those monks in Calif., they have some nice incense also. Its artificial, and supposedly non-choaking.

Well, whatever you decide , enjoy it!

I got so frustrated once, I used charcoal lighter! I won't do that again!

Tammy

I think "Gloria" brand of incense is a popular choice among many Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox churches. It is distributed by the ACROD from their monastery in Tuxedo Park N.Y.

Ung-Certez

Gaudior,

A Benedictine monastery in at least one instance:

Incense Sticks - Benedictine Monastery of Christ in the Desert [monasterygreetings.com]

Many years,

Neil

Gloria Incense is now produced and distributed by Christ the Saviour Seminary in Johnstown.

The monastery in Tuxedo Park has been closed since the early 1990's.

Dave

http://www.acrod.org/incense.html

Gloria Incense

Gloria Incense, blended and produced through the Seminary Bookstore, has been produced to exacting standards according to old world formulation for over 50 years. Most outstanding in composition, it is especially appropriate for liturgical use. All three blends are built upon a foundation of imported balsamic resins and aromatic oil essences. The result is a slow burning incense which produces a subtle scent. Resin incense is generally regarded as superior to wood based products which burn quickly (often with the aid of chemical catalysts) and produce chokingly harsh smoke. Gloria Incense blends are the epitome of the incense maker's art.

Product Information:


F-8
Our most popular blend of natural imported resins, pea-sized for slow burn and lasting aroma. A rose-lavender scent light in character.
$22 per lb.


PR-3
A blend of natural balsamic resins and natural aromatic oils. A fresh and lasting aroma with rose-evergreen undertone.
$18 per lb.

P
A resin powder formulation for quick effect with excellent quality. Light spice-vanilla aroma.
$15 per lb.

Also available is Fragrant Rose Oil in 2oz. bottles.
$12 per bottle.
Ordering Information:

No discount is offered on oil or charcoal products.


Order by:

Phone - 814-539-0116

Fax - 814-536-4699
Email - gloriaincense@acrod.org;
place Incense Order in the "Subject" line
Confirmation of receipt will be sent.

Also:

http://www.holycross-hermitage.com/mall/hc_incense.asp

I have tried quite a few, and Holy Cross is the best I have found yet. And it is all hand-rolled, very nice.

I don't know why my earlier link didn't work, but the one Lance provided certainly does. I get all of the incense for home and parish here.

Mike,

Just a minor correction, perhaps you type "to fst".

The term is actually thurible and the the altar server is known as the thurifer.

A thurfer is someone who hangs out at the beach and carries a thurfboard.

Here is a picutre of the 'burner' resting on my Vigil lamp as described in an earlier post:

CIX!

I use both charcoal and incense lumps on my altar, but only for special occasions - Feasts and particularly desperate prayers. Otherwise, I do a daily offering of incense sticks Chinese-style. This means a brass or ceramic pot the size of a bowl or so is placed centrally on the altar, and filled with sand, rice or ashes to hold the incense sticks up. In my household, offering of 3 sticks of incense is done at morning and evening (I semi-jokingly call it the Morning and Evening Raising of Incense) accompanied by triple bows at the beginning and end.

Just my two obols!

in Domino,

Edward