Production of incense

Incense production plays a central role in the Orthodox Christian tradition, and is used during every church service as a basic element of the rite of worship.

Incense is deeply rooted in the history of mankind. Since pagan times, incense has been used to accompany prayer and sacrifice. Later on it was used by the Jews, and as a matter of course was adopted by the early Christians. Christianity regarded it in its symbolical aspect and incorporated it into the ceremonies of worship of the Church. Incense symbolises prayer, which ascends towards the throne of God: "Let my prayer be set before you as incense". It should not be forgotten, either, that frankincense was one of the gifts that the Three Kings offered the new-born Christ when they worshipped him in the manger.

The extraction of incense is an ancient practice.

Incense, commonly known as frankincense, is the scented resin collected from the olibanum tree (Boswellia sacra) which grows in Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Oman and Yemen. The tree is tapped to exude its resin, which is allowed to dry on the tree and is then scraped, cleaned and left to dry out completely. This resin is then mixed with other ingredients (fragrance and magnesium), resulting in the final product which we see and use today.

The use of incense in the Orthodox Christian tradition has a profound spiritual meaning.

Incense symbolises the prayer which ascends to God. Since the time of our forefathers, the burning of incense was a direct command from God himself.