For the shepherd of the diocese
A gift for a bishop or a cardinal: a hand-painted icon
A diocese welcoming its new bishop, clergy celebrating an anniversary of episcopate, a parish receiving a pastoral visit, a family wishing to thank its shepherd: what should you give a bishop? The oldest and most fitting gift is a hand-painted sacred icon. It is not an office object, but an image to pray with, which will accompany the bishop in his chapel and in his ministry.
Occasions for a gift to a bishop
Episcopal ordination
The day a priest receives the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders.
Installation in the diocese
The gift of the diocese welcoming its new shepherd.
Anniversaries of episcopate
The 10th or 25th anniversary of episcopal ordination, anniversaries of priesthood.
Pastoral visit
A memory for a parish or community visited by the bishop.
Name day and birthday
The saint of his name, a gift from the clergy or the curia staff.
Farewell at the end of ministry
When the bishop leaves the diocese or, at 75, submits his resignation as the Code of Canon Law requests (can. 401 §1).
Which icon to give a bishop
The bishop is the shepherd of his local Church: so the most fitting subjects speak of the good shepherd, of Christ the teacher and of the holy bishops of the tradition.
- Jesus the Good Shepherd: the very image of the episcopal ministry.
- Christ Pantocrator with the open Gospel: Christ teacher and lord, whose teaching the bishop guards.
- The patron saint of the diocese: it ties the gift to the Church the bishop leads.
- The saint of his name: a personal gift for his name day or an anniversary.
- Saint Nicholas of Myra and the other holy bishops: models of pastoral charity venerated in East and West.
- The Mother of God Hodegetria, "she who shows the way", or the saint linked to his episcopal motto.
Icons by Concetta Basile suited to a bishop
Christ of the Burning Eye
The Pantocrator watching over his Church.
Christ Pantocrator
Round panel with Greek inscription.
Holy Face
The face of Christ with cruciform halo and IC XC monogram.
Rublev Trinity
Abraham's three angelic guests, the icon of communion.
Saint Joseph the Nourisher
A newly conceived icon, commissioned by Archimandrite Father Alessio Mandanikiotis.
Queen of Life
The Mother of God with the scrolls of the Angelus and the Magnificat.
Latin or Greek inscriptions and a dedication
The inscriptions on the icon are in Greek or Latin, as the Tradition requires. The episcopal motto, when it is in Latin as it often is, can appear on a scroll. On the back of the panel and in the booklet you can record the bishop's name, the date of his ordination or installation and the names of the givers: the clergy, the curia, a parish, a confraternity, a family.
A gift for a cardinal
For a cardinal the occasions are his creation at a consistory, anniversaries of cardinalate or episcopate, his name day. Besides the saint of his name and the Pantocrator, fitting subjects are Saints Peter and Paul, pillars of the Church of Rome to which the cardinal is bound, or the titular saint of his church in Rome.
A gift in the line of a school
Concetta Basile is an Italian iconographer of the traditional school of iconography, a pupil of the master Lia Galdiolo, who personally presented her icons to John Paul II. She holds the attestation of Archimandrite, monk and hermit Father Alessio Mandanikiotis of the Holy Orthodox Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Every icon is painted in prayer, entirely by hand, and fully gilded with 23¾ karat gold leaf. Every icon is commissioned with an offering proportionate to the time and materials of the work, and arrives with a certificate of authenticity on real parchment, photographs of every stage and a booklet explaining its meaning.
The Holy Family with the Trinity
Lia Galdiolo presents John Paul II with the icon of the Holy Family surmounted by the Rublev Trinity.
Frequently asked questions
What should I give a bishop?
A hand-painted sacred icon is the most fitting gift: an image to pray with, not an object. The best subjects are the Good Shepherd, Christ Pantocrator, the patron of the diocese or the saint of his name.
What to give a bishop for his episcopal ordination?
An icon of Christ the Good Shepherd or the Pantocrator, with the date of the ordination and the givers' names on the back: the memory of the day his ministry began.
What does a diocese give its new bishop at his installation?
Often an icon of the patron saint of the diocese: it binds the new shepherd to the Church he will lead. It can be offered by the clergy, the curia or the parishes together.
What to give a bishop for an anniversary of episcopate?
The saint of his name or the subject linked to his episcopal motto, with a dedication for the 10th or 25th anniversary.
What to give a bishop who is leaving the diocese?
An icon of the patron of the diocese or of the Mother of God venerated locally, as the community's thanks for his years of service.
What should I give a cardinal?
The saint of his name, Christ Pantocrator or Saints Peter and Paul, pillars of the Church of Rome, for his creation at a consistory or an anniversary.
Can the episcopal motto appear on the icon?
Yes, when it is in Latin or Greek: the inscriptions on an icon are always in these two languages. The personal dedication goes on the back of the panel and in the booklet.
Can a gift to a bishop be given by several people?
Yes: clergy, curia, parishes, confraternities or families can commission the icon together, and everyone's names can appear in the booklet.
How do I commission a gift for a bishop?
By writing to Concetta Basile on WhatsApp or Telegram. An authentic icon takes months of work: for an ordination or installation already scheduled it is wise to plan ahead. Every icon is commissioned with an offering proportionate to the time and materials of the work, and arrives with a certificate of authenticity on real parchment, photographs of every stage and a booklet explaining its meaning.