Where can I buy a censer and incense?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
To purchase a censer and incense for your home, you have several reliable options within the Coptic Orthodox community and beyond.
1. Local Coptic Church Bookstores
The best place to start is your local Coptic Orthodox parish. Most churches have a bookstore or a small "gift shop" that stocks essential items for a "home altar" or prayer corner.
- Availability: They typically sell small brass or ceramic censers suitable for home use, as well as rolls of charcoal and various types of incense (often sourced from monasteries in Egypt or Greece).
- Benefit: Purchasing from your church ensures the items are appropriate for Orthodox practice and supports your local parish.
2. Coptic Monasteries
Monasteries are the traditional centers for producing high-quality incense. In the United States, several monasteries have online or physical bookstores:
- St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Monastery (California): They often have a wide selection of liturgical and home supplies.
- St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey (Texas): Known for providing many resources for the faithful.
- St. Shenouda Monastery (New York/New Jersey): Another excellent source for spiritual supplies.
3. Specialized Coptic Online Retailers
There are several reputable Coptic-owned businesses that ship nationwide. You can look for:
- Coptic Bookstores/Publishing Houses: Many have expanded into "Church Supplies" sections on their websites.
- Diocesan Bookstores: Check the website of your specific diocese (e.g., the Diocese of Los Angeles, the Southern United States, etc.), as they often have centralized bookstores with online ordering.
4. General Orthodox Supply Houses
If you cannot find what you need at a Coptic-specific shop, Greek or Antiochian Orthodox bookstores also carry beautiful censers and high-quality "Athonite-style" incense (made by monks on Mount Athos), which is perfectly acceptable for Coptic homes.
Tips for Purchasing:
- The Censer (Shorei): For home use, you do not necessarily need a censer with chains (like the priest uses in the Liturgy). A standing censer with a handle or a small ceramic bowl censer is much safer and easier to use for personal prayer.
- Charcoal: Make sure to buy "quick-lighting" charcoal disks specifically made for incense. Do not use charcoal intended for grilling, as it contains harmful chemicals and is not safe for indoor use.
- Incense: Coptic tradition often favors frankincense or floral scents (like rose or jasmine).
When you receive your censer, it is a pious custom to bring it to your parish priest to have him bless it before you begin using it in your home prayer corner.