The gift set consists of 5 items: an amulet with an image of. St. Pantaleon, wicks with cork float for oil lamp, frankincense and quicklighting charcoal tablets.
Amulets
Fabric amulets are small bags, most often with church symbols or images of saints. They are usually filled with incense or other small objects.
Amulets are used as talismans; for these reasons they are often attached to clothes with a pin, and sometimes worn around the neck on a cord. The amulets can also be attached to the headboard of the bed.
Saint Pantaleon
Saint Panteleimon was born in Nicomedia under the name of Pantoleon. His father was a noble pagan and his mother, St. Eubula, was a Christian. His mother wanted to bring up her son in the Christian faith, but unfortunately she died early. So it was up to his father to educate the boy; he sent him to a pagan school, and then to the famous Nicodemian physician, in which science the young man has excelled.
In Nicomedia Pantoleon became acquainted with the presbyter Hermolaus, who introduced him to the Christian faith. After some time he has witnessed a miracle: Pantoleon saw a child killed by a snake bite, and started to pray to Jesus Christ; only by the power of that prayer he resurrected the child. After this miracle, Pantoleon was baptized with the name Panteleimon and devoted his life to the suffering and sick. On the denunciation of other physicians the saint fell foul of the emperor Maximian, who though he favored Panteleimon, was a pagan and an ardent opponent of Christianity. In order to force the saint into renouncing his faith, Panteleimon was subjected to many tortures, all of which he endured with Christian fortitude and humility. After this, in the year 305, the martyr was beheaded.
The Saint Panteleimon Monastery on Holy Mount Athos stores the main holy relic - the head of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, as well as his icon, where the saint is depicted in full length, framed by 14 small images relating to scenes of his life. The monks believe that St. Panteleimon is the patron saint of Saint Panteleimon Monastery: twice he has miraculously saved it from devastating fires.
Frankincense
Frankincense is an aromatic wood resin obtained from Boswellia tree. Frankincense is one of the oldest incense used in religious ceremonies. It is smoked during prayer. The fragrance of frankincense is strongly associated in our minds with church, and therefore creates a wonderful peaceful atmosphere in our home for heartfelt and meaningful prayer.
The Mount Athos monks have been producing their own frankincense for hundreds of years. This incense smoking symbolizes prayer rising to heaven, and the smell symbolizes the filling of our hearts with God's grace due to the great love for our Lord. That is why frankincense was one of the three precious Gifts presented by the Magi to the Baby Jesus.
The process of making frankincense was given to Moses by the Lord Himself:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices — gum resin, onycha and galbanum — and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.” (Exodus 30:34-38)
Cork float for oil lamp
The cork float is designed to support the burning wick in the lamp. A metal plate protects the cork from ignition. The float is put into a vessel with lamp oil (natural olive oil can be used instead). The minimum distance between the flame and the surface of the oil ensures stable and smooth burning.
