FAQ's

Why don't you sell mounted canvas prints?

Traditional iconographers have never painted on a canvas medium (such as preferred by Renaissance painters of the West), but for centuries have painted on gessoed wood. The surface of this gessoed wood is smooth and allows the paint to flow smoothly with the iconographer's expert hand at work. Since the beginning of icon print reproduction, it has become standard for them to be printed, laminated, and mounted to protect and provide clarity of color on a smooth surface. Furthermore, a canvas print is much more costly, and we encourage the faithful to purchase a genuine hand painted icon if the budget allows. UMS does provide the ability for printing on museum quality canvas, but recommends this only for wall mounting use when a fully painted fresco is too costly of a job.

Do you use wood slats on the back of your icons?

We do not produce icons with wood slats on the back. This technique is very labor intensive and expensive and only used when an artist is creating a hand-written icon. Hand-written icons are traditionally done on wood panels which are prepared for many days ahead of time, before even beginning to paint the icon. These specially prepared wood panels are prone to warping which is why the slabs of hardwood are dovetailed into their backs. We use a completely different process which is not prone to warping and does not require superfluous (and more expensive) slats.

Are your icons guaranteed?

All products purchased are fully guaranteed with regard to materials and workmanship. Any problem will be repaired or replaced without charge at any time, by simply contacting us for return authorization.

Do you accept returns?

No returns will be accepted unless there is a return authorization approved in advance of receiving the returns and the problem is a material or workmanship imperfection from our production outside of the original artwork which is shown clearly in our catalogue or on our web site.

There are absolutely no returns on any of the following: Custom Icons, Laminated Prints or our XX-Large or Iconostasis sizes. Nor are there returns on our Medium or Large sized Educational Posters or Prayer Plaques. On rare occasions when we do approve a return that is not due to damage or defective workmanship, the customer must pay the return shipping, and a 20% restocking fee will be deducted from the refund.

I want to order some T-shirts but am not sure about sizing. Do you accept returns on clothing?

Please use the sizing chart found here:

No returns will be accepted on apparel unless there is a return authorization approved in advance of receiving the returns and the problem is a material or workmanship imperfection from our production outside of the original artwork which is shown clearly in our catalogue or on our web site.