Tamata may be
offered at the icon of a saint as a reminder of a faithful person’s particular
need or in gratitude for a prayer answered.
They are the
vehicle through which someone invests their faith. They are a link between the
faithful and the Holy Spirit.
Other offerings
include: candles, prosphora, wine, oil, or incense. In addition, many will
leave something of personal value, such as jewellery or military decoration as
a sign of devotion. Some people leave crutches or walking frames as thanks of
being healed.
Saint John
of Damascus
One of the most famous
tama offerings is that by St John of Damascus.
While he was
serving as Vizier to the Caliph, he was falsely accused of treachery and his
hand was cut off. Upon praying in front of an icon of the Theotokos his hand
was miraculously restore. In thanksgiving, he had a silver replica of his hand
fashioned and attached it to the icon.
This wonderworking
icon of the Theotokos, now called “The Three-handed” (pictured), is preserved today at Hilander Monastery on Mount Athos.
When does the need arise?
A tama is
purchased when the individual or a loved one is ill, lonely, unable to
conceive, looking for work etc. In other words, there is no situation which
does not require a tama.
Which one to buy?
There is a wide
range that can be purchased from a church or monastery. Some of the more common
ones are ears, ankles, fingers and houses.
It should be noted
one may not find a tama specifically for what they need, however, it is the intention
and prayer that defines what is being asked for. The images are capable of
multiple interpretations:
Heart – a prayer for love or a heart problem
Eyes – an eye affliction
Hands or legs
– maladies of the limbs
Pair of wedding crowns – a prayer for a happy marriage
Torso – afflictions of the body
A good example is
that of a young comedian in Greece. The man required a tama for the loss of
his sense of humour. The vendor questioned him whether he thought it involved
the mind or the heart. The young man was not sure so the vendor gave him a tama
of the whole body.
Tin, silver or gold?
The choice of
material depends on the person’s faith and how much they can afford. There is
no evidence that a more costly tama is more effective.
Which saint?
Deciding which
saint is entirely up to the individual. It can be a patron saint, the saint the
person derived their name from or a saint the person greatly admires. You can
also choose Panagia or Christ – ask a spiritual father for help.
For example, for a
miracle involving the eyes/sight leave a tama at a church dedicated or with the
icon of St Paraskeva – she is considered to be a healer of the blind.
What to I do with my tama?
Once a tama has
been purchased:
† take it to the church
† light a candle
† tie it with a ribbon to the horizontal pole
under the icon, relics or shrine of your choice
† say a prayer asking God or the saint for
help
† leave a gift/offering to the church (i.e
wine, biscuits, flowers, prosphora etc)
What to do when the miracle occurs
It is also important
to thank God and the saint for making the miracle happen.
In Greece, a person hung a tama, offered some
koulourakia (round coffee biscuits) and lit a candle at the Panagia church on
the island of Andros. When the miracle happened she would send
biscuits and money to this church once a year.
This is a
wonderful act of thanksgiving, dedication and love to God as it is only He who
allows our prayers to come true. By giving gifts to the Church annually it
expresses the person’s gratitude to God.
Source: stories
from Adrian Vrettos
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