Woods of the Bible in Orthodox Tradition | Cedar, Acacia, Olive
In Scripture, wood is never mere backdrop. From the Tabernacle in the wilderness to Solomon’s Temple, from Noah’s Ark to the saving wood of the Cross, timber carries a story of God’s providence. The Bible even names specific species, and each one still speaks to how we craft for the Church today.
When Israel first built for worship, God commanded the Ark of the Covenant and many Tabernacle furnishings to be made from acacia wood and overlaid with gold (Exodus 25). Acacia is dense and resistant to decay—excellent for holy things that had to travel. In our shop, that same character makes acacia a good choice for pieces that take crisp detail and steady use: blessing crosses and small reliquary boxes, or fine altar‑table elements where hardness and stability matter. If you’re setting up a prayer corner, you’ll find the same practical virtues in our wall crosses and kiots across species—browse a sampling of our work in the Wood Shop and pair your space with one of our museum‑quality Icons and a humble vigil lamp.
Centuries later, when Solomon raised the Temple, he lined its interior with cedar of Lebanon, carved with gourds and flowers (1 Kings 6). Cedar’s fragrance and resistance to rot made it a fitting sign of beauty in God’s house. We love cedar for similar reasons: it is dimensionally stable, aromatic, and carves cleanly. A cedar wall cross or icon shrine feels at home in a space where prayer should be welcomed by beauty. If you’re considering a focal point for your family’s icon corner, take a look at our icon shrines and pair them with your favorite icon set.
Cedar didn’t arrive in Jerusalem by magic. Hiram of Tyre sent enormous shipments of cedar and cypress (juniper) by sea to Joppa and up to the city (1 Kings 5:8–10). It’s a vivid reminder that sacred craft is also practical: straight, strong timbers are needed to span distances and hold form. Cypress still shines in work that must be strong and true. When we build wall crosses or structural backs for shrines, cypress’s even grain and cooperative planing help the piece stay straight and pleasing to the eye—qualities you’ll also notice in the Cross of Golgotha plaque and our Adoration of the Cross icon that many families place near a cross.
Another biblical species appears right at the threshold of the Holy of Holies: olive wood, used for the inner doors and carved with cherubim and palms (1 Kings 6:31–33). Olive carries the resonance of oil and light, peace and fruitfulness; its figure is striking, with flowing ribbons of grain. While not every region yields furniture‑sized olive boards, the look and feel of olive’s figure inspires how we choose and finish timber for analogion panels and other places where Scripture is read aloud at home. If you’re outfitting a family corner, consider combining an icon or two from our collections with a simple shelf and vigil lamp from our Wood Shop.
Not every biblical wood belonged to palaces or sanctuaries. The prophet Amos calls himself a "dresser of sycamore‑fig trees" (Amos 7:14), a snapshot of ordinary labor. We like to remember that much of Christian life happens in this register: simple materials, faithful hands, and daily prayer. When sycamore‑fig or domestic sycamore is available, it can serve for practice panels, catechesis props, or humble classroom crosses—work that teaches by touch as well as sight.
And what of gopher wood, the material of Noah’s Ark in Genesis 6:14? The term is rare; ancient translators rendered it variously (“squared” or “planed” timbers), and many scholars suggest cypress, though there’s no final consensus. The Fathers receive the Ark above all as a type of the Church: a vessel fashioned under God’s command to bear life through the flood. We think of it whenever we choose a board for durability and steadiness, aware that ordinary timber can be asked to do extraordinary things.
All of this has a practical consequence for how we run our shop. Sacred craft begins long before the first cut. Wherever possible, we personally visit partner lumber mills—walking the yard, talking with sawyers about log origin, examining kiln‑dry schedules and grading standards, and selecting boards that will behave well through jointing, carving, and finishing. When travel isn’t feasible, we lean on documentation: we review third‑party certifications such as FSC® or PEFC, read chain‑of‑custody paperwork, and confirm supplier declarations to ensure legal harvest and responsible forestry. In the shop we plan our yields carefully to minimize waste; off‑cuts become prayer‑corner crosses, lamp shelves, or small triptychs. Finishes are chosen with devotional use in mind, and we label species on product pages so you know exactly what you’re receiving.
If you’re beginning a prayer corner, start small and meaningful: a cross on the wall, one or two icons that draw your heart to prayer, and a candle or lamp to remind you of the Light who illumines all. A cedar cross evokes Temple beauty (1 Kings 6). Pieces that demand durability—like a daily‑handled blessing cross—benefit from dense timbers in the acacia family (Exodus 25). Where strength and straightness matter, cypress is a steady friend (1 Kings 5). You can explore examples of our craftsmanship here: Legacy Icons Wood Shop, alongside our broader selection of icons and vigil lamps.
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About Our Sourcing
Our mission is to make sacred art that lasts for generations. That begins with wood we can trust. Wherever possible, we personally visit lumber mills to evaluate their practices and select boards for stability, figure, and beauty. When travel isn’t feasible, we verify third‑party certifications such as FSC® or PEFC and review chain‑of‑custody documentation to ensure lawful, responsibly managed forests. In‑shop we minimize waste, repurpose off‑cuts into small devotional items, and choose finishes suitable for Orthodox devotional use. If you have any questions about species or sourcing for a particular item, please contact us—our craftsmen are happy to help.
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May these woods, sanctified by Scripture and Tradition, also sanctify your home prayer corner. To find pieces inspired by the passages above, visit our Wood Shop, browse our Icon Collections, or add a simple vigil lamp to illumine your corner.