The goal of the Incense Project is to employ several men with part-time work to hand-make natural, organic incense to be used during religious services in a Church. One man is employed part-time in the Incense Project.

One type of natural, organic,handmade incense is produced. Flowers, oil, and perfume are mixed, dried, and cut.
The materials are local, natural, and organic.
No chemicals are added. No cooking / heating over a fire is done.
The incense is cut into 1,000 kilo blocks, 1/2 kilo (500 grams) blocks, and 100 grams blocks. The incense blocks are placed into small wooden or plastic boxes.

Abouna Firas Khoury Diab is an experienced and skilled producer of an incense product. He learned to make incense in the Melkite stores/shops/factories during the 14 years that he studied in the Melkite minor and major seminaries in Beit-Sahour. After, Abouna left the seminary, he continued producing incense. Now, Abouna Firas is training the men of the parish in this craft.

Usually, this Incense is only available locally. In special circumstances, Abouna Firas Khoury Diab will consider exporting this Incense. One negative in exporting this Incense is the high cost of transportation.

The exported Incense is only available by donation. The exported Incense is not for sale. No exported Incense has been sold. Further, there are no plans to sell exported Incense. One reason is the high cost of transportation would make the cost of the exported Incense so high that a cost conscious person would buy from other vendor.

Package of incense

Medium   Large

For more information, please contact the following.

• Abouna Firas Boutros Khoury Diab, cure_zab@yahoo.com
• Martha Liles, mliles@mliles.com

These pictures were taken by Abouna Firas Khoury Diab and his family.