I received this answer from an Orthodox Priest:
The tradition of the church requires that the new icons be kept for 40 days (40 as in the 40 days of Lent, 40 days of the Lord on the Mountain, etc) in the Altar on the Skevofilakion Table. At the completion of the 40 days (or on the Sunday close to it) we will read special prayers for the Blessing of Icons. If the person needs the icon sooner than 40 days, through economia we will read the prayers whenever needed.
Hope this helps!
Be the first person to like this.