This historical Byzantine icon depicts The Entombment of Christ. In moving form and vivid color, the anonymous 16th century iconographer captures the emotion and glory of Christ’s blessed body being committed to the earth. After the life-giving...

As recorded in Matthew 26, a few days before Christ's death, a harlot came and anointed his feet with expensive ointment and wept for her sins. When they saw this, the disciples and especially Judas were angry. But Christ rebuked them and said she had...

After the life-giving death of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea asked for His precious body, in order to give Him a dignified burial. Pilate granted his request, and this icon shows the scene of the Lord's descent from the Cross. He is being taken down by...

"So the cohort and the tribune and the servants of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him, and led him away to Annas first. For he was Caiaphas’ father in law, who was chief priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that...

"Then Pilate released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he had scourged and handed him over to be crucified." (From the 5th Passion Gospel reading of Holy Friday in the Orthodox tradition.)

"At that time Joseph of Arimathea, a noble councillor, who was also waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate wondered if he were already dead, and after summoning the centurion he asked him if...

In this 18th century Russian icon, Christ extends His hand to His beloved friend Lazarus, who comes out of his tomb after being dead for four days. This miraculous event happened just before Palm Sunday. By this action, Christ displayed His power over...

Palm Sunday is the celebration of Christ's triumphal entry into the royal city of Jerusalem. Riding on a young donkey, he was met by a massive crowd who publicly hailed Him as king. They waved palm branches and laid their cloaks on the road before Him...

This unique Russian icon depicts the Theotokos weeping at the Cross of her Son, Jesus Christ, outside the city of Jerusalem.  The 18th century iconographer faithfully and beautifully uses color and form to portray the pathos and glory of the Holy...

This 19th century Russian lithographic icon depicts All Saints of Mount Athos. The most prominent and famous Athonite monastic saints are visible in the foreground, and the haloes of countless more saints, known and unknown, stretch into the distance...

"At that time, Jesus went out with his disciples across the brook Kedron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Judas, his betrayer, also knew the place, because Jesus had often gathered there with his disciples. So Judas,...

This unique 18th century Russian icon depicts the Lord alone on the Cross, outside the city of Jerusalem (here, with characteristic Slavic architecture). The sun and moon are shown as darkened or red, according to the Gospels’ narrative.  As...

The title of this icon, which is written in Slavonic across the top, comes from the Canon of Holy Saturday: Do not weep for me, Mother, as you see Me entombed: the Son conceived seedlessly in your womb. For I shall arise and be glorified, and I shall...

This unique Russian icon depicts a triumphal Cross of Christ surrounded by saints and angels. Painted in the 19th century Russian Academic style, this icon depicts in realistic form and vivid color the gathering of the faithful around the instrument of...

This beautiful icon depicts Christ’s Crucifixion on Holy Friday. Painted by the Italian master Giotto c. 1315, this classic Western icon movingly depicts the emotions and power of this pivotal event in human history and the culmination of...

On the 40th day after His Resurrection, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven in His resurrected body. As the eleven Apostles stood on the Mount of Olives at Bethany, they watched Him disappear from view. An angel declared that He would return in the...

Palm Sunday is the celebration of Christ's triumphal entry into the royal city of Jerusalem. Riding on a young donkey, he was met by a massive crowd who publicly hailed Him as king. They waved palm branches and laid their cloaks on the road before Him...

After the Lord's Ascension into heaven, the Apostles spent their days in prayer, preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit. On the morning of the 50th day of His Resurrection, the Lord sent the Holy Spirit upon them as He had promised. There was the...

Our Lord is depicted at His trial, stripped of His clothes and beaten, hands tied, wearing the crown of thorns and holding the reed in His hand. This icon is also known as "Extreme Humility." This icon of Christ is used during the first three days of...

Jesus Christ is removed from the cross. Mary Magdalene and the other Myrhh bearing women hold his hand in this moment of sadness and reflection. Angels weep and look on at the death of our Lord. A twilight sky sets a reflective tone in this image.

This 15th century icon shows Christ with his Apostles, who are talking amongst themselves in shock at the revelation that one of them would betray Christ. Judas, the betrayer, is seen reaching his hand into a bowl as the Gospel says. At this Passover...

This 14th century fresco shows Jesus Christ being cradled by the Theotokos and Joseph of Arimathea as he is removed from the cross. Mary Magdalene and the other Myrhh bearing women hold his hand in this moment of sadness and reflection. Angels...

This beautiful icon of the Crucifixion depicts Christ’s Passion within the context of several other important Scriptural events. At the left, an icon depicts the Hospitality of Abraham (Holy Trinity). At the right, the beheading of John the...

This beautiful mosaic icon of the Crucifixion of Christ captures the humility and glory of the culmination of Holy Friday.  In this mosaic, the Lord is crucified in the presence of the Theotokos (Blessed Virgin Mary) and St. John the beloved...

This beautiful mosaic icon of the Crucifixion of Christ captures the humility and glory of the culmination of Holy Friday. The original is from the Basilica San Clemente in Rome and was constructed in the 12th Century. It is a unique representation of...

This stunning icon of the Mystical Supper captures the beauty and emotion of Christ’s Last Supper with His disciples before His betrayal.  Painted by an anonymous 13th century iconographer, it depicts the emotions and glory of Christ's Last...

In this unique Russian icon of the Crucifixion, we also have a window into Hades below the earth. Here, the righteous of the Old Testament are looking up with anticipation, as Christ is about to descend into Hades and set them free from their eternal...

This unique historical Russian icon of the Crucifixion presents all of the drama and glory of Christ’s sacrifice and victory. The anonymous iconographer includes the Theotokos and St. John the Beloved Disciple watching the dying of the Master...

This icon depicts the many saints who shone forth at Mount Sinai and in the surrounding desert. Saint Catherine, the patron of the monastery at Mount Sinai, stands at the center of the fathers at the bottom; the prophet Moses stands at the top,...

This icon is used in the Russian tradition for the feast of Pentecost, and in many churches it appears above the Holy Doors. It bears two meanings.  On its surface, this icon depicts a scene from the Bible. The image of three angels grouped...

This icon is used in the Russian tradition for the feast of Pentecost, and in many churches it appears above the Holy Doors. It bears two meanings.  On its surface, this icon depicts a scene from the Bible. The image of three angels grouped around...

In this historic Russian icon, Christ's victorious death is represented in the center, surrounded by related scenes from Holy Week and His life. Multiple events occurring in earth, heaven, and hell on Holy Friday and Saturday are captured in vivid color...

This Russian icon depicts the scene at the Lord’s crucifixion on Holy Friday. The two thieves are shown crucified with him. Christ’s most faithful disciples are with him, as the Gospel tells: his Mother, John, Martha, and Mary. Saint Longinus the...

This 11th century multi-part icon from Constantinople depicts the major events of Holy Friday. From the upper left corner: Christ's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the kiss of Judas, St. Peter's denial, Christ on the cross, and the descent...

In this 12th century Greek icon, we see Christ extending his hand to his beloved friend Lazarus, who comes out of his tomb after being dead for four days. This miraculous event happened just before Palm Sunday. By this action, Christ displayed his...

Christ is crucified, and below the Cross stand the Theotokos and St. John. Around the border are a number of saints, including John the Baptist, Apostles Peter and Paul, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Gregory the Theologian, Great Martyrs George and...

This historic icon depicts the Burial of Christ. In moving form and vivid color, the anonymous 14th century iconographer records the last embrace of Christ’s body by the Theotokos and the weeping of his disciples before his burial. After the...

This historic Byzantine icon of the Washing of the Feet is from a 19th century Greek original.  The Washing of the Feet occurred in John's Gospel (13:2-17) at the Last Supper before the Lord’s Passion. In this event, he as the Master washes...

Flanked by Roman soldiers, Christ carries the Cross out of the city to the place of his crucifixion on Golgotha. This icon was painted by Nicolaos Tzafouris in the late 15th century at Candia (Iraklion) in Crete. Notably, the soldier walking ahead of...

On the 40th day after His Resurrection, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven in His resurrected body. As the eleven Apostles stood on the Mount of Olives at Bethany, they watched Him disappear from view. An angel declared that He would return in the...