This historic Russian icon features the Theotokos holding Christ, as two Angels hold the instruments of the Passion. Christ leans toward his mother, grasping her hand with both hands, as if in fear in his human nature. This icon is a testament to 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...

In this icon, a variant of the Akthyra type, the Mother of God holds her heart as she looks upon Christ being crucified. In this 18th century Russian icon, she is modeled after the famous Theotokos of Kazan. At the bottom of the icon are...

This unique icon of the Crucifixion features Christ’s culmination of his ministry and life in vivid color and form. The Theotokos and St. John the Theologian gather below the arms of the cross and the sun and moon flank His body, giving due...

This 15th century Cretan icon 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...

Joachim and Anna were the parents of the holy Virgin Mary. They were childless, and for this they were derided by their fellow Jews, who believed they must have been cursed. They both devoted themselves to prayer, and they each vowed to dedicate their...

This icon is a faithful reproduction of a renowned Byzantine original of the 12th century depicting Michael the Archangel. It was a treasure of Byzantine goldsmithery, featuring enameled inlays and numerous gemstones. Several military saints adorn the...

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...

Joachim and Anna were the parents of the holy Virgin Mary. They were childless, and for this they were derided by their fellow Jews, who believed they must have been cursed. They both devoted themselves to prayer, and they each vowed to dedicate their...

  Saint Gabriel was born on March 22, 1684, in Zvierki (Zwierki, Poland). His parents, Peter and Anastasia, maintained their Orthodox faith despite the growth of Uniatism in the region. As a child, Gabriel preferred prayer and solitude rather than...

This historic Byzantine icon features Saint Kyriakos (or Cyriacus) the Hermit. Living in the 5th-6th centuries, he embraced ascetical living at an early age in the lived in the deserts in and near the Holy Land. He blessed fellow monks and visitors with...

Saint Anna was the wife of Saint Joachim. In her old age, Anna became the mother of the Virgin Mary Theotokos, and the grandmother of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Her feast is celebrated on September 9, and she is known as a powerful intercessor for...

Saint Phoebe was a deaconess in the church of Cenchreae in Corinth. She was mentioned by Saint Paul in the Book of Romans as a benefactor of many, including Paul himself. He sent Phoebe to Rome to gain support for his missionary work. Her feast is...

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...

The Prophet Jonah (or Jonas) lived in the 8th century before Christ. He prophesied to the Israelites and the Ninevites, calling all to repentance. He also foretold of the coming Messiah. Jonah was eaten by a sea creature and spent three days in...

This 19th century Russian icon features the Cross being lifted up by Saints Constantine and Helen, who discovered the True Cross in the 4th century. Depicted with them are a number of prominent saints, clockwise from the top: the Holy Trinity...

This icon is a beautiful Byzantine portrayal of the Old Testament Prophet Jonah. Called to prophecy the imminent destruction of the wicked Assyrian empire, Jonah famously disobeyed God and fled across the Mediterranean Sea. After being caught in a...

The Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John was the older cousin of our Lord. He was born miraculously of his aged parents, specially chosen by God to prepare the way for Christ, the Messiah. It was John who identified Jesus as "the Lamb of God...

The Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John was the older cousin of our Lord. He was born miraculously of his aged parents, specially chosen by God to prepare the way for Christ, the Messiah. It was John who identified Jesus as "the Lamb of God...

"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...

Saint Sergius (in Russian, Sergei or Sergey) was from the Moscow region. Born in 1314, his parents died young and he withdrew into the wilderness to live in prayer. Although he had no monastic training, he was spiritually strong and never fell into a...

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...

According to Christian tradition, when the Virgin Mary was about nine months old, her mother Anna wanted to see if she was able to stand. To her amazement, the infant was able to take seven steps into her mother's arms. This beautiful 16th icon of this...

The first Great Feast of the ecclesiastical year, the Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8) is also the first Great Feast of our salvation. The Mother of God is born to Saint Anna, after a miraculous conception following a lifetime of barrenness.

The Apostle Stephen was the first deacon of the Church. For this, he is called "Protodeacon" or "Archdeacon," and as he was the first Christian martyr, he is called "Protomartyr." While performing his missionary work, he defeated some Jews in a debate...

In this radiant icon, we see Moses and Aaron standing within the Tabernacle of Witness. Moses holds a chalice and a text of the Law, while Aaron the high priest holds a censer and the budded rod. The orb with the seven-branch candle stand contains an...

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...

"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,...

The Great and Universal Feast of the Exaltation (Elevation) of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross is the only one of the Great Feasts that did not occur during the Biblical time period. It is celebrated on September 14 each year. Saint Helen, the...

The Martyr Sophia (Sofia) and her daughters Faith, Hope, and Love (or Charity) lived near Rome in the 2nd century. Under the reign of Hadrian, they were found to be Christians and were taken before him. Knowing they faced death, they prayed for...

The Church has received the tradition of the Nativity (birth) of the Mother of God from the ancient Fathers of the Church. The Virgin Mary was born to her parents about 16 or 17 years before the birth of Christ. Her father Joachim was descended from...

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...

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...