Saint Raphael was born in Beirut in 1860. He spent the first decades of his life traveling throughout the Middle East and Russia, gaining knowledge and experience as a clergyman. Father Raphael was called to America and established a parish in...

In icons of this type, Our Lady appears directly facing the viewer with her hands raised in the orans (prayer) position. This is the moment of her conception of Christ at the Annunciation, as He is symbolically depicted within her. He appears as...

Saint Theodore the Soldier (or "the Recruit," "the Tyro" or Theodore of Amasea) was a soldier and martyr in the early 4th century, enduring the persecutions of the emperors Maximian and Maximus. When it was discovered he was a Christian, a judge...

This exquisite 19th century fresco is from the Church of St. John the Baptist in Kratovo, Macedonia. It depicts the Angelic Host of Heaven of  archangels, cherubim, and seraphim, from the visions of Ezekiel. The iconographer captures the glory and...

In 5th century Jerusalem, the custom began that the faithful would hold candles during the Divine Liturgy on February 2, the feast of the Presentation of Christ (or Meeting of the Lord) in the Temple. This custom spread throughout the world, and in...

This icon of the victory of the Archangel Michael’s victory over the evil one, is an allusion to the Apocalypse as depicted in Revelation 20. This is a faithful reproduction of the original, painted by the Reniassance-era master iconographer...

On February 15, 2015, the Moslem terrorists of Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) executed these 21 Coptic Orthodox men for their Christian faith. The video which showed the brutal beheadings called them "people of the cross, followers of the hostile...

This contemporary Byzantine icon of a Guardian Angel is a glorious depiction of our unseen allies. Robed in bright robes of gold and pink, this Guardian Angel bears a cross and sword, speaking of their roles in encouragement and spiritual defense. This...