Great Lent Icon - F318

This icon, specially commissioned by Legacy Icons, features all the key commemorations of Great Lent in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. One priest enthusiastically said of it, "This is an icon that waited 2,000 years to be painted!"

• St. Theodore the Soldier – His miracle of the Kollyva is commemorated on the first Saturday of Lent, in which the Christians were sustained throughout Lent without eating food sacrificed to idols
• St. Theodora the Empress – Her restoration of the Holy Icons is commemorated on the first Sunday of Lent, known as the Triumph of Orthodoxy
• St. Gregory Palamas – This great theologian and teacher of Hesychasm is commemorated on the second Sunday of Lent
• The Holy Cross – In the midst of Lent, on the third Sunday, we venerate the Holy Cross; the Kontakion of this Sunday has the refrain "Return Again to Paradise," which is the goal of Lent and the whole Christian life
• St. John Climacus – The author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, a staple of Eastern Christian asceticism to this day, is commemorated on the fourth Sunday of Lent
• St. Mary of Egypt – She was a former harlot who left her sinful ways and devoted her whole life to repentance in the desert; we commemorate her on the fifth Sunday of Lent
• St. Lazarus the Friend of Christ – On Lazarus Saturday, the eve of Palm Sunday, we commemorate his resurrection from the dead as a sign of Christ's power over death which will soon be demonstrated

On the outer edge we have the four key liturgists and hymnographers whose inspired works are important elements of the Lenten journey:

• St. Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome – His Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated on the weekdays of Lent; his scroll reads, "Now the Powers of Heaven serve with us," from the Cherubic Hymn of his Liturgy
• St. Basil the Great – His Divine Liturgy is celebrated mainly on the Sundays of Lent, as well as a few occasions outside of Lent during the year; his scroll reads, "All creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace," from the Megalynarion of his Liturgy
• St. Romanos the Melodist – His Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos is chanted on the fifth Saturday of Lent; his scroll reads, "Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom," the refrain sung many times throughout the service
• St. Andrew of Crete – His Great Canon of Repentance is chanted on the fifth Thursday of Lent; his scroll reads, "My soul, arise! Why are you sleeping?" from the Kontakion of the Great Canon

This icon, packed with beautiful symbolism of this holy season, is a perfect centerpiece to your home prayer corner or church throughout the Fast.