Icons

One of the most popular and beloved Christian Orthodox Icons from the most ancient times is the Orthodox icon of the Good Shepherd. As you look at Christ beautifully holding a sheep on his shoulder you are instantly taken to the Gospel of St. John,...

One of the most popular and beloved Christian Orthodox Icons from the most ancient times is the Orthodox icon of the Good Shepherd. As you look at Christ beautifully holding a sheep on his shoulder you are instantly taken to the Gospel of St. John,...

This 21st century icon shows the scene of the Mystical Supper (or the Last Supper). Christ reveals that one of his Disciples will betray Him, as they look at one another with shock. Judas, the betrayer, is seen reaching his hand toward the bowl, as the...

In one of the evening services of the Orthodox Church known as Compline, we speak these words to Mary, the Theotokos and Mother of God, “Do not turn from me, an unclean sinner...but have compassion on me, O Theotokos, and accept the prayer of a...

The Washing of the Feet occurred in the Gospel at the Last Supper before the Lord’s Passion. In this event, he as the Master washes the feet of his servants, the Disciples. This role reversal demonstrated Christ’s great humility and taught us how we...

This stunning fresco depicts the arrival of the Gospel to the natives of Alaska.  Saints Herman, Juvenaly, and Innocent were the first saints of the Orthodox Church to shine forth in the wilderness of Alaska. With a missionary spirit desiring to...

This miracle of Christ is found in the three synoptic gospels. While He slept on the boat, a storm arose and threatened to capsize the boat. The disciples woke Him in fear, and the Lord rebuked the wind. The storm died down, and He questioned the...

  This unique historic icon depicts the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove, as He appeared at the Baptism of Christ. Painted by an anonymous 17th century iconographer, it a unique representation of the Gospels' account of descent of the Holy Spirit...

The ancient "IC XC NIKA" cross is very common in Eastern Christianity. An abbreviation that means "Jesus Christ conquers", the pattern is stamped on the holy bread used for the Eucharist, and is frequently used in every kind of decoration. Let this...

This 15th century Greek icon depicts the Nativity of Christ, with several related scenes. The Virgin Mary is depicted resting beside her newborn Son. The cave imagery recalls icons of the Resurrection, reminding the viewer that our salvation was...

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...

This scene depicts Christ and the Theotokos at the Wedding at Cana of Galilee. This was our Lord's first miracle, changing the water into wine. As the Orthodox marriage service also says, by His presence at this wedding, Christ blessed marriage as...

This 21st century icon, specially commissioned by Legacy Icons, shows the scene of the Mystical Supper (or the Last Supper). Christ reveals that one of his Disciples will betray Him, as they look at one another with shock. Judas, the betrayer, is seen...

This glorious icon of the Resurrection and Harrowing of Hades features our Lord emerging triumphant from the depths of Hades, trampling down the gates, locks and chains that forever kept humans trapped after death. He raises from their tombs Adam and...

This instructional icon depicts the Second Coming and the Last Judgment. At the top Christ is seen coming in glory, flanked by the armies of the heavenly host, his Mother, and the Prophet John. In the next row are the Twelve Apostles, sitting as judges...

On the third day after His death, the Sunday of Pascha (Easter), our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ raised Himself from the dead. This icon celebrates the universe-transforming event known as the Harrowing of Hades, the doctrine laid down in the...

This icon, known as the Hospitality of Abraham, depicts the Old Testament scene when Abraham and Sarah were visited by three angelic visitors who announced the birth of their son, Isaac. This scene is traditionally understood to be a prefigurement...

This 12th century icon, also known as the Holy Face or Mandylion, portrays the face of Christ on a piece of cloth, carried by the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. According to Christian legend, King Abgar of Edessa wrote to Jesus, asking him to come...

This miracle is recorded by all four of the Evangelists in their Gospels. In the wilderness near Bethsaida, the Lord had compassion on the crowds and miraculously multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed 5000 men, with the women and children besides...

The Harrowing of Hades is the icon most often used to represent the Resurrection of Christ: the Feast of Feasts, Pascha (Easter). In this scene, Christ is seen coming out of the dark pit of Hades, bringing with Him all of the righteous Old Testament...

The Lord's conversation and forgiveness of the Samaritan Woman at the well, as described in John 4:5-42, is celebrated on the fourth Sunday after Pascha (Easter) in the Orthodox Church.

The Harrowing of Hades is the icon most often used to represent the Resurrection of Christ: the Feast of Feasts, Pascha (Easter). In this scene, Christ is seen coming out of the dark pit of Hades, bringing with Him all of the righteous Old Testament...

Commemorated on the 4th Sunday before Lent, the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee marks the beginning of the pre-Lent period in the Orthodox Church. In this parable, the Lord Jesus teaches us to pray with humility, and not to exalt...

This historic icon of the Temptation of Christ movingly depicts Christ's three temptations in a panoramic scene.    Painted by an anonymous iconographer, the original icon resides in the ancient Orthodox monastic community of Mount Athos,...

This stunning icon of the Crucifixion features our Lord hanging on the Cross outside the city of Jerusalem. Standing nearby are His Mother, the Theotokos, and the other women, as well as Saint John. The Cross is planted in "the place of the Skull." This...

This historic Byzantine icon of Christ Calling Peter and Andrew depicts the scene as recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 4, Mark 1, John 1). This relatively simple, unadorned icon movingly depicts Christ's call to Andrew and Peter to leave their nets and...

Saint Menas the Wonderworker is one of the best-known Egyptian saints throughout the world. He was a soldier in the Roman army, and died a martyr about the year 309 when he refused to renounce his faith in Christ. His feast is celebrated on November 11...

Like St. Mark,  St. Luke was not one of the Twelve Apostles, but was one of the the four Evangelists. He was a Gentile, not a Jew, born in Antioch. He was a physician by profession. Luke became a disciple of St. Paul and traveled with Paul and...

While not himself one of the Twelve Apostles, the Evangelist St. Mark is said to have been present at Jesus’ arrest. In the Gospel of Mark, the “young man” who ran away from the scene, and apparently watched the Crucifixion from...

The Apostle and Evangelist Luke was not one of the Lord’s twelve original disciples. A Gentile physician from Antioch, he is counted among the Seventy Apostles. He was a follower of Saint Paul, and traveled with him and Saint Peter throughout the...

This ancient icon is a stunning reproduction of one of the earliest depictions of Jesus Christ. Found in the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus and painted in the 3rd century during the later persecutions of the church, the anonymous iconographer portrays...

"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ And taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee he began to grow sorrowful and distressed. Then Jesus said to...

This incredible icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai is a depiction of the Theotokos as the "flower of Jesse's Tree". The Prophets are seen among the branches growing from Jesse, with the Theotokos at their center, as the Mother of the...

The Sunday before the beginning of Lent is known in the Orthodox Church as Forgiveness Sunday. On this day, we commemorate the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Through this, we remember that we are far from God because of sin, but we can be...

The Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (also named Levi) was the brother of James Alphaeus. He was a tax collector until he was called by Christ. He was the first to write a Gospel, and he wrote in Hebrew. The theology of his Gospel is aimed at the Jews,...

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...

Eight days after the Resurrection, we celebrate the "excellent unbelief of Thomas," in the words of one Vesperal hymn for the feast. His doubting and unbelief led the Lord to offer proof, which brings all of us to the knowledge of the risen Savior as...

This stunning Russian icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Assumption) captures the beauty and glory of Christ receiving the repose of his mother.  The Church has received the tradition of the Dormition (sleeping) and receiving into heaven of...

The Apostle and Evangelist John was especially loved by Christ for his love and purity, and with Peter and James, was one of the closest Apostles to Him. He witnessed the Transfiguration and was the only Apostle to follow Christ to the very Cross, where...

After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. And...