Icons

The hodigitria (guide) genre of icons features Christ sitting on the Virgin's lap. Her hands point to her Son in a gesture of humility, guiding the viewer to look to Him. This particular icon is a 13th-century mosaic from Saint Catherine's...

This beautiful historical icon depicts the Theotokos Enthroned holding Christ and sharing a sweet embrace. The anonymous 13th century iconographer includes worshipful angels and ornate decorations.  A high-quality reproduction handcrafted in Legacy...

The Apostle and Evangelist Mark (also called John Mark) is the author of the Gospel of Mark. According to Church tradition, he was the young man who was seized by soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane and fled away naked (Mark 14:51-52). He was a...

  The Apostle Simon the Zealot is traditionally regarded as the bridegroom at the Wedding of Cana, where Christ performed His first miracle. After witnessing this, he became a zealous follower of Christ. After Pentecost, he traveled throughout...

Saint Clement was converted to Christ through the Apostle Peter. He served as the third Bishop of Rome after the death of the Apostles, from about AD 91 to 99. His feast is celebrated on November 23 in the West, November 24 by the Greeks, and November...

The hymn All Creation Rejoices in Thee is part of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, and was written by St. John of Damascus. (He appears in this icon, to the left of the Theotokos, presenting his scroll to her.) All Creation rejoices in thee, O...

This unique icon of the Crucifixion of Christ is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a glorious depiction of the Gospels' accounts of Christ's voluntary death and sacrifice. The Theotokos (Blessed Virgin Mary) and St. John the Beloved Disciple...

The Lord appears as the just Judge of the world, with a sword in his mouth (Revelation 19:15). Below, humanity rises from the dead and faces judgment by the angels: some go to heaven, others into hellfire. From the 10th century Bamberg Psalter.

This unique icon of the Resurrection of Christ is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a glorious depiction of Christ's completion of his efforts in conquering his people's mortal enemies--sin, the evil one, and death itself--and stepping back...

This early 19th century Greek icon depicts the life and martyrdom of Saint George. It was painted in 1823, in the midst of the Greek war of independence, and surely brought strength and inspiration to those who viewed it. George was a soldier of noble...

The hodigitria (guide) genre of icons features Christ sitting on the Virgin's lap. Her hands point to her Son in a gesture of humility, guiding the viewer to look to Him. This particular icon is part of the Comnenus mosaic at the Hagia Sophia in...

These 20,000 saints were martyred on Christmas Day in the year 303. A great number of Christians were burned alive in a church, and many others were killed in the surrounding area at the decree of Diocletian. They are all commemorated together on...

This unique historical icon of the Annunciation is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. The Archangel Gabriel was sent from God to greet the Virgin, saying, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women!" He told her...

Saint Athanasius was the founder of the first monastic communities on Mount Athos in Greece about the turn of the first millennium. To this day, Athos is the home of some 20 ancient monastic communities, including Saint Athanasius' original community,...

Saint Nicholas was born in the third century in the city of Patara. His wealthy Christian parents died when he was young, and he gave his inheritance to the poor. Devoting himself to the Church, Nicholas was eventually ordained Bishop of Myra...

Saint Stephen suffered during the iconoclasm of Emperor Leo the Isaurian (716-41). He defended the veneration of icons, and for this he was put on trial and imprisoned. In prison, he and over 300 other defenders of the icons organized a...

The Playing Child (or Pelagonitissa in Greek) icon features the Christ Child playing actively in the arms of His Mother. His back is to the viewer, with His hand stretched up to lovingly touch the Virgin's face. This icon is also sometimes known...

The Church has received the tradition of the conception 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 the...

A Deësis icon is an ideal centerpiece in a home prayer corner, serving as an example of how to approach our Lord properly and prayerfully, even as the saints intercede for us. In the Deësis icon, Jesus Christ is enthroned at the...

Saint John became archbishop of Alexandria in 608. He fought against heresy throughout his episcopacy, but he is especially remembered for his generosity to the poor. He is also referred to as John the Almsgiver. He reposed in 619, at the age of 64...

Gideon was appointed by God as one of the Judges of Israel during the Old Testament. His feast is celebrated on September 26, and he is also remembered among the Old Testament righteous on the Sunday of the Forefathers in December.

This historic Byzantine icon depicts Saint Stephen the Protomartyr in his vestments and incense burner of the diaconate. His story is recalled in chapters 6-7 of the Acts of the Apostles.  The Apostle Stephen was the first deacon of the Church. For...

This fresco from the Slivnichki Monastery in Macedonia is part of a series based on the Akathist Hymn. The scene depicts the Theotokos standing in the midst of expert orators and wizened philosophers, who are left silent and unable to explain her...

This beautiful icon was painted in Constantinople in the mid-to-late 13th century. The Theotokos looks to her Son, Jesus, who gives a blessing with His right hand, and whose stance evokes the idea of a philosopher. This is a sign of His teachings, and...

Saint Theodore was born in Constantinople in the year 759. He entered the monastic life at a young age, and by age 35 he had been ordained a priest and became the abbot of the monastery. He later left this monastery and joined the Monastery of...

This stunning historical Russian icon depicts the Archangel Michael in his role as warrior and intercessor for the church. He wears scarlet festal robes and bears a spear in his right hand and orb in his left, symbolizing his authority and power...

This 17th century icon from Moscow is known as the Unsleeping Eye (Nedremannoe Oko). It depicts Christ Emmanuel, as a youth, reclining on a bed in Paradise, represented in iconography as a white background filled with whimsical trees and plants. He is...

In this 12th century icon from the Sinai region, 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...

Saint Martinian (or Martinianos/Martin) was an early-5th century monastic father of Caesarea in Palestine. He once brought to repentance a woman who was trying to tempt him. His feast is celebrated on February 13.

From the 10th century Bamberg Psalter.

Saint Romanos (or Romanus) the Melodist was born in Syria in the late 5th century. After serving as a deacon in Beirut, he went on to Constantinople. While he served the Church passionately, he felt his voice was weak. He prayed to the Mother of God,...

This historic icon commemorates the Miracle of Chonae. This historic 15th century Byzantine icon gives its focus to the figure and importance of Michael the Archangel in this miracle and in preserving God’s people. According to Holy Tradition,...

This unique icon of the Presentation of Christ is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a glorious depiction from St. Luke's Gospel (2:22-40) where the Theotokos and St. Joseph the Betrothed present the 40-day old Christ in the temple in...

According to Church tradition, after the bodily death of Mary the Theotokos, she was buried by the Apostles. But Thomas was delayed, and he desired to look upon her face one last time. When the tomb was opened, her body was gone (for Christ had already...

Saint Nilus (or Neilos/Neil/Nil) was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom and one of his greatest defenders when he was persecuted by the Empress Eudoxia. About the time of Chrysostom's exile, Nilus and his son went to live at Mount Sinai. There he...

Saints Boris (in baptism, Romanus) and Gleb (in baptism, David) were sons of Saint Vladimir the Great Prince of Kiev. When their father was near death in the year 1015, their elder brother Svyatopolk planned to kill his brothers in order to seize power...

Saint Dionysius was the second bishop of Athens. He was a member of the Aeropagus (Mars Hill), and with Saint Hierotheus, he was converted by Saint Paul. Together with the Apostles, he was present at the funeral of the Theotokos. He was martyred in the...

This unique icon of Christ's Entry into Jerusalem is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a beautiful depiction of the Gospel accounts of Christ's celebrated and prophesied entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week. The anonymous...

Saint George, sometimes called “the Trophy-bearer,” was born in the province of Cappadocia, Asia Minor (Turkey), in the third century and raised as a Christian. About age 20, he joined the Roman army under the emperor Diocletian,...