Icons

Born to wealthy and devout Christian parents in Egypt, Anthony was always sensitive to the duties of faith. When his parents died, Anthony distributed his inheritance to the poor and went to live a life in solitude that set an example for...

This famous 15th century Russian icon portrays the Dormition (falling asleep) of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Virgin Mary. Christ takes her pure soul from her body as the Apostles gather from all over earth to say farewell to an earthly life here...

Saint Brendan was born in the year 484 in County Kerry, Ireland. He was educated in the monastery school at Tuam. When he was 26, he was ordained a priest and undertook several missionary journeys throughout the Scottish Isles and Britain. An...

This icon depicts the arrival of Mary at the temple, as she is received by the High Priest and the other temple virgins. Her elderly parents, Joachim and Anna, are seen in the background. In the upper right corner, Mary has taken her place in the Holy...

This stunning Slavic-style icon depicts the Archangel Michael in his role in trampling the church’s foes as seen in Revelation 20. The vivid colors and figures of this traditional 18th century icon remind us to remember that “we fight not...

This image is from a stained glass window in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Holy Spirit is shown in the form of a dove, as He appeared at the baptism of Christ.

The Venerable Stylianos (or Stylianus) lived around the sixth century. He lived a strict ascetic life in the wilderness, praying and fasting. The citizens of the area became aware of his holiness, and many sought him out for his advice and prayers. He...

Saint Justin was born in Palestine in the year 103. He was incredibly intelligent and had a love of knowledge, which led him to a fervent study of Greek philosophy. After probing the depths of Plato and others, he concluded that none of them could...

This 14th-century icon is from the Church of St. Clement in Ohrid, Macedonia. "Today is the beginning of our salvation," proclaims the Orthodox Church's troparion (hymn) for the Annunciation. Celebrated on March 25, exactly nine months before Christmas,...

Saint Panteleimon lived in the late 3rd century. A native of Nicomedia, his mother wished for him to be raised a Christian. When she died young, his pagan father sent him to be educated as a physician. He was befriended by Saint Hermolaus, a priest,...

Pantocrator, "almighty," is one of the many names of God used in the Bible. It refers to Christ as Sabaoth, "Lord of Hosts," the ruler of all, and the sustainer of the universe. This image of Christ is the most widely-used subject in all of...

St. Gregory lived in the fourth century. A brilliant theologian and teacher, he was consecrated bishop of Nyssa by his older brother, St. Basil the Great. Together the brothers fought against the Arian heresy, and suffered persecution by Arian clergy...

Saint Peter was an Aleut native of Kodiak Island, Alaska. He was baptized by the monks of Saint Herman's mission. In 1815, while hunting seals, he and several other Aleuts were kidnapped by Spanish sailors and taken to San Gabriel Mission in California...

According to detailed analysis, the original 12th century Theotokos of Vladimir icon has been restored at least seven times; the last restoration was in the 19th century. Only the faces of Christ and the Theotokos date to the original painting. Using...

Emperor Constantine the Great, Equal-to-the-Apostles, legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire. He once saw a vision of the Cross in the sky and heard a voice say, "In this sign conquer." His feast is celebrated on May 21, together with his mother...

The Kursk Root Icon is one of the most ancient icons of the Russian Church, dating to the 13th century. It is an icon of the Theotokos "of the Sign" and features around the border nine prophets who foresaw the birth of Christ. The name "Kursk Root" is...

Noah was an Old Testament Patriarch who lived at the time of the Great Flood. In his lifetime, he was judged by God to be the only righteous man left in the world. When God destroyed the world in the Flood, Noah and his family were saved in the Ark...

Saint Nicholas II reigned as the last Tsar (Emperor) of Russia from 1894 to 1917. His rule saw the liberalization and eventual fall of the Russian Empire in the Bolshevik Revolution, which ushered in the Soviet communism which was incredibly...

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,...

Saint Thekla (or Thecla) was born into a pagan noble family just sixteen years after the Ascension. When she was eighteen, against the wishes of her mother and fiancé, she became a disciple of St. Paul. Despite the objections of her...

This exquisite contemporary icon portrays Christ as the Bridegroom. Each year during Holy Week, the Bridegroom Service is a key part of the days leading up to Pascha (Easter). This icon depicts the troparia and readings remembering his humility and love...

This touching icon of the holy Ancestor of God Saint Anna is by the hand of American iconographer Mark Fiorenzo. It depicts the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ embracing her daughter. The young Mary holds a flower. This icon...

Bring the beauty of Orthodox tradition into your home with this 19th-century Russian icon of Christ Blessing the Children. Inspired by the Gospel passage where Jesus welcomes the little ones, this sacred image reflects His love, mercy, and the call...

This 14th century fresco 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. Angels...

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...

Saint Joanna, the wife of Chusa the steward of King Herod, was one of the women who followed Christ during his ministry (mentioned twice in the Gospel of Luke), and she was among the Myrrh-bearing Women who came to the Lord's tomb on the morning of...

This icon of the Holy Archangel Michael depicts him in festal robes in a traditional Russian pose. The icon makes use of vivid color and decoration to commemorate this saint’s role as intercessor and protector.  Michael in the Hebrew language...

  Esther was the Jewish queen of Artaxerxes, King of Persia. The account of her life is recorded in the Old Testament Book of Esther. She foiled a plot by the evil Haman to destroy the Jews living in Persia. Righteous Esther is commemorated on...

The Great Prophet and King David, who lived about the 11th century before Christ, is one of the great prefigurements of our Lord. One of his greatest contributions to the Christian faith is the book of Psalms; many of these hymns prophecy the coming of...

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...

Saint Katherine (also spelled Catherine) was a Great Martyr who suffered in the year 305 at the hands of Maximinus of Alexandria. She is commemorated in the Slavic churches on November 24, the date of her martyrdom. In the Byzantine churches, she is...

The Theotokos of the Passion is one of the most recognized Byzantine icons of the Mother of God (Theotokos) by both Eastern Orthodox Christians as well as Western Roman Catholics, who know it as Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It is believed to be...

Elias (or in Hebrew, Elijah) lived under the rule of Ahab, “who did evil before the Lord, more than all who were before him” (3 Kgd. 16:38). Through Elijah, God gave the world a voice of justice in an unjust time. But the miracles and signs...

Originally called Prokhor, St. Seraphim was born to middle-class parents in Russia in 1754. He became very ill as a young child, but was healed by the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon through his own faith and the faith of his mother. After this...

Saint Simeon (or Symeon) is one of the greatest theologians and miracle-workers in Church history; he is one of only three Saints in the Eastern tradition that is called "Theologian." His writings and teachings on theology and prayer are foundational...

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 beautiful icon depicts the Theotokos as the Burning Bush of Moses, who is seen removing his sandals as the account in Exodus describes. In the words of the Akathist Canon, " The great mystery of your childbirth did Moses perceive within the...

The Apostle Andrew "the First-Called," was the brother of Saint Peter. He had been a disciple of Saint John the Baptist, but went to follow Christ when Saint John called Him "the Lamb of God," becoming the first disciple. After the Lord's ascension...

This icon set includes icons of Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica. Though Augustine went far astray in his youth, he was brought back through the unceasing prayers of his mother. With this set, we see the fulfillment of a certain...

This detail from a large 16th century fresco features a Seraph. The Seraphim, which in Hebrew means "burning ones," are the highest of the nine angelic ranks. Their name indicates their closeness to God: so close that they are eternally burning with...