Icons

"The Pure Soul" is an extremely rare subject matter, but it is found in Russian iconography during the 16th-18th centuries. It is an instructional icon based on various spiritual texts. The female...

This icon depicts the Virgin holding Christ, Who holds her in a sweet embrace. Archangels Michael and Gabriel offer their praise and worship. This Russian icon dates from the 18th century.

This beautiful illuminated manuscript is an incredible example of early Western iconography. It comes from the 9th century "Book of Kells," an illuminated Gospel book produced in Ireland. The...

This historic icon depicts the Burial of Christ. In moving form and vivid color, the anonymous 14th century iconographer records the last embrace of Christ’s body by the Theotokos and the weeping of...

  Saint Gabriel was born on March 22, 1684, in Zvierki (Zwierki, Poland). His parents, Peter and Anastasia, maintained their Orthodox faith despite the growth of Uniatism in the region. As a child,...

"But Jesus stood before the governor, and the go

This 19th century Russian Old Believer icon features the Guardian Angel and several other saints: St. Aquilina the Virgin Martyr, St. Basil the Great, and Sts. Gurias, Samonas and Abibus (Habib)...

This icon is a beautiful Byzantine portrayal of the Old Testament Prophet Jonah. Called to prophecy the imminent destruction of the wicked Assyrian empire, Jonah famously disobeyed God and fled...

This contemporary Byzantine icon commemorates the Holy Prophet Micah. One of the minor prophets, he is renowned for his prophecies of the coming of St. John the Forerunner and the Messiah, Jesus...

This 14th century icon depicts Saint Demetrius (or Demetrios), an early Christian martyr and important military saint. His feast is celebrated on October 26. Saint Demetrius was born in...

As King David once sung, "The queen stood at Your right hand in apparel interwoven with gold, and adorned and embroidered with various colors" (Psalm 44:10, Orthodox Study Bible). This icon presents...

This beautiful example of Western iconography is part of the Lindisfarne Gospel illuminated manuscript, which was produced in England in the early 8th century. We see Saint Mark writing his Gospel...

This historic Russian icon depicts a closeup view of the Archangel Gabriel. Arrayed in festal deacon’s vestments, Holy Gabriel acts as the liaison between humans and God throughout Scripture. He...

This historic Russian icon depicts the Archangel Garbiel, the chief liaison between God and man. He is clothed in green deacon's vestments, speaking of his mediating role. In this icon, his hands...

This unique icon of the Ascension of Christ is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a glorious depiction from chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles. The anonymous iconographer represents the...

This matching icon set of Christ Pantocrator and the Theotokos, commissioned for Legacy Icons from the Ukrainian iconographer Tatiana Liulko, unites the majesty of Christ the Almighty with the tender...

In his ministry, our Lord Jesus many times cast demons out of those who were afflicted. In this fresco from Decani Monastery, we see his miraculous work for the Gergesene (also called the Geresene...

The original Kursk Root Icon is one of the most famous 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...

The Book of Acts relates how Philip was traveling along the road in the desert towards Gaza when he met the servant of the Ethiopian Queen Candace. According to tradition, the name of the servant is...

  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...

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 was...

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...

"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, this feast is dedicated...

This event is commemorated on August 1 (988) with the feast of the Cross. This icon is brimming with details and scenes from Russia's holy history.

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...

The first Great Feast of the ecclesiastical year, the Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8) is also the first Great Feast of our salvation. The Mother of God is born to Saint Anna, after a...

This contemporary Byzantine icon of Saint Menas the Wonderworker features the holy Saint opening his hands in the orans gesture of prayer. Christ is mystically depicted within the Saint, as the Lord...

Saint Zlata (also known as Saint Chryse; both words mean "gold") was born in the 18th century in the village of Slatena, Ottoman Bulgaria (modern Chrysi, Greece). She came from a poor peasant family...

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...

These martyrs were from Iconium in Asia Minor. When her husband died, Julitta was left to raise her three-year-old son Cyricus (or Quriaqos) alone. During the persecutions of Diocletian, they fled...

The Seven Sleepers were a group of young soldiers who confessed their faith in Christ before the Emperor Decius. They were allowed to go free, and they fled to the caves to hide. As they prayed in...

Celebrated on January 6th, the Feast of Theophany (from the Greek Theophaneia, "manifestation of God") commemorates the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Within the Orthodox...

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...

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...

This Bulgarian icon of the Apostle Andrew "the First-Called" was painted in the 19th century. It commemorates the life and ministry of this first-called disciple of Christ who later became one of...

  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...

This 19th century icon beautifully portrays the nativity in the flesh of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Visible in the icon, from the top, are the Star of Bethlehem (portrayed as the Holy...

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...

Saint Cyprian served as bishop of Carthage in the Roman province of Africa (in modern Tunisia). He was baptized late in life, but his conversion was radical and swift. Because of his great zeal, he...