Icons

Saint Seraphim is one of the Orthodox Church's most beloved holy elders. He was born in western Russia in 1754. According to tradition, he was sickly as a child but was healed through the Kursk Root...

This beautiful fresco is from the Coemeterium Maius catacombs and dates to the mid-4th century. The blessed Virgin holds Christ in her lap and raises her hands in the "Orans" posture of prayer,...

The hodigitria (guide or directress) 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 icon,...

Inspired by one of the hymns of the Great Compline service, this historic Russian icon depicts the Mother of God making intercession before her Son on behalf of those who need help. In particular,...

This Hodigitria (Guide or Directress) icon is a symbol of Georgian Orthodoxy. It is traditionally dated to the times of Saint Nina in the 4th century. It is found in the Tsilkani monastery church...

This icon was painted in Moscow in the 16th century. Also known as "The Church Militant," it depicts the heavenly army in the Book of Revelation, and includes imagery of the Heavenly Jerusalem and...

When Jesus was a youth 12 years of age, he went with his Mother and Saint Joseph to the Temple. They left him behind by mistake, and three days later, they found him in the midst of the elders. This...

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river...

This unique 18th century Russian icon depicts the Lord alone on the Cross, outside the city of Jerusalem (here, with characteristic Slavic architecture). The sun and moon are shown as darkened or...

  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...

Starting with the Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8) in the upper left corner and moving down row-by-row to the Dormition of the Theotokos (August 15) in the lower right corner, this stunning...

“And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…”(John 1:17, Orthodox Study Bible). Thus, John recorded the birth of the Creator of the Universe and the Savior of our souls...

This 19th century Russian icon of the Moscow school features Christ in the center as Emmanuel and Word of God. Above the center is the Old Testament Trinity, or Hospitality of Abraham, and above...

Saint Peter was archbishop of Alexandria for 12 years at the beginning of the 4th century. He it was who excommunicated the priest Arius for his heresy. Saint Peter was arrested and imprisoned at...

This beautiful 12th century mosaic is from the Xenophontos Monastery on Mount Athos. It depicts Saint George raising his hands in prayer to Christ, who gives a blessing from heaven. Saint George was...

One of the most renowned women saints of the early church is the virgin martyr Lucy (or Lucia). This wonderful saint was born in Syracuse, Sicily in the year 283 AD to wealthy parents. She was raised...

Originally named Saul, Paul was a Jew and a Pharisee. He was a leader of Christian persecutors, and was responsible for the stoning of Saint Stephen, a deacon and the first Christian martyr. When...

Saint Rastislav was the second Prince of Great Moravia (today part of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary), reigning from 846 to 870. During his reign, he sought to free Moravia from the...

Saint Sylvester served as the 32nd bishop of Rome after the death of the Apostles. He was not able to attend the First Ecumenical Council in 325 due to illness, but he sent representatives. He...

"So the cohort and the tribune and the servants

This unique historic Byzantine icon of the 12th century depicts the Holy Michael in his role as defender of and intercessor for the church. Here, he greets a ‘lowly’ church warden (in comparison to...

Saint Clement was a monk, and later became bishop of Ancyra in Galatia. He suffered persecution for some 30 years until he was martyred under the reign of Diocletian and Maximian in 296. His feast...

Eight days after the Resurrection, we celebrate the "excellent unbelief of Thomas," in the words of one Vesperal hymn for the feast. This unbelief led the Lord to offer proof, which brings all of...

This fresco from the Slivnichki Monastery in Macedonia is part of a series based on the Akathist Hymn. The scene depicts the Incarnation of Christ by the Theotokos. Her arms are open in a gesture...

Saint Cosmas was a native of Jerusalem. He was the foster brother of Saint John of Damascus, having been adopted by his parents. The brothers entered the monastery of Saint Sabbas, where Cosmas...

Saint Joseph lived in Syria in the 19th century. He was a priest who worked as a translator and editor of the Church Fathers' writings, desiring to bring their teachings to the faithful. In 1860, a...

The venerable Onuphrius was a 4th century hermit who lived in the desert of Upper Egypt. He lived in the desert for over 60 years, and it is said he never received a single visitor, except for an...

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...

Saint Tatiana lived in Rome in the early 3rd century. She was raised a Christian and served as a deaconess. After her prayers resulted in the miraculous destruction of various idols and pagan...

This Saint Valentine lived in Silistria (modern Bulgaria) in the 3rd century. He was a soldier in the Roman army, and when he was 30 years old, he confessed his faith in Christ, together with his...

Saint Agafya (Agatha) was the wife of Grand Duke Yuri II of Vladimir (1188-1238), and Theodora was their eight-year-old daughter. Grand Duke Yuri's rule saw the Mongols invade the lands of Kievan...

“And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…”(John 1:17, Orthodox Study Bible). Thus, John recorded the birth of the Creator of the Universe and the Savior of our souls...

This stunning historic Russian icon depicts Michael the Archangel in his role of “the Commander of Formidable Forces.” As captain of the bodiless hosts of heaven, he leads the charge against the...

This unique icon of the Arrest of Christ is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a glorious depiction from the Gospels' accounts of Christ being greeted by Judas Iscariot with a kiss and...

This beautiful Orthodox Christian icon known throughout the Church’s history as “Pantocrator” tells us exactly who He is: Pantocrator-Lord omnipotent, Almighty, and All-Powerful.  The word...

After the life-giving death of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea asked for the precious body to give a dignified burial. Pilate granted his request, and the body of Jesus was taken down from the cross. In...

Saint Metrophanes was raised by pagan parents but became a Christian at a young age. He became bishop of Byzantium in the year 315, and during his episcopacy Saint Constantine made Byzantium the...

Embracing Divine Love: The Story of the Sweet Kissing Icon In the heart of Orthodox Christian tradition lies a beloved icon known as the "Sweet Kissing" or "Glykophilousa" icon. This sacred image...

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...

Palm Sunday is the celebration of Christ's triumphal entry into the royal city of Jerusalem. Riding on a young donkey, he was met by a massive crowd who publicly hailed Him as king. They waved palm...