Icons

The Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John was the older cousin of our Lord. He was born miraculously of aged parents, specially chosen by God to prepare the way for Christ, the Messiah. It...

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...

  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...

Saint Emilia (also known as Emmelia, Amelia, or Emily) was born in the fourth century. She was the daughter of an unknown martyr and wife of Saint Basil the Elder, who was a lawyer in Caesarea...

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 h

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...

Joachim and Anna were the parents of the holy Virgin Mary. They were childless, and for this they were derided by their fellow Jews, who believed they must have been cursed. They both devoted...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The Holy Apostle Timothy was born to a pagan father and Jewish mother. He became a disciple of the Apostle Paul when he preached in Lystra, and he followed him throughout the time of his preaching...

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...

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...

Saint Theodore the Soldier (or "the Recruit," "the Tyro" or Theodore of Amasea) was a soldier and martyr in the early 4th century, enduring the persecutions of the emperors Maximian and Maximus...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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,"...

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...

Saint Mary lived in the fifth century. As a girl, she left her Christian family in order to follow her pleasures in unbridled sinful living. At one point she joined a group of pilgrims to...

This icon is painted in the traditional Byzantine style, featuring Saint Paul holding the Gospel that he preached as the Apostle to the nations. The rich blue background makes it a stunning...

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...

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...

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...

This icon depicts the Lord Jesus as Judge at the Last Judgment, coming in glory with the angelic host. With the Theotokos and Saint John the Baptist in poses of supplication, this is also a deësis...

This detail from a large 16th century fresco features a Cherub. The Cherubim are the second-highest of the nine ranks of angels. The Ark of the Covenant fashioned by Moses, and later the Temple,...

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...

This icon is a Russian interpretation of the famous Ladder of Divine Ascent icon. It is based on Saint John Climacus’s seminal work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent.In the icon, as well as the book,...

The holy prophet Joshua, the Son of Nun (in Greek, Jesus of Navi), was called by Moses to survey the Promised Land. He urged the people to trust in God as they prepared to enter the land. He was...

This comforting icon is a perfect representation of Christ Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) as well as his role as our own good shepherd (John 10), demonstrating the Lord’s great love...

This icon is used in the Russian

In icons of this type, Our Lady appears directly facing the viewer with her hands raised in the orans (prayer) position. This is the moment of her conception of Christ at the Annunciation, as He is...

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,...

The Apostle Stephen was the first deacon of the Church. For this, he is called "Protodeacon" or "Archdeacon," and as he was the first Christian martyr, he is called "Protomartyr." While performing...

This touching 19th century Russian icon depicts the Martyr Sophia and her daughters Faith, Hope, and Love (in Slavonic: Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov). They lived near Rome in the 2nd century. Under...