Scenes

In the image we see Christ enthroned at the top between the Apostles Peter and Paul, who raise their hands in a gesture of prayer and supplication. Christ's halo is like a rainbow, with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega ("the beginning and the end")...

Painted in the beautiful decorative style of ancient Byzantine manuscripts, this striking icon features the Lord Jesus standing in the center as a Teachers. His students, the Apostles, stand round about Him, receiving His words. The Prophets and...

In this beautiful detail from a massive 17th century fresco at Slivnichki Monastery in Macedonia, the Holy Spirit is depicted as a dove, perched on a royal throne. He holds the Holy Gospel, and is surrounded by the instruments of the passion: the...

This icon features the traditional Orthodox patron saints of animals and livestock: Archangel Michael Martyrs Florus and Laurus Saint Blaise of Sebaste Saint Modestus of Jerusalem Icon of the Theotokos "of the Sign" At the bottom is a scene depicting...

This unique 19th century Russian icon features twelve illustrated panels of the Nicene Creed. The panel's original inscriptions were in Church Slavonic, but we have painstakingly recreated them in English for accessible reading. Lord of Sabaoth and...

This unique example of Western iconography from the 13th-century Bible moralisée depicts Christ as the Architect of the world, or Geometer.

This icon is from the very Cave of the Apocalypse itself, on the island of Patmos, Greece, where the book of Revelation was written. It depicts the following passage:  I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation...

This icon features the Lord's first miracle, the changing of the water into wine, which took place at the Wedding at Cana. From the 10th century Bamberg Psalter.

This 6th-century mosaic is from the apse of the Basilica of Saint Apollinare in Ravenna, Italy. The holy Cross is jeweled (crux gemmata) and appears in the center, surrounded with the Taboric light. Moses and Elias appear on either side, and...

This is a reproduction of an illuminated manuscript from the Beatus Codex Manchester, a commentary on the Book of Revelation written in the year 776. The image depicts the vision of St. John from Revelation 5:6-8: And between the throne and the four...

In this radiant icon, we see Moses and Aaron standing within the Tabernacle of Witness. Moses holds a chalice and a text of the Law, while Aaron the high priest holds a censer and the budded rod. The orb with the seven-branch candle stand contains an...

This 19th century Russian icon is a depiction of the Lord's Prayer, filled with small vignettes illustrating each line of the prayer. The icon's original inscriptions were in Church Slavonic, but we have painstakingly recreated them in English for...

This popular icon tells the story of a certain young man who, despite his sinful way of life,  kept a prayerful devotion to the Mother of God. One day, he prayed before the icon of the Theotokos as he was leaving his house to commit a sin...

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 is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit,...

In the Eastern Christian tradition, each day of the week is dedicated to special remembrances. This unique 18th century Russian icon portrays each day's commemoration: Sunday: the Resurrection, with the Harrowing of Hades icon Monday: the Angels, with...

This 13th century icon known as the Suzdal Deësis is from the Dormition Cathedral in Moscow. It features a simple Deësis (supplication) row with Christ in the center and the Theotokos and Saint John the Forerunner turned towards Him.

This infanticidal slaughter was ordered by Herod, who was afraid of losing power to the one called "King of the Jews" by the Magi. Soon after the birth of Christ, all the male children in the Bethlehem region under two years of age were murdered. Mary...

Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was...

This icon is a famous and historic symbol of Moscow and its ancient kingdom. In the center is the Theotokos of Vladimir. She is surrounded by a "family tree" filled with saints from the Moscow region. Painted in 1668 by Simon Ushakov. On the left side:...

In this 16th century Cretan icon, the Theotokos is praised by Old Testament figures, from the Patriarch Jacob (holding the ladder), to Moses, the Prophets, and finally John the Forerunner, the last of the Old Testament prophets. The iconographer...

This beautiful 16th century Deësis (Supplication) row features the distinctive bright blue of northern Russian icons of the 16th century. The figures feature a distinctive Novgorod influence in their style. This icon was likely originally painted...

The Three Holy Youths Ananias, Misael, and Azarias were among the Jews who were taken to Babylon in the sixth century BC. King Nebuchadnezzar took them into his royal household where they served, along with the Prophet Daniel. They were given Persian...

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 the River of Life. The burning city is Babylon the...

The Bosom (or "Embrace") of Abraham is an image that refers to a place comfort within Hades (the common place of the dead) for the righteous departed. This term is used in the Lord's parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, which has the poor beggar...

This beautiful Hagia Sophia mosaic features Christ Enthroned, standing between Emperor Constantine IX and his wife Empress Zoe, holding symbols of donations. The 11th century mosaic is contemporary with Zoe's lifetime and has a colorful history. As Zoe...

On the day after Palm Sunday (Holy Monday), the Lord Jesus cursed a fig tree. This tree appeared hardy and covered with leaves, but it was fruitless. At this the Lord said, "May fruit no longer come from you forever!" The tree immediately withered...

So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness ... Then...

In the Lord's parable of the Ten Virgins, he speaks of five foolish virgins and five wise, who are awaiting the bridegroom to enter his wedding feast. The wise brought enough oil for their lamps to keep watch all night, while the foolish had to go into...

"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 figure on the left, dressed in royal robes,...

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple ... A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was...

This beautiful Hagia Sophia mosaic features the Theotokos and Christ, standing between Emperor John II Komnenos and his wife Empress Irene of Hungary, holding symbols of donations. The mosaic dates to the 13th century and is found in the south gallery...

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 19th century Russian icon features a stylized church iconostasis. This is a great way to bring the church into the home as a centerpiece for prayer. Bottom Row: the Holy Doors and Deacon's Doors Second Row: the 12 Great Feasts with Pascha...

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 this, Christ depicted as Almighty God. On either side,...

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven ... And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Alleluia!" ... Then I fell down at...

Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals ... Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been...

From the 11th century Bamberg Apocalypse.