Icons from Places

"At that time Joseph of Arimathea, a noble councillor, who was also waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate wondered if he were already dead, and after summoning the centurion he asked him if...

This stunning Ethiopian icon of St. George depicts the renowned soldier of Christ in combat with the dragon.  Saint George, sometimes called “the Trophy-bearer,” was born in the province of Cappadocia, Asia Minor (Turkey), in the third...

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 glory of this event of the gathered disciples and...

Saint Gregory was born in 329 in Cappadocia. After his studies, he suffered in a shipwreck and feared for his soul, as he was unbaptized. God spared him, and arriving in Athens, he joined his friend Basil the Great. They lived as monastic brothers in...

  Saint Ambrose was born in Gaul in the year 340 and became a member of the Roman Senate as Governor of Milan. When the Arian bishop of Milan died, the Orthodox and Arians fought over who would succeed him. Ambrose, desiring to maintain peace, tried...

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...

Saint Paisios the Great was an Egyptian monastic father in the 5th century. His feast is celebrated on June 19.

Saint Andrew was born about the year 650 in Damascus, Syria. At the age of 14 he joined the Monastery of St. Sabbas the Sanctified in Jerusalem. Known for his virtue, he became the secretary of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and attended the Sixth...

This beautiful icon depicts the Apostle Peter, one of Christ’s original 12 disciples. Called from his life as a fisherman, he became a ‘fisher of men’ and was known for his outspokenness, courage, and humility. After Pentecost, he...

This historic icon commemorates the Miracle of Chonae. It is a faithful copy of the original painted by the faithful monks of St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt, where it resides today. According to Holy Tradition, this miracle occurred in...

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 enemies--sin, the evil one, and death itself--and stepping back...

Saint Alexis (or Alexios/Alexius) was a 4th-century Roman monastic who secretly left the secular world and lived in anonymity for much of his life. He is counted among the saints called "Fools-for-Christ." His feast is celebrated on March 17.

Saint Nicholas was born in the third century in the city of Patara. His wealthy Christian parents died when he was young, and he gave his inheritance to the poor. Devoting himself to the Church, Nicholas was eventually ordained Bishop of Myra...

Saint Athanasius was born to a Christian family in Alexandria in 295. He was ordained the bishop of Alexandria before he reached his thirtieth birthday, and became a leader of the Church even before that.  At the time that Athanasius was...

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 23 in the West, November 24 by the Greeks, and November...

The Lord appears as the just Judge of the world, with a sword in his mouth (Revelation 19:15). Below, humanity rises from the dead and faces judgment by the angels: some go to heaven, others into hellfire. From the 10th century Bamberg Psalter.

Saint Athanasius was the founder of the first monastic communities on Mount Athos in Greece about the turn of the first millennium. To this day, Athos is the home of some 20 ancient monastic communities, including Saint Athanasius' original community,...

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 a 13th-century mosaic from Saint Catherine's...

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 Diocletian. They are all commemorated together on...

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 to Tarsus, but were arrested in the year 305...

This unique icon of the Crucifixion of Christ is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a glorious depiction of the Gospels' accounts of Christ's voluntary death and sacrifice. The Theotokos (Blessed Virgin Mary) and St. John the Beloved Disciple...

Saint Dorotheos was born in Antioch about the year 506 of prominent parents. He was well-educated and worked as a physician. He desired to enter the monastic life, and joined the monastery of Thawatha, where Saints Barsanuphius and John also lived...

This unique historical icon of the Annunciation is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. The Archangel Gabriel was sent from God to greet the Virgin, saying, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women!" He told her...

Saint John became archbishop of Alexandria in 608. He fought against heresy throughout his episcopacy, but he is especially remembered for his generosity to the poor. He is also referred to as John the Almsgiver. He reposed in 619, at the age of 64...

Saint Theodore was born in Constantinople in the year 759. He entered the monastic life at a young age, and by age 35 he had been ordained a priest and became the abbot of the monastery. He later left this monastery and joined the Monastery of...

Saint Alypius was from Adrianople. One of the famous "pillar saints" (stylites), he lived on a pillar for over 50 years. He reposed in the 7th century. His feast is celebrated on November 26.

Saint Dionysius was the second bishop of Athens. He was a member of the Aeropagus (Mars Hill), and with Saint Hierotheus, he was converted by Saint Paul. Together with the Apostles, he was present at the funeral of the Theotokos. He was martyred in the...

This unique icon of Christ's Entry into Jerusalem is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a beautiful depiction of the Gospel accounts of Christ's celebrated and prophesied entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week. The anonymous...

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...

From the 10th century Bamberg Psalter.

This unique icon of the Presentation of Christ is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a glorious depiction from St. Luke's Gospel (2:22-40) where the Theotokos and St. Joseph the Betrothed present the 40-day old Christ in the temple in...

Saint Martinian (or Martinianos/Martin) was an early-5th century monastic father of Caesarea in Palestine. He once brought to repentance a woman who was trying to tempt him. His feast is celebrated on February 13.

Saint Theodore was born out of wedlock in Sykeon of Galatia. When he was a child, his mother gave him a soldier's belt, and told him he would be a soldier. The Great Martyr George then appeared to her and told her that God had a different plan for her...

  Saint Sophronius was from Damascus. While living as a monk in Palestine, he met John Moschus. They became close friends and traveled throughout the Middle East seeking spiritual instruction for many years. After John's death, Sophronius returned...

  This unique icon of Theophany is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a glorious depiction of the revealing of Christ's Divinity and identity within the Trinitarian Godhead. The anonymous iconographer captures the glory and humility of...

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,...

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 the command of Emperor Maximinus in 312. While in...

From the 10th century Bamberg Psalter.