Icons from Places

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...

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...

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...

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...

  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...

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...

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

This icon depicts the scene at the tomb on the morning of Pascha, with the angel in white robes showing the Theotokos and Saint Mary Magdalene the Lord's grave clothes and empty tomb.

"But Jesus stood before the governor, and the go

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

This unique icon of the Washing of the Feet is from the 10th century Bamberg Psalter. It is a glorious depiction from St. John's Gospel (13:1-17) of Christ washing the feet of his disciples on the...

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...

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...

The Church has received the tradition of the conception 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 birth of...

Mid-Pentecost is celebrated on the Wednesday 25 days after Pascha, the halfway point between Pascha at Pentecost. This feast celebrates Christ as the Holy Wisdom of God, as the Gospel describes Him...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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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...

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...

Saint Stephen suffered during the iconoclasm of Emperor Leo the Isaurian (716-41). He defended the veneration of icons, and for this he was put on trial and imprisoned. In prison, he and over 300...

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...

This historic icon from Mt. Athos depicts Saint Theodore the Studite.  Saint Theodore was born in Constantinople in 759. He entered the monastic life at a young age and became a deacon and priest,...

In this 12th century icon from the Sinai region, we see Christ extending his hand to his beloved friend Lazarus, who comes out of his tomb after being dead for four days. This miraculous event...

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...

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...

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and spoke loudly, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! From within whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will flow...

Saint Gregory was from Caesarea. He served the king of Armenia until he was discovered to be a Christian, and for this he was tortured. He was cast into a pit of snakes and left to die, but God...

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...

From the 10th century Bamberg Psalter.