Icons From Mount Athos

After the deaths of the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia, Bishop Anthimus fled to care for his remaining flock. When the soldiers found him, he pretended to be someone else and treated the soldiers kindly, offering them food and lodging. He revealed himself...

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

Saint Hypatius attended the First Ecumenical Council, where he boldly defended the Faith against the Novatian heresy, the false doctrine that a person could not be forgiven of sins committed after baptism. He was captured by their sect and martyred in...

He brought Prince Joasaph of India to faith in Christ. They are commemorated together on November 19.

Saint Dionysius of Korissos Kastoria (also called Dionysios Mikroathonitis) was the founder of the Dionysiou Monastery on Mount Athos in the 14th century. He reposed in 1388, and his feast is celebrated on June 25.

Saint Martinian was from Caesarea of Palestine. When he turned 18, he left his home and lived as a hermit in the wilderness outside the city. For 25 years he lived in silence and mortified his flesh, and reached the spiritual heights. The devil, hoping...

Saint Theodore was born in Constantinople to wealthy and pious Christian parents. When he was old enough, he left everything behind and entered a monastery in Thrace, west of Constantinople. He rejected his former comfortable lifestyle and wore only an...

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 his missionary work, he defeated some Jews in a debate...

Saint Anatolius was a priest of Alexandria. After the Robber Council of 449, the heretical Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria consecrated Anatolius as Patriarch of Constantinople, thinking that Anatolius would support his views. But Anatolius upheld...

The Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus, was the brother of the Apostle Matthew. After Pentecost, he and the Apostle Andrew preached throughout Palestine, healed the sick, and converted many to Christ. Saint James was finally crucified by pagans in Egypt...

This historic icon of Christ "Emmanuel" is from the ancient Orthodox monastic community of Mount Athos, Greece. It depicts Christ as a young man and illustrates the powerful meaning of one of his Hebrew names, Emmanuel, God with us, given to him in...

Saint Eleutherius was still a young man when he became bishop of Illyricum, but he was renowned for his virtue. He was arrested during the persecution of the Emperor Hadrian, tortured, and martyred in the year 126. His mother was also beheaded...

Saint Gregory was from Agrigentum in Sicily. After being ordained as a reader, at age 18 he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was ordained a deacon by the patriarch. After more travels, he returned to Agrigentum where he was consecrated as...

Saint Marcian was born in Rome but was educated in Constantinople. After the death of his parents, he used his inheritance to build churches and help the poor. The Patriarch was impressed by his way of life, ordained him, and made him treasurer of the...

Saint Pancratius lived during the time of the Apostles, and he came to Christ through Saint Peter. They traveled together to Sicily, where Saint Paul was preaching at that time. Together they made Pancratius bishop of Taormina, and through his...