Saints

On February 15, 2015, the Moslem terrorists of Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) executed these 21 Coptic Orthodox men for their Christian faith. The video which showed the brutal beheadings called them "people of the cross, followers of the hostile...

This icon is a reproduction of the Cathedral Shrine to St. Raphael. Originally commissioned prior to his becoming a saint, the icon was later corrected after his glorification in 2000. An interesting feature of this icon is the engolpion (panagia) that...

Saint Joseph was born in Greece in 1897. At the age of 23 he began to read the lives of the Saints, which sparked a yearning to enter the monastic life. He began to withdraw to the uninhabited countryside, and finally departed to Mount Athos. He...

Originally named Saul, Paul was a Jew and a Pharisee. He was a leader of Christian persecutors, and was responsible for the stoning of Saint Stephen, a deacon and the first Christian martyr. When traveling to Damascus to persecute the Christians there,...

Emperor Constantine the Great, Equal-to-the-Apostles, legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire. He once saw a vision of the Cross in the sky and heard a voice say, "In this sign conquer." His mother, Helen, served as his Empress. She was devoted to...

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 Helen, the Equal-to-the-Apostles, was the mother of Saint Constantine. As the mother of the Roman Emperor, she served as his Empress. She was devoted to the Holy Land, and discovered the True Cross on which Christ was crucified. This event is...

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. When it was discovered he was a Christian, a judge...

Saint Silouan the Athonite was a Russian Orthodox monk who lived in the 19th-20th centuries at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos. He was a great elder, with supernatural insight and powerful prayer. He was glorified in 1987 and his feast...

This 19th century Old Believer icon of the great penitent Saint Mary of Egypt comes from Mstera, Russia. She stands in the center, surrounded by scenes of her meetings with Abba Zosimas. She is commemorated on April 1, and in the Orthodox Church, the...

This icon depicts the Archangel Michael in his role as protector and intercessor for the church. In this beautiful contemporary icon, he is portrayed in his traditional colors of crimson and royal blue. He holds a spear and an orb, which represents...

This 21st-century Bulgarian icon, painted by the hand of Georgi Chimev, features Saints Photius the Great, Gregory Palamas, and Mark of Ephesus. Also known as the Three New Holy Hierarchs, these holy Hierarchs had significant roles in guiding the...

This beautiful mosaic is from the Church of the Nativity in Jerusalem.

Saint John of Kronstadt was a married priest who lived in virginity with his wife. He worked tirelessly for the poor and the people of his parish, and was given by the Lord the ability read thoughts and work miracles. So great was his holiness, that in...

This beautiful icon set includes the eight traditional Archangels, the leaders of the bodiless hosts of heaven. Inspire your mind with spiritual thoughts as you contemplate their intercession for you and your loved ones. Michael in the Hebrew...

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...

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

Born to wealthy and devout Christian parents in Egypt, Anthony was always sensitive to the duties of faith. When his parents died, Anthony distributed his inheritance to the poor and went to live a life in solitude that set an example for...

Saint Photeini (also known as Photina, Photine, Photini, or Svetlana) was the Samaritan Woman met by Christ in John 4. Their conversation is the longest recorded dialogue between Christ and a single person.  She had had five husbands and was...

This icon is faithfully reproduced from a detail in a large 16th century fresco from Mt. Athos. It features a glorious angel titled "Angel of the Lord." He is dressed as a deacon in deep blue and gold festal robes, following Psalm 103’s...

Also known as Isaac of Ninevah, he was born in Arabia in the early 7th century. As a young man he entered a monastery and devoted himself to the monastic life. Later in his life, he was ordained Bishop of Nineveh in the north of modern Iraq. After just...

Saint Patrick was a 5th century missionary and bishop in Ireland, and he is the foremost patron saint of that country. His feast is celebrated on March 17 by Christians all around the world. In the icon, he is vested as a bishop. He holds the Gospel in...

The Holy Martyr Longinus was among the soldiers who crucified Christ. When he witnessed the darkness and the earthquake, he made his famous confession, "Truly this man was the Son of God." According to tradition, Longinus was also stationed at the...

Saint Martin lived in the 4th century. He was a soldier in the Roman army. Once, he gave his cloak to a beggar, and Christ appeared to Martin in a dream, wearing the cloak. He was baptized soon afterwards, but remained in the army—reluctantly,...

This 18th century icon depicts the Guardian Angel, the faithful companion and ever-present protector of every baptized Christian. The icon of the Guardian Angel is a perfect baptism gift. Surrounding the Angel are many scenes, typical of the life of a...

This 19th century Old Believer icon depicts the Guardian Angel, the faithful companion and ever-present protector of every baptized Christian. The icon of the Guardian Angel is a perfect baptism gift. The Guardian Angel is commemorated on November...

Saint Phoebe was a deaconess in the church of Cenchreae in Corinth. She was mentioned by Saint Paul in the Book of Romans as a benefactor of many, including Paul himself. He sent Phoebe to Rome to gain support for his missionary work. Her feast is...

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," becoming the first disciple. After the Lord's ascension into...

Although St. Paul was not one of the original Apostles, called while Jesus was on earth, he is known today as a chief Apostle, and his works were vital in the church’s beginning. Paul, known at that time as Saul, was a Roman citizen who persecuted...

Saint Benedict was born in Nursia in central Italy in the the year 480. In his 20s he left the world for solitude, and became a hermit. He spent his days in prayer, and mortified his flesh in repentance for his sins. He is considered the founder of...

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

  Saint Raphael is one of the seven traditionally named Archangels of God. His name means "healing of God," and his intercessions are frequently sought for healing. He makes his biblical appearance twice in the book of Tobit. Tobit had been blinded,...

Saint Panteleimon lived in the late 3rd century. A native of Nicomedia, his mother wished for him to be raised a Christian. When she died young, his pagan father sent him to be educated as a physician. He was befriended by Saint Hermolaus, a priest,...

This icon is faithfully reproduced from a detail in a large 16th century fresco from Mt. Athos. It features a glorious angel titled "Angel of the Lord." He is dressed as a deacon in deep red and gold festal robes, following Psalm 103’s...

Saint Innocent served as a missionary among the native peoples of Alaska. Along with his wife and family, he was devoted to educating the Aleuts and bringing them to Christ. When his wife died, he became a bishop and served as Metropolitan of Moscow...

Saint Olga was the wife of Igor, the Prince of Kiev, in the tenth century. When her husband died, she assumed the throne. This was during the evangelization of the Slavic peoples, and Olga herself converted to Christ, and was baptized in Constantinople...

Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia was an Athonite hieromonk known for his gifts of spiritual discernment, a type of clairvoyance which he sometimes called "spiritual television." He was born in 1906 in the village of Saint John Karystia, in the province...

Christ is at the center, with His right hand raised in a gesture of priestly blessing. He holds a scroll in His left hand. He is robed in gold and bright red, symbolizing divinity. He is depicted as a youth, a form known as Christ Emmanuel ("God with...

Saint Seraphim is one of the Orthodox Church's most beloved holy elders. This icon was painted in the 19th century, featuring beautifully embossed gold and colored inlays. He was born in western Russia in 1754. According to tradition, he was sickly as...