Saints

An angel is a messenger of God, and a being which has stood before God and praised Him from a time before human comprehension. We cannot fully grasp what an angel's exact nature is, but we can understand an angel's function on earth. In icons,...

This 18th century icon depicts the Archangel Michael as an apocalyptic horseman, trampling down the demons while holding the Gospel.

Saint Michael is portrayed on horseback, holding a censer, a Gospel, and a spear, and blowing a trumpet. Christ is visible in the corner, watching from heaven.

St. Basil was born in Caesarea in 329, to a holy family full of saints. He went to complete his education in Athens, where he first met his lifelong friend St. Gregory the Theologian. Later, after he had spent some time in solitude, Basil became a...

This beautiful example of Western iconography is a manuscript illumination by Haregarius of Tours (France), dating from about the year 850. Christ is enthroned in the center, surrounded by the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the four...

This famous Hagia Sophia mosaic features Christ, the Theotokos, and Saint John the Baptist in a Deesis (Supplication) scene. The Lord Jesus is enthroned while his Mother and Forerunner pray in behalf of the world. The mosaic was completed in the 13th...

This colorful, early 20th century Russian icon features Christ Pantocrator ("Almighty") enthroned, with the Virgin and John the Baptist making supplication at his throne.

Evgeny (Yevgeny or Eugene) Rodionov was born in western Russia in 1977. He was conscripted into the Russian army in 1995 and deployed to Chechnya in the midst of the First Chechen War. While guarding a checkpoint, Evgeny and two other soldiers were...

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. ...

This detail from a  16th century fresco depicts a very unique Tetramorph of the Four Evangelists. A Tetramorph is a symbolic combination of four figures. In this icon, the traditional symbols of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are combined into a...

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 features the Guardian Angel and several other saints: St. Aquilina the Virgin Martyr, St. Basil the Great, and Sts. Gurias, Samonas and Abibus (Habib). They all standing at the ready to quickly intercede with Christ,...

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...

Joachim and Anna were the parents of the holy Virgin Mary. They were childless, and for this they were derided by their fellow Jews, who believed they must have been cursed. They both devoted themselves to prayer, and they each vowed to dedicate their...

Saint John Chrysostom (which means "Golden-Mouthed," after his eloquent speaking abilities) is one of the greatest preachers and theologians in Church history. His sermons and commentary on the scriptures are invaluable, and his bold preaching is...

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 prison,...

Also spelled Jonas. Feast September 22.

The Prophet Jonah (or Jonas) lived in the 8th century before Christ. He prophesied to the Israelites and the Ninevites, calling all to repentance. He also foretold of the coming Messiah. Jonah was eaten by a sea creature and spent three days in its...

The holy prophet Joshua, the Son of Nun (in Greek, Jesus of Navi), was called by Moses to survey the Promised Land. He urged the people to trust in God as they prepared to enter the land. He was chosen to succeed Moses, and after Moses' death, Joshua led...

Moses was a prophet, transcriber of Holy Law, and mediator between God and man. Through Moses, God made Himself known to the people of Israel. In his obedience to God and his communication of the Law to the people, Moses laid the foundation for our...

Esther was the Jewish queen of Artaxerxes, King of Persia. The account of her life is recorded in the Old Testament Book of Esther. She foiled a plot by the evil Haman to destroy the Jews living in Persia. Saint Esther is commemorated on the Sunday...

Saint Agnes lived in Rome, the child of Christian parents. She dedicated herself to a life of virginity for the sake of Christ, and refused the proposal of the son of a Roman official. After confessing Christ, she was arrested, tortured, thrown into the...

The holy Martyr Alexandra was the wife of Roman Emperor Diocletian. She was a contemporary of Saint George, and she is commemorated with him on April 23.

Barbara, born in the third century in Syria, was so beautiful that her pagan father placed her in an isolated tower to keep her innocent of any influence except his own until she could be married. Like St. Christina, Barbara also came to realize...

Barbara, born in the third century in Syria, was so beautiful that her pagan father placed her in an isolated tower to keep her innocent of any influence except his own until she could be married. Like St. Christina, Barbara also came to realize...

St. Basil was born in Caesarea in 329, to a holy family full of saints. He went to complete his education in Athens, where he first met his lifelong friend St. Gregory the Theologian. Later, after he had spent some time in solitude, Basil became a...

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...

Saint Cecilia was from a wealthy Roman family. Through her witness to the Gospel, she brought her husband and brother into the Faith. They suffered martyrdom in the year 288, during the reign of Diocletian. Her feast is celebrated on November 22. She is...

Saint Columba was a 6th century Irish missionary who evangelized in Scotland. One of the earliest missionaries to the Scottish tribes, he founded several monasteries and churches. Also a renowned writer, he composed hymns and transcribed hundreds of...

Saint Conon was born in Nazareth, the hometown of the Lord Jesus. As an adult he lived in Mandona, where he was a gardener. He was a devoted Christian and had a pure heart. The saint suffered under the emperor Decius and openly confessed his faith at...

Saint Genevieve was born in the village of Nanterre, west of Paris in Gaul (modern France), about the year 420. When she was eight years old, she expressed to Saint Germanus of Auxerre her desire to consecrate her virginity to the Lord. About the age of...

Saint George, sometimes called “the Trophy-bearer,” was born in the province of Cappadocia, Asia Minor (Turkey), in the third century and raised as a Christian. About age 20, he joined the Roman army under the emperor Diocletian,...

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...

In this 13th century icon from the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, Saint John Climacus ("of the Ladder"), the author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is depicted as a hermit in his distinctive cloak. He is commemorated on March 30 and on...

Saint John was born in 1871 in the Ryazan region of the Russian Empire. His father was a priest, and John followed in his footsteps, attending seminary. After marrying his wife, he was ordained a priest at the young age of 24. Having expressed interest...

John the Evangelist did not only author a Gospel, but was a much-beloved Apostle and minister of Jesus. He and his brother James were both fishermen and both called by Jesus at the same time and place. Jesus also gave him the surname Boanerges,...

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 desired...

Saint Lydia was a first-century “seller of purple,” an expensive, wine-colored fabric.  As described in Acts 16, Saint Paul received a vision in which a man pleaded with him to come to Macedonia. When he awoke, he immediately set out...

Saint Macarius the Great (or Makarios) was from Egypt. He struggled in the deserts near Skete in Thebaid, northern Egypt. He was called "the child elder" for his advanced wisdom and ascetic life. He was a renowned preacher, and some fifty of his homilies...

Celebrated January 19.