Three Holy Hierarchs Icon - S469

This 21st-century Bulgarian icon, painted by the hand of Georgi Chimev, features Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom.

About the year 1100, there arose a discussion among the Christians of Constantinople about which of these Holy Fathers was the greatest. Over time the dispute grew out of hand, and piety was replaced with anger and resentment among the factions. The three saints appeared to Saint John Mauropus, Metropolitan of Euchaita, and expressed their unhappiness with seeing the Christians fighting in their names, as they loved one another and respected one another's strengths. They asked that a common feast day be established to celebrate them together. Saint John then established January 30 as the common feast of these three Hierarchs.

They are honored and celebrated for their theological teachings, their lives of prayer, and their miraculous intercessions. Through them, we indeed celebrate the entire teaching ministry of the Church, as they are among the greatest shepherds and teachers of the Church's history.