Iconography by the hand of Matthew D. Garrett
This icon of the Holy Prophet Elijah is part of my private collection. It was painted (written) for our Slava. It depicts the Prophet Elijah in a cave with a raven bringing him food, as well as the angel waking him from sleep with the words “arise and eat” and the Prophet ascending into heaven in a fiery chariot handing his mantle to the Prophet Elisha.
Celebrated on July 20
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St. Seraphim of Sarov was born in 1759 in Kursk. He was a sickly child who was miraculously healed by by a miracle-working icon of the Mother of God. He left the merchant life of his parents to enter the Sarov Monastery. There he lived a life of severe asceticism, seldom eating or sleeping, and spending his life in prayer. He had visions, and could often foresee the future. He would often leave the community to live the life of a hermit, and even animals would seek him out because of his holiness. He eventually became a starets, or spiritual elder. One account of his life includes a description of his transfiguration, where his face shone brighter than the sun with uncreated light.
His feast day is celebrated on January 2
St. Luke the Surgeon
celebrated June 11
Saint Apollonia of Alexandria
Commemorated on February 9
St. Apollonia was an elderly virgin and deaconess of Alexandria, whose martyrdom was described by St. Dionysius of Alexandria in one of his letters.
When Decius became emperor in 249, he launched the greatest attack upon Christians up to that time, becoming the first emperor to call for Christianity’s total extermination. St. Dionysius wrote that the persecution started at Alexandria a year before other places, incited by a certain “prophet and poet of evil,” who stirred up the people against the Christians.
Backed by the power of the government, the pagans massacred Christians, believing that they were serving false gods. The “aged and excellent virgin Apollonia” was seized and struck in the face until all her teeth were knocked out. The mob built a fire outside the city and threatened to burn her alive unless she agreed to worship the idols and sacrifice to the emperor’s genius.
St. Apollonia asked the pagans to let go of her for a moment so that she could pray. As soon as they did, she leaped into the flames and was consumed, receiving a double crown of martyrdom and virginity. Because of the nature of her torments, she is sometimes depicted with a golden tooth hanging from a necklace, or holding a tooth in a pair of pincers. She is invoked by those suffering from toothache.
http://www.antiochian.org/node/17497
Saint Job of Pochaev
celebrated October 10
Troparion – Tone 4
Having acquired the patience of your Forefather,
and having resembled the Baptist in abstinence,
you shared the divine zeal of both
and were counted worthy to receive their names.
You were a fearless preacher of the True Faith;
in this way you brought a multitude of monastics to Christ.
You strengthened all people in Orthodoxy,
Job, our venerable father;
pray that our souls may be saved
Kontakion – Tone 4
Podoben: “Today You have shown forth…”
You were a pillar of the True Faith;
a zealot of the commandments of the Gospel;
a denouncer of pride,
and a defender and teacher of the humble.
Therefore, those who honor you pray for the remission of their sins,
and that this, your holy habitation, be kept safe from all harm,
Job, our father, who resembled the long-suffering Patriarch of old.
http://www.oca.org/FStropars.asp?SID=13&ID=103087
This triptych features an icon of the Kykkos Mother of God. The original of this icon is attributed to St. Luke. It is reputed to have traveled extensively before it came to rest in Cyprus where it is credited with numerous miracles and healings. Copies of this icon became commonplace in Russian in the 17th century.
On either side of the Mother of God are depicted St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle and St. George the Trophy-Bearer. This icon was commissioned for a wedding gift and the saints depicted are the patron saints of the couple.
The closed triptych features a byzantine floral cross pattern.
St. John the Evangelist, the son of Zebedee and brother of James the Greater, is perhaps best known for his writings, the highest Christology in the New Testament. He was entrusted by Christ with the care of the Theotokos. He cared for her until her falling -asleep. He then moved to Patmos where he wrote and formed a Christian community. He was an ardent defender of the Divinity of Christ, and a powerful evangelist for the early church.
Troparion (Tone 2)
Kontakion (Tone 2)
http://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_John
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St. Laura of Cordova
Saint Laura of Cordova (Spanish: Santa Laura de Córdoba) (died 864) was a Spanish Christian who lived in Muslim Spain during the 9th century. She was born in Córdoba, and became a nun at Cuteclara after her husband died, eventually rising to become an abbess. She was martyred by Muslims who took her captive and scalded her to death by placing her in a vat of boiling lead. Her feast day is on October 19; she is one of the Martyrs of Córdoba.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Laura
St. Thekla
Troparion (Tone 4)
You were enlightened by the words of Paul, O Bride of God, Thekla,
And your faith was confirmed by Peter, O Chosen One of God.
You became the first sufferer and martyr among women,
By entering into the flames as into a place of gladness.
For when you accepted the Cross of Christ,
The demonic powers were frightened away.
O all-praised One, intercede before Christ God that our souls may be saved.
The Holy Martyr Meletina lived in the city of Marcianopolis in Thrace during the rule of the emperor Antoninus Pius ((138-161). She was a fervent Christian, and the Lord blessed her with the gift of wonderworking. By the power of her prayers she shattered the idols of Apollo and Herakles.
Her fiery preaching converted many pagans to Christ. Antiochus, the governor of the city of Marcianopolis, ordered that she be tortured, since this holy woman could not be persuaded to deny Christ. She was handed over to the governor’s women who tried to convert her by flattery and kindness. Not only was St Meletina not deceived or softened by their efforts, but she made Christians of the governor’s women. When the governor learned of this, he had St Meletina brought to trial, and sentenced her to be beheaded.
A Christian named Acacius reverently took the martyr’s body with the intention of burying her in his homeland of Macedonia. During the voyage, however, Acacius fell sick and died. The ship stopped at the island of Limnos, where the body of St Meletina was buried. The martyr-loving Acacius was laid to rest beside her grave.
http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102629
