Holy-Icons

Prophet Elijah

St. Julia

St. Kyriaki was born to Christian parents. She had many suitors, but was not interested in any of them. One of these rejected suitors went to the emperor Diocletian and reported her family as Christians. Her parents were tortured and then exiled. But even when she was tortured herself, St. Kyriaki persevered in her faith.  She suffered many cruel tortures before being beheaded and crowned a martyr.

This icon is available for purchase on the Icons for Sale page.

St. Gregory the Great

Pope St. Gregory I (Latin: Gregorius I (Magnus) (Italian: Gregorio I); c. 540 – 12 March 604), better known in English as Gregory the Great, was pope from 3 September 590 until his death. Gregory is well-known for his writings, which were more prolific than those of any of his predecessors as pope.

He is also known as Gregory the Dialogist in Eastern Orthodoxy because of his Dialogues. For this reason, English translations of Orthodox texts will sometimes list him as “Gregory Dialogus”. He was the first of the popes to come from a monastic background. Gregory is a Doctor of the Church and one of the six Latin Fathers. He is considered a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Immediately after his death, Gregory was canonized by popular acclaim.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Gregory

St. John, the Baptist and Forerunner of Christ, is considered the last in the line of Old Testament Prophets, and the forerunner of a new Christian era. He is depicted with unkempt hair, wearing a robe with a camel hair lining. Many times he is shown holding a scroll with the words he spoke, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.” (Matt. 3:2)

This icon was donated to Holy Transfiguration Antiochian Orthodox Church in Boise, ID for their iconostasis.

The Orthodox Church remembers Saint John the Forerunner on six separate feast days, listed here in order of the church year which begins on September 1:

• September 23 – Conception of St. John the Forerunner
• October 12 – The Russian Orthodox Church observes the Transfer of the Right Hand of the Forerunner from Malta to Gatchina (1799).
• January 7 – The Commemoration of St. John the Forerunner (main feast day, immediately after Epiphany on January 6)
• February 24 – First and Second Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner
• May 25 – Third Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner
• June 24 – Birth of St. John the Forerunner
• August 29 – The Beheading of St. John the Forerunner

Also, St. John’s parents Zechariah and Elisabeth, are commemorated on September 5.

http://orthodoxwiki.org/John_the_Forerunner

St. Stephen (whose name in Greek means “Crown,” was the first Christian martyr. His death is recorded in Acts 6-7. He is first mentioned as one of the seven men who were chosen to become the deacons of the early church. They concerned themselves mostly with works of charity within the community. St. Stephen spoke with fervor about the new law given to Christians by the Lord, and because of this, he came into conflict with the Jews. He was stoned to death, receiving the crown of martyrdom. One of the Jews who took part in the stoning was a man by the name of Saul, who later became St. Paul.

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)

Beloved apostle of Christ our God,

hasten to deliver a defenseless people.

He who allowed you to recline on His breast,

receives you as you bow before Him.

Implore Him, John the Theologian,

to disperse the persistent threat from the heathens,

entreating for us peace and great mercy.

Kontakion (Tone 2)

Who shall declare declare your greatness,

O virgin disciple,

for you pour forth wonders and are a source of healings,

and pray for our souls as Theologian and friend of Christ.

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_John

Born in 1829, St. John of Kronstadt was an archpriest in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was a fervent advocate of the return to frequent communion. St. John fell asleep in the Lord in 1908.

St. Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch (including St. Peter) and was a dedicated pastor to his flock. He instructed those in his charge in Christian princioples, exhorted them to stay strong in the face of persecution, and defended the faith against early heresies. He was sentenced to death by the Emperor Trajan, and embraced his martyrdom, insisting that no one work to prevent his death. He was fed to the lions in the Flavian amphitheatre and received the crown of martyrdom.

Troparion (Tone 4)

By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,

you became a successor to their throne.

Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation,

O inspired one of God;

by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith,

even to the shedding of your blood.

Hieromartyr Ignatius, entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion (Tone 3)

The stirring celebration of your victorious fight

Is an announcement of the One who is to be born of the Virgin.

In your eagerness to possess Him forever,

You hastened to be devoured by the wild beasts.

Therefore, O glorious Ignatius, you were called the bearer of God!

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Ignatius

St. Spyridon was a farmer and shepherd who was known for his great piety. When his wife died, he entered a monastery. Despite his lack of education, he was called to the Episcopate, and attended the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. Where he was a vocal opponent of Arius. St. Spyridon is known to this day as a miracle worker and protector of the island of Corfu. His relics, which remain incorrupt, are taken on procession there every year. Each year they replace his shoes because they discover that he has worn holes in the bottom of his shoes.

Troparion – Tone 1

You were revealed as a champion of the First Council
and a wonderworker, our God-bearing father Spyridon.
You spoke to one dead in the grave
and transformed a serpent into gold.
While chanting your holy prayers
you had angels serving with you!

Kontakion – Tone 2

Wounded by the love of Christ,
all-holy one, your mind was given wings through the light of the Spirit,
you found work in active contemplation, God-pleasing Spyridon,
becoming a divine sacrifice,
and imploring divine illumination for all.

http://www.oca.org/FStropars.asp?SID=13&ID=103526