Holy-Icons

St. James the Persian lived around the year 400. He was born of Christian parents, and married a Christian woman. Because of his talents, he was given a position as a nobleman. Seduced by the flattery of the king, James offered sacrifices to the pagan gods. His family begged him to repent. He was so moved by the letter, that he repented of his sins and proclaimed himself a Christian before the King. The King ordered that St. James be killed by being cut into pieces while still alive. His fingers and toes were cut off, followed by his arms and legs, before finally being beheaded. During the process, a fragrant scent came from his wounds. This icon is based on a 16th century prototype by the Cretan Master iconographer Theophanes.

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

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Troparion – Tone 4

You astounded all, long-suffering James, by enduring horrible tortures with great patience.
As the evil assembly performed the slaughter,
you uttered prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord.
Through your sufferings you received your crown,
and came to the throne of the heavenly King, Christ God.
Entreat Him to save our souls!

Kontakion – Tone 2

You listened to your faithful wife
and contemplated the judgment of God, holy James;
you despised the threats and commands of the Persians,
accepting the cutting of your body as though you were a vine.
Therefore you were revealed as a martyr worthy of honor.

http://www.oca.org/FStropars.asp?SID=13&ID=103402

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St. Catherine was born to a noble family, and at the age of 18 she attempted to persuade Emperor Maximinus to end his persecution of Christians. She was imprisoned by the emperor and who sent many of his greatest scholars to convince her to forsake Christianity. So great was her eloquence and reasoning that she succeeded in converting these scholars as well as many of the Emperor’s soldiers. All were put to death by the Emperor. The Emperor then tried to torture St. Catherine on a spiked wheel which was destroyed miraculously. She was then beheaded, whereupon her body was carried by angels to Mount Sinai where St. Catherine’s Monastery was later founded.

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Troparion – Tone 4

By your virtues as by rays of the sun you enlightened the unbelieving philosophers,
and like the most bright moon you drove away the darkness of disbelief from those walking in the night;
you convinced the queen, and also chastised the tyrant,
God-summoned bride, blessed Catherine.
You hastened with desire to the heavenly bridal chamber of the fairest fairest Bride-groom Christ,
and you were crowned by Him with a royal crown;
standing before Him with the angels, pray for us who keep your most sacred memory.

Kontakion – Tone 2

Let all of us who love to honor the martyrs
form a great choir in praise of the most wise Catherine,
for she preached Christ and trampled the serpent,
despising the knowledge of the orators!

http://www.oca.org/FStropars.asp?SID=13&ID=103382

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St. Cecilia was born of a Roman noble family, and was martyred for refusing to worship pagan gods in the early 2nd century.

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St. Matthew the Evangelist was a tax collector, also known as Levi. He left this life to follow Jesus. He evangelized among the Hebrews before setting out for Ethiopia (not Modern Ethiopia, but an area below the Caspian Sea), Macedonia, Syria, Persia, and the Kingdom of the Parthians. It is not certain that St. Matthew was martyred, although there is evidence to suggest that he was.

Troparion (Tone 3)

With zeal, you followed Christ the Master,

who in His goodness, appeared on earth to mankind.

Summoning you from the custom house,

He revealed you as a chosen apostle:

the proclaimer of the Gospel to the whole world!

Therefore, divinely eloquent Matthew,

we honor your precious memory!

Entreat merciful God that He may grant our souls remission of transgressions.

Kontakion (Tone 4)

Casting aside the bonds of the custom house for the yoke of justice,

you were revealed as an excellent merchant, rich in wisdom from on high.

You proclaimed the word of truth

and roused the souls of the slothful

by writing of the hour of Judgment.

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Matthew

Born in Bethsaida, St. Philip is not discussed much in the Biblical text, but there is a little that is known of his life. He is mentioned in St. John’s gospel a few times. St. Philip, being so amazed at the presence of Christ, brought St. Nathaniel to meet Jesus. Before the feeding of the multitudes, when St. Philip expresses concern that there are many people in a desolate place, and that they will need food. It was also St. Philip who asked to see the Father, upon which, Jesus replied that he who sees Christ, sees the Father. Philip later travelled much of Asia Minor, spreading the gospel. He was martyred in Hierapolis.

Troparion (Tone 3)

Holy Apostle Philip,entreat the merciful God

to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.

Kontakion (Tone 8)

Your disciple, friend and imitator of Your passion,

the God-preaching Philip, proclaimed You to the universe!

By his prayers deliver Your Church from her enemies;

through the Theotokos protect every city, most merciful Christ!

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Philip_%28of_the_Twelve%29

St. Gregory Palamas lived in the 14th century, and was a defender of the Hesychasts. His theological writings clearly defined the essence (that which is beyond comprehension or experience) and the energies (that which can be known and can be experienced) of God. Through the repetition of the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner), the Hesychasts taught that the words of the lips became over time a prayer of the heart. Through faithful repetition, one could begin to pray ceaselessly, as St. Paul instructed us. Many of the Hesychasts were found to shine brightly with the uncreated light of heaven, the same light of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. St. Gregory taught that while this heavenly light was certainly of divine origin, it was the energies of God shining through the person, and not an experience of the essence of God. His teaching is based on our creation in the image and likeness of God, and on Christ who took on our whole humanity in the Incarnation. thereby transfiguring humanity and restoring it to its former state.

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Troparion (Tone 8)

O light of Orthodoxy, teacher of the Church, its confirmation,

O ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians,

O wonder working Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace,

always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion (Tone 8)

Holy and divine instrument of wisdom,

joyful trumpet of theology,

together we sing your praises, O God-inspired Gregory.

Since you now stand before the Original Mind, guide our minds to Him, O Father,

so that we may sing to you: “Rejoice, preacher of grace.”

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_Palamas

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St. John Chrysostom, meaning the “golden-mouthed,’ received training in law, where he was praised for his great eloquence. Upon being baptized Christian, however, he decided to dedicate his great skills to the service of the Lord and His Church. He was made Patriarch of Constantinople and often spoke against the excesses of the empire and within the church itself, and spoke out against the wealth of the empress. He was eventually banished for this, but kept in touch with his community through letters. He is the author of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the Paschal Homily read each year on Easter, and many hymns of the church.

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Troparion (Tone 8)

Grace shining forth from your lips like a beacon has enlightened the universe.

It has shown to the world the riches of riches poverty;

it has revealed to us the heights of humility.

Teaching us by your words, O Father John Chrysostom,

intercede before the Word, Christ our God, to save our souls!

Kontakion (Tone 6)

Having received divine grace from heaven,

with your mouth you teach all men to worship the Triune God.

All-blest and venerable John Chrysostom,

we worthily praise you, for you are our teacher, revealing things divine!

http://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom

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St. Nektarios was born in 1846. He became a monk at the age of 30. He was noted for his piety, and was ordained a priest and chosen as the Bishop of Pentapolis. Many were jealous of his popularity, with the people, and with the Patriarch. As a result of lies spread by these people, he was stripped of his episcopacy. He refused to defend himself, choosing instead to suffer the indignity. He was appointed to head the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School. He established a monastery on the island of Aegina for a group of nuns. He lived out his life, writing, preaching, and giving guidance to the Convent and the people of the island. St. Nektarios died of prostate cancer in 1920. He had suffered with it for some time without complaint. Since his repose, his intercessions have been credited with many healings and miracles. Eventually the lies that had been spread about St. Nektarios were shown to be false, and his Episcopacy was restored posthumously.

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Troparion – Tone 1

O faithful, let us honor Nectarios the divine servant of Christ,
offspring of Silyvria and guardian of Aegina,
who appeared in these last times as a true friend of virtue,
pouring forth all manner of healing upon those who reverently cry:
Glory to Him who gave you strength!
Glory to Him who granted you a crown!
Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!

Kontakion – Tone 8

Let us sing praises with gladness of heart
to the newly-shining star of Orthodoxy, the newly-built rampart of the Church.
Being glorified by the power of the Spirit, he pours forth the abundant grace of healings upon those cry:
“Rejoice, Father Nectarios.”

http://www.oca.org/FStropars.asp?SID=13&ID=103251

St. Elizabeth was the mother of St. John the Baptist and the wife of the priest Zechariah. She is also the cousin of the Virgin Mary.

Troparion (Tone 2)

The memory of Your prophets Zachariah and Elizabeth

We celebrate today, O Lord.

By their prayers, we beseech You,

O Christ God, save our souls!

Kontakion (Tone 4)

As the full moon brightly reflects the light of the sun,

You reflected the glory of the Messiah, the Light of wisdom!

With Zachariah you walked in all of the Lord¹s commandments, Elizabeth, beloved by God.

So as we bless you with fitting songs,

We praise the Lord, the bountiful Light, who enlightens all.

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Elizabeth

St. John Kochurov was born in 1871 and attended St. Petersburg Theological Academy. He requested assignment to the American Mission, and was ordained and sent to Chicago to the St. Vladimir Parish. He oversaw the design and construction of a new Cathedral, Holy Trinity Cathedral, in Chicago. He also traveled to other areas of the country as a missionary. After being raised to Archpriest, St. John returned to Russia. During a prayer service, St. John was set upon by a mob of Bolshevik revolutionaries and was shot and dragged until he died. He received the martyr’s crown in 1917.

This is part of an icon painted for Nativity of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Philipsburg PA.

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Troparion – Tone 1

Aflame with love for God, you gave your life as a martyr for Christ and neighbor,
for this you received a crown of righteousness from Him.
Hieromartyr John, entreat the most Merciful God
to preserve the Holy Holy Church in peace and to save our souls.

Troparion – Tone 1

You were revealed to all as a true shepherd
O Hieromartyr John of Chicago,
for you nurtured your people in the Orthodox Faith,
guiding them by word and deed on the path of salvation,
and defended the Faith even unto the shedding of your blood.
Therefore, we, your spiritual children, cry out in thanksgiving:
Glory to Him who gave you strength!
Glory to Him who granted you the Martyr’s crown!
Glory to Him who through you grants mercy to all!

Kontakion – Tone 8

As you zealously fulfilled your pastoral service,
you brought your soul to God as a well-pleasing sacrifice, O Father John.
Entreat Christ God to grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion – Tone 3

Now the holy Hieromartyr is glorified,
for he took up his cross and followed Christ.
In so doing, he gave us a model of true discipleship.
Therefore, let us cry aloud to him:
Rejoice, O Father John, the glory of priests!

http://www.oca.org/FStropars.asp?SID=13&ID=103122