Icons

Orthodox icon of the pSaints Constantine and Helen, in gold foil (GF)

Please note that because of the gold in the icon and the reflexion, the photos are NOT so good. 

Orthodox icon of the Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Unmercenaries, Αγ. Ανάργυροι in gold foil (GF)

Please note that because of the gold in the icon and the reflexion, the photos are NOT so good. 

Orthodox icon of Saints Wonderworking Unmercenary Cosmas and Damian the Physicians at Rome.

Commemorated July 1.

Cosmas and Damian were born at Rome, brothers by birth, and physicians by profession. They suffered at Rome in the reign of the emperor Carinus (283-284). Brought up by their parents in the rules of piety, they led strict and chaste lives, and they were granted by God the gift of healing the sick. By their generosity and exceptional kindness to all, the brothers converted many to Christ.

Their life of active service and their great spiritual influence on the people around them led many into the Church, attracting the attention of the Roman authorities. Soldiers were sent after the brothers. Hearing about this, local Christians convinced Saintts Cosmas and Damian to hide for a while until they could help them escape.

Unable to find the brothers, the soldiers arrested instead other Christians of the area where the saints lived. Sts Cosmas and Damian then came out of hiding and surrendered to the soldiers, asking them to release those who had been arrested because of them. At Rome, the saints were imprisoned and put on trial. The emperor summoned the two brothers, formerly his most beloved students, proposing that they should all go together in order to gather various medicinal herbs. Going far into the mountains, he murdered them and threw their bodies into a river.

Thus these holy brothers, the Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian, ended their earthly journey as martyrs. Although they had devoted their lives to the Christian service of their neighbors, and had escaped the Roman sword and prison, they were treacherously murdered by their teacher.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Saints Cyprian and Justina.

Commemorated October 2.

Saint Cyprian, shown on the left in this Orthodox icon, was a pagan and a native of Antioch. Cyprian was revered by the pagans as a prominent pagan priest, amazing people by his ability to cast spells, to summon pestilence and plagues, and to conjure up the dead. He brought many people to ruin, teaching them to serve demons and how to cast magic spells. The holy virgin Justina, shown on the right in this Orthodox Icon, lived in Antioch. After turning her own father and mother away from pagan error and leading them to the true faith in Christ, she dedicated herself to the Heavenly Bridegroom and spent her time in fasting and prayer.

When the youth Aglaides proposed marriage to her, the saint refused, for she wished to remain a virgin. Agalides sought Cyprian's help and asked for a magic spell to charm Justina into marriage. But no matter what Cyprian tried, he could accomplish nothing, since the saint overcame all the wiles of the devil through her prayers and fasting. Cyprian, in a rage, sent down pestilence and plague upon Justina's family and upon all the city, but this was thwarted by her prayer.

Cyprian's soul, corrupted by its domination over people and by his incantations, was shown in all the depth of his downfall, and also the abyss of nothingness of the evil that he served. St Cyrian then first tested for himself the power of the Sign of the Cross and the Name of Christ, guarding himself from the fury of the enemy. Afterwards, with deep repentance he went to the local bishop Anthimus and threw all of his books into the flames. The very next day, he went into the church, and did not want to leave it, though he had not yet been baptized.

By his efforts to follow a righteous manner of life, St Cyprian discerned the great power of fervent faith in Christ, and made up for more than thirty years of service to Satan. Seven days after Baptism he was ordained reader, on the twelfth day, sub-deacon, on the thirtieth, deacon. After a year, he was ordained priest. In a short time St Cyprian was elevated to the rank of bishop.The Hieromartyr Cyprian converted so many pagans to Christ that in his diocese there was no one left to offer sacrifice to idols, and the pagan temples fell into disuse. St Justina withdrew to a monastery and there was chosen Abbess.

During the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian, Bishop Cyprian and Abbess Justina were arrested and brought to Nicomedia, where after fierce tortures they were beheaded with the sword. St Cyprian, fearful that the holy virgin's courage might falter if she saw him put to death, asked for time to pray. St Justina joyfully inclined her neck and was beheaded first. The soldier Theoctistus, seeing the guiltless sufferings of St Justina, fell at Cyprian's feet and declared himself a Christian, and was beheaded with them.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Saints Cyrikus and Julitta

Commemorated July 15.

Saints Martyrs Cyricus and Julitta they lived in the city of Iconium in the province of Lykaoneia in Asia Minor. St Julitta was descended from an illustrious family and was a Christian. Widowed early on, she raised her three-year old-son Cyricus (Quiricus). During the emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians, St Julitta departed the city with her son and two trustworthy servants, leaving behind her home, property, and servants.Concealing her noble rank, she hid out first at Seleucia, and then at Tarsus. There around the year 305 she was recognized, arrested and brought to trial before the governor, Alexander. Strengthened by the Lord, she fearlessly answered the judge's questions, and firmly confessed her faith in Christ. The governor gave orders to beat the saint with rods. During her torments St Julitta kept repeating, I am a Christian, and will not offer sacrifice to demons.The little boy Cyricus cried, seeing his mother being tortured, and wanted to go to her. The governor Alexander tried to sit him on his lap, but the boy broke free and shouted, "Let me go to my mother, I am a Christian". The governor threw the boy down from the high tribunal and kicked him down the stone steps. The boy struck his head on the sharp edges and died. St Julitta, seeing her lacerated son, gave thanks to God that He had permitted her child to be perfected before her, and to receive the unfading crown of martyrdom. After many cruel tortures St Julitta was beheaded with a sword. The relics of Sts Cyricus and Julitta were uncovered during the reign of St Constantine the Great (May 21). A monastery was built near Constantinople in honor of these holy martyrs, and a church was built not far from Jerusalem. We pray to Sts Cyricus and Julitta for family happiness, and the restoration of sick children to health.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Saints Cyril and Methodius the Illuminators of the Slavs.

Commemorated May 11th.

Orthodox icon of the Martyrs Florus (Floros) and Laurus (Lavrus) of Illyria. Copy of an icon of 13 cent., Serbia

Commemorated August 18.

The Martyrs Florus and Laurus were brothers by birth not only in flesh but in spirit. They lived in the second century at Byzantium, and afterwards they settled in Illyria [now Yugoslavia]. By occupation they were stone-masons (their teachers in this craft were the Christians Proclus and Maximus, from whom also the brothers learned about life pleasing to God).

The prefect of Illyria, Likaion, sent the brothers to a nearby district for work on the construction of a pagan temple. The saints toiled at the structure, distributing to the poor the money they earned, while they kept strict fast and prayed without ceasing.

Once, the son of the local pagan-priest Mamertin carelessly approached the structure, and a chip of stone hit him in the eye, severely injuring him. Sts Florus and Laurus assured the upset father, that his son would be healed.

They brought the youth to consciousness and told him to have faith in Christ. After this, as the youth confessed Jesus Christ as the true God, the brothers prayed for him, and the eye was healed. In view of such a miracle, even the father of the youth believed in Christ.

When the construction of the temple was completed, the brothers gathered the Christians together, and going through the temple, they smashed the idols. In the eastern part of the temple they set up the holy Cross. They spent all night in prayer, illumined with heavenly light. Having learned of this, the head of the district condemned to burning the former pagan priest Mamertin and his son and 300 Christians.

The martyrs Florus and Laurus, having been sent back to the prefect Likaion, were thrown down an empty well and covered over with earth. After many years, the relics of the holy martyrs were uncovered incorrupt, and transferred to Constantinople. In the year 1200 the Novgorod pilgrim Anthony saw them. Stephen of Novgorod saw the heads of the martyrs in the Pantokrator monastery around the year 1350.

Reference: OCA

Orthodox icon of Saints Florus and Laurus the Matryrs of Illyria (2). Copr of an icon of 15 cent., Russia.

The Martyrs Florus and Laurus were brothers by birth not only in flesh but in spirit. They lived in the second century at Byzantium, and afterwards they settled in Illyria [now Yugoslavia]. By occupation they were stone-masons (their teachers in this craft were the Christians Proclus and Maximus, from whom also the brothers learned about life pleasing to God).

The prefect of Illyria, Likaion, sent the brothers to a nearby district for work on the construction of a pagan temple. The saints toiled at the structure, distributing to the poor the money they earned, while they kept strict fast and prayed without ceasing.

Once, the son of the local pagan-priest Mamertin carelessly approached the structure, and a chip of stone hit him in the eye, severely injuring him. Sts Florus and Laurus assured the upset father, that his son would be healed.

They brought the youth to consciousness and told him to have faith in Christ. After this, as the youth confessed Jesus Christ as the true God, the brothers prayed for him, and the eye was healed. In view of such a miracle, even the father of the youth believed in Christ.

When the construction of the temple was completed, the brothers gathered the Christians together, and going through the temple, they smashed the idols. In the eastern part of the temple they set up the holy Cross. They spent all night in prayer, illumined with heavenly light. Having learned of this, the head of the district condemned to burning the former pagan priest Mamertin and his son and 300 Christians.

The martyrs Florus and Laurus, having been sent back to the prefect Likaion, were thrown down an empty well and covered over with earth. After many years, the relics of the holy martyrs were uncovered incorrupt, and transferred to Constantinople. In the year 1200 the Novgorod pilgrim Anthony saw them. Stephen of Novgorod saw the heads of the martyrs in the Pantokrator monastery around the year 1350.

Reference: OCA

Orthodox icon of the 100.000 Martyrs of Tbilisi, Georgia

Commemorated October 31.

Orthodox icon of the Holy Myrrhbearers.

Commemorated May 19 and the second Sunday following Pascha.

Holy Myrrh-bearing women Sts Mary Magdalene (July 22), Mary the wife of Clopas, Joanna (June 27), Salome, mother of the sons of Zebedee (August 3), Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus (June 4). The myrrh-bearers had brought funeral spices and ointments to finish committing Christ's body to the grave. They were the first to see the empty tomb and were instructed by the risen Lord to bring the joyful news to the apostles.

Orthodox icon of All the Saints of Optima Monastery.

Commemorated October 24th. Reference

Orthodox icon of Saints Paul of Theves and Saint John Calebytes (the Hut- Dweller). Icon of 13 cent. Mount Athos

Commemorated January 15.

Contemporary orthodox icon of Saints Peter and Paul.

Commemorated June 29.

This icon shows the two saints embracing each other depicting their unity of love and faith in Jesus Christ.

Saint Peter Peter is brother of Saint Andrew the First-Called, from Bethsaida. He was a fisherman by trade, unlearned and poor, and was called Simon. He was renamed Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ, Who looked at him and said, "Thou art Simon the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas (which means rock)" (John 1:42).He regarded as the leader of the 12 Disciples of Jesus.

After the Resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit he preached in Judea, Antioch, and certain parts of Asia, and finally came to Rome. Peter was the first Bishop of Antioch where followers were first called Christians. St. Paul Paul was a Pharisee, belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, or in Tarsus of Asia Minor. He persecuted the Church with great zeal and violence. Later he was transformed on the road to Damascus and became the greatest of missionaries.

He spoke with eloquently and with strength in the synagogues, proclaiming that "Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 9:1-21). He traveled over large areas of the Roman Empire, preaching the Gospel, and fashioning the Christians Faith for all time. His fourteen letters are an important part of the New Testament. Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero in the year 87. Peter was crucified, head down at his own request so that he would not die in the same way as Christ. Because Paul was a Roman Citizen, he was beheaded.