Call us:864-276-1133 Mon-Fr:8:30am-5:00pm EST
Call us:864-276-1133 Mon-Fr:8:30am-5:00pm EST
Orthodox icon of Saint Lazarus. Icon of the 12 cent.
Commemorated October 17.
The Transfer of the relics of Righteous Lazarus of the Four Days, Bishop of Kiteia on Cyprus, took place in the ninth century. The Righteous St Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary (Magdalene), lived in the village of Bethany, not far from Jerusalem. During His earthly life the Lord Jesus Christ often visited the house of Lazarus, whom He much loved and called His friend (John 11:3,11), and when Lazarus had died and lain four days already in the grave, the Lord raised him from the dead (John 11:1-44).
The Church remembers St Lazarus on the Saturday of the Sixth Week of Great Lent, Lazarus Saturday. Many of the Jews, when they heard about this, came to Bethany. Being persuaded of the reality of this most remarkable wonder, they became followers of Christ. Because of this the High Priests also wanted to kill Lazarus. Righteous Lazarus is mentioned in the Holy Gospel once more: when the Lord had come again to Bethany six days before the Passover, Lazarus was also there (John 12:1-2, 12:9-11).
After his raising, St Lazarus lived another thirty years as a bishop on the island of Cyprus, where he spread Christianity and peacefully fell asleep in the Lord. The holy relics of St Lazarus were discovered in Kiteia. They were within a marble coffin, upon which was inscribed: Lazarus of the Four-Days, the friend of Christ. The Byzantine emperor Leo the Wise (886-911) gave orders to transfer the relics of St Lazarus to Constantinople in the year 898 and place them within the church of the Righteous Lazarus.
Ladder of Divine Ascent icon
Orthodox icon of the Ladder of the Divine Ascent.
Copy of an icon of 12th cent. Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai Egypt.
Ladder of Jacob icon
Orthodox icon of the vision of Jacob. Icon of 16 cent. Mount Athos.
"He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." (Genesis 28:12)
Ladder of the Divine Ascent, the Vision of St. John of Climacus icon
Orthodox icon of the Ladder of the Divine Ascent. The Vision of St. John of Climacus
Copy of an icon of 1663 cent. of Emmanuel Gante.
NOTE: The sizes of the icon ARE NOT EXACT
St. Kalliope icon
Orthodox icon of Saint Kalliope, Kalliopi, Calliope.
Commemorated June 6th.
It is unknown where the Holy Martyr Kalliope was from, who suffered during the years of the Emperor Decius (249-251 AD). She was known for her bodily and spiritual beauty, and also for her clear and deep piety. During the persecution of Christians of that era, she was arrested and led before the eparch for judgment.
He immediately observed Kalliope's beauty, and was occupied by evil thoughts and desires, and sought with promises and flattery to convince her to fulfill his guilty desires. But Kalliope remained indifferent to his promises and unshakable in her faith. This enraged the eparch, who saw that his hopes were proving false, ordered that she be immediately be tortured terribly until death.
Thus, having been whipped mercilessly, and having had her breasts cut off, they burned her with lit torches, and poured vinegar and salt on her wounds. In the end, they beheaded her, and thus St. Kalliope received the incorrupt crown of glory, and entered into the joy of her Bridegroom Christ.
Reference: G.O.A.A.
