Three Holy Hierarchs

The Story Behind This Icon:

Saint George lived in the late 3rd century, under Diocletian’s rule of the Roman Empire, an emperor who harshly persecuted Christians. He joined the Roman army at a very young age, and found much success in the military, progressing to a high rank. In the year 303 A.D, Diocletian called an assembly with some of his top generals, Saint George being among them and asked them to make pagan sacrifices as an act of allegiance to Diocletian and the Roman Empire. While the other generals pledged themselves to paganism and the Roman Empire, Saint George proclaimed his faith in Jesus Christ. After enduring several horrendous acts of torture, Saint George was beheaded. In this icon, Saint George is shown slaying a dragon. The story states that the dragon terrorized the city of Atalia and that the citizens were forced to sacrifice a girl to the dragon annually. Saint George subdued the dragon and placed it under the control of the king. The fathers of the Church believe that this portrayal of Saint George represents him conquering evil and Diocletian as the dragon.

Saint George is commemorated on April 23 or on the Monday after Easter.

***

This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.  

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. 

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here. 

The Story Behind This Icon:

The Church commemorates Saint John the Baptist each year on January 7th. 

Saint John the Baptist was the last prophet of the Old Testament and has become one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox Church. He was a preacher from a young age and proclaimed that baptism was for the forgiveness of sins. For this reason, he is also called Saint John the Forerunner as he declared that “another will come after him Who will not baptize with water but with the Holy Spirit." Although the Lord Himself had no need of the remission of sins, He nevertheless came to John “to be baptized by him and to fulfill all righteousness” (Matth. 3, 13-15).

Saint John had a martyric end: following the Baptism of Jesus Christ, he was imprisoned by Herod Antipas, the governor of Galilee whom he had openly denounced for having left his lawful wife for the wife of his brother Philip, Herodias. On Herod’s birthday feast, Herodias’ daughter Salome, danced with Herod who, in turn, promised to give her whatever she asked for. After consulting with her wicked mother, Salome asked to be given the head of John the Baptist on a plate. Herod gave the order to cut off the head of John and give it to Salome.

Joanna, the pious wife of Herod buried the head of John the Baptist on the Mount of Olives. The body of  John the Baptist was taken that night by the disciples of Jesus Christ who buried it at Sebastia.

Apolytikion of Synaxis of John the Baptist:

The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; for thou hast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets, since thou was granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore, having contested for the truth, thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy.

***

This icon of Saint John the Baptist is reproduced, with permission, from the authentic icon painted by the monks in the Cell of St. John the Theologian Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou in Mount Athos, Greece. This icon is part of our collection "Icons from Mount Athos”, which features all icons from the Cell of St. John the Theologian.

This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.  

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. 

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here. 

Explore other icons of St. Paisios:

St. Paisios of Mount Athos ~ St. Paisios the Athonite 

The Story Behind This Icon:

Saint Paisios was born in the early 1920s in the small town of Farasa, in Cappadocia, where the town priest was Saint Arsenios. Saint Paisios led a normal life and grew up to join the army during the Greek Civil War. He insisted on never firing a weapon, and therefore served as a radio operator. Once, during a battle, his unit was under heavy fire, but he prayed to the Panagia to intercede, and she quickly did, saving him and his unit. Following the Civil War, Saint Paisios became a monk, arriving on Mount Athos in 1950. He first settled at the monastery of Esphigmenou, before leaving for Philotheou. Later in life, Paisios suffered from lung problems and had to leave for Thessaloniki to be treated. During his time outside of Mt. Athos, he stayed with the Sisterhood of St. John the Theologian in Souroti, just outside of Thessaloniki. Saint Paisisos returned after a couple of years of treatment to live in the cell of Panagouda, which belongs to the Koutloumousiou Monastery. It was there where Saint Paisios became widely known. Many people from around the world came to see and speak with him. Saint Paisios had many God-given abilities and helped many who came to him, simultaneously praying for the entire world. In 1993, Saint Paisios left the Holy Mountain due to health issues. Saint Paisios lived for others, not caring at all for himself, which left him in a weakened health state. He slept in Christ in 1994 in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in Souroti, Greece.

Saint Paisios' feast day is celebrated on July 12.

His biography can be found here, as written by the Sisters from the Holy Hesychasterion "Evangelist John the Theologian".

***

This icon of Saint Paisios is reproduced, with permission, from the authentic icon painted by the monks in the Cell of St. John the Theologian Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou in Mount Athos, Greece. This icon is part of our collection “Icons from Mount Athos”, which features all icons from the Cell of St. John the Theologian.

This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background consists of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.  

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. 

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here. 

The Story Behind This Icon:

Saint Catherine lived in the late 3rd century, in Alexandria, Egypt. Born into a wealthy and powerful family, Saint Catherine was also remarkably intelligent and beautiful. She was raised Christian in secret by her mother. During an especially large pagan festival, Saint Catherine was inspired by the Christian martyrs sacrificing their lives for their faith and went to the ruler of the state, Maximinus, to proclaim her Christianity. Maximinus was charmed by Catherine’s beauty, so he tried to convert her to paganism by bringing 50 of the states wisest pagan men to sponsor a debate. He wagered that if Catherine lost a single one of the disputes, she would have to convert; but she didn’t. She won every debate, and Maximinus resorted to tempting her with riches to convert. After she refused, she was jailed and tortured on a spiked wheel which miraculously broke sending blades flying in all directions and wounding the soldiers. Eventually, she was beheaded and her body was carried from a flight of angels to Mount Sinai.

Saint Catherine's feast day is celebrated on November 25.

***

This icon of Saint Catherine is reproduced, with permission, from the authentic icon painted by the monks in the Cell of St. John the Theologian Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou in Mount Athos, Greece. This icon is part of our collection “Icons from Mount Athos”, which features all icons from the Cell of St. John the Theologian.

This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background consists of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.  

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. 

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here. 

This icon of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels belongs to the Greek Orthodox Monastery Holy Archangels in Kendalia, Texas, USA and is located in the altar of the Katholikon. 

This icon is made of solid, natural Limewood that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.  

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. 

The Story Behind This Icon:

Known as the patron saint of all travelers and sailors. 

Saint Nicholas Bishop of Myra is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession. He lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great in Asia Minor. He was born to a wealthy Christian family, but after his parents died, he distributed his wealth to the poor.  He became Bishop of Myra soon after he returned from a pilgrimage to Egypt and Palestine. Later, he was imprisoned during the persecution of Diocletian, one of the most severe persecutions of Christians, but was released after the orders of Constantine the Great. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in the year 325 and was imprisoned again for slapping the heretic Arius, an act forbidden to the clergy. During the night, our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady Theotokos appeared to some of the bishops who were seeking disciplinary action against him, and informed them that no punishment should be taken as he had acted not out of passion, but extreme love and piety.

Many incidents from his life, along with his habit of secretly giving to the poor and to those in need make Saint Nicholas one of the most well-known and loved Saints of our church. Some of the most known miracles include saving three innocent soldiers from a wrongful execution, chopping down a tree possessed by a demon, healing a woman with a withered hand and hundreds more through the years.

He reposed in the year 330 and his feast day is celebrated on December 6.

Apolytikion of Nicholas the Wonderworker:

Fourth Tone

A model of faith and the image of gentleness, the example of your life has shown you forth to your sheep-fold to be a master of temperance. You obtained thus through being lowly, gifts from on high, and riches through poverty. Nicholas, our father and priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

***

This icon of Saint Nicholas is reproduced, with permission, from the authentic icon painted by the monks in the Cell of St. John the Theologian Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou in Mount Athos, Greece. This icon is part of our collection “Icons from Mount Athos”, which features all icons from the Cell of St. John the Theologian.

***

This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.  

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. 

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.