Saint Barbara, also known as the Great Martyr Barbara, was born to a wealthy pagan family. An exceptional beauty built a tower to hide her from harm and the eyes of strangers. She soon realized the idols her father and teachers worshiped were not of...

Saint Stylianos, or Stylianos of Paphlagonia, also referred to as Stylianos the Hermit, lived between the 5th and 6th centuries AD. Stylianos was born into a wealthy family in Adrianopolis (modern day Turkey) but chose to live amongst the...

Central Icon: Pantocrator means “Almighty” or “All-powerful”. In Iconography, Christ the Pantocrator represents a specific depiction of Christ, and this painting is one of the first of Christ in the early church and remains...

The most preferred translation of Pantocrator is “Almighty” or “All-powerful”. In this understanding, it is often understood in terms of potential power, i.e. ability to do anything. Christ Pantocrator signifies Jesus in his glory...

The Virgin Mary Holy Belt, also called the Holy Girdle of the Theotokos, or Agia Zoni, references the ascension of the Theotokos. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary constructed the belt herself out of camel hair. Following the death of the...

The Virgin Mary Perpetual Help, or Our Lady of Perpetual Help, is a common Byzantine-era icon of the Theotokos, popularized by the Roman Catholic Church. According to tradition, the icon is from the Keira Kardiotissas Monastery, but has been housed in...

The Virgin Mary Eleousa, or Eleusa, icon is also known as the Virgin of Tenderness, as it depicts the Theotokos with the infant Jesus in her embrace. According to tradition, the icon of the Virgin Mary Eleousa of Kykkos was painted by the Evangelist Luke...

According to 20th century legend, these three saints lived on the Greek Island of Lesvos in the 15th century. What is known of the three is that they had been killed by Turkish raiders. Over the next hundred years, there were sightings of a priest...

During the second half of the 9th century and early 10th century, Saint Irene was Abbess at the Monastery of Chrysovalantou. In her life, she did not follow the conventional path of the time; at 15 years old, she was slated to marry Emperor Michael. She...

Saint Sophia was known for their steadfast devotion to God. Her three daughters expressed their loyalty to God so unwaveringly to the Roman Emperor that he had them killed. Saint Sophia was forced to watch the torture and beheading of her three daughters...

Saint Stylianos, or Stylianos of Paphlagonia, also referred to as Stylianos the Hermit, lived between the 5th and 6th centuries AD. Stylianos was born into a wealthy family in Adrianopolis (modern day Turkey) but chose to live amongst the desert hermits...

Archangel Michael is one of the most celebrated of the Angels, chief of the Heavenly Hosts. Archangels are messengers of great and wondrous tidings. They reveal prophecies and the mysteries of the faith, helping people understand the will of God...