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...

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...

In the book of Genesis, God places the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the Garden of Eden. This is where the tree of life stands as a symbol of God giving presence and eternal life. The Tree of Life Icon is depicted with Christ and...

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...

The Virgin Mary Portaitissa, or Panagia Portaitissa, is a miraculous icon accredited to Saint Luke the Evangelist. Icons depicting the Panagia Portaitissa are the most famous icons of the Theotokos, or Virgin Mary. According to tradition, the original...

Virgin Mary, Sweet Kissing is one of the most familiar depictions. An icon inspired by the Virgin that is located in the Holy Monastery of Preveli in Crete. It is an intriguing version depicting the Mother of God, an artwork of a hagiographer of the...

Archangel Gabriel was the holy messenger sent to inform Zechariah of the birth of John the Baptist. He is further associated with the Annunciation, the event in which Archangel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary to inform her that she will give birth to...

The Princess Elizabeth Feodorovna was born in 1864. She was the granddaughter of the Queen of England, Victoria, and of Ludwig IV, the Grand Duke of Hesse. Her benevolent, compassionate, and pure soul was evident from her first years. She treated all...

At the age of nineteen, Saint Seraphim entered the monastery of Sarov, where he showed his obedience, self-discipline, and humility. He devoted himself to solitary prayer in the forest. He returned to the monastery after fifteen years of living in the...