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 Anthony, also referred to as Anthony of Egypt, Anthony the Great, or Anthony of the Desert, is an Eastern Orthodox saint. Born in Egypt in 251 AD, Saint Anthony was the son of Christian nobles in Egypt. Anthony was a devout Christian, dedicating...

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...

Saint Pelagia, also known as Pelagia of Antioch and Pelagia the Penitent, lived during the fourth century in modern-day Syria. There is little known about Saint Pelagia, but according to Greek Orthodox tradition, she threw herself from her rooftop in...

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...

Saint Anna, the patron saint of mothers and children. Saint Anna, the mother of the beloved Virgin Mary, and her husband Joachim were married for 20 years without a child. After enduring much pain and rejection he traveled to the desert, praying to God...

Also referred to as Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows, the swords aimed at Mary’s heart symbolize the pain she felt watching her Son during the time of his crucifixion. Traditionally, the seven sorrows are: 1. The Prophecy of Simeon as found in Luke...

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...