St Herman of Alaska
Acrylic Paint on Wood Panel
7.25" x 10"

This icon shows St Herman with the Alaskan landscape in the background. On the scroll we can read one of the best known quotations of the saint, which is a fragment of a conversation between St. Herman and officers of a Russian ship, which was recorded by his disciple Yanovsky:  

 "But do you love God?" asked the Elder. And all answered: "Of course we love God. How can we not love God?"     "And I, a sinner, have tried to love God for more than forty years, and I cannot say that I perfectly love Him," answered Father Herman, and began to explain how one must love God. "If we love someone," he said, "then we always think of that one, we strive to please that one; day and night our heart is preoccupied with that object. Is it in this way, gentlemen, that you love God? Do you often turn to Him, do you always remember Him, do you always pray to Him and fulfill His Holy commandments?" We had to admit that we did not."For our good, for our happiness," concluded the Elder, "at least let us give a vow to ourselves, that from this day, from this hour, from this minute, we shall strive above all else to love God and to do His Holy Will!" (1)

Our venerable father Herman of Alaska (1756 - December 13, 1837) was a Russian Orthodox monk from  Valaam Monastery who traveled with eight other monks in 1793 to bring the Gospel to the native Aleuts and Eskimos in the Aleutian Islands.

In the second half of the 1700s, explorers were expanding the boundaries of Russia and Saint Herman was chosen by Valaam's Elder Nazarius as one of  the missionaries that were to go to evangelize to the Aleutians. For more than four decades St Herman labored in an obscure corner of what is now Alaska, on an Aleutian island called Spruce.  Braving subzero temperatures, plagues and storms, ill treatment from fellow Russians who resented and misunderstood him, St. Herman lived a life marked by astonishing ascetic labor that gave birth to a deep love and concern for all with whom he came in contact. St Herman taught the natives by word and example, to whom he was known as Apa, "Grandfather."

In 1970 St Herman became the first saint to be glorified by the Orthodox Church in America. (2,3 ,4)

St James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem
Acrylic and 23K Gold Leaf on Wood Panel
11.25" x 14.5"

This icon is the latest commission. The text in Arabic reads: St. James the Brother of the Lord, The First Bishop of Jerusalem. The saint is shown in white omophorion with large black crosses, wrapped around his shoulders and folded over his left arm; the phelonion is covered with a grid of black and white crosses.

James (Saint James the Just, James Adelphos (Grk. 'Brother'), James the Brother of Our Lord)  was not a blood brother of Jesus Christ,  as some believe. He was Joseph's son by a prior marriage. As a boy, he traveled with Joseph, the Ever-Virgin Mary, and the baby, Lord Jesus Christ, to Egypt. This James was the first to be elected to the episcopal throne of the Jerusalem Church, the records tell us.

St. James presided over the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem which heard the arguments regarding whether Gentiles would have to be circumcised after the Law of Moses. The Apostles' decision was a collective (conciliar) one, but recall that the Righteous spoke and delivered the Apostles' decision:

13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.' 18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."   (Acts. 15: 13-21)

St. James is also known for his Catholic Epistle which illustrated the relationship between faith and works. Faith without works is dead. Our works grow from our faith; or, if not, we do not have faith.

He suffered marrytrdom when he refused to deny Christ to the Jews, Scribes and Pharisees, dying in AD 62.  As he was being stoned, he continued to pray for his executioners. (www.stjamesthejust.com)

Dear friends, 

My husband and I will be going to Albania with an OCMC mission trip led by Fr. Luke Veronis. This two-week long trip will take place in the middle of May. It is a great opportunity to develop our ministry in the mission field but we are currently in need of raising some funds to support our travel expenses. If you are able and willing to make a contribution and help us in sponsoring out airfare expenses, we would greatly appreciate a gift in any amount. You can make a tax-deductible donation to OCMC via Causes.com website.

Announcing First Beneficiary of the New WIH 10% Donation Plan: Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary

Christ is Risen, brothers and sisters! 

I am pleased to announce that as the result of our survey, Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary has been chosen as the first recipient for the 10% donation plan.

Thank you to all who voted! 

About Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary:

Located in Crestwood, NY, it is a pan-Orthodox institution, providing theological education to the students from all Orthodox jurisdictions. Since its foundation in 1938, the mission has been to serve Christ, his Church, and the world through Orthodox Christian theological education, research, and scholarship, and the promotion of inter-Orthodox cooperation. In this way, the Seminary prepares students for ministry as bishops, priests, deacons, lay leaders, and scholars so that they may build up Orthodox communities, foster Church growth through mission and evangelism, teach the Orthodox faith, and care for those in need.

St Vladimir's Seminary is a nonprofit organization that depends heavily on donations to sustain work.

Official Website
Anciet Faith Radio Podcast: Voices From St Vladimir’s Seminary 
On Facebook

Sts Adrian and Natalia
Acrylic and 23K Gold Leaf on Wood Panel
7" x 10"

This icon was commissioned by a family who has recently celebrated baptism of their daughter, Natalie. God grant her, and her parents, many years!

Sts Adrian (Hadrian) and Natalia were married for one year prior to their martyrdom, and lived in Nicomedia during the time of Emperor Maximian in the early fourth century.

During the Great Persecution in the early fourth century, Adrian, a Herculian Guard of the Roman Emperor, encountered a group of martyrs and asked them why they were willing to endure such tortures for their faith. They replied that they were suffering in order to gain the good things prepared by God for those who suffered for His sake, "which neither eye has seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man" (I Cor. 2:9). Upon hearing these words, St Adrian told the scribes, "Write my name down also, for I am a Christian and I die gladly for Christ God."

When Adrian's young wife Natalia was told of her husband's conversion and of his imprisonment, she was not saddened, but greatly rejoiced for she was secretly a Christian herself and she knew the joy which now filled her husband's heart. Natalia continued to encourage her husband through cruel and severe tortures, asking him to pray for her.

After Adrian’s death, an army commander asked the emperor's approval to wed St. Natalia, who was both young and rich. But she hid herself away in Byzantium. St. Adrian appeared to her in a dream and said that she would soon be at rest in the Lord. St. Natalia, worn out by her former sufferings, soon fell asleep in the Lord.

Symbols: St Adrian, who was an officer at the imperial court, is shown wearing an armor. The cloak on his shoulders is red - color of martyrdom. His hand is raised as a sign of renunciation of this world. In the left hand Natalia is holding a handkerchief with which she mopped up her husband's blood.  In her right hand is the cross. Natalia's head cover is white, which stands for physical and spiritual purity.

St. Priscilla
Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Wood Panel
7" x 9.5"

The icon of King David from the previous post and this icon of St Priscilla present the same color schemes as they were commissioned by a husband and wife and thus will be kept as a pair.  St. Priscilla is shown holding a cross, a symbol of martyrdom, and her left hand raised, palm open to the viewer, a typical gesture (such as the icon of Our Lady of the Sign [Oranta]) which symbolizes an appeal to God in prayer as well as steadfastness of faith and a renunciation of the world. (1,2)

St. Priscilla and her husband St. Aquila were first century Christians described in the New Testament as a presence that strengthened the early Christian groups.

Originally from Pontus (in Egypt), they moved to Rome to work as tentmakers. After they were exiled from Rome during the Emperor Claudius' expulsion of the Jews from Italy in 49 AD they moved to Corinth where they met St. Paul. They lived, worked, and traveled with the Apostle Paul, becoming his honored, much-loved friends and coworkers. They then followed Paul to Ephesus and established a church in their house. In Ephesus they discipled Apollo, a famous early evangelist in the Church. After Claudius' death, they went to Rome and established a church in their home there. In the end, around 58 AD, they returned to Ephesus, where St. Aquila was a bishop along with St. Timothy.

It was probably in Ephesus that they were martyred by pagans.

Sts Priscilla and Aquila remain important sources of inspiration and great examples of selfless service, hospitality, devotion to God and readiness to accept His will.

Troparion in Tone Eight: Through thee the divine likeness was securely preserved, O Mother Priscilla; for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ. By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.

     Friends, I would like to share with you some exciting news! Beginning Pascha, April 15th,  a new ongoing donation plan will be implemented: 10% of every purchase will be donated to one charity/mission/evangelism-centered orthodox organization. The beneficiary organization will be selected based on your preferences and will receive the donations for the next 12 month period. The vote is to be submitted via the survey located on the right hand-side of the screen. The survey closing day is April 14, 12:00PM.
     Please consider which cause you want to contribute to and cast your vote! Below you will find information on the organizations to choose from with links to follow if you would like to learn more.

• OCMC / Orthodox Christian Mission Center | "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations."
  OCMC strives to establish vibrant Eucharistic communities throughout the world, to develop and support indigenous church leaders, and to strengthen the infrastructure of their churches. They carry out this work primarily, though not solely, in countries where Christianity is in the minority and where the Gospel message has not been proclaimed.
  
• IOCC / International Orthodox Christian Charities | Helping others help themselves.
  IOCC, in the spirit of Christ’s love, offers emergency relief and development programs to those in need worldwide, without discrimination, and strengthens the capacity of the Orthodox Church to so respond.
  
• OCPM / Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry | "Remember those who are in prison, as if in prison with them."
  OCPM brings the love of Christ to those who are in prison by providing encouragement, material support, transition and reintegration services, Christian education, spiritual guidance and the sacramental life of the Church. Listen to Chaplain Patrick Tutella, the Executive Director of OCPM, and Kory Warr, OCPM's Chairman of the Board, speak about the important work in which they are engaged.
• Saint Vladimir's Theological Seminary | Engaging the world with Orthodox Christianity.
  St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary serves Christ, his Church, and the world through Orthodox Christian theological education, research, and scholarship, and the promotion of inter-Orthodox cooperation. In this way, the Seminary prepares students for ministry as bishops, priests, deacons, lay leaders, and scholars so that they may build up Orthodox communities, foster Church growth through mission and evangelism, teach the Orthodox faith, and care for those in need. St Vladimir's Seminary is a nonprofit organization that depends heavily on donations to sustain work.
  
• Hogar Rafael Ayau |  A "home" for children.
  The Hogar Rafael Ayau orphanage in Guatemala City is home to neglected and abandoned children who have been brought into the Hogar family and raised in a warm and loving Orthodox environment, under the care of Orthodox nuns. For over fifteen years, the Hogar has been home to over one thousand children.
  
• PK4A / Paradise Kids for Africa
  In 2008 began an Orthodox Mission to Sierra Leone.  Rev Themi has worked tirelessly to provide food, education and shelter to the poorest of the poor. Only four years later a considerable list of achievements is to be noted: Three permanent churches, a school, a kindergarten, housing complex for the disabled, a clinic and a college were built.  Visit PK4A website and watch this video to learn more.

Prophet David King of Israel
Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Wood Panel
7" x 9.5"

This icon of Holy Prophet and King David was the latest commission. In an earlier post for another icon of this saint we spoke a bit about King David as a prefiguration of Christ. Today, with lenten season underway, it is fitting to speak about the Psalter - the book from the Old Testament with many of the Psalms attributed to King David.

The Psalter is, by far, the largest single element in the Church’s Divine services in the Orthodox Church. The Psalms have become for the Church, as for ancient Israel, a book of prayer and praise. This book is used in daily cycle of prayers and during the Great Lent the reading of the Psalter are arranged so that the its entirety is read through twice in a week.

The function of the Psalms has been well stated within the pages of the Orthodox Study Bible. It tells us that "they [the Psalms] (a) foretell coming events; (b) recall history; (c) frame laws for life; (d) reveal what must be done to obey God's word; (e) are a treasury of good doctrine; and (f) help overcome the passions that exercise dominion over our soul, through the power of poetic expression to capture and gradually transform our thoughts."

St. Basil the Great says this about the Psalms: “When the Holy Spirit saw that the human race was guided only with difficulty toward virtue, and that, because of our inclination toward pleasure, we were neglectful of an upright life, what did He do? The delight of melody He mingled with the doctrines so that by the pleasantness and softness of the sound heard we might receive without perceiving it the benefit of the words, just as wise physicians who, when giving the fastidious rather bitter drugs to drink, frequently smear the cup with honey..." (1)

On the scroll held by the Saint these words can be read: "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust". The text is taken from Psalm 90 (91),which speaks of the warfare the Church wages against the devil and his angels, and names God and our hope in Him - our salvation.

Icon Symbols: King David is shown in royal raiment wearing a precious crown, adorned with pearls and gold. Colors of Christ's clothing are mirrored in the clothing of this saint, who is His prefiguration. With left hand he holds a scroll, and with the right he is directing our eye to the presence of God, represented here with a blue mandorla.

St. Gregory of Nyssa
Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Wood Panel
7.25" x 10.25"

I would like to share with you one of the latest commissions - an icon of St. Gregory of Nyssa that shows the Saint in his typical clothing: black and while phelonion adorned with crosses, and the omophorion with large crosses. St Gregory is blessing with his right hand while the left hand is veiled and holding a closed Gospel. We already spoke of St Gregory's life in this earlier post for another icon. Now let us say a couple of things about his theology.

St Gregory is known in history as one of the most profound Christian Fathers of the fourth century. He was a fiery defender of Orthodoxy, a zealous teacher of his flock and a kind and compassionate father to his spiritual children. He was distinguished by his magnanimity, patience and love of peace. Endowed with philosophical talent, he saw philosophy as a means for a deeper penetration into the authentic meaning of divine revelation. (1)

Among his other works, St Gregory is celebrated for his doctrine of the Trinity. Gregory argues that we can distinguish between different members of the same nature by the fact that they have different shapes, sizes, and colors. Even if they are identical, they still occupy different points in space. But none of this is true of incorporeal beings like God. Even lesser spiritual beings can still be distinguished by their varying degrees of goodness, but this does not apply to God either. In fact, the only way to tell the three Persons apart is by their mutual relations — thus, the only difference between the Father and the Son is that the former is the Father of the latter, and the latter is the Son of the former. As Gregory puts it, it is impossible to think of one member of the Trinity without thinking of the others too: they are like a chain of three links, pulling each other along. (2)

"...And since on the one hand the Divine nature is apprehended by every conception as unchangeable and undivided, for these reasons we properly declare the Godhead to be one, and God to be one, and employ in the singular all other names which express Divine attributes," proclaims St. Gregory in his letter to Ablabius On "Not Three Gods" .

If you happen to live near Salt Lake City and you are interested in iconography, this information is for you! The Cathedral of the Madeleine will host iconographer Deacon Matthew Garrett for an upcoming week-long workshop that will take place from April 30 to May 4, 2012. For more information you can visit Deacon Matthew's website and read this article on Intermountain Catholic website.

New-Martyr Sophia Abbess-Confessor of Kiev
Oil and Gold Leaf on Wood Panel
7.25" x 10.25"

Schema-Abbess Sophia is shown wearing a grey tunic and a white veil (as she can be seen in this photograph). In her left hand she is holding the Gospel, the color of which is reflected within the Saint's halo. With her right hand she is guiding the viewer's eye towards the Book. It is well-known that abbesses are considered the deputies of the Mother of God, so a connection can be drawn between this icon of the Saint and an icon of the Virgin with the playing Child, in which Theotokos is holding Jesus with one hand, and with the other, directing our attention towards her son. The dominant colors within the icon, blue, gold and white are expressing detachment from this world and the soaring of the soul toward God as well as His glory.

Abbess Sophia (born in Moscow, 1873) was from a wealthy family. From young age she was noticed to be blessed with great voice and received her education from the musical conservatory. Though she lived a busy worldly life she would often retrieve and visit churches and monasteries to fast and pray.

Late one winter evening, going through the deserted woods, Sophia encountered a wolf, and her death seemed certain. She made the sign of the cross and prayed. As she prayed the wolf remained, as if listening, then turned around and disappeared among the trees. At the moment of great danger Sophia made a vow to become a nun if she remained alive.

This promise was finally fulfilled when Sophia was 22 years old. She became ill and was suggested to rest in Saint-Trinity monastery, but her health deteriorated so sharply that a spiritual father of the community was called to give her the last rites. She could no longer speak and in her dumb confession she wept on the breast of the kind elder, who comforted and encouraged her. After receiving Communion, she fell asleep. On awaking, to the astonishment of all, she began to speak. A service of thanksgiving was served, and she quickly began to recover. After this miracle there could be no question of her returning to the world. (2)

During her life of monastic service she was a shepherdess of several monastic flocks, including that of the large Protection Convent in Kiev. As a highly experienced directress, Abbess Sophia helped hundreds of women and men in choosing the right path on which to serve God. Beginning in the 1920s and for the rest of her life she endured great difficulties and deprivation in prisons and exile. Everywhere she continued to be a courageous confessor, secretly directing a catacomb group of nuns. Finally, her nuns were deported to the Far East while Abbess Sophia was transferred from one prison to another. Worn out from her labors and weakened by the inhuman prison conditions, in 1941 she became very ill and was released to die as a genuine passion-bearer for monastics of the last times.(3)

Prophet David, King of Israel
Acrylic on Wood Panel
8" x 5.25"

This glass icon is based on a 15th century Novgorod icon.

The holy and righteous King David was the second king of all Israel, a prophet, writer of great number of the Psalms, and one of the Forefathers of Christ. He built a new capital, Jerusalem (“the City of Peace”), and a new tabernacle. He was distinguished by his deep faith, and he zealously fulfilled the will of God.

King David prefigures our Lord Jesus Christ in numerous ways. He was the Lord's Anointed One, or Messiah, a now title applied almost exclusively to Christ.

Also, David was a shepherd before he was called to be king; likewise, Christ used herding imagery often in his earthly ministry, as in the Parables of the Good Shepherd, of the Lost Sheep, and of the separation of the sheep and the goats at the Last Judgment.

When David was fleeing from Saul, he was an illustration of the Suffering Servant, most famously described in Isaiah 53; afterwards, though, he became the victorious king, gaining control over all Israel and defeating its enemies with ease. David’s story is mirrored by Christ's persecution by the Jews and Crucifixion, followed by his glorious Resurrection and his eventual Second Coming.

David's humble origins and the fact that he was the least imposing son of Jesse when Samuel anointed him also parallel Christ's humble earthly status. Furthermore, David consistently relied on the Lord and thus served as a model king. The Scripture accounts regarding David go out of their way to show his sense of fairness and justice. For example, David rewards all of his men equally, even those too exhausted to continue the chase, after his great victory over the Amakelites (1 Sam 30:23). This episode may be seen as reminiscent of Christ's Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20). He refused to ever touch his adversary King Saul, was furious about the rape of Tamar, and lamented the death of his rebellious son Absalom, whom he had ordered that no one injure, etc. (1)

Kontakion 10:
The spirit of the prophecy came upon David the king, the anointed of the Most High, and he gave utterance concerning his kingship, saying: "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel hath said: 'He who ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.' Although my house is not so with God, yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire." And with sweet hymnody he chanted unto the Almighty: Alleluia!

Saint Sophia
Acrylic on Wood Panel
8" x 5.25"

This icon was made for a family who has recently celebrated the baptism of their beautiful baby-girl, Sophie. God grant her, and her parents, many years!

This holy Martyr (died 137 AD) dwelt in Italy. Sophia, whose name means wisdom, was a widow and had three daughters: Faith (age 12), Love (age 10) and Hope (age 9). Living piously, she pleased God by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. She reared her three daughters in a manner befitting a wise mother so that they, being the namesakes of virtues, might in truth acquire those traits, the names of which they bore. (1)

Word spread throughout Rome of the wisdom and beauty of the three sisters, and it reached the Emperor who sent soldiers to bring them before him. Considering their tender years, he was amazed at how steadfast in the faith Sophia’s daughters were, and thinking it was only by supporting one another that they were able to hold their own against him, he put them to the question separately. The guards took Sophia's daughters one by one, from the eldest to the youngest and beat and tortured them to death. Sophia took the bodies of her daughters and buried them outside of the city. She remained by the graves, where she gave back her soul to God after three days.

This icon depicts St. Sophia, shown in blue maphorion, symbol of another everlasting world. Raised left hand is a symbol of steadfastness of faith and a renunciation of the world. The cross held in her right hand has two meanings. Firstly, martyr comes from the Greek for witness, and so these witnesses hold the preeminent symbol of Christianity: the Cross. Secondly, the Cross symbolizes the most perfect sacrifice of life for others, Christ’s own crucifixion. (2)

Apolytikion of Saint Sophia and her daughters Faith, Hope and Agape:
The Church celebrates and rejoices in the feast of the three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Agape and their Mother Sophia, named for her wisdom: For in them she gave birth to the three godly virtues. Now they eternally behold their bridegroom, God the Word. Let us rejoice spiritually in their memory and cry: O our three Heavenly Protectors, establish, confirm and strengthen us in Faith, Hope and Agape.

Glory to God for all things!

Wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving!

And, of course, in good American spirit I think it is time to put out information in regards to Christmas shopping! You might already know that through Zazzle.com you can purchase some neat and unique items which use icons shown on this website.

Now I would like to share with you that WindowIntoHeaven Zazzle Shop has a few new items prepared especially for the Nativity season. So please check out some of the ornaments and greeting cards among other Christmas gift ideas.

Kazan Mother of God
This icon is available under the "Icons on Wood" tab
Oil Paint on Wood Panel
6.5" x 4.75" x .75"


I would like to share one of the latest icons. It is essentially the same as an icon from this previous post. I will only add some information about the history of this icon.

According to tradition, after a great fire in Kazan, when a major part of the city was destroyed, on July 8 (21), 1579 an icon was discovered by a ten-year-old girl, Matrona, to whom the location of the image was revealed by the Theotokos. To commemorate the spot where the icon had been discovered Theotokos Monastery of Kazan was built, of which Matrona became the first nun, who then took the name Mavra, and later became the Mother Superior. (The cathedral was later destroyed by the communist authorities.)

By 19th century there was uncertainty to the location of this icon, though most believe that it remained in the monastery until June 29, 1904 when the icon was stolen. Thieves apparently coveted the icon's gold frame, which was ornamented with many valuable jewels. Russian police apprehended the thieves and recovered the frame, but the icon was not found. There was a version that the icon was burnt or sold to the Old Believers, but it found no confirmation. And yet according to another story that spread in Kazan, the stolen icon was not the original, but a copy and the icon itself was saved and preserved by the old Mother Superior. Many people say that today this ancient Kazan icon of Mother of God is in the church of Yaroslavl Miracle-Workers.

Yet, According to some data, in the last century the Kazan icon of the Mother of God was sold abroad, where it changed several owners, as they didn’t value spiritual essence of the sacred image and viewed the icon as an eligible investment. As both the icon and its copies are extremely valuable, the experts can’t agree on trace of what exactly image they found.

The Kazan icon has always been very highly regarded and even today it is hard to find a Russian orthodox home without it. Generals would take this icon into battles for invoking the protection of the Mother of God against the enemies. This icon can even be found in the cosmos: April 7, 2011, spacecraft Soyuz TMA-21 ("Gagarin") brought Kazan Mother of God icon to the International Space Station, where it is kept within the Russian section of the station. The icon was given to the crew by Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow.

Triptych with Christ, Theotokos and Symeon the Stylite
Oil on Wood Panel
9.5" x 12.5"

Welcome back everyone! It appears I got swept away into an extended summer vocation away from blogging. Few personal obligations kept me preoccupied, but now I am back and planning to resume regular posting. And first thing on my agenda is to share a recent icon commission. It is a triptych, with Christ shown on the middle panel, on His right is the figure of Theotokos as taken from the icon "Joy of All That Sorrow", and on the left - St. Symeone Stylite.

Joy of all That Sorrow:
"Joy to all the sorrow art thou, and of the oppressed protectress, and nurture of all the poor, comfort unto the estranged, a staff thou art of the blind, visitation of all the sick, a shelter and succor unto those brought down by pain, helper of orphaned ones." (Troparion to the Virgin)

Theotokos is depicted as the most beautiful blossom of heaven, standing among the flowers of paradise. She stands as our mother in unceasing intercession for us before Christ, the King of Heaven and Earth. We can call her the Joy of All Who Sorrow because she brings hope and salvation into the world.

St. Symeon Stylite:
"Thou soughtest the heights, though parted not from things below; thy pillar became a chariot of fire for thee. Thou becamest thereby a true companion of the angelic host;band together with them, O Saint, thou ceaselessly prayest Christ God for us all." (Kontakion, Tone 2)

Stylitism is one of the most extreme and original forms of Eastern Christian asceticism. The pillars usually were ten to twenty meters high, and were equipped with a balcony, parapet, and roofing. St. Symeon's pillar stood at Qal'at Sim'an, near Antioch, in Syria.

Symeon was born to a shepherd's family in the Cappadocian village of Sisan in Syria. When he was a youth, he was deeply moved after hearing the Beatitudes, and decided to join a monastery. He, however, did not remain for long at the monastery. After a short while he settled into a stony cave, situated not far from the village of Galanissa, and he dwelt there for three years, all the while perfecting himself in monastic feats. Crowds came to him to receive healing and to learn more about the Christian faith, but to avoid them, Symeon went up to a pillar and began to live there in a little cell. Still devoted to prayer and fasting, he sat or stood in prayer for many weeks at a time. Simeon devoted himself to prayer, but also gave exhortations twice daily to those who gathered around the pillar to hear him. From atop he performed many miracles and his words won the conversion of many people, especially among Arabs. Simeon would urge his listeners to pray for the salvation of souls. St. Symeon is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on September 1st.

The mysterious ways of God's love are on display in the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA. This museum has a truly remarkable story behind it, no matter how short it is. It was founded in 2006 as a non-profit education institution by a local entrepreneur, Gordon B. Lankton. The doors were opened decades after many factories were shut down and the town was in need of an economic turnaround.

Today, the collection includes more than 500 Russian icons and artifacts, the largest collection of its kind in North America. It attracts 16,000 visitors annually, bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars into Clinton's economy.

This museum is involved in community partnership programs, giving their members discounts in a number of local businesses. They host spotlight talks, tours and special exhibitions ( now open: 1000 Years of Veneration; Exploring sanctity:Path to Sainthood Unveiled; Windows to Heaven: Treasures from the Museum of Russian Icons, A Traveling Exhibition).

Economic growth can take unusual forms and development in Clinton through the Museum of Russian Icons is an example of that.

An icon of ingenuity, Museum of Russian Icon

Holy Angel
Acrylic Paint on Ceramic Tile
9" x 18" x .75"

As previously promised, I am sharing one more icon that was done on a tile. This image was based on the fresco in the Lower Basilica of Assisi by Cimabue, a Florentine painter who lived in the 13th century.

Angels are the Bodiless Powers who were made by God before the creation of the physical world and without physical form or substance ("incorporeal"). St. John of Damascus explains, "When it is the will of God that angels should appear to those [men] who are worthy, they do not appear as they are in their essence, but, transformed, take on such an appearance as to be visible to physical eyes."

By God's grace and mercy, the Bodiless Powers are also conditionally immortal, but (unlike God Himself) are restricted by location and time: they cannot be in heaven and on earth at the same time, though they travel at lightning speed.

They are superior in nature and intelligence to man; and, like man, they have understanding and free will. Some of them are appointed to guard the faithful (guardian angels). They are "the most perfect spirits, superior to man in their spiritual powers" and "so far above us [men] as to be incomprehensible." The angels in heaven are perfect beauty in their love for and service to God. Continually before His face, the Bodiless Powers "are so filled with the grace of God, that they do not desire in any way to sin," according to Fr. Seraphim Slobodskoy.

All the Bodiless Powers share the common name of 'angel' - which means "messenger" in Greek - by virtue of their service: they "stand before the face of the Creator and serve Him." The Lord reveals His divine will to the Bodiless Powers closest to Him, and they in turn inform the others - a Hierarchy in service to Him! This simple name also describes quite well how man most often encounters the Bodiless Powers: as the heralds or messengers of God.

The Orthodox Church teaches that there are nine "choirs" or groups of angels: Angels, Archangels, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Dominions, Thrones, Cherubim, and Seraphim (see Gen. 3:24; Is. 6:2; Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16; 1 Thess. 4:16; 1 Pet. 3:22).

Angels in Orthodoxy, Theologic.com

Just learned about one more icon exhibition: Imprinting the Divine: Byzantine and Russian Icons from the Menil Collection (Houston, TX) will be on display from October 21, 2011 until March 18, 2012. The 60 works in this show span six centuries and several countries. All icon-admirers in Houston area, please visit this collection and then share with me which of the icons was the most memorable for you. Happy museum going to you all!

Very interesting: the Houston Museum of Natural Science is hosting en exhibition titled Ancient Ukraine: Golden Treasures & Lost Civilizations. It covers 6,000 years of history and prehistory of various cultures that once inhabited the territory of modern Ukraine. On display is a collection of 77 icons and religious regalia drawn from the collections of the Kyiv-Pechersk National Historical and Cultural Preserve and the Lviv National Museum. If it sounds like something you would be interested in seeing you still have time, it will last until September 6, 2011.