Icons – A Sacred Art:Icons – A Sacred Art "Icons are in colours what the Scripture are in words: witnesses to the Incarnation, the Fact that God has come among us as a person whom we can see, touch and hear, to offer us the new life and begin the new creation.“ The 7th Ecumenical Council (787 AD)


Word and Light:Word and Light “The true Light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” John 1:14


God-bearing:God-bearing “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Luke 1:42 “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35


God-in-Harmony:God-in-Harmony “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house, there are many rooms …” John 14:2 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 [Icon of the Hospitality of Abraham by Andre Rublev]


God-in-Discord:God-in-Discord “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5


God the Life Giver:God the Life Giver “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.” Orthodox Easter Hymn “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22


Wind and Fire:Wind and Fire “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2: 1-4


Fire Kindled:Fire Kindled Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, “Abba, as far as I can I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?” Then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, “If you will, you can become all flame!” [Icon of the Ascension of St. Elias]


Martyrs:Martyrs “As the deliverer of captives and the protector of the poor, as the physician of the feeble and combatant of kings, holy champion and great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God to save our souls.” Troparion of St George


Ascetics:Ascetics "Let it be your supreme and common purpose not to grow weary in the work you have begun, and in time of trial and affliction not to lose courage and say: ‘Oh, how long already have we been mortifying ourselves!’ Rather, we should daily begin anew and constantly increase our fervour.” St. Anthony the Great


Fathers:Fathers “Christ ever with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ to my right side, Christ to my left side, Christ in his breadth, Christ in his length, Christ in depth, Christ in the heart of all who think of me, Christ in the mouth of all who speak to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.” St. Patrick’s Breastplate


Mothers:Mothers “You were of royal birth and lineage, O Hilda, yet you spurned earthly riches and the allurements of the flesh. Cleaving with all your heart unto Christ, you took up the struggle of the monastic life. Wherefore, God endowed you with such wisdom and prudence that all the people hastened unto you for counsel and succour. O venerable one, entreat Him unceasingly, that He may grant us great mercy.” Troparion of St. Hilda


Teachers:Teachers “Let all who love their words come together and honour with hymns the three luminaries of the light-creating Trinity: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and renowned John of golden speech, who have enlightened the world with the rays of their divine doctrines, and are mellifluous rivers of wisdom who have watered all creation with streams of divine knowledge; they ever intercede with the Trinity for us.” TROPARION Sts. Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Gregory the Theologian