Saint Macrina the Younger
Acrylic on wood panel and 23K gold leaf
8.75"x11"  and 5.5"x8.25"

These two icons were commissioned by the St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary Student Council. During the 2013 commencement, which took place on May 18, the President of the Student Council awarded one of the professors the St Macrina Teaching Award. The professor was presented with the smallest of the two icons. The larger icon will be displayed in one of the buildings of the St. Vladimir's Seminary. 

The eldest of ten children, St. Macrina was born into a family that has graced the church with many saints. Her grandmother, St. Macrina the Elder, moved with her husband to Pontus during Galerius’ persecution of the Church. The younger Macrina’s parents, Basil and Emiliana, were declared saints by the Church, as were three of her four brothers, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Peter of Sebaste. In his work, On the Soul and the Resurrection, Gregory calls Macrina the Teacher, and, from his Life of the Teacher, it is clear that she was the spiritual influence on and the spiritual center of her family. ( St Nina Quarterly )

Virgin of Tenderness and Christ Pantocrator
Acrylic on wood panel and 23K gold leaf
7.25"x10"

These icons of Christ and Theotokos were copied from the two icons in the Three Hierarchs Chapel at St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. This was commissioned by a family that graduated from the St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary last year.

On the icon of Theotokos with Child, the scroll says "The Spirit of the Lord is Upon me because He hath anointed me, He hath sent me to preach good things to the poor." This is the prophecy of Isaiah about the Messiah, which Jesus read in the synagogue when He was beginning his public work after his baptism.

Announcing This Year's Beneficiary of the WIH 10% Donation Plan:

Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC)

Christ is Risen, brothers and sisters! 

I am pleased to announce that as the result of our survey, Orthodox Christian Mission Center has been chosen as this year's recipient for the Window Into Heaven 10% Donation Plan. According to this plan, for the next twelve month period, 10% of all WIH proceeds will be donated to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center. 

A big thank you to all those who voted! 


About this Organization:
OCMC mission is to help fulfill the Great Commission of Christ: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center strives to establish vibrant Eucharistic communities throughout the world, to develop and support indigenous church leaders, and to strengthen the infrastructure of their churches. OCMC carries out this work primarily, though not solely, in countries where Christianity is in the minority and where the Gospel message has not been proclaimed.

OCMC recruits, trains, sends, and supports Orthodox missionaries who preach, teach, baptize, construct, and minister to the spiritual and physical needs of those being served and saved.

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is a nonprofit organization that depends heavily on donations to sustain work. 

OCMC Official Website
OCMC On Facebook
OCMC On Twitter

Last year a Donation Plan was implemented according to which 10% of all proceeds was given to one non-profit orthodox organization. Based on your votes, St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary was chosen as the recipient.

Now it's the time to cast in your vote once again!

Submit your vote through the survey located to the right.
And to help you choose, below you will find information on these organization.
Voting is open until May 4th, 2013.

• 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.
• Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage / "Building Hope for Boys Without Families and Families Without Homes."
  Project Mexico performs works of mercy and helps others do works of mercy in the name of Jesus Christ, transcending cultural barriers by building homes for the poor in Mexico and by providing a home for orphaned boys through St. Innocent Orphanage.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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. 
• Ancient Faith Radio | "Bringing the Ancient Faith to the Modern World."
  Ancient Faith Radio seeks to deepen and enrich the faith of Orthodox Christians around the world with streaming audio programming and on-demand podcasts.

Call for Submissions: 

Name Organizations to be considered for WIH 10% Donation Plan in 2013

      Last year a Donation Plan was implemented according to which 10% of all proceeds was given to one non-profit orthodox organization. Based on your votes, St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary was chosen as the recipient.

      The time is coming to cast in your vote once again! On May 4th, 2013 a new recipient will be named. Voting will begin on April 14th.

      In the meantime, I would love to hear from you! Which Orthodox Christian non-profit organizations should be considered for the vote? Leave your comment below or contact me through e-mail.

Our Lady of Walsingham
Acrylic on wood panel and 23K gold leaf
11"x16"

Recently I had an opportunity to work again on an icon of Our Lady of Walsingham.

This image of Theotokos and Christ is based on a statue from the Slipper Chapel located in Walsingham, England. Mary is depicted seated on the Throne of Wisdom. Seven rings on the two pillars symbolize seven sacraments and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The arched back reminds us if the rainbow – sign of God’s covenant with the World. Her dress is blue for divinity, white for motherhood, and red for virginity. The lily in her hand has three blooms, sign of Mary’s perpetual virginity before, during, and after Christ’s birth. As the Queen of Heaven and of England, her Dowry, she is crowned with a Saxon Crown. On her knees is Christ Child, holding the Gospel in his left hand, blessing with his right. (1,)

The symbol in the top corners is a monogram of the letters MARIA. Today this medieval monogram serves as a symbol and logo for the Slipper Chapel/Shrine of Our Lady, inWalsingham, England.

Saint Panteleimon the Great Martyr
Available under :wood tab
Acrylic on wood panel
5.25" x 7.75"

The holy, glorious and right-victorious Greatmartyr Panteleimon  at his birth was named Pantaleon, which means "in all things like a lion", but when he converted to Christianity, he changed his name to Panteleimon, which means "all-merciful".

 St. Panteleimon had been educated as a physician, and he dedicated his life to the suffering, the sick, the unfortunate and the needy. He treated all those who turned to him without charge, healing them in the name of Jesus Christ.

Other physicians brought his case before the Emperor Maximian. St. Panteleimon confessed to being a Christian and refused to offer sacrifice to the state gods.  Enraged, Maximian ordered that St. Panteleimon be beheaded. The soldiers took him, but when they struck him while he was praying, the sword melted like wax. After he finished his prayer, a Voice was heard from Heaven, calling the passion-bearer by his new name and summoning him to the heavenly Kingdom. He instructed the soldiers to rise from their knees where they had fallen in fear and to complete the execution. (1 , 2)

Kontakion:  "O Champion and Martyr of God, imitating the Merciful and bearing from Him the grace of healing, cure our spiritual ills by your prayers, and set free from the temptation of the eternal enemy, those who ceaselessly cry out, "Save us, O Lord."

Saint Paul the Apostle
Available under :wood tab
Acrylic on wood panel
5.25" x 7.75"

The source for this icon is a 16th century image from Pokrov church of Rostov region.

Paul, whose original name was Saul, was a fierce persecutor of Christians, and in fact was present at stoning of the first Christian martyr. But around the year A.D. 31 he experienced a blinding vision described in Acts 9:1-20. Sought out by the Apostle Ananias, Saul immediately repented and Ananias baptized him.

The extent of Paul's preaching as he spread the Gospel went far and wide from Arabia to Spain, to both Jews and Gentiles.

 Saint Paul ended his life as a martyr in Rome where  he was beheaded between years A.D. 64 and 67.

White Angel
Paint over antique Italian ceramic tile
8"x9"

 This antique Italian ceramic tile shows the White Angel - a detail from a Myrrhbearers on Christ's Grave frescoe in the Mileševa monastery, Serbia, dated c. 1235. The frescoe depicts the arrival of the myrrhbearers at the tomb of Christ on Sunday morning, after the events of the Crucifixion. Sitting on the stone is the Angel dressed in white chiton, showing the place of Christ's resurrection, and his empty tomb. This White Angel has also been called the Angel of the Resurrection, since he announced it.

Holy Archangel Gabriel
Acrylic on glass
5" x 7"

The image for this icon was taken from the 12th century mosaic in Duomo di Cefalu, Sicily.

 The Holy Archangel Gabriel (the name Gabriel comes from the Hebrew meaning "Man of God," "God is mighty" or "the strength/power of God") appears numerous times in the Holy Scripture: he explains to Daniel the meaning of his vision (Daniel 8:16-19) and announces the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.  Thus his primary role has been called one of announcing the salvation of mankind.

 Kontakion, Tone 8 

Supreme commander Gabriel, you are the glorious intercessor and servant before the all-radiant, worthy, all-powerful, infinite and awesome Trinity. Ever pray now that we may be delivered from all tribulations and torments, so that we may cry out to you: "Rejoice, protection of your servants!"

Seraphim-Diveyevo, Tenderness Icon of the Mother of God
Acrylic on wood panel
7.25"x7.25"

This small icon was inspired by the Seraphim-Diveyevo Icon of the Mother of God. 

Seraphim-Diveyevo icon belonged to our venerable and God-bearing father St Seraphim of Sarov  (Russian ascetic who lived at the Sarov Monastery in the 18th century). It is said that the Saint anointed the sick with the oil from the lamp burning before the icon, and the sick would receive healing.

The ascetic died while at prayer before the icon on January 2, 1833.  After the death of St Seraphim of Sarov the monastery Superior Father Niphon gave the holy "Tenderness" icon to the sisters of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery. (Taken from angelfire.com)

Saint Nektarios of Aegina
Acrylic and 23K golf leaf on wood panel
8.75"x11.25"

This is one of the latest commissions, prepared for St. Nektarios Orthodox Church in Waxahachie, Texas.   

Saint Nektarios (1846-1920) was known as a great miracle worker, particularly as a healer. He was also a prolific writer, theologist, philosopher, moralist, educator, poet, ascetic and mystic. Above all Saint Nektarios was a man of deep prayer, and a hard worker. (1)

St. Nektarios says these words about the Saints of the Church: 

Our Church honors saints not as gods, but as faithful servants, as holy men and friends of God. It extols the struggles they engaged in and the deeds they performed for the glory of God with the action of His grace, in such a way that all the honor that the Church gives them refers to the Supreme Being, Who has viewed their life on earth with gratification. The Church honors them by commemorating them annually through public celebrations and through the erection of Churches in honor of their name.

The holy men of God, who were magnified on earth by the Lord, have been honored by God's holy Church from the very time it was founded by the Savior Christ. (2)

Saint Jude the Apostle
Acrylic and 23K golf leaf on wood panel
5" x 7"

Apostle Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and his brother, along with St. James, by virtue of being the son of St. Joseph the Betrothed. He is also called Levi or Thaddeus and sometimes the name Jude is rendered as Judas, but he is not to be confused with Judas Iscariot, the Apostle Matthew (also called "Levi"), or the Apostle Thaddeus of the Seventy.

After the Ascension he preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Idumea, Syria, Arabia, Mesopotamia, and Armenia.(1)

Kontakion (Tone 2)

You were chosen as a disciple for your firmness of mind:

An unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ,

You proclaimed His word to the Gentiles,

Telling them to believe in one Godhead.

You were glorified by Him, receiving the grace of healing,

Healing the ills of all who came to you,

O most praised Apostle Jude!

Saint Xenia of St. Petersburg
Acrylic on wood panel
5" x 7"

Our venerable Mother, the Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg was an 18th century Russian fool-for-Christ.

When Xenia was 26 years old she fell into great grief upon the death of her husband, Colonel Andrei Feodorovich Petrov. Appearing to have lost her mind from her grief, she distributed her possessions to the poor and vanished from St. Petersburg for eight years. It is said that during these years she lived at some hermitage with a sisterhood of holy ascetics, learning about prayer and the spiritual life from an elder.

At her return to St. Petersburg, she clothed herself in one of her late husband’s old uniforms and thereafter refused to respond the name of Xenia Grigorievna, answering instead only to the name of her late husband, Andrei Feodorovich. It was as if she, in her deep devotion to her husband, had hoped to take upon herself the burden of his unrepented sins and of his unfortunate demise without the Holy Mysteries. Sorrowing for her own sins and for his, she began her long pilgrimage of wandering through the streets of St. Petersburg. She was most often to be found in the vicinity of the parish of Saint Matthias where the poorest people lived in shabby huts.

Soon Blessed Mother Xenia's great virtue and spiritual gifts began to be noticed.  She was given many great spiritual gifts of prayer and prophecy, and often foretold things to come. She became known as someone pleasing to God, and everyone loved her. The people of St. Petersburg came to love her. Her life was centered on God, seeking protection and comfort only in Him, placing the Kingdom of Heaven before earthly possessions.  

St. Xenia lived about forty-five years after the death of her husband, and departed to the Lord at the age of seventy-one.  (1, 2, 3, 4)

Holy Archangel Michael
This icon is available under "glass" tab
Acrylic on glass
5" x 7"

This icon depicts Holy Archangel Michael, and is done in the style of "reverse glass iconography".

The Holy Archangel Michael is one of the most celebrated of the Angels and bodiless powers; he is called the Archistrategos, or chief commander, of all the bodiless powers. The name Michael means "like unto God" or "Who is like unto God?"

In this icon Archangel Michael is shown bearing symbols power: a slender rod called a merilo (measure) and a heavenly sphere called a zertsalo (mirror). The inscription at the top reads: "Archangel Michael."

Filermskaya Mother of God
Paint over antique Italian ceramic tile
8"x9"

About two years ago I shared a couple of similar icons, they were an icon of Christ, Vladimir Mother of God, and Holy Angel. This tile is done with the same materials in a similar style. The subject of this icon is the Philermskaya Mother of God ( or Filermo Holy Virgin).

The icon is named after a mountain in Greece, where a church was built to shelter an icon brought there from Jerusalem in the beginning of 11th century. This icon, according to tradition was painted by Evangelist Luke. It was well known across Mediterranean world as a miraculous icon, but the great level of interest was due to the belief that it strongly resembled the face of Mary during Her earthly life.  That ancient icon is now lost, but in the 16th century a copy was made which served as a model for the later icons.

Jesus Christ Pantocrator
23K Gold leaf  and Acrylic on Wood Panel
7.25"x10"

This image of Christ is based on the mosaic from the Cathedral in Monreale ("Santa Maria la Nuova"), Sicily, Italy, which dates from the 12th or 13th century.

The word 'Pantocrator', comes from the Greek Παντοκράτωρ and means "the All Powerful" / "Ruler of All". This iconic image was one of the first depictions of Christ developed in the Early Christian Church and remains a central icon of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The oldest known surviving example of the icon of Christ Pantocrator was done in the sixth or seventh century (Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai).

Christ is shown both as the Righteous Judge and the Lover of Mankind. In this half-length image, Christ holds the Gospel in his left hand and blesses with his right. The Greek and Latin inscription reads: 'I am the light of the world. He who follows shall not walk in the darkness'. 

Holy Prophet Nehemiah
Acrylic on Wood Panel
5.25"x6"

This small icon is of the Holy Prophet Nehemiah. The text on the scroll reads "The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength".

Holy Prophet Nehemiah was instrumental in the rebuilding and reestablishment of Jerusalem in the fifth century B.C. following the Babylonian exile.

Nehemiah was a high official in the Persian court of King Artaxerxes I at the capital city of Susa, which lay 150 miles east of the Tigris River in what is now modern Iran. Nehemiah served as the king’s cupbearer (Nehemiah 1:11), which evidently put him in a position to speak to the king and request favors from him. After hearing about the sad state of affairs in Judah, Nehemiah acquired the king’s permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and its fortifications.

Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem in 445 B.C. as the provincial governor of Judah/Yehud. He immediately surveyed the damage to the entire city  and enlisted the help of the people to quickly repair the breaches in the wall. He also urged them to set up guards to defend against the constant threat of those who opposed their efforts, including the armies of Samaria, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites.

The hurried work of repairing and rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls and gates was completed in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15).

As governor, Nehemiah says that he didn’t take advantage of food and land allotments that were allowed him due to his office, because there was already such a great burden on the people of his province (Nehemiah 5:14–19). He also made the other nobles and officials forgive all outstanding debts and ordered them to return all land and money that had been taken as taxes so the people would be able to feed themselves and their families. (Source: Nehemiah-The Man Behind the Wall)

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)