St Innocent of Moscow (Enlightener of Alaska)

St Innocent of Moscow (Enlightener of Alaska)St. Innocent of Moscow Metropolitan of Moscow, Enlightener of Alaska and North America, and one of the greatest missionary bishops in the history of the Orthodox Church is depicted here by Dmitry Shkolnik of the Lavra iconographic school. St. Innocent spent decades among the peoples of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, translating the Scriptures, composing a grammar of the Aleut language, and building up the Church from the ground. His feast on October

one of the holiest places in Orthodox Christendom — the source of Russian monasticism and a center of saints whose relics lie incorrupt in its catacombs

the Mother of God

The icon of the Mother of God "Three Handed" (Trojeruchitsa) bears the remarkable iconographic feature of a third hand at the bottom of the image — the silver hand placed there by St John of Damascus in thanksgiving after his right hand was miraculously restored by the Theotokos

The Palekh school's characteristic fine brushwork and rich ochres give this icon a warmth and vitality that draws the eye and opens the heart to prayer

Basil the Blessed from Damascene Gallery

The prophet who called down fire from heaven

settling on the banks of the Volkhov River

The Novgorod masters brought a bold directness to their icons

Herman of Alaska

and Our Lord Jesus Christ in a composition of profound theological richness

The Don icon's tender expressiveness is among the reasons it has been treasured in Russia since the 14th century

A quality Orthodox mounted icon