A Saint Who Lived in Our Times Saint Pope John Paul II (†2 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his death in 2005. Born in Poland, John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since the 16th-century Pope Adrian VI. John Paul II attempted to improve the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. He upheld the Church's teachings on such matters as...

This collection comprised from a selection of our very best antique reliquaries. It took us several years to assembe it searching around the World for important examples of clear provenance in immaculate undisturbed condition. Selection of large silver thecae and gilt Baroque monstrances dating to 18th and 19th century and housing relics of important universally venerated Christian Saints and of the Christ's Passion is complimented by substantial first-class relics of early Martyrs and Miracleworkers. Please be assured that all of...

The Jubilee Year, also known as the Holy Year, is a significant event in the Roman Catholic Church, marking a period of spiritual renewal, forgiveness, and pilgrimage. The tradition dates back to the year 1300 when Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first Jubilee, inviting the faithful to visit Rome to receive a plenary indulgence. Since then, the celebration has evolved, becoming a central event in the Church’s history and spiritual life. Originally, the Jubilee was intended to be observed every...

Blessed Carlo Acutis was born on May 3, 1991, in London, England, to Italian parents Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano. Raised in Milan, Italy, from a young age, Carlo exhibited a profound devotion to the Catholic faith despite his parents' initial lack of religiosity. After his First Communion at age seven, he declared his life plan to "always be united to Jesus," attending daily Mass and fostering a deep love for the Eucharist, which he called "my highway to heaven."...

Orthodox Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. The day is also known as Pascha, Easter and Easter Day. The Orthodox Christian date for Easter Sunday often occurs later than the Easter date observed by many western churches. In 2023 - the Orthodox Easter falls on April 16th.

This collection represents staff pics of their favorite icons that we would love to find new loving homes this Christmas. Contact us if one of the icons catches your eye as the perfect spiritual holiday gift for yourself, your family, or your other loved ones.

Antique Russian icons with silver revetment covers are a stunning representation of the intersection between Russian Orthodox Christianity and the artistic traditions of Russia. These icons are unique in that they are beautiful pieces of religious art and valuable historical artifacts that offer a glimpse into Russia's cultural and artistic development over the centuries. Icons are an essential part of Russian Orthodox worship and are often painted on wood, depicting religious figures and events. However, antique Russian icons with silver...

Saint Seraphim of Sarov (Серафим Саровский) († 1833), was one of the most renowned Russian monks and mystics in the Orthodox Church. He is generally considered the greatest of the 19th century startsy (elders) and, arguably, the first. He is remembered for extending the monastic teachings of contemplation, theoria and self-denial to the layperson, and taught that the purpose of the Christian life was to acquire the Holy Spirit. Seraphim was born in 1759 in the city of Kursk, Russia....

Antique Catholic Reliquaries from Naples, Italy In the 19th century, Naples, Italy, continued to be a significant center for Catholic religious practices and artistry, especially in the realm of reliquaries dedicated to saints. Reliquaries are ornate containers that hold the physical remains or personal belongings of saints and are considered sacred objects of veneration within the Catholic tradition. During this period, Naples was known for its rich artistic heritage and deep-rooted religious fervor, making it an ideal setting for the...

In the heart of Christianity lies a profound reverence for sacred relics, tangible fragments that connect the faithful to the divine mysteries of their faith. Among these revered relics, the Passion relics of the Holy Nails of Jesus Christ stand as a testament to the enduring power of belief and the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice. The story of the Holy Nails is intertwined with the crucifixion narrative, a cornerstone of Christian theology. According to the Gospels, Jesus Christ was...

St. Lucia of Syracuse, also known as Saint Lucy, is one of the most revered martyrs of early Christianity. Born in the late 3rd century in Syracuse, Sicily, Lucia is celebrated for her unwavering faith and her martyrdom during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian around the year 304 AD. Her name, derived from the Latin lux, meaning “light,” symbolizes her role as a beacon of spiritual clarity and courage. According to tradition, Lucia consecrated her life...

Saint Apollonia of Alexandria is one of the most revered early Christian martyrs, celebrated as the patron saint of dentists and those suffering from toothache. Her story, rooted in courage and steadfast faith, has inspired generations of Christians and left an enduring legacy in both religious devotion and dental care traditions. Saint Apollonia lived in 3rd-century Alexandria during a period of intense persecution of Christians under Emperor Philip the Arab. According to historical accounts, most notably from the historian Eusebius...

Saint John the Baptist holds a unique and exalted position in both Orthodox and Catholic Christianity. Known as the Forerunner of Christ, Saint John the Baptist is revered as the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus and baptized Him in the River Jordan. His life, teachings, and martyrdom are celebrated with great solemnity, and his veneration is deeply embedded in the traditions, art, and relics of both Churches. In both traditions, Saint John the Baptist is honored as a...

“The city was pure gold, like pure glass” (Rev. 21:8)"All the glory of the King's daughter is within; her clothes are sewn with gold" (Psalm 45:13) The history of icon painting is rooted in antiquity. Gilding with gold leaf is already found on the oldest images dating back to the 9th-11th centuries. The technique of gilding came to Russia from Byzantium. Starting from the 13th century, gold leaf was often used by Novgorod, Pskov, and Moscow iconographers. They achieved a...

The Passion of Christ is the sum total of events that brought physical and spiritual suffering to Jesus Christ in the last days and hours of his earthly life. A special place among the Passion of Christ is occupied by the events that occurred after the Last Supper: His arrest, judgment, scourging and execution — the culminating moment of Christ's Passion. Relics of the Passion, also known as Arma Christi, are artefacts from the first century, preserved by the Catholic...

Christ Pantocrator is a common theme in Orthodox Christian iconography, depicting Jesus Christ as the Almighty Ruler and Judge of all creation. The word "Pantocrator" is derived from two Greek words, pan meaning all and kratos meaning power. The image of Christ Pantocrator typically features a frontal portrait of Jesus with a stern, commanding expression and a halo around his head, symbolizing his divinity. In the image, Christ is often depicted holding a book, representing the word of God, and...

Beatification (from Latin beatus, "blessed" and facere, "to make”) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. Beati is the plural form, referring to those who have undergone the process of beatification; they possess the title of "Blessed" (abbreviation "Bl.") before their names and are often referred to in English as "a Blessed" or, plurally, "Blesseds." Local bishops had the...

Our Lady of Kazan is a holy icon of the highest stature within the Russian Orthodox Church. It is considered a palladium of Russia for centuries until its theft and likely destruction in 1904. The icon represents the Virgin Mary as the protector and patroness of the city of Kazan. It is a close-up variant of the Hodegetria (Directress) style, it is noted mainly for the Child standing, with the Virgin chest length. The Kazan icons are traditionally small, following...

A selection of fine icons from a distinguished collection in the USA.

This Collection is comprised of the relics of the Popes who have been canonized or recognized as Saints in the Roman Catholic Church they had led. A total of 83 out of 264 deceased Popes have been recognized universally as canonized saints, including all of the first 35 Popes (31 of whom were Martyrs) and 52 of the first 54. If Pope Liberius is numbered amongst the saints as in Eastern Christianity, all of the first 49 Popes become recognized...

Reading the news about the Coronavirus COVID 19, one cannot help but recall the Black Death, the greatest biomedical disaster in European history. Although it was not the first plague epidemic, the Black Death swept through medieval Europe indiscriminately killing the majority of people it came into contact with and affected society, unlike any other natural calamity. The Black Death, also known as the Great Plague ​resulted in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people, peaking in...

Travel Orthodox icons have a rich history in Russia. As early as the 12th century, pilgrims wore pectoral icons in order to preserve the possibility of daily prayer. Later, small travel icons were used by the Orthodox faithful to serve as amulet-like protection from the calamities of travel. Orthodox Russians would leave home on a journey without a special to them travel icon in their possession. Special small icons depicting a patron saint, St. George the Victorybearer, or a Guardian...

In the vast folklore stratum of non-professional icon painting in Russia, icons by simple rural craftsmen, called bogomazi or God-painters, stand out. They were engaged in the icon-painting but also “daubed” everything to please their soul - paintings of flowers, birds, the interiors of rural houses, and even decorated furniture. They loved the Savior, his Mother the Divine, and the most revered Russian Saints: St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, St. George the Victorious, Paraskeva the Friday, Elijah the Prophet, Alexander Nevsky,...

The certification document that accompanies a sealed reliquary is often times referred to as the authentics. On the top of the document is the name and position (and sometimes but not always a coat of arms) of the Roman Catholic ecclesiastic official who has authenticated the relic(s). This could be the Postulator General of the religious order, the Vicar General of the Roman Curia, a local Archbishop / Bishop or their vicars. The body of copy that is usually written...

Saint Nicholas of Myra (Greek: Άγιος Νικόλαος, Николай Чудотворец) (270 - 343), was a historic 4th-century Saint and Greek Bishop of Myra. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolas the Wonderworker ( Νικόλαος ο Θαυματουργός, Николай Чудотворец). He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus. His reputation evolved among the...

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus, called Pascha (Easter), is the greatest of all holy days and as such it is called the "feast of feasts". Immediately below it in importance, there is a group of Twelve Great Feasts (Greek: Δωδεκάορτον). Together with Pascha, these are the most significant dates on the Orthodox liturgical calendar. Eight of the great feasts are in honor of Jesus Christ, while the other four are dedicated to the...

Saint George of Lydda (†303), the Greatmartyr, was a Roman soldier and military officer in the Guard of Emperor Diocletian of the Roman army, who ordered his death for failing to recant his Christian faith. As a Christian martyr, he later became one of the most venerated saints in Christianity. Venerated as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, Saint George is a holy patron of agricultural workers; archers; armourers; cavalry; chivalry; Constantinople; Crusaders; England; equestrians; Ethiopia; farmers; field workers; Georgia;...

The veneration of the Theotokos is of the same order as the veneration of all the saints, and shares with it a common foundation; excepting only that among the saints, the Most Holy Virgin Mary naturally occupies the first place and stands higher than them all.

Rounded icons are frequently fragments or inserts from the iconostasis or the Royal Doors with common subject being scenes of the Annunciation, Apostles and Evangelists. They are visually intreresting and visually break up the monotony of rectangular icons when displayed as a part of a wall-mounted collection.

The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by the Church tradition, are believed to originate from the Cross upon which Jesus was crucified. The Empress Helena, mother of Constantine I, the first Christian Emperor of Rome, travelled to the Holy Land in 326–28, where she discovered the hiding place of three crosses that were believed to be used at the crucifixion of Jesus and of two thieves, St. Dismas and Gestas, executed with him, and a miracle...

" ... [we] took his bones which are more valuable than precious stones and finer than refined gold, and laid them in a suitable place where the Lord will premit us to gather ourselves together in gladness and joy and to celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom." (A disciple's account of preservation of relics of Saint Martyr Polycarp written shortly after he was burned at the stake in the year of 156 or 157, which is the earliest record of...