gallery of holy icons

Icons play a prominent role in our parish. There are several Icons installed in our church, and we regularly venerate Icons during our weekday Liturgy and during our Sunday Evensong services. We embrace Icons because these are effective means to bring close to us the warming presence of Christ and His Saints, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Icons enrich our parish prayer life, help us to experience God in His mystery and glory, and deepen our relationship with Jesus, the Incarnate Son of the Father.

​Icons have been part of the British/English (and therefore Anglican) tradition since at least the 6th century. The Venerable S. Bede records the importance of Icons in the early years of the Church in England. According to Bede, S. Augustine of Canterbury and his forty monks used Icons in their efforts to re-evangelize Anglo-Saxon England in the 6th century. Bede also records that in the 7th century, S. Benet-Biscop brought Icons to England from Rome in order to enhance the worship of that era.

Thus it is not surprising that remnants of ancient iconography still exist on the walls and sanctuaries of historic parish churches in England, Wales, and Scotland, nor that many cathedrals and parish churches in the Anglican world today incorporate Icons into worship. The Second Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (AD 787) of the undivided, universal Church affirmed the necessity of Icons in the Liturgy of the Church and personal prayer life of Christians, because Icons affirm Christ's Incarnation. ​To learn about icons, watch or read this helpful lecture.

The Icons below are either installed in our church or are a sampling of those used regularly in our Liturgy.

Icon: Our Lady of the Sign
This icon is installed in our church. It depicts the moment at the Annunciation when, after Mary hears the Archangel Gabriel’s message, she responds by saying, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” Thus it depicts the moment Mary conceived Jesus in her heart, even before Jesus was conceived in her womb. To Mary’s right and left are two Cherubim angels (as they were on the Ark of the Covenant), which the posture she takes with her hands and arms replicates; she is always surrounded by Angels, who face her to indicate they are ministering unto her, for Mary is “Lady of all the Angels.” Jesus (in a mandorla, the circle around Him which symbolizes His eternal heavenly existence) is depicted as conceived in her heart, though His Nativity is yet to come, and in her heart He blesses us and holds a scroll, which signifies that He is the living Word of God. The Icon, then, can also signify the sign she joyfully gave S. Elizabeth upon greeting her at the Visitation, and the sign of joyful and loving welcome she always offers to us: welcoming us to her Son, and the Savior of all, and to receive the Holy Spirit, Who seeks to overshadow our souls, and enlighten our spirit, that we may conceive the holy Jesus in our hearts, and may bear Him in our mind, and may grow up to the fullness of the stature of Christ, to be perfect in Christ Jesus. The heart of Mary carries the mystery of the Church: she exemplifies obedience, humility, commitment, and devotion: in other words, true discipleship of Jesus Christ.

​Icon: S. Paul the Apostle. 
This handpainted Icon is installed in our church. The technique used in the Icon is called “gradation,” whereby the eye is drawn from the darker areas to the brighter areas, reflecting the conversion of Paul from darkness to the Light of Christ. The high, luminous forehead and strong, intent features express the tension of a man seeking the face of Christ by all means. The unnaturally swollen neck indicates and emphasizes the presence of the breath of the Holy Spirit. His eyes and years are depicted large to reflect Paul’s transformation from one who cannot perceive Christ to one who is able to see and hear Christ in all places. The small, closed mouth expresses Paul’s depth of silence and contemplation in which he is immersed. Yet his lips are red to reflect that he tastes the sweetness of the Lord, and that from his lips pour out holy doctrine born of the Holy Spirit. The halo is a symbol of holiness, being full of and transformed by the Holy Spirit, and access to the uncreated Light of God.

Icon: Tender Mercy
This handpainted icon is installed in our church, and is one of the most popular and widespread images of Mary and Jesus both East and West. It highlights the affectionate and intense intimacy which unites Virgin and Child. Mary hugs Jesus close to her, their faces no longer frozen and frontal, but turned toward one another, cheeks touching as the Son grabs her cloak and embraces her neck. Mary leans forward as if to receive a kiss from Jesus. The love between Mary and Jesus symbolizes the mystical union between Christ and His Church. The eyes of Jesus longingly behold Mary who gave Jesus his flesh, just as Jesus loves the Church His Body. The eyes of Mary, on the other hand, gaze upon us with an infinite sadness, for she already possesses the thought of her Son's future passion and His sacrifice of Himself for the sins of all people. Within the relationship of Mary and Jesus is the whole drama of and tension contained in Simeon's prophecy: "and a sword will pierce your own soul also" (Luke 2:35).

Icon: Christ the Good Shepherd
This Icon is installed in the Atrium of S. Anne's Chapel as part of our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd children's formation ministry. Jesus teaches the Church when He says “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). It is this verse that we contemplate when we venerate one of the most popular and beloved Icons from the most ancient times: the Icon of Christ the Good Shepherd. Christ beautifully and securely holds a sheep in His arms. He tells us "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). The sheep beholds Jesus lovingly. Jesus tells us that "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10.27). The sheep represents all disciples who know Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world and Who gave His life as sacrifice our salvation. Through participation in the Holy Spirit through the Liturgy, Sacraments, and devotional life, we are sheep that hear the voice of Christ. We are led by Him Who is our Good Shepherd; thus Christ holds His right hand in a gesture of blessing upon all who venerate this Icon and, through the Icon, worship Him.

Icon: The Pantokrator
This Icon is regularly venerated during our Sunday Evensong services. It is one of the most ancient Icons that have come down from antiquity, and the oldest image of Jesus Christ there is. It depicts the adult Christ giving benediction while holding the Gospel book. An examination of His face reveals an intentional dissymmetry: the left side is gentle, compassionate (this reflects our Savior’s perfect succor for us); and the right side is challenging, intense (this reflect’s our Savior’s absolute demand upon us). The nondescript buildings behind Him symbolize His incarnation, while the background of blue symbolizes His existence “before all worlds,” that is, beyond and outside of the conditions of time and space. This icon dates from the 6th century and is kept at the Monastery of Saint Catherine located at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt. It was held up and cited during the debates within the Church during and between the Ecumenical Councils of the first millennium as evidence to establish the doctrine that the person of Christ embodied the union of two natures, human and divine. Indeed this Icon establishes the basis and justification for Icons in the Church: Because God became man, not only can He be painted in Icons, but He should be painted, to fulfill the ancient Christian confession: “...was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.” 

Icon: Pentecost (The Coming of the Holy Ghost upon the Twelve)
This icon is regularly venerated during our Sunday Evensong services. It depicts a portion of the Upper Room, where the 120 apostles gathered for nine days after the Ascension, to await the Promise of the Father, namely the Holy Spirit in His power. The Upper Room is without roof, and therefore open to the heavenly reality. Icons of Pentecost typically show twelve disciples, and not the other apostles (and usually not Blessed Mary, who was present as the Mother of the Church). Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the head of the Church, is physically not among the apostles. He has sent the Holy Spirit, Who processes from the Father, to guide and comfort the Church until the Second Coming. In the halos are tongues of fire, to indicate not only the presence of the Holy Spirit, but His power. Often S. Paul is included (despite not being present at Pentecost) to represent his importance in the spreading of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. The kingly figure at the bottom is called “Cosmos” and represents creation and the peoples, kingdoms, and authorities of the world. He stands in darkness because he has not yet received the light of Christ through the Holy Spirit; his crown symbolizes the sins that rules the world without the light of Christ. Each apostle holds a scroll, which represents the message of the Gospel.