All Saints

The Story Behind This Icon The icon of the Sunday of All Saints depicts our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ seated above the throne of heaven surrounded by the Saints.  The rows of Saints included the Archangel Michael and other Angels, the Theotokos and John the Baptist, the Apostles, Bishops, Great Martyrs, Ascetics and Monastics. Above/behind the throne are Adam and Eve, bowing in reverence to Christ. The sun and moon are personified, both creations of Jesus Christ, God of the Universe. All are joined by the Saints surrounding Christ, all of whom lift their hands in worship to the King of Glory. At the lower left of the icon is the Patriarch Abraham who has a righteous soul in his bosom, as told in the story of Lazarus and the rich man in the Gospel. At the lower center is the Good Thief who was crucified with Christ, the first to enter Paradise. On the lower right is the Patriarch Jacob. The first Sunday after the Feast of Holy Pentecost is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of All Saints, designated as a commemoration of all of the Saints, Righteous, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their holy lives.  *** This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background consists of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece. Subtle connecting lines and brush strokes may be visible on the gold leaves and are a testament to the artisan's hand, making each piece entirely unique.  All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. A note about the iconographer Nikolaos Galanopoulos completed several years of study at the Athoniada School in Mount Athos, Greece. He was a student of Elder Meletios Sykeotis (renown teacher of Byzantine Music and Art at the Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy of Karyes in Mount Athos). N. Galanopoulos studied Byzantine iconography under the highly skilled resident monks of the Skete of St Anna in Mount Athos, Greece.