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is dedicated to providing
you with beautiful inspirational icons of the highest quality. Every icon offered
on this page
is a reproduction of our
own original artwork located in our Carmelite Monastery. These icons are
mounted on ½ inch birch veneer that has
been carefully sanded and painted in the traditional dark red color. A
keyhole is placed in the back for easy hanging, and the title of the
icon also appears on the back. Colors are approximate. |
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Jesus Christ, High Priest, King, and Victim This icon depicts our Lord Jesus Christ in three aspects of His person and mission. Jesus is high priest. He is the mediator of a new and eternal covenant between God and mankind. Jesus is king. Though His kingdom is not of this world, yet His desire is to establish a kingdom within the hearts of all who live in the world. Jesus is victim. Priests of the old covenant offered animal sacrifices as a means of expiation for sin. Jesus, high priest of the new and more perfect covenant, has "appeared at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Heb 2:26) The cross thus becomes an altar. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and He is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. |
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Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Known as the greatest saint of modern times, Saint Thérèse was born in France in 1873. She became a Carmelite Nun, and her doctrine of the Little Way earned her the title "Doctor of the Church." She died in the Lisieux Carmel in 1897. |
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Mother of Divine Providence This icon expresses a two-fold truth of our Catholic faith: that all God's children are sustained and protected by His loving providence through the maternal mediation of Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Mother. The hands of Jesus rest in the hands of His Mother to show that He shares with her His saving power and has entrusted to her the mission of spiritually mothering His children. She nurtures our life in God and provides for our souls. Their eyes meet in a loving gaze; Their hearts are united; Their wills are in harmony. Together they fulfill the merciful designs which the providence of God has decreed for mankind. |
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Our Lord Jesus Christ This icon depicts our Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection from the dead when God the Father "highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name." (Phil 2:9) The icon is intended to reveal the person of Christ as Lord and Savior, and to strengthen our faith and hope in Him. Christ looks directly at the viewer; his gaze is not scrutinizing, but is an invitation to trust. |
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Ascension of Our Lord Our Lord, victorious in His Resurrection, ascends into Heaven. Angels accompany Him as he sits enthroned as King of the Universe, symbolized by the dark blue sphere adorned with stars. Our Lady raises her hands in prayer and is marked with the traditional three stars on her shoulders and head which represent her virginity before, during, and after the birth of her divine Son. The disciples gaze on in wonder as two "men" in white ask them, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to Heaven? This Jesus, Who has been taken up from you into Heaven, shall come in the same way as you have seen Him going up to Heaven." Come, Lord Jesus! |
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Pentecost While praying in the Upper Room, Our Lady and the apostles experience the fiery flames of divine love in the blessed coming of the Holy Spirit. The apostles gather around Mary, Mother of the Church, whose feet rest on a footstool inscribed with the words: "The Spirit of the Lord Has Filled the World, Alleluia." The buildings in the background symbolize the fact that this sacred event occurs indoors. |
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The Myrrhbearing Women One way that the Resurrection is portrayed in iconography is in the form of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women at the tomb. At the break of dawn, the holy women carrying jars of spices are prepared to anoint the body of Jesus. But the tomb is empty and Our Lord is gloriously risen on the third day. The burial cloths remain in the tomb and the angel points to the place where Jesus had lain. |
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Presentation of Our Lord In obedience to Jewish law, Saint Joseph and Our Lady present the Christ Child to God in the temple. At last, Simeon gazes upon the Savior and holds the divine Babe in his arms while Anna watches the mystery unfold. In his joy, Simeon exclaims, "Lord, now you let your servant go in peace, your word has been fulfilled; my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." Saint Joseph carries two doves, the prescribed offering of the poor. |
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Saint Joseph, Protector of Carmel Saint Joseph holds the child Jesus and two doves in his arms. Our Lord presents the Carmelite coat-of-arms and raises His right hand in blessing. Saint Teresa of Avila, realizing the holiness and powerful intercession of Saint Joseph, named her first foundation after this holy saint and he has long been referred to as the Protector of Carmel. |
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Nativity of our Lord In this icon, the newborn Christ lies in a manger in the cave of Bethlehem. A manger is a feeding trough for animals, and Bethlehem means "house of bread." Jesus is the Bread of Life, the new manna appearing in the wilderness. The manger is made of stones, a foreshadowing of the altar, for Jesus will offer Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (cf. Jn 1:29). The swaddling clothes, indicative of the astonishing self-abasement of the Word, are also a foreshadowing of his death and burial. |
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The Risen Christ Our Lord stands gloriously triumphant as the Conqueror of death, carrying with Him the standard of the Cross. His resurrected body emanates rays of light and His right hand is raised in blessing. Bearing forever His sacred wounds, Christ entreats us to deny ourselves, take up our own cross, and follow Him. "Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things so as to enter into His glory?" |
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Descent into Hades In iconography, the Resurrection is portrayed most commonly in two forms, either as the Descent into Hades or as the Myrrhbearing Women. In the Descent, Christ enters into Hades as the Master of life to rescue those souls waiting for the Redeemer. He appears bright as the sun in the strength of His divinity - notice the dramatic shading of the gold background - and grasps the hand of Adam to deliver him from the darkness of death. Stepping forth from the tomb, Adam offers his free hand in welcome while Eve timidly offers hers covered by her cloak. Standing behind Eve are Saint Joseph the Patriarch (left), the prophet Isaiah (center), and the prophet Micah (right). On the left side of the icon stand King David (left) and King Solomon (right) along with the the prophet Daniel (left) and Saint John the Baptist (right). Holding high the instrument of His victory, Christ has come to set His people free. |
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Saint Michael the Archangel Saint Michael, the commander of the heavenly host, is pictured in a red robe symbolic of the spirit of sacrifice and unselfishness which he showed in the great angelic battle in heaven when he cast out Lucifer and his minions forever. He holds a staff in his left hand; in his right hand is an image which bears the chi-rho (the first two letters in the Greek word Christos), three stars, and three concentric circles representing the Holy Trinity. A ribbon symbolizing his attentiveness to the divine commands adorns his head. Saint Michael, defend us in battle! |
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Supper at Emmaus The two disciples encounter Our Lord on the journey to Emmaus, but they do not recognize Him until the breaking of the bread. The triangular composition of the figures is reminiscent of the form used by St. Andrei Rublev in his famous icon of the Trinity; the disciples are shown at table with our Lord at the moment of His manifestation. We also have the opportunity to recognize Him when He feeds us with His own Body and Blood in the Most Holy Eucharist. |
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The Raising of Lazarus The most striking public miracle Jesus ever performed before His Passion on the Cross was the raising of Lazarus from the dead on the outskirts of Bethany. In this scene, our Lord beckons Lazarus forth from the darkness and death of the tomb to new life. Notice the two sisters, Martha and Mary, in the foreground with Mary prostrate at the feet of Jesus. A young onlooker covers his nose, for as Martha said, "Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days." The man standing beside Lazarus with his hand held up represents the opposition of the Pharisees to Jesus, which was heightened by the raising of Lazarus. In the background can be seen the walls of the town of Bethany. |
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The Virgin of Tenderness This type of icon, known as "tenderness" or "lovingkindness," portrays the bond of intimacy between the Mother of God and her son Jesus. Their cheeks meet in loving embrace, and their eyes in a gaze of mutual compassion. The icon depicts the Virgin Mary mourning the passion of her Son which has been made known to her by Simeon (cf. Lk 2:35). Jesus hastens to reassure his Mother, and as he does so, a sandal slips from his foot... The motherly caress of the Mother of God is indissolubly connected with her tormenting pain for her son. the compassion she feels for Him becomes transformed into motherly compassion for all creatures for whom He voluntarily sacrifices Himself. |
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