The Myrrh-Bearing Women

Hand painted icon of The Myrrh-Bearing Women - egg tempera on wood, oil gilded

This is the Easter icon. It shows the women who went to the tomb of Christ to anoint his body and found the tomb empty. An angel sat on the stone that rolled away from the entrance to the tomb and told them that Christ was raised from the dead and commanded them to go […]

The Annunciation

Hand painted icon of The Annunciation

The Annunciation is one of the twelve great feasts of the liturgical year. The feast of the Annunciation is celebrated on 25th March. The icon of the Annunciation is then placed in the centre of the church for veneration. Additionally there is often the image of the Annunciation on the Royal Doors in the iconostasis, […]

St Seraphim of Sarov (1754 – 1833)

Tamara Penwell's icon of Saint Seraphim of Sarov

Everybody’s favourite saint. The most renowned Orthodox monk and mystic, and spiritual elder. St Seraphim was a true giant of contemplative prayer, having spent 25 years living as a hermit in the forest of Sarov. For three of those years Seraphim prayed every night, all night kneeling on a rock, with his arms raised. St […]

Saint John the Forerunner

Tamara Penwell's icon of Saint John the Forerunner

Also known as St John the Baptist. One of the most intriguing and enigmatic characters in the Bible and a fascinating subject to paint. About St John the Forerunner there are more questions than answers. He is known as “The friend of the Bridegroom”, “the voice of one crying in the wilderness”, “the witness who […]