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Feast Day/Commemorated: January 30 (3 Holy Hierarchs

Saint Basil the Great

Born in 330 AD to a remarkably devout family in Caesarea, Saint Basil the Great received a premier classical education in Athens—where he began a lifelong friendship with Saint Gregory the Theologian—before rejecting a secular career to embrace "the true philosophy" of monasticism. After traveling to study the ascetics of the East, he founded a communal monastic model characterized by strict discipline and scriptural study, eventually being drawn into church service to defend Orthodoxy against the Arian heresy. As the Bishop of Caesarea from 370 AD, Basil became an "untiring champion" of the faith, famously standing firm against the intimidation of the Arian Emperor Valens and composing the profound Divine Liturgy that bears his name. Beyond his intellectual defense of the divinity of the Holy Spirit in works like the Hexaemeron, he transformed his diocese through "Basiliads"—large-scale complexes providing food and medical care for the poor and sick. Though he died at the young age of 49 in 379 AD, his legacy as a "revealer of heavenly mysteries" persists through his foundational influence on Eastern monasticism and his status as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs.

Saint John Chrysostom

Born around 347 AD in Antioch and raised in a devout Christian household, Saint John Chrysostom transitioned from a brilliant secular education to a life of rigorous asceticism and monasticism, which he deemed the "true philosophy." After years of solitary prayer and prolific theological writing in the wilderness, he was ordained a priest in Antioch, where his unmatched eloquence in interpreting Holy Scripture earned him the title "Chrysostom" or "Golden-Mouthed." His fame eventually led to his election as Archbishop of Constantinople in 397 AD, a role he used to champion the poor, reform the clergy, and refine the Divine Liturgy. However, his uncompromising moral rebukes of the imperial court, particularly Empress Eudoxia, resulted in a series of unjust exiles to remote regions. Despite failing health and the hardships of travel, he continued to pastor his flock through letters until his death in 407 AD, famously uttering "Glory to God for all things!"—a legacy that endures through his vast exegetical works and his status as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs.

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):

Theophany Works Icons are handcrafted Orthodox Christian icon reproductions made in the United States with prayer and a desire for excellence. Each of our icons are printed on museum-quality matte canvas, providing a rich print with saturated coloration that lends to a beautiful handwritten-icon appearance.

All Theophany Works Icons are mounted on beveled wooden boards and finished with a high-quality UV protection sealant. This offers a subtle authentic-feeling texture while also enhancing durability, allowing for cleaning with a damp cloth. Additionally, each icon is given a maple-shelled keyhole slot on its back for easy and balanced hanging.

Our beautiful icon reproductions are lovingly made in our Lancaster, Pennsylvania studio. We pray they are a blessing to all who receive them, and we believe they will be a beloved addition to any home or parish—each at a fraction of the cost of a hand-painted icon.

***Our Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ: Please allow 3 weeks for production as each icon is made to order. If an icon is needed sooner for a baptism, chrismation, wedding, or name day, please contact us—we will always do our very best to accommodate your request.

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