St. Stephen is venerated as the first martyr of Christianity. He converted from Judaism after Pentecost and was ordained a deacon, along with six others. The Jews accused St. Stephen of blasphemy and convinced Jewish authorities to execute him. He was dragged from the city and stoned to death in the presence of Saul of Tarsus, who would later become St. Paul. During his execution, St. Stephen prayed “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:59-60). St. Stephen’s example of service, faith, and love for his enemies encouraged countless Christian martyrs.

St. Apanoub is venerated as one of the youngest martyrs in the Coptic Orthodox Church. At age 12, he left home to confess his Christian faith before Lucian the governor. After refusing to worship pagan idols, St. Apanoub was whipped, hung upside down, and thrown into a pit of snakes. However, God protected him through each torment, while his torturers were the ones who suffered; they became blind, paralyzed, and were suffocated by snakes but were healed by St. Apanoub's prayers. In many icons, he is depicted as receiving the crown of martyrdom in a posture of prayer.

St. Demiana is a prominent female saint in the Coptic Orthodox Church. She refused marriage and took a vow of chastity to dedicate her life to service. During a great Christian persecution, St. Demiana’s father consented to worship idols to avoid torture but repented with the support of his daughter and became a martyr himself. St. Demiana was then arrested and tortured for her faith, but the Lord continued to heal her. He appeared to St. Demiana to strengthen her prior to the martyrdom of her and 40 friends. In many icons, she wears three crowns: martyrdom, celibacy, and asceticism.

St. Photini, meaning “the enlightened one", is the name given to the Samaritan Woman mentioned in the Gospel of St. John. After learning from our Lord Jesus Christ that He is the Living Water that gives everlasting life, she preached to all the Samaritans resulting in the conversion of many. Because of her example, her family believed, became evangelists, and suffered persecution. St. Photini was thrown into an old well where she was left to die. Her story serves as a testament to how encountering Christ can completely change one’s life.

St. Anthony the Great, known as the Father of Monasticism, is the preeminent figure in all of Christian monasticism. His desire for monasticism was ignited upon hearing the command of Christ, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you have, give to the poor, and you will have treasures in Heaven” (Matthew 19:21). While in the desert, St. Anthony endured countless temptations. The devil became so enraged that he would appear to him in the form of wild animals, but St. Anthony persevered through his prayers and humility. His ascetic endurance amid many temptations continues to inspire both monks and believers today.

This icon displays some of the most renowned Coptic Desert Fathers. St. Pambo in the top left was the spiritual father of many saints, including St. Pishoy, who is seen carrying our Lord Jesus Christ because of his several encounters with Him. St. Shenoute the Archimandrite is portrayed carrying a bag and organized an anchoritic form of monasticism, in which monks would retreat to a permanent remote location but occasionally return to the monastery for prayers and communion. St. Pachom, holding a sickle and scroll, founded the cenobitic monastic movement, in which monks live a communal life and convene daily for prayer. St. Macarius the Great is depicted with an open book and was known for his impactful sermons on asceticism. He mentored Sts. Maximus and Dometius, who are shown at his feet. The brotherhood of the desert fathers remains an example of fellowship and discipleship to monastics and laypeople alike.

The story of St. Marina is one of great perseverance. In pursuit of the monastic life, she disguised herself as a man and joined a monastery since there were no convents at that time. She was wrongly accused of fathering a child but accepted blame and punishment and raised the child as her own. At the age of 40, she became sick and died. While the monks were preparing her body for the funeral, they discovered that she was indeed a woman and marveled. St. Marina is typically depicted in icons standing outside of a monastery in traditional male monastic garb and holding a child.

St. Pope Cyril VI (1902-1971) is one of the most beloved saints in the Coptic Orthodox Church. He became a monk at the age of 26.  After serving as the abbot of a monastery in Egypt for several years, he decided to live in a deserted windmill in Old Cairo where he mentored local college students. Later, as a patriarch, his prayer and discipleship led to a revival within the church. He was known for his close relationship with St. Mina, a 3rd century martyr with whom he performed countless miracles. Due to this, he is traditionally depicted in icons alongside St. Mina.

The story of St. Moses and St. Isidore is one that shows the power of mentorship and resilience. St. Moses joined a violent gang of robbers at a young age but converted after meeting St. Isidore in the desert. St. Moses then became a monk and was afflicted with intense temptations of his previous sins. During one particularly harsh spiritual battle, St. Isidore encouraged St. Moses by revealing to him a vision of angels fighting the demons on his behalf. St. Moses the Strong is typically depicted in icons with St. Isidore to show the importance of mentorship in our spiritual battles.

St. Augustine is known as a preeminent theologian throughout all Christianity, but it is his profound journey to Christ that continues to impact believers to this day. As a teenager, he fell into a lifestyle of sexual sin, while his mother St. Monica continually wept and prayed for her son’s repentance. He eventually met St. Ambrose, who mentored and baptized him. St. Augustine became a prolific writer and preacher during his tenure as bishop of Hippo. The prayers of St. Monica and St. Augustine’s radical conversion teaches us that God is always eager for the return of his lost sheep. 

The story of St. Mary of Egypt is one of repentance and restoration. In her youth, she fell into a life of prostitution but was later drawn to repentance as she prayed in front of an icon of St. Mary. She spent the rest of her life in prayer and repentance as a hermit in the desert. St. Mary of Egypt unexpectedly encountered St. Zosimas, who would regularly? take her confession and give her the Eucharist. She is typically depicted as a thin woman with gray hair to signify her asceticism along with her confessor father St. Zosimas.

St. Pa’esa was born into a wealthy Christian family in Egypt. After her parents died, she converted her house into a shelter for the poor and provided for the monks. After later falling into financial hardship, she turned to a life of prostitution and resided in a brothel. The monks of the desert sent her St. John the Short to encourage her to repent. Upon visiting St. Pa’esa in her home, St. John wept over her sins. St. Pa’esa was moved to repentance because of his tears and left her home for a desert convent. When she died, St. John heard a voice from Heaven saying, “Her repentance was accepted the moment she repented.” St. Pa’esa's story demonstrates that God is quick to forgive those who repent.

The Theotokos (Mother of God) is venerated by dozens of symbols, hymns, and rituals in the Orthodox Church inspired by the prophets of the Old Testament. Ezekiel declares her perpetual virginity (Ezekiel 33:2). Moses encountered her as the burning bush that was inflamed with the divinity of Christ but did not burn (Exodus 3:3). She is regarded as the Root of Jesse that will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1), as she descended from King David and gave birth to Christ. The Theotokos is venerated as the greatest advocate and intercessor for humanity. As the Mother of God, she is always depicted in icons with her son the Lord Christ.

This icon depicts an Old Testament scene that refers to our Lord Jesus Christ and His life-giving suffering. After departing Egypt, Moses and the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites. Moses sent Joshua to fight the Amalekites, while Moses stood on the overlooking hill with Aaron and Hur. “When Moses raised his hands, Israel prevailed, but when he let down his hands, Amalek prevailed” (Exodus 17:11). To help Moses, Aaron and Hur supported his hands on each side, and Joshua led the army to defeat the Amalekites. Moses holding a rod in his outstretched arms is a type of the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ that delivers us from our enemies. 

This icon depicts one of the most famous Old Testament stories: David defeating Goliath. David was the youngest of his brothers and a shepherd on his father’s farm. When Israel was at war with the Philistines, a soldier of tall stature named Goliath challenged the Israelites to fight him, cursing and blaspheming them and their God. Upon hearing the news of Goliath, David offered to fight him and upon approaching approached Goliath said “The battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands” (I Samuel 17:47). David struck Goliath with a stone from his slingshot and then used Goliath’s own sword to behead him – - an archetype of Christ trampling down death by death.

Sts. Joachim and Anna were the parents of St. Mary, the Mother of God, and the grandparents of our Lord Jesus Christ. The righteous couple prayed for a child for fifty years but were unable to conceive. One day, Joachim was visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who announced to him that they would have a child through whom salvation will enter the world. They vowed to raise their child in the Temple and took St. Mary there at the age of three. Their life of virtue and prayer established the foundation of holiness in their child’s life, as she eventually became the Mother of God.

Sts. Aquila and Priscilla were an influential married couple who worked and served with St. Paul throughout his missionary journeys. They lived in Rome as Jews before relocating to Corinth where they became Christians and met St. Paul. Sts. Aquila and Priscilla worked with St. Paul to establish the church in Church by continuously evangelizing and instructing new believers. This couple is the first and only married couple mentioned by name in the New Testament. St. Paul describes them as “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus" (Romans 16:3). Sts. Aquila and Priscilla are a model for married couples serving together in the Church. 

Sts. Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers born into a Syrian Christian family. They both studied medicine and became physicians. The brothers were known for healing the poor and sick, sometimes miraculously, without accepting any pay. They followed the words of Christ, “Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). Sts. Cosmas and Damian were celebrated for their selfless love and medical skill as they spent their lives in service together. For this reason, they are always depicted in icons together, while holding a medicine box. Sts. Cosmas and Damian exemplify the importance of using one’s vocation to serve people and glorify the name of the Lord. 

St. Macrina the Elder became a widow after her husband was martyred and is revered as the matriarch of a famous family of saints. Her daughter St. Emmelia married St. Basil the Elder and had several influential children. St. Basil the Great was an influential theologian whose liturgy we pray regularly. St. Gregory became bishop of Nyssa, and St. Peter became bishop of Sebaste. St. Macrina the younger had a profound impact on the spiritual formation of her brothers, who wrote several works to commemorate her life. Sts. Macrina the Elder and Younger demonstrate the impact a life of faith and prayer has on families.

A defining feature of the Orthodox Church is apostolic succession – the faith that the Lord Christ Himself taught to His disciples is the same faith that they taught to their disciples for centuries until this day. This icon shows Christ instructing St. John the Beloved, who is instructing his disciples Sts. Polycarp and Ignatius of Antioch (1st-2nd century AD). St. Ignatius became patriarch of Antioch. His friend and fellow disciple St. Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna and became a mentor to St. Irenaeus, who later became bishop of Lyon, France. This depiction of apostolic succession emphasizes the importance of teaching and mentorship in the Orthodox Church across many generations.

St. Severus of Antioch is one of the greatest theologians of the Orthodox Church. He became the most influential voice to express Orthodox Christology after the split of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches. St. Severus dedicated his youth to monastic life and serving the poor. He became patriarch of Antioch in 512 AD. During his papacy, he maintained his ascetic life while leading the church. The Chalcedonian rulers heavily persecuted non-Chalcedonians, and Emperor Justin ordered St. Severus to be arrested.  He escaped to Egypt, where he continued his monastic life and wrote his most influential works. St. Severus is best known for reviving the Christology of “the one incarnate nature of God the Logos”.

St. John Chrysostom embodied a central doctrine of Orthodoxy - proper understanding of the Holy Scriptures. He devoted himself to education at a young age and later became a monk after his father died. He was ordained a priest in Antioch and gained popularity for his eloquent sermons and expositions of Scripture. St. John became Archbishop of Constantinople and continued to produce homilies that the Orthodox Church uses to this day. It was said that St. Paul would appear to him and whisper in his ear how to interpret his letter. St. John ultimately died in exile as a beloved patriarch. His emphasis on practical application and understanding of the Holy Scriptures continues to guide the Orthodox Church today. 

St. Ephraim the Syrian is one of the most notable hymnographers and theologians of the church. He became a monk and combined his asceticism with his desire to study the Word of God. He is recognized for his poetic explanations of theological topics and is referred to as “The Harp of the Holy Spirit” because he composed hundreds of hymns that are spiritually moving. For this reason, he is typically depicted in icons performing a prostration with a harp in his cell.

St. Verena is the patron saint of our church. She was born in Egypt in the 3rd century. She volunteered to travel with the Theban legion of the Roman army to modern day Switzerland in order to assist them as a nurse in their battles. After their victory and subsequent martyrdom, St. Verena remained in Switzerland evangelizing to those around her and living a life of service and asceticism.