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his finely painted icon depicts the ascetic Onuphrius. At the top margin is the “Not Made by Hands Image.” The abbreviated inscription identifies him as “The Holy Venerable Onuphrius the Great.” Following is an excerpt from “The Prologue from Ochrid,” an anthology of Orthodox Saints' lives written by Nikolai, Bishop of Ochrid, in 1928: This holy ascetic had been living sixty years in the desert when the monk Paphnutius visited him. His beard reached down to the ground, and long hair, as white as snow, had grown all over his body during his years of nakedness. His appearance was cadaverous, unearthly and awe-inspiring. Seeing Paphnutius, Onuphrius called him by name and then recounted to him his life in the desert. His guardian angel had appeared to him and taken him to that place. He had for a long time only eaten earth, which was hard to find in the desert, and after that when he had survived an intensive struggle with diabolical temptations. When his heart had become utterly established in love for God, an angel had brought him bread to eat. Also, through God’s gracious providence, a palm tree that gave good dates had grown up, and a spring of water had begun to flow there. “But especially,” said Onuphrius, “my food and drink are the sweet words of God.” To Paphnutius' questions about receiving Communion, the hermit answered that the angel of God brought him Communion every Saturday. The next day, the old man told Paphnutius that it was the day of his departure from this world. Then he knelt down, prayed to God and gave his spirit into God’s hands. Paphnutius saw a heavenly light that illuminated the body of the departed saint and heard a choir of the angelic hosts. He buried Onuphrius' body with honour and returned to his own monastery, living as a witness to narrate to the brethren for their edification the wonderful life of the man of God and the greatness of God’s providence towards those who give themselves wholly to His services. Onuphrius died in the year 400.

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ere is seen the much loved and popular Saint Sergiy, founder of the famous Holy Trinity Monastery, north of Moscow. He holds a censor and stands before his deceased parents the Venerable Kyril and Maria. His parents both died in the same year, shortly after they had entered the monastic life. This icon is a good example of what might be called a peasant icon. In lieu of an expensive, finely painted icon decorated with a genuine sterling silver covering, this icon would have to suffice for those with a meager budget. The painting itself is somewhat provincial in rendering and is decorated with inexpensive tin foil and cloth flowers. These bright and shiny icons were much loved and well cared for. Icons such as this example were a glowing light of inspiration and happiness in a world of continued hardship for the Russian peasant.