October 2009 - American Saints & Choir Loft Icons

To date, 12 North American Saints have been recognized by the Orthodox Church. Their images adorn the back walls of All Saints Church. Above them, in the Choir Loft, the Synaxis (Gathering) of the Bodiless Angelic Powers, together with six of the great Hymnographer (hymn-writing) Saints, join their prayers with together with the also angelic All Saints Choir to sing glorious praises to God! These icons are a new addition to the choir loft, donated in memory of Anne Peregrim.
St. Herman & St. Martyr Juvenaly, two of the first Russian Orthodox missionaries to Alaska.
Ss. Martyr Peter, Jacob, and Innocent - three more Saints who brought the Gospel to Alaska.
St. Tikhon, Archbishop of North America, who went on to become Patriarch of All Russia.
The Mother of God envelops us beneath her Protecting Veil as we gather in the church.
The Mother of God flanked by Angels, over the main church doors.
St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn, NY, served in the early 1900s.
Martyred Priests SS. John & Alexander, and St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre.
St. Nicholai, a Serbian bishop who taught at St. Tikhon's Seminary, and St. John Maximovich of Shanghai & San Francisco.
St. Gregory the Theologian, great defender of the Divinity of the Holy Spirit.
St. Athanasius the Great, early champion of the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
The back wall of the church.
The Choir of Angels, in the choir loft.
The Angels and Hymnographer Saints in the choir loft.
St. Andrew of Crete, author of the Great Canon sung the first week of Great Lent.
St. Romanos the Melodist, prolific liturgical poet and Deacon.
St. Ephrem the Syrian, whose Prayer of deep repentance is the "signature" of Great Lent.
SS. Andrew of Crete, Romanos the Melodist, and Ephrem the Syrian look heavenward.
King David the Psalmist and Prophet and the Gathering of the Angels around Our Lord.
(L to R) SS. Joseph and Kassiani, Hymnographers, and St. John of Damascus, who wrote the Canon of Pascha.