Description

St. Basil the Great (AD 330–379), St. Gregory the Theologian (c. AD 329–390) and St. John Chrysostom (c. AD 347–407) are honoured together as the Three Holy Hierarchs (Οἱ Τρεῖς Ἱεράρχαι). Basil defended the divinity of the Holy Spirit and organised charitable and monastic life; Gregory articulated the Church’s teaching concerning the Holy Trinity with exceptional precision; and John became renowned for preaching, biblical interpretation and fearless pastoral witness.

In eleventh-century Constantinople, disputes arose over which of the three was greatest. According to Tradition, they appeared together to St. John Mauropous and declared that there was no division or opposition among them. Their common Feast on 30 January was therefore established as a celebration of unity. The icon places the three bishops together in their vestments, normally holding Gospel books or blessing the faithful, presenting their complementary gifts as one harmonious testimony to Orthodox doctrine and Christian life.

Icon Source & Historical Details

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Tradition: Byzantine

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