Blessed Prince Gleb Orthodox Icon

Blessed Prince Gleb Orthodox Icon is a hand-painted name-day icon of the Holy Right-Believing Prince and Passion-Bearer Gleb, one of the first Russian saints, venerated together with his brother Saint Boris. In holy baptism he bore the name David, and in the memory of the Church he is honored as a passion-bearer: a saint who accepted unjust suffering with Christian meekness and refused to answer evil with evil.

Saint Gleb is shown full-length in princely garments. His red cloak, green robe, princely cap, gold halo, martyr’s cross, and sword create a solemn but peaceful composition. The icon speaks of a Christian understanding of courage: not harshness or revenge, but inner strength, brotherly love, restraint, and faithfulness to Christ.

Name-Day Icon of Prince Gleb

This icon is especially suitable for men and boys named Gleb. It can be given for baptism, a name day, birthday, coming of age, entrance into studies, the beginning of independent life, or another important family occasion.

As a patron-saint icon, it unites personal heavenly intercession with the example of a saint whose life teaches meekness, faithfulness, inward nobility, and a Christian response to conflict.

Saint Gleb the Passion-Bearer

Saint Gleb, baptized David, was the son of Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles. He is venerated together with his brother Boris, baptized Roman. They lived in a difficult time when, after the death of Prince Vladimir, a struggle for power began among the princely family.

After the murder of Boris, Sviatopolk sought to eliminate Gleb as well. According to tradition, Gleb was called toward Kiev under false pretenses. When he understood that death threatened him, he did not begin a fratricidal war. His witness was the refusal of revenge and the acceptance of suffering with faith in Christ.

Saint Gleb was killed near Smolensk, at Smyadyn. The Church honors him as a passion-bearer, one who was made like Christ in innocence, meekness, and patient endurance of unjust suffering.

Prayer Before the Icon

Before an icon of Saint Gleb, Orthodox Christians pray for family peace, brotherly love, reconciliation, strengthening of faith, patience, protection from hatred, and help in situations where it is difficult not to answer offense with offense. His icon is especially close to those who seek peace, spiritual firmness, and Christian discernment in conflict.

The icon is not a charm or an object that protects by itself. Prayer before Saint Gleb’s icon is an appeal to God through the saint’s intercession. The image helps the believer remember Christian love, resist anger, and seek a peaceful, honest, and spiritually mature response.

Full-Length Princely Image

Saint Gleb is shown full-length in a narrow vertical format. This composition presents the figure as a whole, from the princely cap and gold halo to the long garment and ground beneath his feet. The format is well suited for a name-day icon, a narrow wall space, an analogion, a church kiot, or an iconostasis row.

The face is youthful, concentrated, and calm. There is no militant harshness in the expression. Instead, the icon conveys inward stillness, meekness, and readiness to accept God’s will. This is essential for Saint Gleb’s iconography: he is not venerated as a victor in a struggle for power, but as a passion-bearer who chose Christian innocence.

Princely Garments, Cross, and Sword

The princely garments show Saint Gleb’s earthly dignity and responsibility. He was not a hermit or monk, but a prince placed in the difficult world of authority, family conflict, and political danger. His holiness was revealed within that world.

The martyr’s cross held at his chest is the main sign of his passion-bearing witness. It shows that Saint Gleb followed Christ inwardly, refusing revenge and preserving meekness in the face of death. The cross near the heart makes the image especially personal and prayerful.

The sword should not be understood as a symbol of aggression. In the iconography of holy princes it can signify rank, responsibility, and readiness to serve. Beside the cross, it creates an important contrast: Saint Gleb had princely dignity, but his spiritual victory was accomplished through meekness rather than violence.

Color and Spiritual Meaning

The green garment can be understood as a color of life, hope, and spiritual renewal. The red cloak recalls martyrdom and princely dignity. The gold halo marks the saint’s glorification in the Church, while the light background keeps the whole image clear and prayerful.

The icon as a whole is an image of spiritual courage. Saint Gleb shows that Christian strength can appear as patience, purity of heart, refusal of revenge, and the preservation of love when the world pushes a person toward bitterness.

Feast Days of Saint Gleb

In the Russian Orthodox calendar, the memory of Saints Boris and Gleb and the particular commemoration of Saint Gleb are connected with several dates. May 15 commemorates the transfer of their relics. August 6 is the joint feast of Saints Boris and Gleb. September 18 is especially connected with the martyrdom of Saint Gleb.

These dates may be considered when choosing a name-day icon for a boy or man named Gleb, or when giving an icon for baptism, a name day, a family celebration, military service, house blessing, or another important personal event.

Materials and Hand-Painted Work

The icon is painted on a solid linden wood board strengthened with oak splines. The surface is prepared with natural chalk gesso. Egg tempera is used for the painting, allowing the icon painter to convey the calm face, princely garment, red cloak, green robe, cross, sword, inscriptions, and halo.

Depending on the chosen execution, gold leaf may be used on the halo, background, decorative details, or borders. Since each icon is painted by hand, small differences in facial expression, garment folds, colors, inscriptions, gilding, and ornament are natural.

Available Sizes

This icon is available in 13×25 cm (5.1×9.8 in), 18×31 cm (7.1×12.2 in), and 30×50 cm (11.8×19.7 in). Iconostasis sizes can be made by individual agreement.

The 13×25 cm size is suitable for a small prayer shelf, child’s room, study, bedroom, or personal gift. The 18×31 cm size is a balanced home format with more space for the face, halo, garments, cross, and sword. The 30×50 cm size is a more solemn option for a family icon corner, church, chapel, Orthodox educational space, or memorial gift.

Free international shipping is included. Payment is made after you receive and approve the icon.

Care for the Icon

A hand-painted icon should be protected from moisture, direct sunlight, heaters, humidifiers, strong lamps, kitchen steam, and sudden temperature changes. Do not use water, alcohol, sprays, or household cleaners.

Dust may be removed only with a dry soft brush or dry soft cloth, without pressure. Be especially careful around gilded areas, the halo, inscriptions, and painted surface.

Icon Characteristics

Name	Blessed Prince Gleb Orthodox Icon
Saint	Holy Right-Believing Prince and Passion-Bearer Gleb, baptized David
Iconographic type	Full-length prince and passion-bearer with cross and sword
Feast days	May 15, August 6, September 18
Visual details	Princely cap, red cloak, green robe, martyr’s cross, sword, gold halo, light background, elongated vertical format
Materials	Linden wood board, oak splines, chalk gesso, egg tempera; gold leaf according to selected execution
Available sizes	13×25 cm, 18×31 cm, 30×50 cm; iconostasis sizes by agreement

Questions and Answers

Who is shown on this icon?

The icon shows the Holy Right-Believing Prince and Passion-Bearer Gleb, baptized David, one of the first Russian saints and the brother of Saint Boris.

Why is Prince Gleb called a passion-bearer?

A passion-bearer is a saint who accepts unjust suffering and death with Christian meekness. Saint Gleb’s witness is connected with refusal of revenge and faithfulness to Christ.

What do Orthodox Christians pray for before this icon?

They pray for family peace, brotherly love, reconciliation, strengthening of faith, patience, protection from hatred, and help in difficult moral choices.

Who may receive this icon as a gift?

It is especially suitable for men and boys named Gleb, for baptism, a name day, birthday, family celebration, church, chapel, or a personal prayer corner.

When is Saint Gleb commemorated?

Saint Gleb is commemorated on May 15, August 6, and September 18 in the Russian Orthodox calendar tradition. September 18 is especially connected with his martyrdom.

What does the cross in Prince Gleb’s hand mean?

The cross points to his passion-bearing witness: he followed Christ in meekness, innocence, and refusal of revenge.

Why does Saint Gleb have a sword?

The sword signifies princely dignity and earthly responsibility. In this icon it is not a sign of aggression, but shows that his spiritual victory was achieved through meekness rather than violence.

Can this icon be given for baptism?

Yes. It is suitable as a patron-saint icon for a boy baptized with the name Gleb, and may be given for baptism, a name day, or birthday.

What sizes are available?

The icon is available in 13×25 cm, 18×31 cm, and 30×50 cm. Iconostasis sizes can be made by individual agreement.

How should this hand-painted icon be cared for?

Keep it away from moisture, direct sunlight, heat, and sudden temperature changes. Dust it gently with a dry soft brush or cloth, without pressing on the painted or gilded surface.