Orthodox Icon of Nicholas Wonderworker

Orthodox Icon of Nicholas Wonderworker is a hand-painted icon of Saint Nicholas of Myra, the great Orthodox hierarch, intercessor, and quick helper. The icon presents him as a bishop of the Church, a teacher of mercy, and a prayerful protector in the concrete needs of human life: travel, illness, family troubles, danger, injustice, and care for children.

Saint Nicholas is shown half-length in richly decorated episcopal vestments. His right hand is raised in blessing, and in his left hand he holds the open Gospel. The large radiant halo, raised gilded background, ornamental borders, colored accents, and lower name inscription create a solemn image suitable for both home prayer and church use.

This version is festive and expressive, but the composition remains clear. The spiritual focus is on the face of Saint Nicholas, his blessing hand, and the open Gospel. The gilded ornament and decorative details frame the image without distracting from prayer.

Features of This Icon

The face of Saint Nicholas is painted with pastoral firmness and inward concentration. His high forehead, gray hair, short beard, and attentive gaze follow the traditional Orthodox iconography of Nicholas of Myra. He is not represented as a distant historical figure, but as a living intercessor before God.

The open Gospel is one of the main signs of the icon. It shows that Saint Nicholas was not only a wonderworker and helper in everyday needs, but also a bishop, teacher, and defender of Orthodox faith. The blessing gesture expresses his pastoral care and prayerful help for those who come to him with faith.

The episcopal vestments are painted in red, blue, greenish, dark, and golden tones, with crosses, ornamental lines, and festive details. The white omophorion with crosses emphasizes his episcopal dignity. In larger sizes, the details of the vestments, Gospel, inscriptions, halo, and gilded background become especially readable.

The background and borders are worked in gold. Raised floral ornament fills the area around the saint and the decorative framing. Colored accents on the side borders make the icon more festive and suitable as a significant Orthodox gift. The lower inscription, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, is set within a decorative panel.

Materials, Gilding, and Custom Options

The icon is painted on a solid linden board with oak support battens. Linden is traditionally used for icons because of its stable and even structure. Oak battens help protect the board from warping as humidity and temperature change.

The surface is prepared with natural chalk gesso, forming a firm and smooth ground for painting. The icon is painted in egg tempera, a traditional technique valued for depth of color, fine detail, noble matte surface, and long durability.

The halo, background, and decorative frame are gilded with 23K gold leaf (960 purity). Here the gold is not merely decorative. It emphasizes the saint’s episcopal dignity, brings the figure forward, and creates a solemn field of light around the holy image.

By individual agreement, the size, degree of gilding, relief ornament, tone of the borders, colored accents, inscriptions, and general decorative solution may be adjusted. The icon can be made in home sizes or in larger church and iconostasis formats.

Full name	Hand-painted Orthodox Icon of Saint Nicholas of Myra the Wonderworker
Saint	Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia
Iconographic type	Half-length bishop with the open Gospel and blessing gesture
Feast days	December 19, May 22, and August 11
Decorative features	Raised gilded background, large radiant halo, episcopal vestments, open Gospel, blessing gesture, lower name inscription, and ornamental borders with colored accents
Available sizes	17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in), 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in), 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in), 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in), with larger church sizes by agreement

How to Choose the Size

The size 17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in) is suitable for a small prayer shelf, home icon corner, children’s room, office, or baptism gift. The size 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in) is a universal patron saint or family gift: compact, but visually clear.

The size 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in) makes the face, blessing gesture, open Gospel, omophorion, inscriptions, and gilded background easier to see. The size 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in) is appropriate for a spacious home, family prayer area, chapel, or church. Larger iconostasis sizes are chosen when the image must remain readable from a distance.

What People Pray For Before Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas of Myra is venerated as a quick helper in many life circumstances. People turn to him before travel, during illness, in anxiety for children, in family troubles, financial need, danger, injustice, and difficult decisions.

Before the icon of Saint Nicholas, Orthodox Christians pray for protection on the road, travel, business trips, and moving; help for children, their health and upbringing; family peace and reconciliation; healing and consolation; help in poverty, debt, and hard circumstances; protection from slander, injustice, and offense; and guidance for sailors, drivers, travelers, and all who are often on the road.

An icon is not a charm or magical object. Orthodox prayer before the image of Saint Nicholas is prayer to God through the intercession of the saint. Requests for help should be joined with faith, gratitude, participation in church life, mercy toward others, and the desire to live according to the commandments.

Who This Icon Is Suitable For

An icon of Saint Nicholas is suitable for almost every Orthodox home. It is often chosen as a family shrine because Saint Nicholas is venerated in illness, travel, family needs, care for children, and protection of loved ones.

As a patron saint icon, it is especially suitable for men and boys named Nicholas. It may be given for baptism, a name day, birthday, anniversary, graduation, housewarming, or another important family occasion.

The icon is also appropriate for people connected with travel, responsibility, and care for others: sailors, drivers, travelers, military men, rescuers, doctors, business owners, leaders, and those who often make difficult decisions.

Feast Days and Iconography

Saint Nicholas is especially commemorated on December 19, the day of his repose; May 22, the translation of his relics to Bari; and August 11, the Nativity of Saint Nicholas. These dates may be considered when choosing the icon as a name-day, baptism, birthday, family, or thanksgiving gift.

The white omophorion with crosses points to the episcopal dignity and pastoral responsibility of Saint Nicholas. The open Gospel speaks of faithfulness to Christ’s teaching and defense of Orthodox faith. The blessing hand recalls his prayerful intercession and spiritual help for the faithful.

Short Life of Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, lived in the third and fourth centuries and became known for mercy, firm faith, pastoral care, and many miracles. From his youth he sought Christian life, helped the poor, and often did good in secret.

One of the most famous events from his life is his help to a poor father of three daughters. Saint Nicholas secretly provided the family with means to save the daughters from ruin. This act became a lasting symbol of his mercy and care for people in desperate circumstances.

As a bishop, Saint Nicholas was a good shepherd and defender of Orthodox faith. In his image, firmness of confession, fatherly mercy, and readiness to help quickly are united.

Blessing and Care

If desired, the icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker may be blessed in church before delivery or after it is received in the customer’s parish. Blessing helps the icon be received as a sacred image for prayer, not as a decorative picture.

A hand-painted icon should be cared for gently. Dust is best removed with a dry soft brush or a dry cloth without pressure. The icon should not be wiped with a wet cloth or placed in direct sunlight, near a heater, humidifier, or sudden temperature changes. Special care should be taken with gilded areas, raised ornament, the halo, inscriptions, and painted surface.

Ordering and Shipping

Available sizes are 17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in), 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in), 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in), and 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in). Larger church and iconostasis sizes can be made by agreement. Free international shipping is included, and payment is made after you receive and approve the icon.

Questions and Answers

Who is shown on the Orthodox Icon of Nicholas Wonderworker?

The icon shows Saint Nicholas of Myra the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, one of the most beloved and venerated saints in the Orthodox Church.

What do Orthodox Christians pray for before Saint Nicholas’s icon?

People pray for help in travel, protection of children, family peace, healing, relief from need, support in difficult choices, and defense from injustice.

Who is this icon suitable for as a name-day icon?

It is especially suitable for men and boys named Nicholas as a patron saint icon for baptism, name day, birthday, or another family occasion.

What are the feast days of Saint Nicholas?

The main commemorations are December 19, the repose of Saint Nicholas; May 22, the translation of his relics to Bari; and August 11, the Nativity of Saint Nicholas.

Why is Saint Nicholas shown with the Gospel?

The Gospel points to his episcopal ministry, faithfulness to Christ’s teaching, pastoral instruction, and defense of the Orthodox faith.

What does the blessing gesture mean?

The blessing gesture recalls the pastoral service of Saint Nicholas, his prayerful intercession before God, and his spiritual help to the faithful.

Is this icon suitable for a home icon corner?

Yes. It is suitable for a home icon corner, family prayer space, children’s room, office, chapel, church, or iconostasis.

What sizes are available?

The available sizes are 17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in), 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in), 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in), and 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in). Larger church sizes can be made by agreement.

What materials are used for this icon?

The icon is painted on a linden board with oak support battens, natural chalk gesso, egg tempera, and 23K gold leaf (960 purity).

How should this hand-painted icon be cared for?

Keep the icon away from moisture, direct sunlight, heaters, and sudden temperature changes. Dust should be removed with a soft dry brush or cloth without pressure, especially on gilded and ornamental areas.