The Icon Museum and Study Center

10/18/2026

10/18/2026

Church tradition holds that the Evangelist Luke painted the first icon from life. In the special exhibition 𝐿𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑡: 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑖𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐼𝑘𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛-𝑀𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑢𝑚 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔ℎ𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑛, now on view, you can find two examples of icons depicting this scene.

The first image shows an icon painted around 1400, either in the imperial capital Constantinople or on the island of Crete, this icon is a masterpiece of late Byzantine iconography. The evangelist pauses, his brush hovering just above the surface of the icon. Before placing the last dab of gold on the star over Mary’s shoulder, he looks up, past the easel, out of the frame of the icon to the subject he is painting.

The second image shows a copy of the famous wonder-working icon of the Mother of God held at the Kykkos Monastery in the Troodos Mountains on Cyprus. Tradition holds that the original icon, painted by the Evangelist Luke, was held in the royal palace in Constantinople until the 11th century. According to legend, Emperor Alexios I Komnenos received a vision instructing him to build a monastery on Cyprus to serve as a new home for the miraculous icon. Soon after, copies of the Mother of God Kykkiotissa (of Kykkos) were painted throughout the Mediterranean, at Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, and in the Balkans and Rus’. Indeed, one of the most famous icons of the 17th century Moscow Kremlin Armory is a copy of the Kykkiotissa.

10/07/2026

Shipping icons over 3,000 miles across an ocean is a complex process that requires meticulous planning and handling. After a settling period, the crates are opened carefully. Once opened, the Registrar inspects the pieces to ensure they are ready for display. Finally, everything is skillfully hung for presentation.

𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒂𝒔𝒕: 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒌𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒏-𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒖𝒎 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒏 will be open to the public next week on Friday, October 16th. Visit our website to plan your visit today.

Images: Shipping and museum professionals handling and opening large crates with carefully wrapped icons. Those same icons are seen unpacked and then displayed.

10/06/2026

Please consider supporting the Clinton High School Band & Choir, as they raise funds for enriching field trips. Your contribution will make a significant impact and reflect the community spirit championed by our founder, Gordon Lankton.

Support Clinton High School Band & Choir 2026 and help us raise $20000

10/04/2026

Are you looking for something to do on this brisk autumn Sunday? Enjoy free admission at the Icon Museum, thanks to the NYPRO Foundation. Be sure to set your GPS to the scenic route, as the leaf peeping season has begun!

Learn about the materials and colors used in icon making and create your own work of art, plus free admission all day!

10/04/2026

Join us at The Icon Museum and Study Center in on Friday, 11/6 at 7:00PM for a special performance of our EXUBERANT VOICES concert! Enjoy an evening of interesting works by Martinů, Beethoven, and Saint-Saëns in a one-of-a-kind setting. Tickets and information at: iconmuseum.org

The Icon Museum and Study Center is the foremost museum in the United States collecting and studying icons and Eastern Christian art.

09/29/2026

Tuesday Trivia:
What is the shallow rectangular indentation or recessed central panel carved into the wooden icon board called when discussing the parts of an old Russian icon?

1. doshka
2. kovcheg
3. luzga
4. polya

09/23/2026

Your Icon Museum icon based on your birth month.*

Part 2 of 2: March through August.

*Just for fun!

09/22/2026

Your Icon Museum icon based on your birth month.*
Part 1 of 2: September through February.
Part 2 will be posted tomorrow.

*Just for fun!