The following Icons have been hand painted, by myself in the bowels of Sea-Tac airport, while toiling for Alaska Airlines. Saint Alexei was brought forth in the winter of 2002-03. Saint Alexis was brought forth in the winter of 2003-04. They have been hand painted on wood panel with tempura paint hand mixed with mineral pigment from the mines of Dzhezkgazgan, Kazakhstan and the Ural Mountains and Shunga regions of Russia. Great lengths have been taking to use the traditional methods, employed by monks for thousands of years. Certain methods have been sacrificed. The Madonna and Child icon was lost during the 'Lock-out' of 5-13-05. Great joy is taken in that she will one day return to our hands. Saint Alexei St. Alexei lived in Russia in the 14th century. One day, as a youth, he was hunting birds. Afterwards, he went to sleep and heard a voice in his dream which said: "Alexei, why do you rush around so fruitlessly? I will teach you to catch men." He became a monk when he was 20. He was later ordained and eventually became Metropolitan of Moscow. This was during a time when Russia was being afflicted by the Tartars. The great Saint acted as a diplomat and a healer to help protect his people from the oppression of the Khans. He visited Verdevir Khan to make peace. Later, he was invited to cure Amurat Khan's wife of blindness. Alexei prayed for her and washed her eyes with holy water and her vision was restored. She had been blind for three years. Saint Alexei reposed February 12, 1378, at the age of 85. Saint Alexes Alexis was the only son of godly, noble and wealthy parents: Euphemianus & his wife, Agalais. When he was of age, he was compelled to be married. But on his wedding night, he ran away & sailed to Edessa in Mesopotamia, where the Holy Napkin, bearing the Face of Jesus, was kept. He venerated this Face, donned simple clothes and lived in poverty for 17 years there, constantly praying on the porch of the Church of the Mother of God. His reputation grew as a holy man. He fled from the praise of men by taking a ship bound for Laodicea. The ship was blown off course, and he was taken right to Rome. Receiving this as a call from God, he returned to his parents' home and lived as a hermit in a shack in the courtyard. He did this for 17 years without his parents or his bride (who lived there as well) knowing who he was. He graciously suffered abuse by the servants. Just before he died, he wrote down who he was on a sheet of paper and clutched it in his hand. He breathed his last on March 17, 411. Immediately there was a voice heard in the Church of the Holy Apostles, where the Patriarch and the Emperor were, saying, "Look for the Man of God." The Emperor & Pope along with their whole entourage were led by the Spirit to the courtyard of Euphemianus' house. They found Alexis dead in the shack, his face shining like the sun. His parents and his bride were comforted by the discovery when they realized how he had been glorified. Sweet myrrh flowed from his body and many who touched him were healed. He was buried in a coffin of marble and emerald. Circuit City Coupon