The St. Mary's Collection of Icons
by Sister Eliseea Papacioc of Romania

The Icon collection is located to the left of the altar, in the front of the church.

We discovered Sister Eliseea when she cam to see the monumental Icons we had purchased in Pskov​, Russian, and installed in Christ Church, Bradenton. She was first brought to this country by the Smithsonian Institute and then had an exhibit at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

When we met her, she was the Abbess of a Convent. Her dream was that the convent become a center for religious painters, musicians and writers. The Church's purpose was that this would be a normal convent with her running the day-to-day business. She left with the clothes she had on. The next time we saw her she was living at the poverty level but still creating beautiful icons. Little by little she, with help from her brother, built a "Skete" (a small hermitage) where she lives with her mother, her master and a large number of stray cats and dogs. Every time she comes to this country she tries to find vets who will give her samples for the animals. Sister was born into a Communist governed country and her family suffered imprisonment and ostracism for their faith. Her father and uncle, both priests, were imprisoned. After long confinement they were released, but her father died due to the treatment in prison.
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To study Sister's work closely is to be amazed and to realize her unique style and technique. Her work is firmly rooted in ancient tradition, but the intricate brush work and raised patterns are her own. She says that each stroke represents one prayer or meditation she offers while painting. One blessing of commissioning a work is that she prays for you while working on your icon.

- Sandy Kezar, July 7, 1938 ~ May 26, 2021
Sandy was the wife of the Rev. Dennis Kezar, who served as rector of St. Mary's Parish, 2005-2010

Sandy has made a decade's long study of icons and conducted instructional workshops around the country. She has also helped me study and appreciate this form of piety and worship which appears at first, so strange and exotic to Western eyes. In all of our extensive travels and studies, we have never found more exquisite, luminous, and inspired work. I am so very grateful that we have been able to gather so many of Sister's icons at St. Mary's (and in the homes of a large number of friends and fellow parishioners in the Bay area). I believe future generations will enjoy and find inspiration through them. And that they will come to be viewed as some of St. Mary's most hallowed and precious possessions. They have already been loaned to a museum where they were on view for two months. - Rev. Dennis Kezar

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Theotokos

Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my savior for He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed for he that is mighty hath done to me great things and Holy is his name. Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with you, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the 
(Sister has run out of room and could not finish the verse)

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Annunciation

​And the angel came in unto her and said “Mary, Thou Art Highly Favored The Lord Is with Thee Blessed Art Thou Among Women The Holy Ghost shall come unto Thee and The Power of the Highest Shall Over Shadow Thee” and Mary said “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord Be it unto me according
(Sister has run out of room and could not finish the verse)

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Raising Lazarus

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid and Jesus lifted up his eyes and said Father thank Thee that thou hast heard me, and I knew that thou hearest me always but because of the people which stand by I said it that they may believe that thou has sent me and when he had thus spoken he cried with a loud voice – Lazarus

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Nativity

And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill among men for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior which
(Sister has run out of room and could not finish the verse)


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Boy Jesus in Temple

O How love I thy icon  It is my meditation   All the day Thou through Thy Commandments has made me wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers for Thy testimonies are my meditation
I understand more than the Ancients because I keep Thy (laws)
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Trinity

In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth. The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.  All things were made by Him and without Him was not made.


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Walking on Water

But straight way Jesus spoke unto them saying Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid and Peter answered Him and said Lord if it be thou bid me come unto thee on the water, and He said Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship he walked on the water to go to Jesus but when he saw the wind
(Sister has run out of room and could not finish the verse)

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​Wedding at Cana

And when they wanted wine the Mother of Jesus saith unto Him – they have no wine.  Jesus saith unto her ~ woman what have I to do with thee, mine hour is not yet come.  And saith unto him every man at the beginning dost set  forth good wine and when men have well drunk then that which is worse but thou hast saved the good wine until last.
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Mary Queen of Angels

​And the Angel came in unto her and said “Hail, thou that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women”. My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior; from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed for he that is ~ (passage on footstool carried over from border)  mighty hath done to me great things and holy is his name.  My soul doth  (Sister has run out of room and could not finish the verse)

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