Our Lady the Gate of Dawn Icono-Graphic | Theotokos Crowned | Woman of the Apocalypse | Lightweight Cotton Unisex T-ShirtOur Lady the Gate of Dawn of Vilnius ( , Vilenska Ostrobramska) is a treasure of Lithuanian Orthodoxy, shared with and venerated by Catholics as well due to the intertwined histories of both churches within Lithuania. It was painted in Kerson in Crimea, then acquired by Algirdas Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania (possibly as a war trophy), who then presented it to his wife Maria of Vitebsk, the only child of the Russian Prince Yaroslav of Vitebsk.

if after a few moments we depart from this life

” cries our Jesus

as Paul’s exhortation goes

These things I have spoken to you

For it is not my desire to act towards you as a man-pleaser

“The business of the Christian is nothing else but to be ever preparing for death

my head bent

“The parable of the ten pounds [Luke 19:12-28] portrays the entire history of mankind until the second coming of Christ

the mother of St John the Forerunner

because sin hardens my heart

but death remained

as an instrument for acquiring the grace of the Spirit