{"product_id":"saint-brigid-of-kildare-orthodox-icon","title":"Saint Brigid of Kildare — Irish Orthodox Icon","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eSaint Brigid of Kildare — Irish Orthodox Icon\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSaint Brigid of Kildare\u003c\/strong\u003e, also known as \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Brigid of Ireland\u003c\/strong\u003e, was one of the greatest saints of the early Irish Church, a monastic foundress and abbess whose veneration spread throughout medieval Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether with \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Patrick and Saint Columba of Iona\u003c\/strong\u003e, she became one of the principal patron saints of Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in Ireland in the 5th century, Brigid dedicated herself to Christ from an early age. She became renowned for her monastic life, extraordinary generosity toward the poor, hospitality, prayer and the many miracles associated with her in Christian tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe founded the famous monastery at \u003cstrong\u003eKildare\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose name derives from the Irish \u003cstrong\u003eCill Dara — “Church of the Oak.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaint Brigid lived centuries before the Great Schism and belongs to the ancient Christian heritage shared by East and West. She is venerated today among the \u003cstrong\u003eWestern Orthodox saints\u003c\/strong\u003e, and her feast is celebrated on \u003cstrong\u003eFebruary 1\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho Was Saint Brigid of Kildare?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaint Brigid was born in Ireland in the \u003cstrong\u003e5th century\u003c\/strong\u003e, traditionally around the middle of the century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surviving accounts of her life contain different traditions concerning her family and childhood. Some describe noble connections, while another influential tradition presents her as the daughter of an enslaved Christian woman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis uncertainty is not surprising. The earliest surviving written Lives of Brigid were composed generations after her death, and historical details became intertwined with a rich body of Irish Christian tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat emerges consistently from these accounts is the image of a woman devoted to Christ, known for \u003cstrong\u003eprayer, asceticism, compassion and remarkable generosity to the poor\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSaint Brigid Chooses the Monastic Life\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Christian tradition, Brigid demonstrated an unusual dedication to God from childhood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen marriage was proposed to her, she chose instead a life consecrated to \u003cstrong\u003eJesus Christ\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTradition associates her monastic profession with \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Mel of Ardagh\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the early bishops of the Irish Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrigid eventually gathered other women around her, forming a monastic community that would become one of the most important religious centers of early Christian Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSaint Brigid and Kildare\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrigid's name became inseparably connected with \u003cstrong\u003eKildare\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to tradition, she established her community near a great oak tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Irish name \u003cstrong\u003eCill Dara\u003c\/strong\u003e means \u003cstrong\u003e“Church of the Oak”\u003c\/strong\u003e, from which the modern name Kildare developed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe community grew into an important center of \u003cstrong\u003emonastic life, prayer, hospitality and Christian learning\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrigid served as its \u003cstrong\u003eabbess\u003c\/strong\u003e, exercising remarkable spiritual influence within the early Irish Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe monastery at Kildare eventually became associated with both a community of women and ecclesiastical leadership, and tradition connects \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Conleth (Conláed)\u003c\/strong\u003e with Kildare as its bishop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSaint Brigid and Saint Patrick\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLater Irish Christian tradition closely associates \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Brigid with Saint Patrick\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Apostle of Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStories describe encounters between the two saints and present them as two of the foundational figures of Irish Christianity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome traditions even state that Brigid's parents had been baptized by Patrick and that Patrick visited Brigid near the end of his life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause the surviving Lives were written considerably later, individual details of these accounts should be treated as \u003cstrong\u003etradition rather than securely documented biography\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNevertheless, the association of Patrick and Brigid became deeply rooted in Irish Christian memory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether with \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Columba\u003c\/strong\u003e, they came to represent the three great patron saints of Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCharity and Hospitality\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the strongest themes running through the traditions about Saint Brigid is her extraordinary \u003cstrong\u003egenerosity\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgain and again, her Lives describe her giving food, clothing and possessions to those in need.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer charity could appear almost excessive to those around her: anything she possessed could become a gift if another person needed it more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor this reason Saint Brigid became particularly associated with \u003cstrong\u003ehospitality, care for the poor and Christian generosity\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese stories express an essential theme of her spiritual life — seeing Christ in those who came seeking help.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMiracles of Saint Brigid\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNumerous miracles are attributed to Saint Brigid in the Irish hagiographical tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe is described as healing the sick, helping the poor, providing food for those in need and bringing reconciliation where there was conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther traditions tell of her defeating demonic powers through the \u003cstrong\u003esign of the Cross\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether describing healing, hospitality or protection, these accounts consistently present Brigid's miracles as expressions of \u003cstrong\u003ecompassion and faith in Christ\u003c\/strong\u003e rather than displays of personal power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSaint Brigid's Cross\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this icon Saint Brigid holds a distinctive \u003cstrong\u003ewoven cross\u003c\/strong\u003e, today universally associated with her.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe traditional \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Brigid's Cross\u003c\/strong\u003e is normally woven from rushes or similar plant material and has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Irish Christianity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA famous tradition tells how Brigid fashioned a cross while explaining the Christian faith to a dying man.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe woven cross subsequently became associated with her feast on \u003cstrong\u003eFebruary 1\u003c\/strong\u003e, and making Brigid's crosses remains a living Irish custom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the icon, therefore, the cross immediately identifies the saint while emphasizing her devotion to \u003cstrong\u003eChrist and His Cross\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Scroll in Saint Brigid's Hand\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn her other hand Saint Brigid holds an open scroll bearing the words:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Since first I fixed my mind on God, I have never taken it off.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe saying expresses the central theme of Brigid's monastic vocation: once she had dedicated herself to God, her life remained directed toward Him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the icon the scroll complements the woven cross.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ecross\u003c\/strong\u003e represents her faith in Christ, while the \u003cstrong\u003escroll\u003c\/strong\u003e expresses the interior dedication of her mind and heart to God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether they present Brigid not merely as a historical Irish figure but as an \u003cstrong\u003eabbess, monastic and spiritual teacher\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Is an Oak Tree Shown in the Icon?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe landscape surrounding Saint Brigid is not merely decorative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eoak tree\u003c\/strong\u003e has a special connection with Kildare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Irish \u003cstrong\u003eCill Dara\u003c\/strong\u003e traditionally means \u003cstrong\u003e“Church of the Oak,”\u003c\/strong\u003e recalling the place where Brigid established her famous monastic community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncluding an oak in her icon therefore creates a visual connection between the saint and \u003cstrong\u003eKildare\u003c\/strong\u003e, the center of her monastic life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trees, flowers and natural landscape also recall the strong association of Brigid's hagiographical tradition with creation, hospitality and the rural world of early Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eIs Saint Brigid of Kildare an Orthodox Saint?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYes. Saint Brigid of Kildare is venerated as a saint in Orthodox Christianity.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe lived in the \u003cstrong\u003e5th and early 6th centuries\u003c\/strong\u003e, approximately five centuries before the Great Schism of 1054.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe therefore belongs to the ancient Christian Church of the first millennium and to the remarkable tradition of saints produced by early Christian Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor Orthodox Christians today, Saint Brigid is one of the most important examples of the \u003cstrong\u003eWestern Orthodox saints\u003c\/strong\u003e — saints who lived in Western Europe while Christianity remained united.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer feast is celebrated on \u003cstrong\u003eFebruary 1\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSaint Brigid — Abbess of Kildare\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn important feature of Brigid's identity is that she was not simply a monastic saint but an \u003cstrong\u003eabbess and foundress\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer community at Kildare became extraordinarily influential, and her memory inspired later religious communities throughout Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer icon can therefore have particular significance for women living the monastic life and for those seeking examples of \u003cstrong\u003eChristian spiritual leadership, service and generosity\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Orthodox terminology she may appropriately be described as \u003cstrong\u003eVenerable Brigid, Abbess of Kildare\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSaint Brigid and the Saints of Ancient Ireland\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly Christian Ireland produced an extraordinary monastic culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaints, monks and missionaries founded monasteries and carried Christianity and monastic learning far beyond Ireland itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaint Brigid belongs to this tradition alongside figures such as \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Patrick, Saint Columba of Iona, Saint Kevin of Glendalough and Saint Brendan the Navigator\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir lives demonstrate that the history of ancient Orthodox Christianity was not limited to Byzantium and the Christian East.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA flourishing Christian and monastic tradition also existed at the westernmost edge of Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor this reason Saint Brigid has an important place in our collection of \u003cstrong\u003eWestern Orthodox Saints\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Relics of Saint Brigid and Portugal\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaint Brigid has a particularly remarkable historical connection with \u003cstrong\u003ePortugal\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMedieval tradition holds that relics of Brigid were associated with those of \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Patrick and Saint Columba at Downpatrick\u003c\/strong\u003e. Their later history became complicated, and accounts of the translation and survival of Brigid's relics vary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, an important tradition concerning her relics survives in \u003cstrong\u003eLisbon\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA relic venerated as part of Saint Brigid's skull has for centuries been preserved at the \u003cstrong\u003eChurch of Saint John the Baptist in Lumiar (Igreja de São João Baptista do Lumiar)\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn old Portuguese inscription at the church records the tradition that \u003cstrong\u003ethree Irish knights brought the relic of Saint Brigid to Portugal in the 13th century\u003c\/strong\u003e. Portuguese heritage records likewise connect the relic with the reign of King Dinis. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother portion of a skull attributed to Saint Brigid is preserved at the \u003cstrong\u003eChurch of São Roque in Lisbon\u003c\/strong\u003e, where it entered the Jesuit collection of relics in 1587. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Portuguese connection continues today. A fragment originating from the Lumiar relic and preserved by the Brigidine Sisters was ceremonially returned to \u003cstrong\u003eKildare in January 2024\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor an icon individually produced in our workshop in \u003cstrong\u003ePortugal\u003c\/strong\u003e, this centuries-old connection between Saint Brigid, Ireland and Portugal gives the image a particularly meaningful historical context.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSaint Brigid — Patron Saint of Ireland\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaint Brigid became one of the principal \u003cstrong\u003epatron saints of Ireland\u003c\/strong\u003e, together with Saint Patrick and Saint Columba.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer veneration spread well beyond Ireland during the Middle Ages, with churches and communities dedicated to her throughout Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe remains one of the most recognizable female saints of the Irish Christian tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer feast on \u003cstrong\u003eFebruary 1\u003c\/strong\u003e also marks the traditional beginning of spring in Ireland and remains closely associated with the making of Saint Brigid's crosses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Saint Brigid Icon for Prayer\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn icon of \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Brigid of Kildare\u003c\/strong\u003e can be especially meaningful for Christians of Irish heritage, those devoted to the ancient saints of Ireland, monastics, and people seeking an example of generosity and dedication to God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt can also make a meaningful patron saint or name-day gift for someone named \u003cstrong\u003eBrigid, Bridget, Brigitte, Brígida, Brigida or Brigitte\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur reproduction is carefully produced on a prepared wooden panel and individually \u003cstrong\u003ehand-finished with natural beeswax in our family workshop in Portugal\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeast Day: February 1.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho was Saint Brigid of Kildare?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSaint Brigid was a 5th–6th-century Irish Christian nun, abbess and monastic foundress associated with Kildare. She became one of the principal patron saints of Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Saint Brigid of Kildare an Orthodox saint?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Saint Brigid lived centuries before the Great Schism and is venerated among the saints of the ancient undivided Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy does Saint Brigid hold a woven cross?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe woven \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Brigid's Cross\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of her best-known attributes. Irish tradition associates Brigid with making a cross from rushes while explaining the Christian faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does the scroll in the Saint Brigid icon say?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe scroll reads: \u003cstrong\u003e“Since first I fixed my mind on God, I have never taken it off.”\u003c\/strong\u003e It expresses her lifelong dedication to God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is Saint Brigid associated with an oak tree?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHer monastery was founded at Kildare. The Irish name \u003cstrong\u003eCill Dara\u003c\/strong\u003e means “Church of the Oak,” traditionally connecting the monastery with a great oak tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere are Saint Brigid's relics?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSeveral traditions exist concerning her relics. Particularly notable are relics attributed to Saint Brigid preserved in \u003cstrong\u003eLisbon, Portugal\u003c\/strong\u003e, including a skull relic at São João Baptista do Lumiar and another portion at São Roque. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen is Saint Brigid's feast day?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSaint Brigid is commemorated on \u003cstrong\u003eFebruary 1\u003c\/strong\u003e, including in traditions honoring the ancient Celtic and British saints.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e🖼 Product Features\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach icon in our workshop is made to last a lifetime and beyond. The image is printed with rich, fade-resistant pigment inks on a premium solid-core wood panel — then hand-finished with a natural beeswax coating that deepens the colors, protects the surface, and gives each piece the warm, reverent quality of a traditionally crafted sacred object. A metal hanging hook is included on the back, so your icon is ready to display the moment it arrives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrafted on a premium wood panel — 1.6 cm (0.6\") thick, sturdy yet lightweight\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFade-resistant pigment print — rich, true-to-life colors that last for generations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNatural beeswax finish — hand-applied for depth, protection, and a traditional feel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReady to hang — metal hook pre-attached on the reverse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-finished by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e📏 Available Sizes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Small – 12 x 15 cm (5” x 6”)\u003cbr\u003e• Medium – 23 x 30 cm (9” x 12”)\u003cbr\u003e• Large – 30 x 39 cm (12” x 15”)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e🎁 Perfect For\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Meaningful Orthodox Christian gifts\u003cbr\u003e• Housewarming and family blessings\u003cbr\u003e• Prayer corners and devotional spaces\u003cbr\u003e• Baptisms, name days, weddings, and feast days\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e🌍 Worldwide Delivery\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSecurely packed and shipped worldwide from Portugal with tracking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✨ Crafted with Tradition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach icon is carefully made by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal — created to become a lasting blessing for your home or a treasured gift for someone you love.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Icons of Saints","offers":[{"title":"12x15 cm (5”x6”)","offer_id":53943105552667,"sku":null,"price":85.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"23x30 cm (9\"x12\")","offer_id":53943105585435,"sku":null,"price":153.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"30x39 cm (12\"x15\")","offer_id":53943105618203,"sku":null,"price":198.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/3805\/4171\/files\/Saint_Brigid_of_Kildare_Irish_Orthodox_Icon_dd236845-0c76-4db7-8655-eaaa3ce15cd7.webp?v=1789385718","url":"https:\/\/iconsofsaints.com\/products\/saint-brigid-of-kildare-orthodox-icon","provider":"iconsofsaints.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}