In more traditional churches, it is the practice for people to be named for Saints and Martyrs, and for those joining as adults to take the name of a Saint or Martyr. When I joined the Catholic Church (I grew up Methodist, moved to the Episcopal Church, wandered a bit, then became Catholic) I was Michael Ailbe. When I joined the Orthodox Church, I was told to pick one name. St. Michael will always be a part of me, but I went with St. Ailbe. BTW, it’s Gaelic so is not pronounced anything like it looks (Ahl-Vee-ah)
Now, for the heathen out there, we don’t worship icons. Icons serve two primary purposes: they are windows into heaven, and they are a challenge to our lives. For the first, the short version is that the only people we know are in heaven for sure are the Saints and Martyrs. Icons are in effect windows to them, and we ask them to pray and intercede for us as we know they are in heaven and in position to appeal on our behalf. As for the second, go to any good military base or museum and look at all the photos, art, and illustrations of famous military figures. They are there as a challenge to both the recruit and the old salt, to live up to what they did on the field of battle. It’s the same thing with the Saints: they did good, so can you: can you do as well as they did?
For example, a Saint I have grown to admire is Saint John of Krondstat. Back in the day, he looked around at things and said this is bull. In his wake were orphanages, homes for the widows, food for the hungry, and medical care for those who needed it. The man did an amazing amount of good, and from what I have read was worried he hadn’t done enough. That’s a challenge for any warrior of the soul. As a side note, I was relieved to find out I wasn’t the only one to feel that the icon of St. Gregory of Palamas, who in our Church is next to St. John, was giving me/us the side-eye as I talked to St. John.
Back on track, St. Ailbe was a fifth century Irish priest and more. He had been born in Ireland and was a child of the hillside. Legend has it that the infant was rescued by a wolf, but what is known is that he was taken to England as a youth by a group of Christian evangelists and raised there. He became a priest, went to Rome, and was reported to have been made a Bishop there.
Other than he was highly regarded, his hearth (hospitality) was highly praised, and he dressed and spoke well, there is not a lot of verifiable fact to go with. Given the Irish penchant for tales, there are a lot of legends. He is alleged to have provided sanctuary to a female wolf who ran into his abode while avoiding hunters, with some legends saying it was the wolf who had saved him from the hillside many years before. Given that wolves do good to live five years in the wild, legend. It may be true that animals were as welcome at his hearth as people, as it would fit with the rules of hospitality at the time, especially Christian hospitality. He built several Churches, a monastery, and when he died was reported to have been buried in the cathedral at Emly. Sadly, that cathedral disappeared centuries ago.
There were a few icons and representations of him out there, but they were mostly generic and not terribly inspiring. Save for a couple that were less than flattering. In fact one with him and a wolf frankly looked like they were both up to no good and enjoying that fact. Again, not inspiring.
I had been looking around for something good, and have even looked at some Iconographers in England and Europe. Then, someone pointed me to a noted Iconographer who was located here in Indianapolis. I had seen his work, and to be honest his Icon of St. Brigid of Kildare is my favorite representation of her. I hadn’t really realized he was truly local or that he might be interested in working with me.
Long story short, I met with him and he had been briefed on me and my circumstances. Despite the latter, he was intrigued and we had a good discussion. I gave him all I had on St. Ailbe, and discussed some concepts I had thought about, but that he had free reign. A few months later, a concept sketch was presented which went in a very different direction, and was pretty much perfect. A few months after that, and today he presented me the Icon you see above.
Pretty much every report notes that the first Church he built upon returning to Ireland was by a lake and a yew tree. A basket of food at his feet symbolizes the hospitality of his hearth. There are a couple of other minor details, but those are the large ones that will stand out.
As you look at it, appreciate the colors and shadings. Something I didn’t know at the start, this talented artist and Iconographer is colorblind. I’m told his wife will help him a bit on colors, but appreciate that he can’t see the wonderful richness of the Icons and artwork he creates. If you are looking for a good Icon, and particularly if you are Orthodox, Catholic, or other traditional Church, be glad to put you in touch with him.
For me, I took the name Ailbe for several reasons. Yes, the connection to wolves led me to him, but the hospitality of his hearth hit home as I love to cook, helped lead a charity that cooked for troops and veterans (particularly wounded), and think highly of the ancient laws of hospitality. That he also did such a great job of spreading the Word, doing right by those who accepted the Word, and helped establish and expand the monastic tradition in Ireland made him someone to emulate. To have a good Icon to challenge me to live up to the name if I can is a treasure.
Oh, and if you are still bristling over the subject of Icons, keep in mind one of the earliest known Iconographers was the Apostle Luke. Yes, that Luke who is responsible for several books of the New Testament. I find it interesting that he is reported to have interviewed the Theotokos (The Virgin Mary, Theotokos translating as God Bearer/the one who gave birth to God). Note that the Book of Luke is the only book of the New Testament to have stories from the youth of Jesus. I would also contend that those are only stories a mother would tell. Of the Icons Luke created that have survived, I think it is four that deal with Mary and the infant Jesus.
The most famous (and most copied) is The Directress, where the Theotokos has the infant Jesus on her lap, and is pointing to him (He is the way, the truth, and the light). Another is the “Vladimir” Icon, which I love though the sadness in her eyes can rip your heart right out. I find it interesting and telling that while the infant is different in each, the Theotokos is pretty much identical, as if he had seen her but not him. Which is the historical case. There is more, but if interested it is well worth looking up and a fascinating glimpse into art and history.
As for me, once the Icon comes home (it is at the Church to stay on the altar and be blessed), it goes up in my room at the little shrine I have. I’m like a lot of guys in that if given a challenge, I try to live up to it. I hope I can do right by the name. I’d like to live this new life I’ve been granted such that I do so, and even do good enough St. Gregory stops giving me the side eye. I’m proof that God can work with anyone, and I remind myself and any who need it that Christ didn’t come down from the Heavens for the perfect. He came to save the sinners (of whom I am chief). Also keep in mind we are all called to be Saints in training. Few of us can and do live up to that, but the challenge is in trying.
Let’s get to it.