Saint Kevin of Glendalough

Saint Kevin of Glendalough (c. 498–618 AD) is one of the most beloved saints of Ireland, founder of the great monastic city of Glendalough in County Wicklow — the "Valley of the Two Lakes" — which became one of the most important centers of learning, pilgrimage, and holiness in early Christian Ireland.

Born of royal lineage, Saint Kevin rejected the privileges of his birth and sought the solitary life of a hermit in the wild beauty of the Wicklow Mountains. He lived for years in a cave above the upper lake at Glendalough, sustained by prayer, fasting, and the gifts of nature. His holiness drew disciples, and around him grew the great monastic community that would bear his name for centuries.

Saint Kevin is renowned for his extraordinary love of creation and his harmony with the natural world — birds are said to have nested in his outstretched hands during prayer. He is venerated as a wonderworker and a father of Irish monasticism. His feast day is June 3. Browse our handcrafted Orthodox icons and devotional items honoring Saint Kevin of Glendalough, made in our Ohio workshop using traditional Byzantine embroidery techniques.