The original of this icon is made of cut paper (with additions in paint and ink). Maximilian Kolbe was a prominent Polish Catholic priest imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz, where he was killed after offering his life in place of another prisoner who had been chosen to die. The border is made up of wildflowers native to Poland, plus red roses referring to Kolbe’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The saint is shown before the infamous gate to Auschwitz. For an explanation of the white and red crowns around the larger halo, check out Kolbe’s life story.