The Story Behind This Icon:
Saint Matrona was born blind in 1881 in western Russia. During her baptism, the priest saw a cloud appear above her, showing blessings from above. At the age of fourteen, her family visited the city of Kronstadt to see Saint John. Without even seeing her, John yelled "Matrona, come here! She will be my heir, and will become the eighth pillar of Russia". At the age of seventeen, Matrona became paralyzed from the waist down, unable to walk. She stayed in her room for almost all of her time, with icons surrounding her.
Blind and paralyzed, Matrona had the grace of God upon her, seeing many people and prophesying the Russian revolution, as well as many other events. In 1925, she settled in Moscow, living there for around twenty years before beginning to move frequently. She was wanted by the communist government for inspiring faith in people, and secretly lived in the homes of Christians. Many people came to see her, as she was known for performing miracles. She passed away in 1952, having prophesied her death.
Saint Matrona's feast day is celebrated on May 2.
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This icon is made of solid, natural Limewood that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.
All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere.
Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.
Our most popular dimensions are pictured, to scale.
Depending on the size and theme, Holy Icons are available in both Recessed and Level styles.
RECESSED
The groove in our recessed icons adds depth to the Iconography, making the icon even more dramatic and impressive. In order to keep the relative proportions, the depth of the groove changes with the size of the Holy Icon.
LEVEL
Level icons allow the Iconography to retain its boldness even in smaller sizes. As such most of our level icons have smaller dimensions.
Backside details vary with icon size and serve to ensure that your Holy Icon will stand the test of time.
Solid wooden icons of larger dimensions are prone to bending and damaging as time passes. Fortunately, our Holy Icons are supported by two additional, horizontal wooden protective panels on the backside. These panels bolster the icon and allow it to sustain its shape, ensuring that your Holy Icon will remain in its original, pristine condition as it is passed down from generation to generation.
Icons of smaller dimensions are naturally sustainable over time, and experience less structural stress. As such, you will find that the backside of smaller Holy Icons is flat and proportional to their shape.
