The Story Behind This Icon:
Saint John Maximovitch was born in Kharkov of Russia in 1896. Saint John was raised as a Christian, and had to leave Russia in 1921 due to the civil war, arriving in Belgrade. There he became a monk and a priest, serving God in all his ways. In 1934, he was ordained as Bishop of Shanghai, but did not serve for long as the communist party took control. In the next twenty years he served again as Bishop in Brussels and Paris. Most notably, he became the Archbishop of San Francisco in 1962. Saint John was very hard on himself, and he was known for his spiritual capabilities. Saint John fell asleep in 1966. His body remains in the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in San Francisco.
His feast day is celebrated on the Saturday closest to July 2.
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This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) 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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
