Saint Anthony of Optina

Orthodox icon of Saint Anthony of Optina on thick plywood 20mm, which does not sting and keeps its shape over time. Preparation with acrylic stucco and have been used acrylic colors. It has been covered with varnish to keep the colors undiluted in time and humidity. Hanging clip included on the back of the icon. 

St. Anthony was born on March 9, 1795 in Romanov. When Alexander was ten years old, his brothers Timothy and Jonah entered the Sarov Monastery. They wrote to him and sent him spiritual books, which he enjoyed reading. When he was only thirteen, he wrote to them expressing the wish to become a monk like them. After his father’s death in 1809, Alexander went to work for the merchant Karpishev in Moscow. On September 2, 1812, he tried to flee Moscow during Napoleon’s invasion, but it was too late to escape. After learning that there were Russian soldiers outside of Moscow, Alexander escaped on September 12 and arrived at Rostov. At the end of 1815, Alexander went to Moscow to visit the various churches and monasteries. From Moscow, he traveled to Kaluga, and then to the Roslavl forests in Smolensk province where his brother Father Moses had been living for about five years. He stayed with his brother for 24 years. In 1821 Bishop Philaret of Kaluga decided to establish a skete at Optina Monastery for experienced ascetics who wished to live in silence. Saint Anthony arrived at Optina with the other monks. The site they selected for the skete was 400 yards from the monastery’s eastern side. They cleared the land of trees and built a cell and a church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Saint Moses was appointed igumen, and on August 24, 1823 Anthony was ordained as a deacon. For the next 14 years the skete flourished under Anthony. On November 30, 1839 Bishop Nicholas of Kaluga summoned Father Anthony, and appointed him as igumen of the Maloyaroslavets Monastery. Father Anthony arrived back at his beloved Optina on February 12, 1853 and lived there for 12 years. He died on 1856 and his feast day is on August 7.