Saint Barsanuphius

Orthodox icon of Saint Barsanuphius 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. Barsanuphius was born in Samara in 1845. He enrolled in the Polotsk Cadet Corps and completed his studies at the Orenburg Military School. He graduated from the Petersburg Cossack Staff Officers' School and rose to the rank of colonel. He visited Optina, where St. Ambrose told him to cut all ties to the world and to enter Optina within 3 months. Barsanuphius was assigned to Hieromonk Nectarius as his cell attendant; in 1892 he was accepted as a novice and in 1893 he was tonsured as a rassophore. Over the next 10 years he was ordained deacon and priest. In 1904, at the beginning of the Russo-Japanese war, he was sent to the Far East as a military chaplain. He returned to Optina in 1905. He became Superior of the Skete. In 1910 he was tonsured into the Great Schema. Due to some problems with some new monks that came to Optina, he was removed from his position and became igumen of the Golutvinsky Monastery. In 1913 he died from illness. His feast day is on April 1.