Saint Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila

Catholic icon of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila 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. Lorenzo was born in Binondo, Manila, on 28 November, 1594. Lorenzo served as an altar boy at the Binondo Church. After being educated by the Dominican friars for a few years, Lorenzo earned the title of escribano because of his skillful penmanship.  He became a member of the Cofradía del Santísimo Rosario. He married Rosario, a native, and they had two sons and a daughter. In 1636, while working as a clerk for the Binondo Church, Lorenzo was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Lorenzo sought asylum on board a ship with three Dominican priests: Antonio Gonzalez, Guillermo Courtet and Miguel de Aozaraza; a japanese priest, Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz; and a lay leper Lazaro of Kyoto. Lorenzo and his companions sailed for Okinawa on June 10, 1636. The Tokugawa Shogunate was  persecuting Christians because they feared that the Spanish invaded the Philippines through using religion by the time Lorenzo had arrived in Japan. The missionaries were arrested and thrown into prison, and after two years, they were transferred to Nagasaki to face trial by torture. The group endured many and various cruel methods of torture. On 27 September 1637, Lorenzo and his companions were taken to Nishizaka Hill, where they were tortured by being hung upside-down over a pit. He died two days later on 29 September 1637, aged 42. His body was cremated, with the ashes thrown into the sea. His feast day is on September 28 and is the patron saint of Philippines, overseas Filipino workers, migrant workers, immigrants, the poor, seperated families, Filipino Altar servers and Archdiocese of Manila.