Saint John Koukouzelis the Hymnographer of Mount Athos

Orthodox icon of Saint John Koukouzelis the Hymnographer of Mount Athos on thick plywood 20mm thick, 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 a special varnish to keep the colors undiluted in time and humidity. Hanging clip included on the back of the icon.

St. John was a native of Dirrachia, Bulgaria and was orphaned in childhood. Endowed with a very fine voice, he entered the Constantinople court school and became a chief court singer. John began to seek ways to escape the enticements of the court, as well as a marriage arranged for him by the Emperor John Comnenos. St. John met an igumen from Mount Athos and revealed to him his desire to leave the court and to go to Mount Athos. There he was tonsured a monk and was given the obedience of tending the monastery's flock of goats. John revealed to the igumen that he had been a court singer and the igumen was afraid that the emperor would find out that his favorite court singer was on Mount Athos and force him to return to court. The igumen travelled to Constantinople to explain to the emperor what had become of John. Thereafter John sang on the right cleros in the cathedral on Sundays and feastdays. He worked hard on the discipline of church singing, gaining the title of both master teacher and regent. He arranged and compiled melodies for church stichera verses, troparia and kontakia; he edited texts of hymns and wrote his own troparia. His feast day is on October 1 and is the patron saint of church singers.