Saint Joseph Gerontogiannis of Kapsa

Orthodox icon of Saint Joseph Gerontogiannis of Kapsa 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.  

NOTICE: This icon is not painted by me. There are no religious icons of this Saint available but only this photo. In case you order this Saint you will receive the same style off icon with slightly different colors. 

St. Joseph was born at the village Kapsa of Crete in 1799. Later, the family settled in the village of Lithines. He worked in his father's fields and tended the family's flock of sheep in the area of Kapsa of Sitia. As soon as he reached adulthood, he married a pious young maiden from his village. Together they had 4 children and lived in the village of Lithines. According to tradition, one Sunday Joseph gathered wood and after loading it on his animal he went to sell it in order to buy wine. He had taken his wife in order to drop her off in Lithines to see her family. On their return his wife had a bad feeling and when they returned they found their youngest daughter burnt, and out on the threshing floor, where her siblings had taken her, thinking that the wind would put out her dress that had caught on fire. Joseph considered this accident as a divine punishment because he worked on Sunday. The obdurate, irascible and quarrelsome Joseph was transformed into a longsuffering, merciful, meek and guileless man. His fasting, prayers, alms and constant repentance purified his heart. On Great Friday of 1841, when Joseph was 42 years old, he fell in a deep sleep and all efforts to wake him up failed. 43 hours later Joseph woke up, in a serene state, to find his family at his bed side. He then related to them his experience and that he had been taken up to heaven where he saw and heard things wonderfull. Immediately after this vision Joseph began to preach and work miracles. Over the ruins of the Monastery of the Honorable Forerunner, Joseph built a new monastery. He himself lived in a cave for 17 years northwest of the monastery. By 1863 the monastery was completed with an expanded church, cells, guest house, dining room, kitchen, bakery, warehouses and a large cistern. On August 6, 1874 Joseph died peacefully. His feast day is on August 7.