Saint Ilia Chavchavadze of Georgia

Orthodox icon of Saint Ilia Chavchavadze of Georgia 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. Ilia belonged to the noble family Chavchavadze. He was born on October 27, 1837, in the village of Qvareli in Kakheti. When he was eight years old, Ilia was sent to study with Archdeacon Nikoloz Sepashvili of Qvareli. Ilia continued his education at a Tbilisi boarding school, and later at the court gymnasium. His parents died at a young age, and the orphaned children were entrusted to the care of their aunt Macrina. In 1857 Ilia enrolled in the law school at Saint Petersburg University. In his fourth year he dropped out of the program and returned to Georgia. The restoration of national independence and the autocephaly of the Georgian Church were the chief objectives toward which Saint Ilia strove in every aspect of his life. Ilia inspired many with his patriotic zeal, and he founded the Society for the Propagation of Literacy among the Georgians. Ilia’s righteous deeds were an affront and threat to those who adhered to the new atheist ideology, so they plotted to kill him. On August 30, 1907, Ilia Chavchavadze and his wife, Olga (Guramishvili), had just set off from Tbilisi for Saguramo when their carriage stopped abruptly outside of Mtskheta, near Tsitsamuri Forest. They were awaited by a band of militant social democrats who attacked them and shot Ilia to death. His feast day is on July 20.