Saint John of Rila

Orthodox icon of Saint John of Rila 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 a special varnish to keep the colors undiluted in time and humidity. Hanging clip included on the back of the icon.

St. John was born in 876 in the village of Skrino in Sardica Province (today Sofia) of God-fearing parents of Bulgarian ancestry and was orphaned at a young age. John left his village to live in the barren countryside. When and where he took his monastic tonsure is unknown. He began his ascetic life in a brushwood hut on a high, barren hill. For his food he gathered from the plants in the wilderness. But, soon he was attacked by robbers who beat him and drove him away. Finding a deep cave he settled there. After living for twelve years in the lonely cave, John moved to the wilderness of Rila where he settled in a hollow in a tree. John departed from his tree hollow to settle onto a high, nearly inaccessible cliff. Here he spent seven years under the open sky. Later, John began to take under his care monastics who begged him to accept them in their desire to follow his divine way of life. As these disciples grew in number they built a church in the cave he formerly lived in and soon formed a monastery. Five years before his repose, John wrote one of the finest creations of Old Bulgarian literature, his "A Testament to Disciples". He continued to wisely looked after his flock until his repose on August 18, 946. He was seventy years old. He is the patron saint of Bulgaria and his feast day is on August 18.