Handmade Byzantine Icon of Saint John the New Martyr from Monemvasia.
Saint John was born in 1758 in the village of Gouves, near Monemvasia. His father was a priest, so John received a Christian education. In 1770, the army of the Albanian Haji Osman invaded the village, committing great atrocities and slaughtering his father. Saint John, together with his mother, were captured and sold to a Turk in Larissa.
The Turk wanted to convert Saint John to Islam, but he remained faithful to Jesus Christ despite the pressures of his master. He endured torture through prayer, and remained worthy of the lessons he received from his father.
In 1773, the tyrannic Turk was so enraged by his attitude that he murdered him by stabbing him in the heart.
Apolytikion of Saint John from Monemvasia
Divine offspring of Monemvasia, who grew and bore the fruit of faith by grace, O John; who kept the commandments of the fathers, and put to shame those of Hagar by your struggle. O glorious Martyr, entreat Christ God to grant to us the great mercy.
The Icon of Saint John the New Martyr from Monemvasia is an exact copy of Byzantine art and is created by experienced craftsmen using the method of gold printing where hagiographic leaves of 22 karat gold are applied in detail to decorate the background.
During the final processing, the icon is painted with dark red color around the perimeter and polished with a special varnish to maintain its shine.
It is offered in level or recessed wooden surface and is suitable for wall mounting.
Feast: October 21
Iconographer: Holy Monastery Dormition of Theotokos Zerbitsis, Lakonia, Greece
Availability: Made to order, usually ships within 5 to 10 days.
