St John of Kronstadt Icon 071-CB

Saint Righteous John of Kronstadt, born John Ilyich Sergiev on October 19, 1829, in the modest village of Sura, faced difficulties in learning during his childhood. After his father invested their last savings for John’s education, he fervently prayed for help and experienced a miraculous improvement in his studies. Ordained in 1851, he dedicated his life to serving God and others, establishing the House of Labor in Kronstadt, which included workshops, schools, and a medical institution, as well as founding six women’s monasteries. Father John also introduced the practice of general confession in Russia to accommodate the large number of congregants.

Each icon of St John of Kronstadt reflects the artistry of lacquered icons workshop, where we create folding icons, crosses, and various-sized icons.

The creation process begins with preparing wooden boards, which are cut into smaller panels and smoothed into refined oval shapes. These panels are transformed into polished lamellas that are then glued together to form a solid base. After selecting and laminating images stored for this purpose, artisans fit these images to the panels, cutting and verifying their symmetry before applying special glue to secure them. A final polish enhances durability and aesthetics.

Once the icons are fully dried, they undergo a blessing ritual, with a stamp of authenticity from the convent placed on the back. Each lacquered icon, crafted through this meticulous process, serves as thoughtful gift, or as part of your prayer corner.