078-CB St John of Shanghai Icon

Saint John of Shanghai, born Mikhail Maximovich-Vasilkovsky to Russian nobility, dedicated his life to the priesthood despite early influences steering him toward law. After receiving a theological education in Belgrade, he served as a bishop in Shanghai, where he created a refuge for approximately 3,500 orphans, personally rescuing many from the slums. Known for his extraordinary generosity, he earned the nickname "John the Barefoot" in Paris for often giving away his shoes. His later years were spent as Bishop of San Francisco, where he continued to serve his community until his passing.

St. John of Shanghai icon 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.