Icons of Saint John of Shanghai

Saint John of Shanghai on orthodox icons

St. John of Shanghai is a beloved Russian Orthodox bishop who dedicated his life to the service of his flock. He preached among his fellow Russians fleeing the Russian revolution and aided them in overcoming the hardships of adjustment to life outside their homes. He served in places as diverse as Shanghai, Paris and San Francisco. His God-inspired words gave many the energy to live, brought hundreds to the faith and led many to take on the priestly service. He performed multiple miracles in his lifetime and after death, and many people who experienced them are still alive today. We turn to him in our prayers to grow in the faith, overcome our disbelief, and find healing for the infirmities of our body and spirit.

He appears on icons at half-length, in full Episcopal habit and in boots. In some icons, he dons monastic clothing. With his right hand, he is making the sign of the cross, while holding the Gospel in his left. In their depiction of the saint, iconographers use a combination of light-brown and golden, representing his inner peace and harmony. His facial features, symmetrical and passionless, underline his ability to look beyond the mundane and dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the service of God.

In his lifetime, he built many churches and had the gift of keeping peace, cohesion and unity in the church communities. Some icons underline this fact by depicting him with a church building in his hand. He departed to God on a visit to Seattle with the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God of Kursk. Yet his final resting place continues to attract scores of believers. In some icon variants, he is depicted wearing the icon to emphasise the everlasting spiritual connection between him and his flock.

The making of your John of Shanghai icon

It has been over two decades since we began to paint icons at St Elisabeth Convent. We have created our icons and delivered them to thousands of customers around the world, including churches, parishes and homes. Thousands have appreciated the religious and artistic merits of our works, resulting from many hours of painstaking efforts, extensive research and learning of icon painting techniques, and the prayerful and meditative atmosphere in which our icons are born.

We paint in the Russian and Byzantine traditions that have evolved over centuries and generations. We have perfected our techniques at every stage of the process from the preparation of the wood base through the application of the stucco layers to outlining and painting. Our paints are made from ground minerals and egg yolk giving the colours outstanding brightness and durability. From background details to the faces, you will be impressed by the mastery and skill of our artists. We finish the process by adding a protective layer of varnish to keep the colours fresh and extend the icon's life. We recommend putting your icon in a kiot for maximum protection and durability.

Select a variant of your St. John of Shanghai icon from our multiple offerings. Multiple sizes are available, and we have created a wizard to assist you with your choice. Alternatively, we will be happy to paint an icon according to your individual preferences. We also encourage you to explore our catalogue for more gift ideas.

Our associates will respond to your order to confirm its specifications, make arrangements for delivery, and agree on the final price. We are happy to be at your service!