Description

John the Soldier served in the army of Emperor Julian the Apostate, who ordered him to persecute Christians. Completely against the order, John actually helped the Christians to escape persecution, which eventually landed him in prison. When Emperor Julian died in battle against the Persians in 363, John was released from prison and devoted the rest of his life to helping poor people. The icon was painted in Yaroslavl, this city was the most important center of Russian icon painting in the 17th century.