Saint Fanourios Silk Screen Icon – Gold & Engraved Wood

Description

Saint Fanourios, also written as Phanourios and further known as Fanourios the Newly Appeared of Rhodes, is a Great-martyr and miracle-worker. The story of Saint Fanourios has been lost to time, however, much has been interpreted about his life and martyrdom through the original icon, which was found in a small church in Rhodes around 1500 AD. According to tradition, the icon of Saint Fanourios was discovered by nomadic pagans and was later cared for and preserved by a group of monks. The monks, curious as to the story and life of the Saint depicted in this icon, spent years searching for information on Saint Fanourios.

The original icon of Saint Fanourios depicts him standing, with a candle in his right hand. Around the large icon are twelve smaller icons depicting the life and story of Saint Fanourios. It is through these twelve smaller icons that the monks were able to understand the life and story of Saint Fanourios. The icons show him defending his faith against Roman magistrates; being beaten by soldiers with rocks, sticks, and clubs in an attempt to have him deny his faith; spending time in prison for his faith, where he is depicting praying to God; unsuccessful attempts by the Romans to execute him via burning, animal attacks, and an attempt to crush him with a boulder, and; lastly his martyrdom, depicting him standing on a stool in a kiln, with flames swirling around him. In the final scene of his life, Saint Fanourios is shown to be praying.

Saint Fanourios is recognized by the Greek Orthodox faith as being the patron saint of revealing matters of the heart as well as lost or hidden objects, and restoring health. In Greece and Cyprus there is a tradition of baking a Phanouropita – a cake dedicated to Saint Fanourios – and taking it to the church for a blessing. Saint Fanourios is commemorated with a feast day on August 27 in the Greek Orthodox Church.