Saint Vladimir Silk Screen Icon – Gold & Engraved Wood

Description

Saint Vladimir, also known as Vladimir the Great, was a ruler of the Kievan Rus  and Prince of Novgorod during the late 10th, early 11th centuries. Although a devout pagan at the time, Saint Vladimir was interested in the various religions that other people practiced and sent out an envoy to collect information on Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Judaism.

Upon the return of his envoy he was told of Constantinople and of how impressed his envoy was by the city and Byzantine Orthodoxy. Notably, they are quoted as telling Saint Vladimir that they “knew not whether [they] were in Heaven or on Earth… only that God dwells there among the people, and their service is fairer than the ceremonies of other nations.” Moved by their tales of Orthodoxy and Constantinople, Vladimir chose to convert to Eastern Orthodoxy.

Following his conversion to Christianity, Vladimir closely followed the teachings of the Bible and was known to perform various acts of charity. He further founded churches across the region, including the Ddesyatinnaya Tskerkov, built schools, and established ecclesiastical courts. During his rule he also abolished the death penalty, and forms of torture such as mutilation.

Though most saints depicted holding a cross have been martyred, the cross in the icon of Saint Vladimir symbolizes his role in expanding Christianity throughout Russia and Eastern Europe. Saint Vladimir is commemorated on July 15 in the Eastern Orthodox Church.