About 1497. About 1497.

Copy

The apostle is depicted in a reddish-brown himation and a blue robe. He is holding with his both hands the closed Gospel in front of him. The gilded silver covering with stamping was made in about 1542 thanks to the donation of the archbishop Dosiphey of Rostov who was the Father Superior of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery from 1533 to 1539 (until he was consecrated a bishop). The apostle is depicted in a reddish-brown himation and a blue robe. He is holding with his both hands the closed Gospel in front of him. The gilded silver covering with stamping was made in about 1542 thanks to the donation of the archbishop Dosiphey of Rostov who was the Father Superior of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery from 1533 to 1539 (until he was consecrated a bishop). 

John the Theologian was one of the original twelve Apostles and the only one among them who died a natural death. He wrote five books of the New Testament.

The icon was restored by M.K. Yefimov in the All-Union Research Institute for Restoration in 1979-1980.