Description
John of the Cross: Carmelite teacher of prayer
St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) was a Spanish Carmelite priest and poet who worked with Teresa of Ávila on the reform of the order. His writings, including The Dark Night and The Spiritual Canticle, examine the soul's growth toward union with God. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926.
The icon shows a brown habit beneath a light mantle, a cross held upright, and a scroll in English. The cross identifies the focus of his spirituality, while the scroll refers to God's presence strengthening the soul. These attributes present John as both a contemplative and a teacher.
His teaching on the dark night concerns purification in faith, hope, and love, not simply a period of sadness. This distinction gives the image a particular place beside spiritual reading or in a retreat setting. The wording on the printed scroll remains in English.
Made in Poland on linden wood
Art Christiana makes this icon to order on a linden-wood board with two coats of primer. The image is printed directly onto the prepared surface and finished with decorative gold-tone metal leaf (schlagmetal). A certificate bearing the production year and a hanging fixture are attached to the back.