Description
St. Zeno, fourth-century bishop of Verona
St. Zeno was a fourth-century bishop of Verona and is honored as the patron of the local Church. Veronese tradition remembers him as a pastor who helped form the city's Christian community. His association with a fish remains one of the most recognizable features of his devotional imagery.
The icon shows a white-bearded bishop wearing a miter and red episcopal vesture. A fish hangs by a line from the curved head of his crozier, while a cross rests on his chest. The fish distinguishes this portrait from many other images of bishop saints. Diocesan catechesis connects the fish and staff with the Gospel image of gathering people into faith; this is a symbolic reading, not a scene documenting a fishing episode.
The English name inscription identifies Zeno of Verona. For someone named Zeno, a family with roots in Verona, or a parish honoring the saint, the image provides a direct connection to that local Christian tradition. It can also accompany teaching about episcopal ministry and the use of attributes to identify saints in sacred art.
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.