Sergius of Radonezh Orthodox Icon

Sergius of Radonezh Orthodox Icon is a hand-painted waist-length icon of the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, one of the most venerated Russian saints, founder of the Trinity Lavra, and a great intercessor for the Russian land. In this image the holy elder is shown in monastic vestments, blessing with his right hand and holding a folded scroll in his left.

This icon is a solemn prayer image for a home icon corner, a church, a chapel, or a name-day gift for someone named Sergius or Sergey. It is also a meaningful gift for students, military service members, and all who ask Saint Sergius for humility, faith, diligence, courage, and spiritual support.

Waist-Length Icon with Schema

The waist-length composition keeps the attention on the face of Saint Sergius, his blessing hand, the folded scroll, and the details of the monastic schema. Unlike narrative icons with scenes from his life, this is a concentrated prayer image of the saint as elder, abbot, and spiritual father.

The face is written with gentle ascetic seriousness: an elder with a gray beard, inward quiet, and a calm gaze. The icon is not dramatic in mood; its strength is in spiritual concentration, restraint, and prayerful clarity.

Saint Sergius of Radonezh

Saint Sergius, born Bartholomew, lived in the fourteenth century. From childhood he loved prayer, yet he struggled with learning to read. According to his Life, after a grace-filled encounter with a mysterious elder, he received help in understanding sacred reading. This is why Orthodox Christians often ask his intercession for children and students.

Later he chose the monastic path and withdrew to the forests of Radonezh, where the monastery of the Holy Trinity arose. This monastery became the future Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius. The saint was known for humility, manual labor, fasting, prayer, and love for the brethren.

Saint Sergius also played an important spiritual role in Russian history. He reconciled princes, strengthened the people, and blessed Prince Dmitry Donskoy before the Battle of Kulikovo. He reposed in 1392, and his relics remain at the Trinity Lavra.

Prayer Before the Icon

Before an icon of Saint Sergius, Orthodox Christians pray for successful learning, diligence, humility, freedom from pride and vanity, healing and strength in illness, protection of the homeland, peace, and support in monastic or spiritual labor.

This icon is especially suitable for students and schoolchildren before examinations, for people beginning studies, for men named Sergius or Sergey, for military service members, and for families who seek a strong prayer image in the home.

The Great Schema and Golgotha Cross

One of the most important details of this icon is the monastic schema on the saint’s chest. The dark blue analav bears the red Golgotha Cross, together with the reed, spear, and Adam’s skull. These signs point to the Passion of Christ and His victory over death.

The schema indicates the highest monastic dedication and a life wholly offered to prayer. In the icon, it helps the viewer understand Saint Sergius not simply as a wise elder, but as a monk whose whole life was shaped by the Cross, humility, and obedience.

Blessing Hand and Folded Scroll

The right hand of Saint Sergius is raised in the traditional priestly blessing gesture. As an abbot and spiritual father, he blesses the faithful and symbolizes prayerful support for those who turn to him.

The folded white scroll in his left hand symbolizes spiritual teaching, monastic rule, divine wisdom, and the counsels of love, humility, and obedience that Saint Sergius left to his brotherhood and to the Russian people.

Gold Background and Ornament

The background and fields of the sample icon are covered with gold leaf. Gold in Orthodox icon painting signifies divine light and sacred reality. Here it gives the icon a solemn and luminous appearance.

The gold background is enriched with a fine floral pattern rather than heavy relief chasing. The halo is outlined with a delicate dotted punched border. The lower part of the fields includes a shaped cartouche with the saint’s name in red lettering, while the corners are decorated with painted floral ornaments in red, blue, and green tones, recalling old Russian manuscript decoration.

Materials and Hand-Painted Work

The icon is painted on a wooden icon board strengthened with oak splines. The board is covered with linen canvas and prepared with natural chalk gesso. The image is written in egg tempera, a traditional technique that allows the painter to convey the depth of the monastic garments and the softness of the saint’s face.

Depending on the selected execution, gold leaf is used for the background, fields, halo, and decorative details. The finished icon is protected with varnish or natural oil. Since each icon is painted by hand, small differences in ornament, gilding, facial expression, and color tones are natural.

Available Sizes

This icon is available in 17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in), 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in), 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in), and 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in). Iconostasis sizes can be made by individual agreement.

The 17×21 cm and 20×24 cm sizes are compact and suitable for a small prayer shelf, student desk, or travel. The 27×31 cm size is a balanced format for a waist-length icon and gives more space for the schema, cartouche, and ornamental corners. The 30×40 cm size is suitable as a central home icon or a church gift.

Free international shipping is included. Payment is made after you receive and approve the icon.

Care for the Icon

A hand-painted icon with gold leaf should be kept away from moisture, direct sunlight, heaters, humidifiers, kitchen steam, and sudden temperature changes. Do not use water, alcohol, sprays, or household cleaners.

Dust should be removed only with a dry soft brush or dry microfiber cloth, without pressure. Be especially careful with the gilded background, halo, painted borders, schema details, and name cartouche. A wooden kiot with glass offers the best long-term protection.

Icon Characteristics

Name	Sergius of Radonezh Orthodox Icon
Saint	Venerable Sergius of Radonezh
Iconographic type	Waist-length image with blessing hand and folded scroll
Main details	Great schema with red Golgotha Cross, blessing hand, folded scroll, gold background, dotted halo, ornamental corners, lower name cartouche
Materials	Wooden icon board, oak splines, linen canvas, chalk gesso, egg tempera, gold leaf according to selected execution
Available sizes	17×21 cm, 20×24 cm, 27×31 cm, 30×40 cm; iconostasis sizes by agreement

Questions and Answers

How does Saint Sergius help children and students?

In Orthodox tradition Saint Sergius is especially loved as a helper in study. Parents, students, and schoolchildren ask his intercession for attention, memory, diligence, and perseverance in learning.

What is shown on Saint Sergius’s chest?

The chest shows part of the great monastic schema, or analav. The red Golgotha Cross, spear, reed, and Adam’s skull point to the Passion of Christ and His victory over death.

Why are the fingers of his right hand arranged this way?

This is the traditional priestly blessing gesture. As an abbot and priest, Saint Sergius blesses those who turn to him in prayer.

What does the folded scroll mean?

The folded scroll symbolizes spiritual teaching, monastic rule, divine wisdom, and the counsels of love, humility, and faith that Saint Sergius left to his disciples.

Is the gold background deeply embossed?

In this version the gold background is smooth, with a fine floral pattern drawn over it. The halo is marked with a dotted punched border rather than deep relief chasing.

Can this icon be given to a military service member?

Yes. Saint Sergius blessed Prince Dmitry Donskoy before the Battle of Kulikovo and is venerated as an intercessor for defenders of the homeland.

What materials are used for this icon?

The icon is made on a wooden icon board with oak splines, linen canvas, chalk gesso, egg tempera, gold leaf according to the chosen execution, and protective finish.

What sizes are available?

The icon is available in 17×21 cm, 20×24 cm, 27×31 cm, and 30×40 cm. Iconostasis sizes can be made by individual agreement.

How should the gold and painted borders be cared for?

Do not wipe the icon with water or cleaning products. Dust it only with a dry, very soft brush or microfiber cloth, without pressure on the gold or painted ornament.

Will the ordered icon exactly match the photo?

Each icon is painted by hand, including the ornament, gilding, and face. Small differences in color tones, line thickness, and ornament are natural for hand-painted work.