Orthodox Icon of St. John of Zedazeni

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May 7th
Troparion (Tone 1)
Thou didst appear making the wilderness thy home, an angel in the flesh, a doer of wonders; and by fasts, vigils and prayers, thou didst receive heavenly gifts. Therefore, thou dost heal the sick and the souls of those who hasten to thee, O God-mantled Father John. Glory to him who hath given thee power; glory to him who hath crowned thee; glory to him who through thee accomplished healing for all.

Monk John Zedazeni trained in Antioch from an early age. He received a vision in which the Theotokos told him to choose 12 disciples to train and go with him to Georgia. His asceticism, his wisdom and his wonderworking attracted many followers. He selected twelve by lot and they trained together at the Monastery of St. Simeon the Stylite. When the time came for them to begin their ministry, they crossed the River Kura "with undampened feet". They were welcomed with joy by the people and the Bishop. St. John chose to dwell in a cave high upon Mount Zedazeni. This had been the site of a pagan temple. Thus he took on the forces of darkness head-on. He sent out the twelve to firmly establish Christianity and root out fire worship throughout Georgia. They all had unique gifts of asceticism and wonderworking. Two became Bishops. John healed many sick who flocked to him. And a healing spring came up from the mountain that works wonders to this day. Before his death, he instructed his disciples to bury him in his cave on the top of the mountain. They forgot this instruction and placed his body in a special crypt in the monastery at the foot of the mountain. The earth there trembled and quaked, until they remembered and obeyed. They buried him in his cave where he had done battle for so long. Later a chapel was built in the cave with St. John's relics under the prothesis. Pilgrims regularly make the journey up the mountain to receive blessings from this man of God. He reposed in the Lord between 557 and 560.

This icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. This icon is one of the "cloud of witnesses" at St. Philip's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Souderton, Pennsylvania.

Order #phn-51