Saint Paphnutius of Borovsk icon, with the George the Victorious and Mary of Egypt

Saint Abbot Venerable Paphnutius of Borovsk. On the margins are the saints: Great Martyr George the Victorious and Mary of Egypt

Saint Paphnutius of Borovsk was born in 1394 in the village of Kudinovo, not far from Borovsk, and was named Parthenius at Baptism. At the age of 20, Parthenius left his parents' home and in 1414 he took monastic vows with the name Paphnutius in the Pokrovsky Monastery on Vysokoye from the abbot Markell. Monk Paphnutius labored in the monastery for many years. When the abbot of the monastery died, the brethren chose him as abbot.

Saint Photius, Metropolitan of Kiev, ordained the monk to the priesthood (around 1426). The monk spent thirty years in the Pokrovsky Monastery, where he was both the abbot and the elder-confessor. At the age of 51, he fell seriously ill, left the abbacy and took the great schema. After recovering on the day of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, April 23, 1444, he left the monastery and settled with one monk on the left bank of the Protva River at the confluence of the Isterma River. Soon, brethren began to gather at his new place. The number of monks quickly increased. A new stone church was built to replace the previous wooden one in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. The best icon painter of that time, Dionysius, and his assistants took part in the painting of the church.

Reverend Paphnutius set an example for the brethren, leading a strict life: his cell was the poorest of all, he took the worst of the food. On Mondays and Fridays he did not eat at all, and on Wednesdays he adhered to dry food. Of the common works, the saint chose the most difficult ones: he chopped and carried firewood, dug and watered the garden, and at the same time was the first to arrive for church services.

Saint Paphnutius enjoyed deep love and respect not only from the brethren of his monastery, but also from other monasteries. By God's providence, a twenty-year-old youth, John Sanin, was sent to the monastery to see the saint. Having tested the newcomer, the saint tonsured him into monasticism with the name Joseph. Subsequently, Saint Joseph of Volotsk, who firmly preserved the purity of the Orthodox faith, led the fight against the heresy of the Judaizers, condemned at the Council of 1504. Saint Paphnutius blessed the young monk for this feat.

A week before his death, the saint predicted his death. Having fulfilled his last prayer and blessed the brethren, he departed to God on May 1, 1477. Saint Paphnutius was a follower of Saint Sergius, Abbot of Radonezh.

Original icon: 19th century.

🖼 Product Features

Each icon in our workshop is made to last a lifetime and beyond. The image is printed with rich, fade-resistant pigment inks on a premium solid-core wood panel — then hand-finished with a natural beeswax coating that deepens the colors, protects the surface, and gives each piece the warm, reverent quality of a traditionally crafted sacred object. A metal hanging hook is included on the back, so your icon is ready to display the moment it arrives.

• Crafted on a premium wood panel — 1.6 cm (0.6") thick, sturdy yet lightweight
• Fade-resistant pigment print — rich, true-to-life colors that last for generations
• Natural beeswax finish — hand-applied for depth, protection, and a traditional feel
• Ready to hang — metal hook pre-attached on the reverse
• Hand-finished by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal

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