Saint Venerable Abbot Michael Maleinos. Wooden orthodox icon.
Saint Michael, from the Malein family, was born around 894 in the region of Charsia (Cappadocia) and received the name Manuel at Baptism. He was related to the Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Wise (886-911). From childhood, the saint was distinguished by his piety and love of learning. He studied the Holy Scriptures with particular attention. Having received an excellent education, he took a significant position at the court of Emperor Leo the Wise. But after his death, at the age of 18, Manuel went to Bithynia, to the Kiminsk monastery under the guidance of the elder John Eladites, who tonsured him into monasticism with the name Michael. Fulfilling the most difficult obediences, despite the nobility of his lineage, he showed an example of great humility.
After some time, he was awarded the grace of the priesthood. Constantly studying the Holy Scriptures, the Venerable Michael showed how worthy it is to unite the priesthood with monasticism, attained a high degree of dispassion and acquired the gift of clairvoyance. He was very compassionate and philanthropic, could not leave without help and consolation anyone in need and sorrow, and through his fervent prayers many miracles occurred.
After many monastic labors under the guidance of the elder John, the Venerable Michael asked him for a blessing for a solitary life in a cave. The namesake of the Angel, Michael lived like an angel; not changing the rules of abstinence until his last breath, he constantly fasted, excluding the time when he was ill, or there was a Lord's feast, or when he received some famous nobleman. At first, when he became a monk, he took food once every two days, then in the middle of his ascetic life he ate only once every five days, towards the end of his life, especially during the Holy Forty Days, he ate once every 12 days. He spent five days of the week in prayerful concentration and only on Saturday and Sunday he went to the monastery to participate in the Divine Service and receive Holy Communion. The saint's clothing was poor and austere.
The holy hermit began to attract many who were seeking salvation with his example of high spiritual life. In a deserted place called Dry Lake, St. Michael founded a monastery for the brethren who had gathered around him and gave them a strict charter. When the monastery grew stronger, St. Michael went to even more distant lands and built a new monastery there. Soon, through the efforts of the holy abbot, the entire Kiminskaya Mountain was covered with monastic monasteries, where prayers for the whole world were tirelessly offered to the Throne of the Most High.
Around the year 953, the young man Abraham joined the brethren, who grew up under the guidance of St. Michael and received tonsure from him with the name Athanasius. Later, Saint Athanasius (commemorated on July 5/18) himself founded the famous Athos Lavra, the first communal monastery on the Holy Mountain. Saint Athanasius received great assistance in building the Lavra from Saint Michael’s nephew Nicephorus, later the Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Phocas (963–969), who met his uncle while visiting him. After fifty years of tireless monastic labors, Saint Michael Maleinos peacefully departed to the Lord in 962.
The icon is made by printing on a wooden board. Paints are mineral, do not fade with time. The thickness of the board is 2 cm. The board is covered with primer by hand. The image is covered with wax. Each icon has a metal mount on the back side so that you can hang the icon on the wall.
You can buy the icon in three sizes:
- 13 х 11 centimeters (5,1 x 4,3 inches)
- 19 х 16 centimeters (7,5 x 6,3 inches)
- 26 х 22 centimeters (10,2 x 8,7 inches)
Our icons are made by Orthodox craftsmen. You can read more about the technology here.
We hope it will be a good gift for you and your loved ones.
