Searching for an Icon

[Boreas]

Hello all,

I could use some help tracking down an icon of St. John of Capistrano.

I am intending on purchasing icons for my 5th Grade class, and one of the student’s patrons is the above-mentioned St. John. I had never heard of him before, and no search has born fruit thus far.

Is it possible to request that an icon be written for a saint, or does it not work that way?

Thanks!

 

[newcalling]

Unless someone else here has a more direct source, you might try calling Mission San Juan Capistrano in California, or at least visiting their website. Since he is their patron they will likely be able to help you find one, and might even have some for sale.

 

[Isca]

This website sells prayer cards depicting St John of Capistrano:
catholicprayercards.org/Holy_cards_of_Male_Saints/saint-john-of-capistrano-prayer-card.html

 

[Boreas]

Great, thank you for the helpful leads, everyone.

An additional question: I have been able to find an icon written in an Orthodox Monastery that has yet to be written in Roman Catholicism. Is that acceptable? Are the saints that are honored in Orthodoxy valid saints in Roman Catholicism?

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Hello all,

I could use some help tracking down an icon of St. John of Capistrano.

I am intending on purchasing icons for my 5th Grade class, and one of the student’s patrons is the above-mentioned St. John. I had never heard of him before, and no search has born fruit thus far.

Is it possible to request that an icon be written for a saint, or does it not work that way?

Thanks!

So nice to hear that you are considering icons as a gift for your young students, particularly at that age / grade level!

Your search thus far has likely yielded little positive results, as St. John of Capistrano is not typically venerated in the Eastern and Oriental traditions - Catholic and Orthodox. As a post-schism saint, he is likely not included in Orthodox martyrologies.

A word of caution - any icon you may find via the internet would likely be from sources or produced in a manner that would be considered less than authentic / traditional.

It is possible to request an icon be written, and that is commonly done. While Eastern Catholics might commission an Orthodox iconographer with little hesitation, a request to write an icon of a saint not recognized by the respective iconographer’s particular Church would likely be refused. An Eastern Catholic iconographer could be approached, and they may even find it to be a challenging commission, as research would have to be done in order to write the icon in accordance with traditional standards.

Commissioned icons could be pricey, though …

 

[ByzCathCantor]

I have been able to find an icon written in an Orthodox Monastery that has yet to be written in Roman Catholicism.

Of St John of Capistrano?

Are the saints that are honored in Orthodoxy valid saints in Roman Catholicism?

Pre-schism, yes. Post-schism, depends (but unlikely, especially the more modern the saint) …

 

[Boreas]

Of St John of Capistrano?

Pre-schism, yes. Post-schism, depends (but unlikely, especially the more modern the saint) …

I’m sorry, I should have been more clear. I have found an icon of a St. Sophia (one of my students’ name is Sophia). Oddly enough, there are no recognized St. Sophia’s in the Catholic Church (yet).

Thank for your post above as well! Very helpful.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

I’m sorry, I should have been more clear. I have found an icon of a St. Sophia (one of my students’ name is Sophia). Oddly enough, there are no recognized St. Sophia’s in the Catholic Church (yet).

St Sophia is indeed a saint of the Catholic Church as well, but may be spelled Sofia in the Roman Martyrology. I’ve seen many St. Sophia medals in Catholic gift shops, as well.

The icon you found is likely of the same same, and may be entitled St Sophia the Martyr.

BTW - some of the members of CAF are parishioners of St Sophia Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in The Colony, TX (Dallas / Ft Worth area).

That said, getting icons of the saints after whom the children were named is a great idea and quite a traditional gift.