Venerable (Monastic)16th century

Venerable Ananias the Iconographer

16th century; repose variously dated 1521, 1561, or 1581

Also known as Ananias of Novgorod

A monk of the Antoniev monastery at Novgorod, gifted in the painting of icons, who in twenty-six years never once left the monastery, serving God in humility and his art.

June 17New Calendar

Feast Day

June 30Old Calendar

Also commemorated

June 29NewJuly 12Old

Suggest a correction Contribute

Icon galleryBrowse icons and imagery elsewhere

Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Ananias the Iconographer of Novgorod

Life

Ananias the Iconographer was a monk of the Antoniev Monastery (the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos) at Novgorod, where he was tonsured. He is remembered for a gift for painting icons, which he exercised throughout his monastic life, producing images of many holy wonderworkers.

His life is marked above all by an austere stability: fulfilling a monastic vow, he did not once leave the monastery walls for the whole of his monastic life. The length of this enclosure is variously given in the sources as twenty-six or thirty-three years.

He is commemorated on June 17, and also on the third Sunday after Pentecost as one of the Synaxis of Novgorod Saints. The OCA Synaxarion additionally notes a commemoration on June 29.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) Having divinely armed yourself with purity of soul
and firmly grasping unceasing prayer as a spear, you slew the hordes of demons.
Therefore, we beseech you, O Father Ananias:
“Always intercede for those who honor you.”

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 8

In you, O Father, was preserved with exactness what was according to the image;
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away;
but to care for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore, O Venerable Ananias, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide

1117Founding of the Antoniev MonasterySaint Anthony of Rome establishes the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos on the Volkhov River at Novgorod, where Ananias would later be tonsured.
16th centuryMonastic life and iconographyAnanias is tonsured at the Antoniev Monastery and paints icons of many holy wonderworkers, never once leaving the monastery walls in fulfillment of a monastic vow.
1521 / 1561 / 1581ReposeAnanias reposes; the year is variously recorded as 1521, 1561, or 1581, and his relics are buried in a hidden place at the monastery.

Contributions & Legacy

4 contributionsReadHide

Monastic Life and Iconography

Ananias was born in Russia and received the monastic tonsure at the Antoniev Monastery at Novgorod, founded by Saint Anthony the Roman. God endowed him with a gift for the painting of icons, and he devoted this talent to the glory of the Lord, painting icons of many holy wonderworkers.

His monastic discipline was notably strict. According to the sources, in fulfillment of a monastic vow he never once went outside the monastery walls during his years there. The duration of this enclosure is recorded differently across the accounts, with some giving twenty-six years and others thirty-three.

The Antoniev Monastery

The Antoniev Monastery, dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos, was established in 1117 by Saint Anthony of Rome on the Volkhov River at Novgorod. By tradition, Anthony arrived in Novgorod miraculously upon a rock; he was consecrated hegumen in 1131 by Archbishop Nifont, and reposed on August 3, 1147, venerated as a saint from 1597.

The monastery's Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God (1117–1119) is one of the few three-domed churches and surviving twelfth-century buildings in Russia, and the house rivaled the Yuriev Monastery as medieval Novgorod's most important religious institution. During the massacre of Novgorod under Ivan IV, the hegumen and monks of the monastery were killed.

Relics & Shrines

His relics are buried in a hidden place at the monastery.

Sources and Dating

The historical records do not agree on the year of his repose: some give 1521, others 1561, and others 1581. His feast on the Julian calendar falls on June 30, corresponding to June 17 on the New Style calendar.

His life and labors are documented chiefly within the accounts of the miracles of Venerable Anthony the Roman, the founder of his monastery; Wikipedia lists no separate dedicated article for him.

Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Monastic founder of the Antoniev Monastery at Novgorod, where he was tonsured and labored.

Venerable Anthonythe Roman of Novgorod

Browse similar saints by calling and place.

More Iconographers18 More Russia560 More Slavic Saints752 More Monastics1353

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints