Hand painted icon of Saint Nicephorus the Leper, made in Mount Athos, on natural wood with two braids on its back side. The icon is delivered in a wooden box.
Short life of Saint Nicephorus the Leper
Saint Nikephoros the Leper, born Nikolaos Tzanakakis, was born in Crete. From an early age, he experienced great hardship, as he lost both of his parents and was forced to face life on his own. Despite these difficulties, those who knew him described him as a gentle, kind, and hardworking person. In his adolescence, he was afflicted with leprosy, a condition that compelled him to leave his homeland and live in exile, passing through Alexandria and later the island of Chios. There he encountered Saint Anthimos, and through this spiritual relationship, his life was profoundly transformed. He embraced the monastic life, taking the name Nikephoros, and lived henceforth in prayer, patience, and complete trust in God. Later, he was transferred to Athens, where he lived in a facility for people suffering from leprosy. Although his illness caused him great physical suffering, he did not lose his inner peace. On the contrary, he became for many a living example of spiritual strength, humility, and unwavering faith. Saint Nikephoros reposed in the Lord in 1964. The Orthodox Church commemorates his memory on 4 January.
