Description

Feast Day/Commemorated: November 30

Born in San Francisco in 1863 to Serbian immigrants, St. Sebastian (Dabovich) became the first American-born Orthodox priest. After pursuing rigorous theological studies at the academies of Kiev and St. Petersburg, he was tonsured as a monk and ordained a hierodeacon in 1887. Upon returning to the United States, he was ordained a hieromonk in 1892, beginning a prolific ministry that spanned from the Pacific Northwest to Minneapolis. In 1894, he established Saint Savva of Serbia in Jackson, California, marking the foundation of the first Serbian Orthodox parish in America.

His career was defined by an extraordinary missionary zeal and administrative leadership under notable figures like the future Patriarch St. Tikhon. Throughout his life, St. Sebastian was a tireless traveler, crossing the Atlantic fifteen times and the Pacific nine times to facilitate missions in Russia, Serbia, and even Japan. By 1905, he was appointed Dean of Serbian churches and elevated to the rank of Archimandrite, spearheading the Serbian Mission within the North American diocese while preaching fluently in English, Serbian, and Russian.

In 1910, Father Sebastian transitioned his service to his ancestral homeland, serving as a dedicated chaplain for the Serbian Army during the Balkan Wars and World War I. He eventually retired to the Žiča Monastery in Serbia, where he reposed in 1940 under the spiritual care of St. Nikolai Velimirovich. His legacy came full circle in 2007 when his relics were returned to the church he founded in Jackson; he was formally canonized as a saint by the Serbian Orthodox Church in 2015, cementing his status as the "Apostle of Jackson."

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):

Theophany Works Icons are handcrafted reproductions, made with prayer and a desire for excellence. Choose from our standard mounted option on Museum Quality Paper or you may choose to upgrade to Museum Quality Matte Canvas. Both offer a rich print with saturated coloration and are finished with our high-grade UV protection sealant offering a subtle tactile texture that gives our icons a truly authentic feel. Additionally, each Maple-shelled panel is prepared with a painted chamfered front edge as well as a round-over on the back edge to give a shadow box effect when hung on the wall. Our Icons come standard with a sliding key-hole slot on the back which allows for balanced hanging. These beautiful American-made reproductions will be a beloved addition to any home or parish at the fraction of the cost of a hand painted icon.

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