Ivan was born in1972 in Moscow, Russia. His father was a graphic artist. In 1987 he entered the Moscow School of Fine Arts named after the events of 1905, where he majored in restoration and preservation of easel paintings and tempera art.

In 1991 he obtained his diploma after completing an internship at the All Russia Scientific Research Institute of Art Restoration (Vsesouzni Nauchno Issledovatelski Institut Restavratsii – VNIIR) and graduated with a major in tempera art restoration.

In 1992 he was hired by the Epiphany Cathedral of Moscow where he worked on icon and mural restorations. During his tenure there he was also contracted by various churches in Moscow (Great Martyr Nikita Church, St. Nicolas in Tolmachi) and monasteries (Men’s Monastery of St. Tikhon of Kaluga) as well as private individuals for icon painting and gilding.

He was invited by the Orthodox Church in America to work at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary where he started teaching iconography in 2003. While working at the seminary he has also been fulfilling various icon orders for American Orthodox parishes.

In addition, Ivan works on restoring paintings that are subsequently auctioned at a premier auction house in New York City.