Tag: 19th century

The iconography of this icon is a variant of the Mother of God of Kykkotissa and is based on a miracle. In the 8th century, at the time of the iconoclasm of Emperor Leo III, a soldier attacked the icon with a sword, causing blood to flow from it. Full of remorse the solder fled to Mount Athos but the icon followed him across the water. Finding the icon on the beach, the soldier brought it to the main church of the Athos monasteries and the flow of blood was stemmed.
In thanks the monks raised their voices to sing the ‘Axion Esti’.

Size: 29 x 37 cm.

Along the top edge is written in Church Slavonic ‘The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ’.
The icon depicts various scenes relating to the birth that follow the late medieval Russian iconography. In the centre is the adoration of the magi from the East, holding in their hands their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The ox and the ass refer to Isaiah 1 verse 3.
In the top right hand corner are two angels, below them two shepherds playing the flute. In the bottom right hand corner the child is being washed, and in the bottom left corner is Joseph, listening to an old shepherd standing before him.

Size 28 x 35 cm.●

The holy Mandylion is a beloved representation in orthodox churches, the style is related to a “divine creation”-theme. As it doesn’t display the regular human representations. During Christ’s life on earth, the ill king Abgar of Edessa asked Christ to cure him. Christ did not travel to Edessa himself, but pressed a piece of cloth against his face. This cloth, showing an imprint of his face, was sent to the king. The cloth cured him of his illness

Size: 24 x 29 cm ●

This icon of the Trinitywas painted according to the New Testament. Lucas 22 verse 69, “But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”. Seated right is the Father, on a seraph throne. And left of him, Christ, holding the gospel book in his left hand and the Cross with his right. In the four corners, gospel symbols are pictured. Matthew as a winged human, Marcus as the lion, John as the eagle and Lucas as the bull.

Size: 27 x 35 cm.

The icon of the Mother of God of Vatoped, named ‘Joy’ or ‘Consolation’ depicts the Holy Virgin from the monastery of Vatoped on Mount Athos.
Similar icons can be found in the convent of Tavolzhank in Voronesh and the ‘Smolny Convent of the Resurrection’ in St. Petersburg.

Size 28 x 35 cm ●

The Flowering of Moldavia.
The name refers to Moldavia in Romania.
The icon refers to the apocryphal story of the choice of Joseph as the bridegroom of Mary by the ‘Miracle of the Rods’. It is very rare to find a depiction of this story.

Size: 28 x 35 cm

In the centre is the figure of Christ clothed in a dazzling white robe. He stands over the abyss of darkness, where the broken doors, locks and hinges are still visible. The first to be liberated from limbo by Christ are the forefathers and the Kings of the Old Testament who stand behind him, together with Eve. Finally, Christ pulls Adam out into the light of mercy..

Size: 28 x 35 cm.●

This icon has a strict geometrical structure, all the rings containing Church Slavonic inscriptions on a white background, referring to the figure depicted. In the middle ring is Christ Emmanuel, in the second ring four eyes, nose and mouth, ‘the all-seeing eye’, in the third ring the Virgin Orante and in the largest ring the seraphim and cherubim. The four corner rings contain images of the four evangelists, with texts in the rings referring to each of them. In the upper middle ring is God the Father, with the seraphim and cherubim in the outer ring.

Size: 27 x 35 cm. ●

The Arch Strategist
‘Who is as God’ reads the translation of Michael who, as a herald of the Apocalypse, weighs up the souls at the Last Judgment. ‘And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils’ (Revelation 18:1-2).

Size: 27 x 35 cm.