Russische Iconen
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.●
According to tradition, the first icon of this type was painted by Saint Luke. A typical feature of this icon is the way the Christ Child sits on the left arm of his mother, turning his gaze away from her. The child presents an opened scroll showing an excerpt from Luke 4 verse 18 or from Isaiah 61 verse 1. The icon takes its name from the Kykkos monastery on Cyprus. The festival for this icon is celebrated on 26 December.
Size: 28 x 35 cm.
Saint George, on a rearing horse, brandishes his lance to slay the dragon lying on the ground.
Size: 28 x 35 cm.●
The Mother of God Panhagia in this icon is one of the earliest pictures of Mary. The icon shows Mary in Orans pose (praying, with raised hands). In front of Mary, Jesus also has his hands outstretched. This ancient icon originates from Constantinople, from the then district of Blachernitissa. To the left and right at the top of the icon are the angels Michael and Gabriel respectively.
Size: 24 x 42 cm.●
A Western theme, which was adopted in the 17th century by the Eastern Orthodox Church. It depicts the words of the old Simon who spoke to the Mother of God when she presented her son in the temple: ‘Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also’ (Luke 2:35). Seven white swords pierce her, representing the seven sorrows of Mary: the flight into Egypt, the prophecy in the temple, the twelve-year old Christ in the temple, the Crucifixion, the descent from the Cross, the burial, as well as the piercing of her soul.
Size: 27 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. ●
This Saint is commemorated in Orthodox countries on 28 October. She is the patron of housewives, merchants, thieves and lawyers, because Fridays are market days for women, when stealing is most prevalent and summary justice has to be handed down to the thieves. Since she fought for the purity of the faith, she can be depicted with a white hood or veil, which can be seen here. She was beheaded for her faith in the year 140.
Size: 24 x 28 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.
The table at which Abraham seats his guests is depicted as a diagonal from bottom right to top left. The angel in the top left-hand corner sits in order of rank in a raised position and is identified as Jesus Christ by the nimbus with the letters O, W, N (I Am that I Am) and Christ’s name IC XC. Abraham offers him the head of the sacrificial lamb on an open platter, Sarah kneels and presents him with a golden cask. Abraham’s tent is depicted more as a palace or a temple.
Size: 27 x 35 cm. ●