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Russian Icons :
Russian Icons : Russian Orthodox Icon Depicting St. Nicholas
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Russian Orthodox Icon Depicting St. Nicholas - CK.0588
Origin: Russia
Circa: 19
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
7" (17.8cm) high
x 5.5" (14.0cm) wide
Collection: Russian Icons
Style: Russian Orthodox
Medium: Paint on Wood
$9,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
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Inseparable from the liturgical tradition,
religious art is seen by Orthodox Christians as
a form of pictorial confession of faith and a
channel of religious experience. Because the
icons provide direct personal contact with the
holy persons represented on them, these
images were objects of veneration, in either a
public or private setting, and were even
believed to have the ability to heal.
Saint Nicholas, who lived in the 4th Century,
is the patron saint of Russia, as well as
children, scholars, virgins, sailors, and
merchants. The accounts of his life are
confused and historically unconfirmed.
According to tradition, he was a native of
Patara, formerly a city in the ancient district of
Lycia, Asia Minor. Nicholas entered the nearby
monastery of Sion and subsequently became
archbishop of the metropolitan church in Myra,
Lycia. At the end of the 11th century some
Italian merchants transported his remains
from Myra to Bari, Italy, where his tomb is
now a shrine. Legend tells of his surreptitious
gifts to the three daughters of a poor man,
who, unable to give them dowries, was about
to abandon them to prostitution. From this
tale has grown the custom of secret gifts on
the Eve of Saint Nicholas. Today, he is
traditionally associated with modern Christmas
celebrations.
- (CK.0588)
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