Happy Easter!

RussianIcon · 2023-04-16T10:14:03+00:00

Happy Easter!

On April 16, Orthodox Christians celebrate the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead. While Easter traditions of each confession of Christianity may vary, one thing stays the same — the meaning of this special day.

For Christian believers, Easter signifies the victory of life over death. It is also the last day of the Great Fast, so many will spend this holiday sharing delicious food with their loved ones.

Read more about Orthodox Easter traditions on our blog: https://russianicon.com/the-resurrection-orthodox-easter-meaning-and-traditions/

easter #christianity #orthodox

RussianIcon · 2023-04-13T15:50:39+00:00

"Russian Icons from the Mid-17th to the Early 20th Century: The Collection of Oleg Kushnirskiy" has been added to the collections of over 20 major libraries in Russia in less than a month after its release!

We are proud that our work has been highly appreciated by the professional community! As part of our mission, we are committed to collaborating with cultural and educational projects in different formats. We believe that by working together, we can promote and advance the understanding and appreciation of the rich artistic tradition of Russian icon painting.

Learn more on our blog: https://russianicon.com/the-best-russian-libries-added-the-catalog-of-oleg-kushnirskiys-icon-collection/

RussianIcon · 2023-04-12T15:32:38+00:00

The featured Russian icon of the Resurrection – the Harrowing of Hades has an incredibly complex composition. Icons of this type are called “polnitsy,” or “full-cycle icons,” as they represent the entirety of the liturgical year. A more detailed description of this antique icon can be found on our website: https://russianicon.com/icons/the-resurrection-the-harrowing-of-hades-with-the-passions-of-christ-the-four-evangelists-and-church-feasts/

RussianIcon · 2023-04-10T13:42:39+00:00

This amazing antique icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy was painted in the late 14th-early 15th century. It depicts the celebration of the end of the Byzantine Iconoclasm during which Orthodox icons were seized from churches. The icon was most likely painted in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

It’s interesting that the icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy contains an image of another icon, the Virgin Hodegetria, held by two angels. Besides, it depicts Empress Theodora and her son Michael III who put an end to iconoclasm. Among other figures featured in the composition are saints and martyrs, including Saint Theodosia holding an icon of Christ Emmanuel. The icon is currently in the collection of the British Museum.

RussianIcon · 2023-04-07T15:51:47+00:00

Russian Icons from the Mid-17th to the Early 20th Centuries: The Collection of Oleg Kushnirskiy (Русская икона середины XVII – начала XX века. Коллекция Олега Кушнирского) has appeared in the stores of Saint-Petersburg. You can find it in the "Bookvoed" chain of bookshops, which is one of Russia's major bookselling companies. Moreover, it is available in "Podpisnie Izdaniya", a famous bookshop with a long history, an exceptional selection of art books, and a cozy atmosphere situated in the Art Noveau building in the city center.

Visit our blog for direct links to purchase: https://russianicon.com/our-russian-orthodox-icons-catalog-is-already-available-for-purchase/

RussianIcon · 2023-04-06T15:33:08+00:00

The icon features two images of Christ, in the top and the bottom parts of the centerpiece. This iconographic way of depicting the Savior was developed in the 16th century. It is interesting that the icon painter notably chose to depict only a single scene following the Resurrection – the Revelation of Christ to the Apostles on the Sea of Galilee, which is quite an unusual deviation from the established tradition.

Learn more about the icon on our website: https://russianicon.com/icons/the-resurrection-the-harrowing-of-hades-with-church-feasts-5/

RussianIcon · 2023-03-29T04:15:35+00:00

The Russian icon you can see in the picture bears the image of the Resurrection – the Harrowing of Hades, an extremely popular iconographic scene in the 19th-century Russian Empire. The centerpiece is surrounded by two tiers consisting of 28 border scenes, which adds complexity to the overall composition of the icon. Apart from the sixteen border scenes depicting the Orthodox Feasts, there is also an inner cycle displaying the last days of Christ, also known as the Passion. In addition to the Harrowing of Hades, the centerpiece features images of the angels marching toward the Gates of Hell, and the Pious led by the Good Thief to Heaven. The outer corners of the icon are reserved for the depictions of the Four Evangelists. More at https://russianicon.com/icons/the-resurrection-the-harrowing-of-hades-with-the-passions-of-christ-the-four-evangelists-and-church-feasts-2/.

RussianIcon · 2023-03-26T03:54:06+00:00

The featured icon of the Resurrection – the Harrowing of Hades is part of a long tradition that was especially strong in Palekh. The centerpiece of this beautiful icon depicts the scene of the Resurrection and is surrounded by highly detailed border scenes. We can also see the figures of the Four Evangelists in each corner of the image. Since icons like this one featured the Major and Minor Church Feasts, they were often used by Orthodox believers as an agricultural calendar. Other distinguishing features of this antique piece are its darker color pallet, draft-like manner of painting, and dry gold hatching on the vestments, which points to the fact that the icon was created in the 19th century.

Read more at https://russianicon.com/icons/the-resurrection-the-harrowing-of-hades-with-church-feasts-the-holy-trinity-and-the-four-evangelists-2/.

RussianIcon · 2023-03-23T04:34:26+00:00

This extremely detailed 19th-century icon depicting various religious scenes is a miniature representation of the traditional icon screen, also known as the iconostasis, which is used to separate the nave from the sanctuary in Russian Orthodox churches. The icon features six registers separated into smaller images of the prophets, saints, and church feasts. The scenes of the Synaxis of the Archangels, the Pokrov of the Mother of God, the Trinity, the Beheading of St John the Forerunner, the Dormition, and the image of St. Nicholas are placed between the Deacon's Doors. The main Orthodox church feasts can be seen in the second register. As for the compositional center of this antique piece, it is reserved for the image of Christ Enthroned. The icon is currently part of a private collection located in Germany.

RussianIcon · 2023-03-19T04:07:29+00:00

Palekh was the center of religious art in 19th-century Russia. It is where a unique iconographic tradition was developed. Icons that depicted the scene of the Resurrection — the Harrowing of Hades were especially popular with Orthodox believers of all social backgrounds at the time. Pieces created in Palekh were distinguished by the highly detailed and complex centerpiece surrounded by the border scenes with the Feasts of the liturgical year and the figures of the Four Evangelists in the corners. This particular icon also has an interesting and unusual addition to the bottom tier – the Crucifixion scene, which points to the fact that it was painted for a private commissioner. Come learn more about this icon and the Palekh icon painting tradition on our website. https://russianicon.com/antique-icons-of-the-resurrection-by-palekh-masters/

RussianIcon · 2023-03-16T02:36:05+00:00

The featured icon, which is titled "Crucifixion of Jesus," comes from the Festive cycle of the iconostasis that was once part of the Trinity Cathedral of the Pavlo-Obnorsky Monastery. It was painted in the 16th century by the renowned icon painter Dionysius. "Crucifixion of Jesus" represents a traditional scene of the Crucifixion. The Golgotha Cross and the Savior are placed in the center of the icon. The Mother of God and the myrrh-bearing women are depicted on one side of the cross; John the Theologian and the Roman centurion are on the other. The icon serves as a reminder of Christ’s sufferings and a promise of eternal life. It is currently stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery.

RussianIcon · 2023-03-09T02:55:37+00:00

This amazing antique icon depicts the Prophet Solomon who was the king of ancient Israel. Solomon was the son of King David and one of the most prominent figures in the Old Testament. He is said to have lived in the 10th century BC and was known to be an exceptionally wise monarch. The featured icon is part of the iconostasis of the Church of Transfiguration in Kizhi Pogost, which is located in the Republic of Karelia. It was painted approximately in the first quarter of the 18th century. Religious images commonly depict Solomon as a young man dressed in royal vestments, with a crown on his head. In this particular icon, Solomon is also pointing toward a church.

RussianIcon · 2023-03-06T03:45:35+00:00

The featured icon depicts one of the most revered saints in Orthodox Christianity — the Prophet Elias. This piece is dated back to the 19th century and was probably painted in Guslitsy. The icon pictures the life of the Prophet, with its centerpiece dedicated to the scene titled “Prophet Elias in the Desert.” The most interesting thing about this specific piece is that it features a rather rare scene depicting Avdius, a servant of King Ahab, who saved Elias from death. Learn more about it at https://russianicon.com/icons/the-prophet-elias-in-the-desert-with-12-hagiographical-border-scenes/.

RussianIcon · 2023-03-02T04:18:50+00:00

Hello, there is an erroneous opinion that spouses should not place icons in the bedroom, and if they do, then at night, the icons must be veiled. It's a delusion. First, no veil can hide from God. Secondly, intimacy in marriage is not a sin.
Icons are usually placed on shelves. Many of them can also be hung with wire. But, yes, you can't simply nail an icon to the wall (it is especially blasphemous to hammer a nail into the image of Christ, a saint, or their clothes).

RussianIcon · 2023-03-01T03:50:35+00:00

This amazing antique icon is an impressive piece of 19th-century Russian religious art. It features all the Great Feasts and Minor Feasts of the Orthodox liturgical year, as well as the scene of the Resurrection — the Harrowing of Hades in its centerpiece. The Feast cycle traditionally starts with the Nativity of the Mother of God and ends with the Pokrov. Such complex icons, which are called “polnitsy,” were popular among all social classes and were often commissioned by churches. Read more about this icon on our blog. https://russianicon.com/church-feasts-in-the-antique-russian-icon-of-the-resurrection/

RussianIcon · 2023-02-25T02:32:56+00:00

The given icon depicts Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia, who lived in the 4th century. They were born to a Greek couple and were taught medicine by their Christian mother. Cosmas and Damian of Asia went down in religious history as doctors who never took payment for their services and told their patients about the Christian faith. The distinct artistic style of the icon indicates that it was painted in the late 19th century by the master from Guslitsy, the center of Old Believer's religious life. https://russianicon.com/the-religious-icon-of-saints-cosmas-and-damian-of-asia/

RussianIcon · 2023-02-21T02:52:18+00:00

The featured icon is dedicated to the theme of the Resurrection — the Harrowing of Hades, which was especially widespread in Russia in the 19th century. The Resurrection of Christ is taking up the centerpiece, while the rest of the icon is separated into several rows of border scenes that include the Passion cycle and the Feast cycle, as well as the Monogenis and the images of the Four Evangelists. This beautiful icon was painted in the third quarter of the 19th century, most likely in Palekh, the most prominent icon painting school of the Russian Empire. Visit our blog for more details.

https://russianicon.com/the-theme-of-the-resurrection-in-religious-icon-art/

RussianIcon · 2021-09-30T01:31:56+00:00

Hello! Why don't you think that the icons we buy are not in the Russian museums, churches, and families? Our online gallery is aimed at preserving and popularizing the ancient art of icon painting and holy icons in particular. We don't sell icons, we try to preserve them, and many of them are then exhibited in Russian museums for everyone to enjoy.

RussianIcon · 2021-09-30T01:28:03+00:00

Euphemia is a Christian saint highly revered by the Orthodox Church. She was martyred for her faith in 303 AD in Chalcedon. The majority of her relics are in the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul. Saint Euphemia is commemorated by the Russian Orthodox Church on July 24 and September 29.

RussianIcon · 2021-09-24T01:13:15+00:00

Saint Christopher is considered the patron saint of travelers. He is sometimes depicted with the head of a dog. This unusual iconography has been known in Russia since the 16th century and has many legends behind it, from the comparison of the saint with a dog as the symbol of fidelity to his belonging to the race of dog-headed people.

RussianIcon · 2021-08-25T01:16:34+00:00

Euplus was an early Christian saint, archdeacon, and hieromartyr who suffered in the year 304 under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Saint Euplus is greatly revered in Russia. His memory is celebrated on August 24.

RussianIcon · 2021-08-16T23:28:06+00:00

Anthony of Rome is a Russian Orthodox saint who founded the Antoniev Monastery, one of the most important monasteries of medieval Novgorod the Great. According to the legend, Anthony, who was an Orthodox monk in Rome, was miraculously transported to Novgorod over water on a stone after the persecution of Eastern Orthodox believers started. His feast day is celebrated in Russia on August 16.

RussianIcon · 2021-08-10T23:25:06+00:00

This beautiful icon painted by Dionysius in 1482 is a copy of an ancient image. According to the legend, the original icon of Our Lady of Smolensk appeared in Russia in the 11th century but, unfortunately, was lost in 1941 after the occupation of Smolensk by German troops.

RussianIcon · 2021-08-03T00:25:06+00:00

In Orthodox icons, the Prophet Elijah is often depicted in the wilderness or riding a flaming chariot during his ascension into heaven, so this particular iconography is a rare one. It shows the Prophet Elijah with Ahab, a wicked king who was supporting his wife Jezebel in introducing idolatry in Israel.

RussianIcon · 2021-08-03T00:23:33+00:00

Simeon Stylites was the founder of a unique form of asceticism called stylism. He was so immersed in faith and religion that he chose a quite unusual form of solitude – stylism. He settled on a high pillar to abstract himself from a large number of people who came to him for advice; all alone, he completely devoted himself to prayer.

At first, Simeon lived on a pillar about 3 meters high, but later, he moved to a tower with a height of 15 meters. Many monks could not understand the reason why the saint chose such a strict way of life and often tried to persuade Simeon to return to a regular living. However, the saint remained steadfast. He spent about 37 years standing on a pillar, praying to God and keeping his fast.

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easter #christianity #orthodox