Nicholas the Wonderworker

Iconography:  Deisus row, George, St., Basil the Great, Boris, St. Prince Martyr (baptized as Roman), Gleb, St. Prince Martyr (baptized as David), Demetreus of Thessaloniki, the Great Martyr, Hypatius, St., John the Chrysostom, St., Florus, St., Laurus, St., Cyril of Alexandria, St., Athanasius the Great, St., Cosmas of Asia Minor, the Unmercenary, Damian of Asia Minor, the Unmercenary , Gregory the Theologian, St., Nicholas (lap)

Date: XIII century.

Icon-painter: Petrov, Aleksa

Origin: From the Church of St. Nicholas at Lipna, near Novgorod.

Material: Wood, tempera

Dimensions:  height 184 cm, width 130 cm

The icon depicts a half-length figure of Saint Nicholas in a benedictory position, wearing full bishop’s toggery, with Gospel in his hand. He is surrounded by selected saints in the upper and side borders of the icon. In the upper part is a half-length apostle row, with the Archangels Michael and Gabriel at the head, who stand on both sides of the prepared throne. On the side borders, in pairs, from top downward are the Figures of the saints Basil the Great and George the Theologian, John the Chrysostom and Hipatius of Gangra, Cyrill and Athanasius of Alexandria and saint princes, passion-bearers Boris and Gleb, the Martyrs George and St. Demetrius of Solun, Florus and Laurus.

The saints’ row is tailed by half-figures of the healers Cosmas and Damian in the lower parts of the icon.

Inv. № 7578. © Novgorod State United Museum

Bibliography:

Иконы Великого Новгорода XI- начала XVI веков. Авторы проекта Л.В. Нерсесян и С.В.Обух. М. Северный паломник. 2008. № 4.

  • General view
  • The face of St. Nicholas
  • Christ
  • The Mother of God
  • St. John the Chrysostom
  • St. Hipatius of Gangra
  • St. Cyril of Alexandria
  • Athanasius of Alexandria
  • The martyr’s figure
  • The martyr’s figure
  • A paired image of the praying apostles
  • Left half-figure of the praying archangel
  • Right half -figure of the praying archangel
  • A paired image of the praying apostles