Holy Trinity Zyrianskaya, The

Iconography:  Hospitality of Abraham’s (The Old Testament Trinity)

Date: XIV century. The end of the 14th c.

Iconographic school/art center:  The Vologda school

Origin: From the Church of the Holy Trinity, Vozhem pogost, Yarensky uezd, the Vologdla gubernia. From the Church of the Ressurection, Vologda.

Material: Wood, canvas, levkas, tempera

Dimensions:  height 119,5 cm, width 74,5 cm

The icon of the Holy Trinity Zyrianskaya is one of the few surviving evidences of the missionary activity by St. Stephan, bishop of Perm (1383—1396), who converted to Orthodox Christianity paganish Komi-Zyrian people and created Zyrian writing system. Against a white background in the bottom part of the central part is the most ancient inscription written in Perm (Zyrian) language. It is a fragment of the Book of Genesis about the presentation of the Lord to forefather Abraham by the oaks of Mamre. Against each angel is an inscription in Zyrian language: Son (to the left of the viewer), Father (in the center) and Spirit (to the right). Such inscriptions are unique for the Trinity icons.

Inv. NO ВОКМ 2780 © Vologda State Museum of History, Architecture and Art


  • General view
  • The Holy Trinity