Intercession of the Holy Virgin
Iconography: Intercession of the Holy Virgin
Date: XV century. Last quarter of the 15th century
Iconographic school/art center: Moscow school (?)
Origin: From the Pokrov monastery in Suzdal.
Material: Wood, canvas, levkas, tempera
Dimensions: height 144 cm, width 106 cm
The center of the icon shows the Mother of God under the ciborium holding a shroud. She stands against the architectural background showing the church of Blachernae (basilica with the tower) and the imperial palace. To the right and to the left of the Holy Virgin are two groups of the angels and the saints. In the right group are depicted John the Baptist and John the Theologian who appeared in the church of Blachernae together with the Mother of God. In the center of the lower part of the icon on the amvon is depicted renowned Byzantine hymnographer of the 6th century, reverend Romanus the Melodist with the unfolded scroll. The amvon is surrounded by young men in the deacon sticharions. To the right are represented the witnesses of the wonder – Andrew the Fool-for-Christ and his disciple Epiphaneus and to the left are conventionalized figures of the emperor, the deacon and the monk.
General view