Descent into Hell. Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”. Miracle of St. George and the Dragon. Monogenes Yios

Four-part icon. In the upper left corner is represented the Descent of Christ into Hell with the righteous people marching to Heaven, above is shown the conversation of the Generous Robber with Elijah and Enoch in Paradise. In the upper right corner is the Mother of God “Life-Gicing spring”. The Mother of God with the Divine Child is depicted in the phial looking like a chalice, at their sides are the figures of the angels on the clouds. Around the quatrefoil are the suffering people drinking the water of the spring. In the lower left corner is the Miracle of St. George and the Dragon including the depiction of George on horseback slaying the dragon leashed by tsarevna Elisava and also the tsar and the court beyond the town walls. In the lower right corner is shown Monogenes Yios. The center depicts the Lord of Sabaoth in the glorious halo with the Holy Spirit looking like a dove on His bosom, below is Christ Emmanuel sitting on the cherubs, in the glorious halo being held by the two angels. At the sides of the Lord of Sabaoth are the sun and the moon, in the upper corners of the icon against the buildings are shown the figures of the Mother of God and the angel. In the center, between the two hills is depicted the composition “Do not mourn Me, Mother”. In the lower left corner is the figure of Christ on the Cross which is put above the figure of prostrate Satan, fettered by archangel Michael. To the right unfolds the march of Death. The Death sitting on the white apocalyptic beast with the quiver and the arrows behind its back mows down the sinners the bodies of which are being torn to pieces by the animals and the birds. Above is depicted the “Fiery” cherub with a sword.

Was deposited in 1934 from the chapel in the village of Khmelina of Cherepovetskiy district, Leningradskaya (now Vologodskaya) region.

Restoration: the All-Russian Art Scientific and Restoration Center named after I.E. Grabar, 2001-2003, restorer – Mironova L.A.

Inv. №926/3. © Cherepovets Museum Association.

Bibliography: Куликова О.В. Древние лики Русского Севера. Из музейного собрания икон XIV-XIX веков города Череповца. М., 2009. Кат. № 81 (Илл. 82). 

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  General view

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  Resurrection - Descent into Hell

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  Mother of God "Life-Giving Spring"

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  Miracle of St. George and the Dragon

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  Monogenes Yios

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  Monogenes Yios. A fragment

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  Monogenes Yios. A fragment

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  Monogenes Yios. A fragment