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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 -
The centerpiece represents shoulder-length depiction of saint Nicholas, above him there is Deesis. To his left, to his right and underneath are the Selected Saints. -
The icon represents the Mother of God enthroned keeping the Divine Child close to her. She is flanked by saints Nicholas and Clement. -
The figure of Sophia, the Wisdom of God with fiery-red face and wings, wearing a gold crown and fiery-golden vestment, is shown seated on the throne surrounded by symbolical figures of the Evangelists. Above it the angels hold a ceiling of stars. On either side of the throne stand the Mother of God and John the Baptist. On the borders are the figures of an angel and Sts. Antipas, Cosmos and Damian. -
The saint unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian are portrayed as middle-aged people with the same appearances – short hair, the receding hairline and small roundish beards. This type of faces was particularly widespread in the Russian icon-painting. While the icon is small in size, the saints’ images look majestic. Their slim elongated figures have classic outlines. In the delicate harmony of this work and meditative face with fine features and high foreheads one can find the influence of the Dionisius school. Yet, the icon has some properties distinguishing it from the 16th century Moscow icon-painting. Among them is the coldish palette, with prevailing thick and saturated emerald-green, olive-green and purple-brown shades on a light ochre background; dark shaded faces, contrast modeling of clothes with broad color highlights, expressive contours emphasizing heavy folds, three-dimensional figures and their free positioning in the space. By these features, the icon is kindred to some middle-Russian and Rostov icons of the first third of the 16th century based on the 16th century iconographic traditions. -
In the central section of the icon Jesus Christ is depicted waist-length. In His left hand he holds the Gospel Book and His right arm is raised in a gesture of blessing. On the raised flat borders of the icon panel are Sts.Cosmas and Damian. -
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was one of the most favorite and venerated saints in Medieval Russia. He protected and assisted people in all their good deeds, patronizing travelers, fishers, hunters and comforting all those in sorrow. The 15th century half-length icon depicts St. Nicholas wearing a clerical dress. His right hand is raised in the two-finger sign of blessing. In his left hand, hidden by the edge of a phelonion and omophorion, the saint is holding a closed Gospel book. A distinctive feature of the icon is images of selected saints beside an image of Nicholas the Wonderworker – the healers Cosmas and Damian, the holy martyrs Florus and Laurus, St. Blaise and archdeacon Stephan. -
Full-length depictions of Sts. Cosmas and Damian in prayer. -
Nicholas the Wonderworker, St., with the Deesis and the Selected Saints
The centerpiece shows the waist-length depiction of St. Nicholas. On the upper border of the icon is represented Deesis with the image of Savior Not Made by Hands in the centre. At the sides of the Savior are represented waist-length depictions of the Mother of God, John the Forerunner and archangels Michael and Gabriel. At the sides of the central image of Nicholas the Wonderworker are shown the half-figures of great forefathers Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian, apostles Peter and Paul , healers Cosmas and Damian. In the lower part of the centerpiece are the depictions of protomartyr archdeacon Stephen, great martyrs Parasceva, Catherine and Barbara and also martyr Menas. -
In the centerpiece is represented shoulder-length depiction of great martyress Parasceva.
