Nicholas the Wonderworker with selected saints

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.

Selected Saints: Nicholas the Wonderworker, archdeacon Stephen, priest-martyrs Blasius and Clement.

The icon depicts the full-length figures of the four saints: saint Nicholas, archdeacon Stephen, priest-martyrs Blasius and Clement, interceding with the image of Our Lady of the Sign. In the upper part of the composition to the right and to the left of the Mother of God are shown half-figures of martyresses Parasceva named “Friday” and Anastasia.

Archdeacon Stephen and Apostle Matthew

Apostle Matthew and archdeacon Stephen are depicted in frontal poses full-length standing on the earth decorated with flowers. In the upper part of the icon is shown the quadrant with the depiction of the Holy Trinity.

Archdeacon Stephen

The depiction of saint archdeacon Stephen holding an orarion and a censer in his hands.

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.