Intercession of the Most Holy Virgin
Iconography: Intercession of the Holy Virgin
Date: XVI century. 16th century
Origin: From the Voskresensky Goritsky nuns’ convent, Kirillovsky district of the Novgorodskaya province (now village Goritsy in the Kirillovsky district, Vologodskaya region). The convent was founded in 1544 by princess Euphrosyne Staritskaya (monastic name – Eudocia).
Material: Wood, tempera
Dimensions: height 136 cm, width 112 cm
The intricate structure of the icon is composed of the harmonious mixture of the two Intercession iconographic types – Novgorod and Suzdal versions. Inside the temple which is symbolically depicted as three domes (following the Novgorod tradition) is shown the Mother of God surrounded by the hovering angels and holding the veil in Her hands according to the Suzdal tradition. To Her right and to Her left are standing the saints of all the levels of the hierarchy; in the lower row the praying people, among them the tsar with the tsarina and St. Andrew who draws his disciple Epiphanius’ attention to the Mother of God.Below the Mother of God on the pulpit is standing Venerable Roman, the sweet-singer and the miracle that happened to him. Following the Novgorod tradition the composition is divided into three vertical sections as if showing the cutaway view and at the same time the icon shows the façade of the temple as if situated in the background which is deep-rooted tradition of the Suzdal icons and later – the Moscow.
Was deposited in 1930.
Restoration: ЦГРМ, 1927, restorers – the group headed by Anisimov A.I.
Inv. №560/3. © Cherepovets Museum Association.
Bibliography: Куликова О.В. Древние лики Русского Севера. Из музейного собрания икон XIV-XIX веков города Череповца. М., 2009. С. 19, кат. № 35 (Илл. 36).
General view
Mother of God, Jesus Christ
Roman, the sweet-singer. Apparition of the Mother of God to Roman, the sweet-singer in his dream
Interceding saints
Interceding saints
Interceding saints, saint Andrew and Epiphanius
Interceding saints, tsar and tsarine