John the Theologian

Image of John the Theologian.

Apostle John the Baptist in silence

A half-length image of John the Baptist with an open gospel book in hands, behind his shoulder is an angel.

John the Theologian

The icon belongs to a special type of the images of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Baptist “in silence” which was widespread in the Russian iconography from the second half of the 16th century. Its distinctive feature is a gesture of the apostle’s hand holding one or two fingers to his the lips as the symbol of silence. On the icon is the symbol of the Evangelist – the eagle holding an inkstand in his beak. With his left hand the saint holds the Gospel showing the first words of the Gospel of John (“В начале // бе Слова // и Слово // бе Б(о)гу // и Б(о) гъ //бе Слова // сеи бе и // скони с // в[с]я темъ // быша и // безъ него”.) In the right margin of the icon is the full-length figure of St. Pelagia.

Saint John the Theologian in silence

The apostle is depicted shoulder-length and without any additional attributes or heroes. His right hand is put on his mouth, his left hand is hidden.

John the Theologian, St., in Silence

Probably is one of the tsar’s donations. John the Theologian is shown sitting with the open Gospel book on his lap. His right hand is raised up to his mouth. Behind his shoulder is depicted an angel, to the left is shown an eagle (symbol of the evangelist).

John the Theologian in Silence

John the Theologian is shown sitting with an open Gospel on his lap. His right hand is held at his lips. Behind his shoulder is the figure of an angel. Depictions of a lion – the symbol of Mark the Evangelist and an eagle as the symbol of John the Evangelist are very uncommon for this icon type.