Russian Icons

An icon is an image of a holy person or event, created by an iconographer who follows the strict standards of the Orthodox Church. These unique artifacts of the Old Russian Orthodox Church - circa 17th and 18th Century, were excavated from the ruins of destroyed churches during The Great Purge or ... moreAn icon is an image of a holy person or event, created by an iconographer who follows the strict standards of the Orthodox Church. These unique artifacts of the Old Russian Orthodox Church - circa 17th and 18th Century, were excavated from the ruins of destroyed churches during The Great Purge or the Great Terror from 1936 to 1938. The pieces in this collection have religious significance as well as high antique - artistic value

The metal cast icons were of great importance in pre-Soviet Russia. In the 17th century, the powerful Russian Church split over the harsh and swift reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon. Millions of believers turned away from the official church to set up independent religious communities adhering to the Old Faith. Thereafter, the Old Believers became the foremost producers of cast icons, especially after Peter the Great prohibited the use of cast and carved religious icons both in churches and in the home in the 18th century. Metal icons were durable, easy to carry and resistant to damage. Therefore they became ubiquitous with the Old Believers who were forced to move around frequently, many of the smaller ones called traveling icons. They were hung over entrances to houses, stables and cattle barns, cast icons to protect the homeowners.

To the Orthodox believer, icons are considered to be a window or portal into the holy. The faithful pray with, or venerate, the icons. Neither the icons nor the Saint pictured are worshipped, but rather are seen as a “window” into the heavenly realm. Since the Orthodox Church considers icons to be primarily functional (sacred) objects, they are traditionally unsigned.



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