Known in Western Christianity as “John the Baptist” he is commonly called “John the Forerunner” in Eastern Orthodoxy. In the New Testament, he was the forerunner of Christ’s earthly ministry and, in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, was also the precursor of Christ’s descent into Hades. This example was most likely part of a church altar setting and placed on a stand at the base of a large icon depicting Saint John. The accomplished realistic style of carving is testimony to the strong Western influence, which began to sweep Russia in the 17th century.
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