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ere Mitrophan is depicted in the attire of Bishop. He delivers a blessing with his right hand, and in his left hand he holds a bishop’s staff (crosier). Around his neck is a jeweled panagia and he also wears the great Skema, a sign of his high monastic attainment. At the upper left corner is Christ who blesses Mitrophan. Born in 1623 in the province of Vladimir, Mitrophan became a married village priest until he was widowed at the age of 39. He then entered the Zolotinsk-Dormition monastery near Suzdal, where he was soon tonsured. Mitrophan’s relationship with the Imperial family began with Tsar Feodor. He was made Bishop just two weeks before Feodor’s death and later participated in the double coronation of Tsar Ivan and Tsar Peter. A deep friendship developed between the youthful Tsar Peter and the aging hierarch as the young Peter spent long periods of time in Vornezh overseeing the building of his fledgling navy. The Vornezh Episcopal residence became a haven for the poor and homeless and Mitrophan made frequent visits to hospitals and prisons. The combined effect of his actions, his inspirational orthodox preaching and his prayers renewed the strength of the church among his flock. Mitrophan died on November 23, 1703. Tsar Peter the Great was among those who bore the coffin to its resting place. Miracles attributable to the Saint’s intercession and the discovery in 1831 of the incorrupt condition of his relics were reported to the Holy Synod, which prepared for Saint Mitrophan’s official glorification on August 6, 1832. The inscription along the lower margin identifies the subject as: “The Most Reverend Mitrophan First Bishop of Vornezh.”
 

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55-Russian Icon
Saints Kosmas and Damian
1898
Egg tempera, gold leaf on wood panel
14" x 12"
James and Tatiana Jackson Collection

his icon is referred to as a presentation icon, as it was commissioned as a gift to be presented and is identified as such along the lower border. The icon depicts Saints Kosmas (left) and Damian (right) below an icon of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God. The two saints were twin brothers who lived in Asia and were martyred in the 3rd century. The title inscribed above their head includes the distinctive term bezsrebrennik, meaning literally “without silver,” because they accepted no money in payment for their services. They each hold a medicine box, and are invoked for aid in studies. A dedication is inscribed within the cartouche along the lower border which reads, “To Protoyerey of the Transfiguration Temple in the city of Galich, instructor Olegont Ivanovich Rozov, in memory of his 25th anniversary of religious service from former student Georgiy Ivanovich Babushkin on the 1st day of November in the year 1882.” (November 1st is the feast day the two Saints). Also inscribed below the two Saints, although in miniature, is the following: “This icon was painted in the workshop of the artist Malishev in Sergiy Posad.” On the reverse of this icon is also inscribed, “This image was blessed upon the relics of the Venerable Sergiy of Radonezh.” Additionally, the reverse of the icon exhibits a customized stamp of the artist I. M. Malishev. While not unheard of on earlier icons, the practice of signing icons did not become widespread until the 19th century.