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65-Russian Icon
“Of the Week” - Sedmitsui
19th century
Egg tempera, gold leaf, gesso on wood panel
17.5" x 14.75"
James and Tatiana Jackson Collection

n this comples and less frequently encountered rendering, each day of the week is represented by a festival. Beginning inside the margins at upper left and reading to the right, it begins with the “Resurrection” (Sunday); then the “Assembly of the Archangels” (Monday); the “Beheading of John the Forerunner” (Tuesday); the “Annunciation” (Wednesday); the “Foot Washing” (Thursday); and the “Crucifixion” (Friday). Saturday is depicted as a gathering of “All Saints” and occupies most of the lower part of the icon. Also shown in this example, starting at top center and moving downward, are “Seven Days of Creation;” below that “Lord Sabaoth Among the Powers;” below that the “Deisis;” and below that “The Tree of Paradise,” with Adam and Eve shown before the fall (left) and after (right). On the top central margin the Hetimasia. The borders depict numerous saints, including (at top) Nicholas and the Three Hierarchs. On the right are the Metropolitans of Moscow, John and Philip; The Holy Leontiy and Ignatiy; The Venerable Zosima and Savatry. On the left are Moscow Metropolitans Peter and Alexi; then Isaiah and Jacob; The Venerable Feodosiy; and Antoniy of Kiev. On the lower margin the Holy Fools Vasily, Maxim, John and Prokopi; and scenes from the life of the Tsar Martyr Dimitriy. In the corners are the four Evangelists.
 

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his icon depicts the first official Russian Saints, brothers Boris and Glyeb. When their father Prince Vladimir died in 1015, Svyatopolk, another son of Vladimir did not want to share his inheritance and decided to kill his brothers, Boris and Glyeb. Svyatopolk sent conspirators to murder Boris, who did not resist, but sang Psalms, prayed before an icon of Christ, and then lay down to be murdered. Glyeb’s assassins arrived while he was praying on a boat that was taking him back to Kiev. The brothers are depicted together, both in princely robes, with crowns upon their heads. Each rests a hand on a sword and holds a cross, which usually symbolizes martyrdom. Since they did not die defending the faith, the brothers were not actually martyrs; consequently they were called “Holy-Passion-Bearers.” Christ is depicted above delivering a blessing. The background of this icon has been intricately incised, as have the borders, which have also been painted in such a way as to simulate enameling of the type sometimes found on a riza. The large size of this icon would suggest that it was once displayed in a small chapel or shrine.