Orthodox icon | Saint Nicholas of Myra | 24319
SKU:
- Typ: Russian icon
- Age: 19th century
- Size: 36.5 x 30.5 cm | 14.4 x 12 in
Description
Orthodox icon | Saint Nicholas of Myra | 24319.
About the icon:
The image showcases Saint Nicholas of Myra, bedecked in bishop’s traditional attire. He cradles an open Gospel, revealing his habitual scriptural reading, particularly the passage from Luke 6:17-23.
Alongside him are artistic representations of Christ and the Holy Mother. Depictions of a Guardian Angel and Jude the Apostle embellish the periphery of the icon.
The halos gracing the icon are skillfully ornamented with sheet metal and highlighted with a radiant gold lacquer finish, enhancing the visual grandeur and sanctity of the artwork.
About Saint Nicholas:
Saint Nicholas was born around 283 AD in Patara, a historical city whose remnants can now be found near Kalkan in modern-day Turkey. He departed this world around 348 AD in Myra (Lycia), now referred to as Demre in Turkey.
Both the Eastern and Latin Churches honor him as one of their most esteemed saints. His commemorations on December 6, May 9, and July 29 are linked with diverse traditions and rites.
In the initial years of the fourth century, Saint Nicholas served as the Bishop of Myra, situated in Asia Minor’s Lycia region.
At that time, the area was under the governance of the Roman Empire, later becoming part of the Byzantine Empire, and currently residing within Turkey’s borders.
The name “Nicholas” has its roots in the Greek “Nikólaos,” signifying “victory of the people,” and was prevalent even before Christianity took hold.
Saint Nicholas is celebrated as the patron saint of numerous groups and professions, among them Russia, children, women yearning for motherhood, expectant mothers, the elderly, voyagers, sailors, judges, lawyers, notaries, pharmacists, property owners, those in pursuit of marital bliss, and the retrieval of pilfered possessions.
Jude the Apostle:
Jude the Apostle, also known as Saint Jude, is one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. He is sometimes identified as Jude, the brother of Jesus, but is clearly distinguished from Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus. He’s referred to as Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus in some biblical translations.
Jude is traditionally regarded as the author of the Epistle of Jude, a book in the New Testament. There he identifies himself as “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James” (Jude 1:1).
The James referred to here is considered to be James the Less, who was another of Jesus’ apostles, and possibly Jude’s biological brother.
There are relatively few mentions of Jude in the New Testament. Apart from the lists of apostles, he appears in John 14:22 where he asks Jesus why He would reveal Himself to the disciples but not to the world, prompting Jesus to answer with a discourse about love and obedience.
Historically, it is believed that Jude preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya. He is also said to have visited Beirut and Edessa, though the sources for these travels are uncertain.
In terms of iconography, Jude is traditionally depicted carrying an image of Jesus, known as the Image of Edessa, and often with a flame above his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles.
Jude is venerated as a saint in several Christian denominations. He is the patron saint of lost causes and desperate situations in the Roman Catholic Church, leading to his moniker, “the saint for the hopeless and the despaired”. His feast day is October 28th. His relics are said to be preserved in a shrine in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.