16. In Thee Rejoiceth

Details

Russian, second half 17th century
30.3 x 26.7 cms

Provenance:
Collection Igor Vozyakov, Russia.
Private collection, Germany.

Literature:
‘Russian Icons of the 15th – 20th centuries’, from the private collection of Igor Vozyakov, Moscow, St. Petersburg, 2009, p. 44, ill. 19.

Description:
This icon is based on a hymn, written by St John of Damascus, which is heard in Lent during the Liturgy of St Basil the Great.

The beginning of the hymn is: All of Creation rejoices in thee, O full of grace, the angels in heaven and the race of men, O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise…

In the centre is the Mother of God enthroned in heaven with the Christ child on her lap, surrounded by angels. In the upper border the New Testament Trinity is depicted. The five-domed Church and the stylized trees refer to paradise. The lower part of the icon, the rocky landscape with groups of saints, symbolizes the terrestrial Church. The groups of saints represent all of creation and the race of men, mentioned in the hymn. In the upper celestial part we see King David (left to the angels), on the right side the ‘penitent thief’. In the lower part, above in the middle we see John of Damascus and Cosmas the Hymnographer, holding a scroll. Below, four rows of holy people are represented. In the centre at the left we see St John the Baptist. Opposite to him, on the right, St Peter is depicted. The upper tier at the right shows holy women. The other saints are apostles, bishops, martyrs, monks and ascetics.