2. The Dormition

Details

Russian, late 17th century
31.3 x 27 cms

Provenance:
Private collection, Germany.
Private collection, The Netherlands.
Private collection, Spain.

Description:
The Dormition is celebrated on August 15.

The name of the feast means ‘falling asleep’ and strictly speaking it is this which the icon represents, rather than Mary’s bodily Assumption into heaven. It is not considered a sad moment, being the mystical transition from earthly to eternal, heavenly life.

The Mother of God lies on a bier, surrounded by the assembled apostles. In the centre, behind the bier, Christ stands in a green mandorla. On his left arm He carries the soul of his mother, depicted as an infant, up into heaven. The infant symbolises the new, spiritual body of the Mother of God and the beginning of her new, eternal life.

On either side of the angels is a bishop. According to tradition, bishop Hierotheos presided over the funeral of the Mother of God. Behind the bishops are mourning women.

Above is a cherub, the guardian of Heaven.

The scene in the foreground shows a Jewish priest Jephonias who tried to desecrate the bier of the Mother of God. Immediately the Archangel Michael appeared with a sword and cut off both his hands. After Jephonias repented and converted to Christianity, his hands miraculously grew back.