6. Processional Icon Mother of God of Smolensk and Saint Nicholas

Details

Russian, around 1600
54 x 43 cms

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

Literature:
F. & C. Tóth, ‘Russische Iconen, Collectie Tóth Ikonen’, Amersfoort, The Netherlands, 2004, p. 52 – 53.
F. & C. Tóth, ‘Russische iconen. De kunst van het verzamelen.’, Amersfoort, The Netherlands, 2009, p. 71, ill. 66.

Description:
The icon was used as a processional icon. A processional icon consists of an icon and its holder made of one piece of wood. The handle of this icon has been damaged and cut off.

Irrespective of what the weather conditions were, on special feast days they were carried in procession in and outside the Church to bless the country and its people. Even in times of an attack by the enemy the icon was taken out in procession to protect the believers.

This double sided processional icon shows the Mother of God of Smolensk, the reverse the image of St Nicholas. As no living person was worthy of carrying the image of the Mother of God it was a necessity to paint another icon on the reverse, which could function as the bearer of the holy image. Who could be more dignified than St Nicholas to carry the icon of the Mother of God. St Nicholas is one of the three patron saints of Russia.