The icon is depicting St. Theodosius, the Miracleworker of Totma blessed by Christ in Heavens, with his monastery in the back of him. The finely executed silver cover is hallmarked with 84 zolotniks silver purity mark, workmaster's initials A•Я, and St. Petersburg town mark dated 1799. 

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker and Bishop of Myra (270 - 343), was a historic 4th-century Saint and Greek Bishop of Myra. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolas the Wonderworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus. His reputation evolved among the faithful, as was common for early Christian saints. Saint Nicholas is the patron Saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, and students in Greece, Belgium, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Albania, Russia, the Republic of Macedonia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Montenegro. He is also the patron saint of Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Barranquilla, Bari, Beit Jala, Fribourg, Huguenots, Kozani, Liverpool, Paternopoli, Sassari, Siggiewi, and Lorraine. His feast day is 6 December.

The hallmarks are of Moscow's town mark dating 1900 and "СГ" for silversmith Semyon Galkin.

The finely executed silver cover is hallmarked with 84 zolotniks silver purity mark and the worksmaster's initials. 

The Holy Mandylion icon represents the first not made by human hands image of the Savior miraculously created by Christ himself. According to the Christian tradition, King Abgar of Edessa wrote to Jesus, asking him to come to cure him of an illness. Instead, one of the seventy disciples, Thaddeus, is said to have come to Edessa, bearing the words and an image of Jesus, by the virtues of which the king was miraculously healed. To create his likeness, Jesus used a face cloth that miraculously bore the image of His face. This image of Christ preserved on the face cloth was kept and venerated in Edessa and became known as “The Holy Image of Edessa”, the “Holy Mandylion” (from Greek “face cloth”), or “The Image Not Made With Human Hands”. This iconographic type is widely used by both the Eastern and the Western Christian Churches. 

Our Lady of the Sign is one of the most beloved Russian miracle-working icons of Theotokos. The icon depicts Her during the Annunciation at the moment of saying, "May it be done to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38). The Virgin Mary is depicted frontally half-length, with her hands raised in a praying position, and the Child Jesus within a round aureole upon her breast representing him at the moment of his conception. The term Virgin of the Sign is a reference to the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Our Lady of Kazan is a holy icon of the highest stature within the Russian Orthodox Church and is considered a palladium of Russia for centuries until its theft and likely destruction in 1904. The icon represents the Virgin Mary as the protector and patroness of the city of Kazan. It is a close-up variant of the Hodegetria (Directress) style, it is noted mainly for the Child standing, with the Virgin chest length. The Kazan icons are traditionally small, following the original. The Kazan icon was very popular in Russia, especially as a wedding gift, and many copies were made in the design of the original. Two major Kazan Cathedrals, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, are consecrated to Our Lady of Kazan, as are numerous churches throughout the land. Her feast days are July 21 and November 4. 

Saints Shamona, Guria, and Deacon Abibus of Edessa (known in Russia as Saints Samon, Gury, and Aviv) († ca. 322) were Christians who were martyred in Edessa, Mesopotamia under Emperor Licinius for refusal to worship the Pagan Gods. They are venerated in the Orthodox Church as Patron Saints of the Holy Matrimony and their Feast day is celebrated on November 15. The Orthodox icons depicting the Saints are traditionally gifted as a wedding present. Saint Samon is depicted as a middle-aged man with dark hair and a small beard with a cross in his hands; Saint Gury is depicted as a gray-haired elder with a long beard also holding a cross; Aviv as a young, beardless man in a deacon’s stole holding a censer.

Venerable Vassian and Jonah were monks of the Solovetsky Transfiguration Monastery, disciples of the holy Abbot Philip, later Metropolitan of Moscow († 1570; commemorated January 9/22). During the construction of the cathedral church of the Solovetsky monastery in 1561, the monks Vassian and Jonah were sent for lime. When the ships were returning to the island on which the Solovetsky Monastery stood, they were caught in a storm and drowned. But the Lord glorified the saints after death - their bodies were not touched by decay at the bottom of the sea. The holy relics of Saints Vassian and Jonah were found by peasants and buried. Shortly after, the saints appeared in a dream to the elder of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, who managed the salt pans in Unsky Posad, and in 1599 he erected a chapel over the graves of the saints. Subsequently, on the occasion of many healings performed over their tombs, in 1623, Hieromonk Jacob founded a monastery there called Pertominskaya, and with royal contributions, a church was built in the name of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The memory of Saints Vassian and Jonah is celebrated twice a year: June 5/18 - the discovery of holy relics and June 12/25.

The icon depicts Venerable Xenophon of Constantinople and his wife,  Venerable Maria, who were noted citizens of Constantinople in the fifth century. Despite their riches and position, they distinguished themselves by their simplicity of soul and goodness of heart. Saints Xenophon and Maria went to separate monasteries and dedicated themselves to God, laboring in silence and strict fasting to receive from God the gift of wonderworking.

Hallmarks on the revetment cover: Maker's mark CM, Saint-Petersburg town mark, and 84 silver purity mark

Rare subject!

In Orthodoxy, a Guardian Angel is a type of angel that is assigned at birth to protect and guide a particular person. Each human has a guardian angel who stands before the face of the Lord. This guardian angel is not only a friend and a protector, who preserves from evil and who sends good thought; the image of God is reflected in the creature—angels and men—in such a way that angels are celestial prototypes of men. Guardian angels are especially our spiritual kin. Scripture testified that the guardianship and direction of the elements, of places, of peoples, of societies, are confined to the guardian angels of the cosmos, whose very substance adds something of harmony to the elements they watch over.

Saint Eudocia (Eudokia) was a Samarian woman who lived in Heliopolis of Phoenicia (present-day Baalbek, Lebanon). She was a very beautiful pagan and garnered her wealth by attracting wealthy lovers. Eudokia learned about Christianity from a monk by the name of Germanos and asked him if she, too, could be saved from Judgment. Germanos instructed her to remain alone in her chamber for one week, fasting and praying. Eudokia followed his instructions, and at the end of the week, she had a vision about the Archangel Michael that assured her of Christ's love for all people. At age 30, Eudokia commissioned the building of a monastery near Heliopolis and dispensed much of her wealth in various charitable projects. She rejected all of her suitors, and when one persistent suitor named Philostratus was struck down because of his persistence, Eudokia prayed for him until he recovered and then converted to Christianity. Eudokia persuaded many pagans to convert to Christianity and, by her actions, angered Roman officials who had her beheaded in 107 AD.

Small icon in silver revetment cover depicting Joy to All Who Sorrow Mother of God. Hallmarked with ca. Moscow 1869 mark. 

Rectangular hand-painted finift porcelain plaque in velvet backed brass frame depicting the Virgin Mary and Christ child. Excellent original condition. 

A rectangular hand-painted double-sided finift porcelain icon in brass frame depicting the St. Venerable Sergius of Radonezh and His Parents. Some cracks on the back side, otherwise very good original condition. 

The icon depicts St. Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus (Greek: Πελαγία, † early 4th century), a legendary Christian saint and martyr who lived in Tarsus in Cilicia (southeastern Asia Minor) during the reign of Roman emperor Diocletian. According to her vita, Pelagia was born in the 3rd century in Tarsus (the Cilician region of Asia Minor) in a family of noble pagans. The girl was distinguished by her extraordinary beauty, received a good education, and the emperor Diocletian decided to make her the wife of his adopted heir, who was captivated by her beauty. Pelagia, who heard about Christians, their faith and martyrdom, was baptized by Bishop Clinon in Tarsus. After that, she refused to marry the adopted son of Diocletian and was brought by her mother to the Emperor, who, after seeing her beauty, wanted to make her his wife. Pelagia refused Diocletian, confessed herself as a Christian, and was executed by being burned in a red-hot copper bull. The bones of the saint were collected by local Christians and buried on one of the hills in the vicinity of the city. Emperor Constantine I the Great built a holy church over the relics of Pelagia.

In Russia, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is often shown as Holy Hierarch Nicholas of Mozhaisk, depicting a full-length Nicholas with a sword in his right hand and a city in his left because the prayers to Saint Nicholas saved the city of Mozhaisk from the enemy attack.

Finift hand-painted porcelain plaque in cloth-backed brass frame depicting the St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra. Crack on the upper right corner of the porcelain

Saint John the Baptist was a Jewish itinerant preacher in the early first century AD who is revered as a major religious figure in Christianity, Islam, and other faiths. He is called a prophet by all of these traditions and is honored as a saint in many Christian traditions. The Orthodox faithful believe that John was the last of the Old Testament prophets, thus serving as a bridge between that period of revelation and the New Covenant. They also teach that, following his death, John descended into Hades and there once more preached that Jesus the Messiah was coming, so he was the Forerunner of Christ in death as he had been in life. Eastern Orthodox churches will often have an icon of St. John the Baptist in a place of honor on the iconostasis, and he is frequently mentioned during the Divine Services. Every Tuesday throughout the year is dedicated to his memory.

According to the Tradition, Herod's daughter Herodias danced before Herod, who was so pleased that he offered her anything she asked for in return. When the girl asks her mother what she should request, she is told to demand the head of John the Baptist. Reluctantly, Herod orders the beheading of John, and his head is delivered to her, at her request, on a plate. (Mark 6:17–29).

Small three-panel hand-carved wood icon - pilgrim's souvenir.  The center panel depicts Our Lady of Chernigov-Gethsemane, flanked by St. Sergius of Radonezh on the left and St. Nilus of Stolbensk on the right. Such items were carved by the monks throughout the 19th century to be retailed to the pilgrims coming to the monastery. 

A rectangular hand-painted velvet-backed finift porcelain icon in its original brass frame depicting the St. Venerable Sergius of Radonezh and His Parents. Some damage to the frame, otherwise very good original condition. 

A rectangular hand-painted finift porcelain icon in the original brass frame depicting the St. Venerable Sergius of Radonezh and His Parents. Very good original condition. 

The oldest icons depicting Saint George as a horseman killing the dragon date to the 12th century. The motif became popular, especially in Georgian and Russian traditions, but it is also found in Greek icons. The saint is depicted in the style of a Roman cavalryman in the tradition of the "Thracian Heros." In Russian Orthodox tradition, the icon is known as "the Miracle of George and the Dragon" as well as "Saint George the Victorybearer."

An oval hand-painted double-sided finift porcelain icon pendant depicting a rare image of the Miraclulous vision of the icon of St. Nicholas to St. Prince Dimitri. Some cracks and losses on the back panel, otherwise very good original condition. 

A small rectangular hand-painted velvet-backed finift porcelain icon depicting Saint Samon, Gury, and Aviv. Very good original condition. 

Small brass icon depicting Our Lady of Kazan surmounted by the Holy Mandylion, the Orthodox Trinity, and two cherubs.

The Nativity of Christ depicts the birth of Jesus in a cave. The Mother of God lying on a bed. Her husband Joseph ,is standing next to her, arms held in prayer, while a female servant is bringing her food and drink on a tray. The newborn Christ is held by a midwife named Zelomi, who is preparing to wash him. The star above in the left corner is shining at Jesu,s signifying the Divine will. This particular iconography is of late origin and is heavily influenced by the Western depictions showing a cheerful and intimate aspect of the scene. 

Our Lady of Smolensk is the name of an ancient miracle-working icon and one of the most highly venerated icons in Russia. According to tradition, after the fall of Constantinople, the original icon painted by St. Luke surfaced in Russia, where it was placed in the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk and therefore referred to as Our Lady of Smolensk. The original icon, dated by art historians to the 11th century, is now believed to have been destroyed by fire during the German occupation of Smolensk in 1941, but a great number of copies were made throughout the century, some of considerable historical and artistic value of their own.

The oldest icons depicting Saint George as a horseman killing the dragon date to the 12th century. The motif became popular, especially in Georgian and Russian traditions, but it is also found in Greek icons. The saint is depicted in the style of a Roman cavalryman in the tradition of the "Thracian Heros." In Russian Orthodox tradition, the icon is known as "the Miracle of George and the Dragon" as well as "Saint George the Victorybearer."

The icon depicts prophet and Prophet and Mystic Elijah surrounded by the vignettes with scenes of his life and his fiery ascent into Havens. Saint Elijah was a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of king Ahab (9th century BC). According to the Books of Kings (17-19), Elijah defended the worship of Yahweh over that of the Phoenician god Baal, he raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky, and was taken up in a whirlwind. In the Book of Malachi, Elijah's return is prophesied "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord," making him a harbinger of the Messiah.

* rare subject *

The Holy Mandylion icon represents the first not made by human hands image of the Savior miraculously created by Christ himself. According to the Christian tradition, King Abgar of Edessa wrote to Jesus, asking him to come to cure him of an illness. Instead, one of the seventy disciples, Thaddeus, is said to have come to Edessa, bearing the words and an image of Jesus, by the virtues of which the king was miraculously healed. To create his likeness, Jesus used a face cloth that miraculously bore the image of His face. This image of Christ preserved on the face cloth was kept and venerated in Edessa and became known as “The Holy Image of Edessa”, the “Holy Mandylion” (from Greek “face cloth”), or “The Image Not Made With Human Hands”. This iconographic type is widely used by both the Eastern and the Western Christian Churches. 

Saint Paraskevi of Iconium (also known as Paraskeva Pyatnitsa) is venerated as a Christian virgin martyr. Her parents were Christian, and Paraskevi was named as such (the name means “Friday” in Greek) because she was baptized on a Friday and because Friday was the day of Christ's Passion. She became a preacher, and according to tradition, converted Emperor Antoninus Pius to Christianity, but, subsequently martyred at Iconium during the persecutions of Diocletian. Saint Paraskevi-Pyatnitsa developed a personality and functions of her own on Russian soil. She is traditionally depicted as an ascetic figure wearing the red of martyrdom. She holds an Eastern cross in one hand and a scroll professing her faith in another. In Russia, Paraskeva-Pyatnitsa is the patroness of traders and fairs, and of the Holy Matrimony.

The icon depicts Our Savior of Smolensk, the iconographic type of Jesus Christ represented as the enthroned Pantocrator – full-figured with his right hand raised in a blessing gesture and his right hand holding an open book of Gospels. He is flanked by the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist.

Our Lady of the Sign is one of the most beloved Russian miracle-working icons of Theotokos. The icon depicts Her during the Annunciation at the moment of saying, "May it be done to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38). The Virgin Mary is depicted frontally half-length, with her hands raised in a praying position, and the Child Jesus within a round aureole upon her breast representing him at the moment of his conception. The term Virgin of the Sign is a reference to the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

A small rectangular hand-painted velvet-backed finift porcelain icon depicting Saint Alexander of Svir. Very good original condition. 

Our Lady of Kazan is a holy icon of the highest stature within the Russian Orthodox Church and is considered a palladium of Russia for centuries until its theft and likely destruction in 1904. The icon represents the Virgin Mary as the protector and patroness of the city of Kazan. It is a close-up variant of the Hodegetria (Directress) style, it is noted mainly for the Child standing, with the Virgin chest length. The Kazan icons are traditionally small, following the original. The Kazan icon was very popular in Russia, especially as a wedding gift, and many copies were made in the design of the original. Two major Kazan Cathedrals, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, are consecrated to Our Lady of Kazan, as are numerous churches throughout the land. Her feast days are July 21 and November 4. 

The Savior of Smolensk is the iconographic type of Jesus Christ represented as the enthroned Pantocrator – full figured with his right hand raised in a blessing gesture and his right hand holding a book of Gospels. He is flanked by the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist and surrounded by the Apostles. To either side of Him, kneeling in prayer at His feet, are Saint Sergius of Radonezh and the Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn.

Our Lady of Tikhvin (Tikhvinskaya) is one of the most celebrated and beautiful wonderworking icons of the Mother of God. Traditionally, it is said to be one of the icons painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist and is a contemporary of the Mother of God herself. The appearance of the icon is celebrated on June 26. The icon has a long history. During the Soviet oppression of the Orthodox Church, the original Theotokos of Tikhvin icon was brought to the USA for safekeeping. In 2004 it was transferred back to Russia to return to its home village of Tikhvin. In the iconographic sense, it is a Hodigitria type with the slightly inclined position of the Mother of God toward the Infant, Who is depicted on the left side of the image. The hand of the Mother of God is raised toward her breast as a sign of silent worship of her Son.

The icon depicts Our Savior of Smolensk, the iconographic type of Jesus Christ represented as the enthroned Pantocrator – full-figured with his right hand raised in a blessing gesture and his right hand holding an open book of Gospels. He is flanked by the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist and surrounded by the Angels and Apostles. To either side of Him, kneeling in prayer at His feet, are Saint Sergius of Radonezh and the Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn. Above them is God the Father in Heaven depicted in a half-circle protruding from the upper center into the border area. 

The iconography of the Theophany is simple and ancient, adhering closely to the Gospels. Christ is depicted at the moment of abasing himself by stepping into the river to be baptized when a voice from the heavens reveals him to be the Son of God. The rocky landscape of the Jordan valley opens up into a whirlpool. John the Baptist leans over Christ, who dominates the waters and blesses him. Three angels symbolizing the Holy Trinity with hands veiled as a sign of respect, are ready to receive the naked body of Christ as if it were the Eucharist. Over Christ, the dove of the Holy Spirit sheds the divine light and God the Father from heaven announces, "Thou art my beloved Son, with thee I am well pleased." With his baptism, Christ is renewed in his own person the primordial image of man that had been lost through sin.

A small cast-brass travel icon plaquette depicting St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra decorated with blue enamel. Saint Nicholas is depicted frontally half-figured wearing bishop’s clothes, blessing with his right hand and holding open Gospels with his left one. Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary offering a bishop’s omofor, both in Heavens are shown behind him.

Saint Antipas of Pergamum was ordained by John the Apostle Antipas as bishop of Pergamon during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian. The traditional account goes on to say Antipas was martyred in ca. 92 AD by burning in a brazen bull-shaped altar to cast out demons worshiped by the local population. There is a tradition of oil ("manna of the saints") being secreted from the relics of Saint Antipas. On the calendars of Eastern Christianity, the feast day of Antipas is April 11. Saint Antipas is invoked to assist in toothache. 

Our Lady of Iveron is the Eastern Orthodox icon of the Virgin Mary which, according to the Sacred Tradition, was painted by Luke the Evangelist. The icon is referred to as "Wonderworking" meaning that numerous miracles have been attributed to the intercession of the Theotokos by persons praying before it. The original of this image is found in the Georgian Iveron monastery on Mount Athos in Greece, where it is believed to have been since the year 999. 

Small brass-cast travel icon depicting the Descent of Christ Into Hades. Christ is shown breaking down the doors of Hell rescuing Adam and Eve. Behind them follow the kings, the prophets, and the righteous of the Old Testament. Feast day: Easter Sunday. Decorated with 2-color enamel. 

Mother of God, Joy of All Who Sorrow of Moscow is the name of a popular wonderworking Russian Orthodox icon dating to a miracle that occurred in 1688, when a woman named Euphymia received healing from sickness after obeying a voice telling her to find this icon and have the priest celebrate a prayer with blessing of water. The design of this icon depicts the Mother of God, standing among the flowers of paradise flanked suppliants asking for her intercession.

Christ is shown in the act of his Descent into Hades, breaking down the doors of Hell, binding Satan, and rescuing Adam and Eve. Behind them follow the kings, the prophets, and the righteous of the Old Testament,  David and Solomon wearing the crowns, John the Baptist with the scroll in hand. Feast day: Easter Sunday.

The icon is depicting three Orthodox Saints: The Guardian Angel, and Saints Zosima and Sabbatius, the founders of the Solovetsky Monastery in the Northern Russia.

The icon depicts three Orthodox Saints: Saint Philipp, Mitropolit of Moscow; Saint Nicholas, Wonderworker of Myra; and Saint John the Crysostom. 

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker and Bishop of Myra (270 - 343), was a historic 4th-century Saint and Greek Bishop of Myra. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolas the Wonderworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus. His reputation evolved among the faithful, as was common for early Christian saints. 

A small cast-brass travel icon plaquette depicting St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra. Saint Nicholas is depicted frontally half-figured wearing bishop’s clothes, blessing with his right hand and holding open Gospels with his left one. Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary offering a bishop’s omofor, both in Heavens are shown behind him.