Icon - Three saints - Wood

Russian Orthodox icon of the synaxarion type, with three full-body saints and a higher theophany.

Icon of saints in the menor deesis, probably 19th century (Russian), egg tempera on panel, with a golden background.

Upper part

In the upper zone, within a celestial semicircle, Christ Emmanuel / Christ Pantocrator appears blessing, surrounded by a simplified mandorla.
This element indicates that the saints depicted receive their authority and holiness directly from Christ.

Central saints (from left to right)

The inscriptions are in ecclesiastical Cyrillic, which confirms the Russian origin.

San Mitrofán
Identifiable by the inscription 'СТ. МИТРОФАНЪ'.
He wears a monastic mantle and holds a scroll, typical of Russian bishops or ascetic saints.
Probably Saint Mitrophan of Voronezh, highly venerated in Russia.

Saint Moses (Св. Моисей)
Central inscription 'St. Moses'.
Represented as a saintly monk or righteous person from the Old Testament, Christianized within the Orthodox tradition.
Russian iconography depicts him with a long tunic and a praying attitude.

Santa Bonifacia (Saint Boniface)
Inscription 'St. Boniface'.
Santa Mártir, dressed in a light tunic and cloak, with a composed expression and uplifted gaze.
Highly revered as an intercessor against passions and vices.

Side figures

Smaller saints probably appear in the left and right margins.

Patron saints of families

The saints from the calendar related to the patron of the icon.

This resource is typical of Russian domestic icons.

Popular Russian School

19th century

Line drawing, elongated anatomies

Golden background

Craquelure and losses of polychromy consistent with the age.

Function of the icon

Home devotional icon, designed for private prayer, not liturgical.
The choice of saints suggests spiritual and moral protection, especially against temptations and illnesses of the soul.