Icon - Feast day icon - Wood

Russian Orthodox narrative icon of the Resurrection of Christ, accompanied by scenes from the Easter cycle and Christology.

Main theme

The Resurrection of Christ (Anástasis), characterized in a very distinctive way within the Russian Orthodox tradition.

Type of icon:

Icon or festal icon, composed of a dominant central scene and secondary scenes around, that depict key episodes of Christ's life related to Easter.

Central scene (the most important)

Christ Resurrected appears.

Standing on the gates of Hades, fallen in the shape of a cross.

Surrounded by a radiant golden mandorla (a symbol of divine glory).

With the Resurrection flag (cross with banner).

Blessing with the right hand.

At his/her feet

Hades personified, defeated and chained.

Broken locks, nails, and bolts: symbols of victory over death.

This image does not depict the empty tomb (typical of the West), but rather the victorious descent of Christ into the realm of the dead, which liberates humanity.

Peripheral scenes (around)

Arranged in rectangular panels, they depict biblical episodes. Among the most recognizable:

Cycle of Passion and Resurrection

The Crucifixion

The Descent

The Deposition in the Tomb

The women gazed before the tomb.

Christ appearing to the disciples

Christological cycle

The Nativity

The Presentation in the Temple

The Baptism of Christ

The Entry into Jerusalem

The Transfiguration

Each scene is identified by inscriptions in ecclesiastical Slavic, visible despite being worn.

Style and dating

Origin: Russia
Technique: Egg temple on a board
Background: Dark with abundant use of ochres and golds.
Linear, hieratic, with stylized figures.
Condition: visible wear, cracking, and losses of polychromy.

Probable dating

Late 18th century – first half of the 19th century.

This type of icons was common in:

rural churches

Chapels

Instructional domestic devotion for reading the sacred history.

This icon is a visual synthesis of the central dogma of Eastern Christianity.

Christ conquers death, descends to Hades, and opens the path of resurrection for all humanity.

That is why the Resurrection occupies the center and dominates the entire set.

An authenticity certificate is provided, endorsed by the Ministry of Culture of Estonia.