Icon - Fiery Ascent of Prophet Elijah - Wood

The prophet Elijah taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Ascension of the Prophet Elijah
Iconographic analysis

Upper part


Elijah in the chariot of fire, carried by winged horses, surrounded by a reddish mandorla.


The upward movement and the red color symbolize:

The divine presence

Fire as God's energy


The prophet appears alive, without passing through death, which makes him an eschatological figure related to the end times.


Central zone

Inscription in ecclesiastical Slavic (partially preserved) that identifies the scene as the Ascension of Elijah.

Clear separation between:

The celestial world (above)


The earthly world (below)


Lower part


The prophet Elisha receives the mantle from Elijah, a sign of the transmission of the prophetic spirit.

Presence of angels, one of them leaning towards Elisha, reinforcing the divine legitimacy of his mission.

Stylized mountain landscape typical of a Russian icon.



Theological significance

Elías is:

Model of the fervent righteous in zeal for God.

Prefiguration of Christ's Ascension

Figure who, according to tradition, will return before the Final Judgment.


The icon emphasizes

The continuity of the prophecy

God's direct action in history

Style and approximate dating

Russian icon, probably.

18th century – first half of the 19th century

Technique:

Temple with egg on a board

Warm color palette (ochres, deep reds)

Status:


Visible wear, craquelure, and losses of polychromy consistent with age.


Final observation
It is a theologically dense and uncommon icon, highly valued in the Russian tradition for its connection to:

Monastic life

Asceticism

Eschatology

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