Icon - Wood - Prophet Habakkuk

This icon represents a prophet of the Old Testament, identified by the inscription in ecclesiastical Slavonic as the prophet Habakkuk.

The upper inscription reads: “Пророкъ Аввакумъ” (Prorok Avvakum), that is, Prophet Habakkuk.
It depicts a minor biblical figure, one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament.
He appears standing, in a serene and frontal pose, typical of iconographic art.
His face is young, which is interesting, since in other traditions he may be depicted as more mature.
He wears a dark tunic (black or very dark green), a symbol of sobriety and prophetic life.
Over it, a vivid red mantle:
Red in iconography symbolizes divine inspiration, the ardent word of God.
It can also allude to suffering or prophetic zeal.
Golden halo
Indicates his holiness and his status as a man illuminated by God.
The golden background reinforces the timeless and celestial dimension of the icon.

The scroll (filacteria)

Key element: it contains a prophetic text.
Prophets are usually depicted with scrolls because they carry God’s Word.
The text probably contains a quotation from the book of Habakkuk (as in his famous reflection on divine justice).
The bare feet symbolize:
Humility
Direct contact with the sacred
Prophetic vocation
Habakkuk is known for his dialogue with God about evil and justice. His central message:
Faith in the midst of uncertainty
Trust in the divine plan even when it is not understood
One of his most famous sayings (Hab. 2:4):
“The righteous shall live by his faith”
Icon of Russian tradition (probably 18th–19th century)
Ocher background with a dark frame typical
Use of fine lines and stylized folds
Modeling of the face with soft highlights (technique of “sankir”)