Icon - Feast day icon - Eggtempera on levkas on panel

A very well preserved Russian Holiday icon, circa 1900, reign of Tzar Akexander the Second ( 1896-1917). The central image is the Anastasis, the feast of Easter, depicted in two registers. Below the descend into hell, above the Resurrextion from the Empty grave. The Easter image is surrounded by the 12 biggest feasts of the Eastern Orthodox Church. In the upper row: The birth of the Virgin, the Entry in the Temple of the Virgin and Christmas
In the second row, from left to right, The Introduction of Jesus in the Temple and the Baptism in the Jordan. In the third row, The entry in Jerusalem and the Transfiguration. In the lowest row; the Ascension, the Old Testament Trinity, the Dormition of the Virgin and the Exaltation of the Cross
All the Feastdays are painted in a fine hand on a solid leaf gold background
The artist made relief in the background with a sharp instrument and created geometrical patterns around the borders and around the boarder of the Anastasis. The icon is painted on an olive wood panel with oak sponka. Most likely this icon hails from an Old Believers workshop. The extremely good condition might have to do with placing the icon in a kiot, a protective case with a glass lid, to prevent damage by kissing and touching. Feastday have a cathecetical function and are used by grandparents or parents to educate children about the liturgical calendar. A very well preserved and fine icon from the period that Russia still was an Empire.