1845 - AN ICON DEPICTING SAINT MARY OF EGYPT WITH SCENES FROM HER LIFE IN THE DESERT. Russian, 18th century. Tempera on wood panel. The silvered background is covered with a golden lacquer. Applied metal halo. Partially restored. 34.4 x 28.3 cm. Saint Mary of Egypt (5th/6th century) is one of the most important penitent and ascetic saints of the Orthodox Church. According to tradition, following her conversion in Jerusalem, she withdrew to the desert beyond the Jordan, where she spent 47 years in strict asceticism. There she encountered the Palestinian monk Zosimas, from whom she received Holy Communion shortly before her death.

AN ICON DEPICTING SAINT MARY OF EGYPT WITH SCENES FROM HER LIFE IN THE DESERT. Russian, 18th century. Tempera on wood panel. The silvered background is covered with a golden lacquer. Applied metal halo. Partially restored. 34.4 x 28.3 cm. Saint Mary of Egypt (5th/6th century) is one of the most important penitent and ascetic saints of the Orthodox Church. According to tradition, following her conversion in Jerusalem, she withdrew to the desert beyond the Jordan, where she spent 47 years in strict asceticism. There she encountered the Palestinian monk Zosimas, from whom she received Holy Communion shortly before her death. ICON OF SAINT MARY OF EGYPT WITH SCENES FROM HER LIFE IN THE DESERT Russia, 18th century. Wood panel with two sponki on the reverse (lost). Egg tempera on a chalk ground, silver-plated background glazed in gold. Appliqué metal nimbus. 34.4 x 28.3 cm. Saint Mary of Egypt (5th/6th century) is one of the most important penitents and ascetic saints of the Orthodox Church. According to tradition, after her conversion in Jerusalem, she withdrew for 47 years into the desert beyond the Jordan, where she lived a life of the strictest asceticism. There she met the monk Zosimas from a Palestinian monastery, from whom she received Holy Communion shortly before her death. Partially restored.