266 - 19th century Russian icon.

19th century Russian icon. "Saint Nicholas, the Thaumaturge of Myra or Saint Nicholas of Bari". Painting on wood. It shows faults in the polychromy and in the wood. Needs restoration. Measurements: 42 x 33 x 2,5 cm. In the icon that we now present, Saint Nicholas is shown from the front dressed with bishop's clothes and mitre, blessing with his right hand and holding the Gospels closed on his left. The Virgin offers him a bishop's omophorion, while Jesus Christ holds out the Gospels to him. Saint Nicholas (also known as Saint Nicholas of Bari) was a 4th century saint and Greek bishop of Myra. He was the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children and students in Greece, Belgium, France, Romania, Bulgaria and Russia, as well as in other Eastern European countries. Saint Nicholas of Bari is one of the best-known saints of Christianity. Although little is known about his life, it is said that he was bishop of Myra in Asia Minor and that he was persecuted and captured by the Romans in the 4th century, but later freed by Emperor Constantine I. In the 11th century, his relics were found on his body. In the 11th century his relics were taken to Bari (a place of pilgrimage), Italy. He has become the patron saint of Bulgaria, Greece and Russia.