Antique Orthodox Icon St. Helena & Constantine Marcarius True Cross 1820

Description

A fine & large antique Russian Orthodox icon, circa 1820.
This large antique Russian icon painted with egg tempera on … more A fine & large antique Russian Orthodox icon, circa 1820.
This large antique Russian icon painted with egg tempera on wooden panel, depicts the "True Cross" to the center with Saint Marcarius I (the Bishop of Jerusalem circa 312-335 CE) supporting the crucifix, he is surrounded by acolytes. To the right foreground with a gold halo is Saint Helena (wife of Emperor Constantius and mother of Constantine I) to the left is Saint Constantine.
In 325 CE Bishop Macarius accompanied Helena Augusta thyrough the Holy Land in search of the relics of the Passion of Jesus, including the cross upon which he was crucified. Saint Helena's son Emperor Constantine I had given her unlimited access to the Imperial treasury to find such early relics and she is credited with finding the "True Cross".
This icon is beautifully and very skillfully painted and large in size, created sometime around 1820 in Central Russia, very good condition. less