This small pectoral icon depicts “The Holy Sepulcher” on the obverse side and “The Conception of Saint Anne” on the reverse side. The buildings in the background of the “Holy Sepulcher” symbolize a particular place: the Holy Sepulcher is located in the Church of the Resurrection, which was built in Jerusalem on the site of the cave where Jesus was buried after the crucifixion.

The action takes place against the background of this architectural setting: at the top, there are angels flying down with their hands covered, and at the bottom, there are the myrrh-bearing women who came to anoint the body of Jesus Christ and Peter the Apostle who fell down to the empty tomb. On the tomb sits the Archangel Michael with a staff. He stretches out his hand to the shocked women and says, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”

The reverse side of the icon features a scene that was exceptionally rare in small icons — “The Conception of Saint Anne”. Sometimes it is called “Joachim and Anne Meeting at the Golden Gate” or “Joachim and Anne Kissing”. The elderly couple is depicted at the moment of joyful meeting at the city gate in Jerusalem upon learning that Anne would bear a child. Their long-awaited daughter would become the Virgin Mary.

The squatty figures are depicted in low relief. Joachim stretches out his hand to Anne. The touch of his right hand with a blessing gesture is interpreted by some theologians as an allegorical depiction of the immaculate conception. This hagiographical episode first appeared in the 150s A.D. in the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James which also described the childhood of the Virgin Mary.

The depiction of the long-awaited immaculate conception on the reverse of this pilgrimage relic may indicate the purpose of the pilgrimage — praying for the birth of a child. The icon is encased in a silver gilded frame, which is decorated with semi-precious stones and a large movable engraved finial.

The 15th century marked the heyday of the Moscow workshops which manufactured frames and covers of crosses, icons, and folding icons. Sacred objects encased in silver and gold frames with gemstone decorations resemble exquisite jewelry. This artwork combines exquisite stone carving with jewelry framing. It can be rightfully considered one of the best examples of Old Russian small icon art.