In 1965, the expedition of the State Tretyakov Gallery discovered numerous monuments of religious art in the Vladimir region. The finds included an iconostasis from an abandoned church in the village of Tuchkovo, Selivanovskiy district, near the town of Murom. The iconostasis included an icon of St. Peter, which is now part of the museum collection.
The Murom iconostasis has been only partially preserved. There are only three tiers left: the Deesis (the main tier), the Patriarchs (the Old Testament saints who were Christ’s ancestors) and the Prophets (the biblical prophets depicted with scrolls).
The central part of the Deesis, found by the Moscow expedition and transferred to the Saratov museum, consists of five icons: Christ Pantocrator, flanked by the Theotokos and Saint John the Baptist, as well as the archangels Michael and Gabriel. The tier also includes the images of the Chief Apostles Peter and Paul.
The Apostle Peter was the brother of the Apostle Andrew and one of the twelve closest disciples and companions of Jesus Christ. Peter is always listed first among the apostles.
Peter was a fisherman from Capernaum, and his original name was Simon. The Son of God gave him a new name saying: “That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Having become an apostle of Christ, Peter accompanied Him in all the ways of His earthly life, and was one of His favorite disciples. However, on the night after Jesus was arrested, Peter, as it had been predicted by the teacher, showed weakness and, fearing persecution, denied knowing Jesus three times. However, Peter sincerely repented later and was forgiven by the Lord, who asked Peter three times to declare his love and devotion and only then entrusted him to feed His sheep and lambs. In addition, the apostle Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
The icon features Peter as a middle-aged man with curly, slightly gray hair, and a small beard. The apostle is painted in three-quarter view, he holds his right hand in a gesture of prayer, and in his left hand, he has the keys and a folded scroll. The image of the keys has not been preserved.
The bowed head, as well as the restrained and reverent hand gesture are reminiscent of Peter’s penitence, as he made amends by a long period of praying, fasting, and confessing. He wears a dark blue chiton (a tunic fastened on one shoulder) and a himation (a light rectangular cloak, which, like ancient Roman togas, exquisitely drapes his figure with flowing folds).
The Murom iconostasis has been only partially preserved. There are only three tiers left: the Deesis (the main tier), the Patriarchs (the Old Testament saints who were Christ’s ancestors) and the Prophets (the biblical prophets depicted with scrolls).
The central part of the Deesis, found by the Moscow expedition and transferred to the Saratov museum, consists of five icons: Christ Pantocrator, flanked by the Theotokos and Saint John the Baptist, as well as the archangels Michael and Gabriel. The tier also includes the images of the Chief Apostles Peter and Paul.
The Apostle Peter was the brother of the Apostle Andrew and one of the twelve closest disciples and companions of Jesus Christ. Peter is always listed first among the apostles.
Peter was a fisherman from Capernaum, and his original name was Simon. The Son of God gave him a new name saying: “That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Having become an apostle of Christ, Peter accompanied Him in all the ways of His earthly life, and was one of His favorite disciples. However, on the night after Jesus was arrested, Peter, as it had been predicted by the teacher, showed weakness and, fearing persecution, denied knowing Jesus three times. However, Peter sincerely repented later and was forgiven by the Lord, who asked Peter three times to declare his love and devotion and only then entrusted him to feed His sheep and lambs. In addition, the apostle Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
The icon features Peter as a middle-aged man with curly, slightly gray hair, and a small beard. The apostle is painted in three-quarter view, he holds his right hand in a gesture of prayer, and in his left hand, he has the keys and a folded scroll. The image of the keys has not been preserved.
The bowed head, as well as the restrained and reverent hand gesture are reminiscent of Peter’s penitence, as he made amends by a long period of praying, fasting, and confessing. He wears a dark blue chiton (a tunic fastened on one shoulder) and a himation (a light rectangular cloak, which, like ancient Roman togas, exquisitely drapes his figure with flowing folds).
