Boturussky ulus, which was located at the crossroads of important trade routes, occupied a significant place in the economic and cultural life of Yakutia. In the period between the 19th and the early 20th centuries, this settlement enjoyed an era of prosperity.
New schools were opened here and churches with rich decorations were built. Among the latter were the Transfiguration church in Amga village built in 1845, the Ascension Church in Churapcha — in1848, the Transfiguration church in Ytyk-Kyuel — in 1847, the Arylakh chapel in the eponymous settlement — in 1854, the St. Nicholas chapel in Khadarsky settlement — in 1860, and others.
Yakut carpenters took part in the construction. The carved iconostases and engraved icons, as well as paintings on the walls and cast and wooden crosses have survived to this day.
Innokenty Sivtsev — Mytiyky, the icon painter and master of monumental painting, was a native of the Sylansky settlement. His work is still little studied. Innokenty Sivtsev is attributed many iconographic images and paintings in churches.
The icon “St. John Chrysostom and Empress Alexandra” depicts St. John Chrysostom and a figure wearing a woman’s robe and crown. In terms of its type, this is a family icon. Innokenty Sivtsev depicted the heavenly patrons of family members of the customers, probably husband and wife or their children.
A family made-to-order icon is part of one of the ancient Orthodox traditions, when the household gathered around the relic for common prayer.
The icon was painted realistically, which was probably influenced by the iconographic traditions of the Irkutsk icon-painting workshops. The bright color palette was characteristic of folk painting. Innokenty Sivtsev tried to reflect the penumbrae on the faces; he did not trace the hands clearly, he also elaborated with strokes the intricate folds of the red shoulder capes.
