The Krasnodar State Museum-Reserve named after E. D. Felitsyn houses an icon of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The icon was arguably brought to Ekaterinodar (Krasnodar) from the Moscow governorate to be installed in the altar part of the Church of St. Catherine. It is not known how the icon entered the museum collection.
The icon — an oil painting on a primed board — was created around the end of the 18th — beginning of the 19th century. The artist depicted the great martyr full-length. Catherine wears a beautiful dress, on her head is a scalloped crown — these details indicate that she came from a noble family. In Christian tradition, loose hair symbolizes chastity. The saint’s foot rests on a wheel — an instrument of torture. Legend has it that the martyr was condemned to death on a wheel. The image of Catherine does not follow the established traditions of Russian icon painting, so the icon looks more like a picture.
Legend has it that Saint Catherine lived in Alexandria during the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximian. She belonged to the royal family and received an education that was considered good for that time. The family wanted Catherine to marry a worthy man — this marriage could increase the wealth and influence of her family. But the saint decided to devote her whole life to Christ.
Emperor Maximian, who persecuted the Christians, ordered Catherine to abandon her new faith. When the girl disobeyed, he threatened her with a breaking wheel. Legend has it that at the time of the execution, an angel appeared and destroyed the instruments of torture. However, the great martyr soon died anyway, and as the Christian legend says, milk rather than blood flowed from her wounds.
The first account of St. Catherine was written in Greek between the 6th and 7th centuries. The earliest surviving icons depicting St. Catherine were created in the 8th–9th centuries. To honor the saint, a monastery was founded on Mount Sinai in Egypt, where her relics are kept.
Saint Catherine is considered the patron saint of Ekaterinodar. There is a monument to St. Catherine on the central street of the city — Krasnaya. The bronze statue stands on a bell-shaped pedestal, which is decorated with figures of angels.
The icon — an oil painting on a primed board — was created around the end of the 18th — beginning of the 19th century. The artist depicted the great martyr full-length. Catherine wears a beautiful dress, on her head is a scalloped crown — these details indicate that she came from a noble family. In Christian tradition, loose hair symbolizes chastity. The saint’s foot rests on a wheel — an instrument of torture. Legend has it that the martyr was condemned to death on a wheel. The image of Catherine does not follow the established traditions of Russian icon painting, so the icon looks more like a picture.
Legend has it that Saint Catherine lived in Alexandria during the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximian. She belonged to the royal family and received an education that was considered good for that time. The family wanted Catherine to marry a worthy man — this marriage could increase the wealth and influence of her family. But the saint decided to devote her whole life to Christ.
Emperor Maximian, who persecuted the Christians, ordered Catherine to abandon her new faith. When the girl disobeyed, he threatened her with a breaking wheel. Legend has it that at the time of the execution, an angel appeared and destroyed the instruments of torture. However, the great martyr soon died anyway, and as the Christian legend says, milk rather than blood flowed from her wounds.
The first account of St. Catherine was written in Greek between the 6th and 7th centuries. The earliest surviving icons depicting St. Catherine were created in the 8th–9th centuries. To honor the saint, a monastery was founded on Mount Sinai in Egypt, where her relics are kept.
Saint Catherine is considered the patron saint of Ekaterinodar. There is a monument to St. Catherine on the central street of the city — Krasnaya. The bronze statue stands on a bell-shaped pedestal, which is decorated with figures of angels.
