From 1967 to 1977, several expeditions took place in the Volga region near Saratov. As a result, the staff of the Radishchev Art Museum assembled a unique collection. It included the most interesting works of church art, which used to belong both to large Orthodox churches and to small Old Believer home prayer houses.
The Old Believers are a religious trend that arose after the split of the Russian Orthodox Church in the middle of the 17th century. At that time, Patriarch Nikon of Moscow introduced a number of reforms. For example, he had liturgical books rewritten, and the sign of the cross was to be made with three fingers instead of two. Those who did not agree with the Greek-style innovations preferred to live in separately isolated communities, and they began to be called Old Believers.
A large number of Old Believer communities were located in the Saratov region. The largest Old Believer centers were the cities of Atkarsk, Volsk, and Khvalynsk. Since the followers of “original Orthodoxy” were engaged in accumulating ancient icons, large collections of old images and ancient religious manuscripts could be found in their monasteries and prayer houses. The icon depicting St. Daniel the Stylite comes from such a collection.
Daniel the Stylite was a Christian ascetic who, in his youth, witnessed the feat of Simeon the Stylite and decided to follow his example. He settled in the vicinity of Constantinople on the site of a pagan temple, where he had to withstand numerous temptations by the demons. Having erected a high pillar, Daniel spent many years on it in spiritual struggle.
On the back of the icon, there is an inscription reading that the image was bought in the workshop of artisans Mikhail Ivanovich Dikarev and Osip Semyonovich Chirikov, who came from Mstyora. The icon painters and restorers began working in Moscow in the last third of the 19th century and had connections in the Old Believer community. Apparently, Old Believers could also buy an old “pre-Nikon” icon there, as was the case with “Saint Daniel the Stylite”.
The saint is depicted wearing monastic attire. He has a scroll in his hand, which symbolizes his edifying mission.
The Old Believers are a religious trend that arose after the split of the Russian Orthodox Church in the middle of the 17th century. At that time, Patriarch Nikon of Moscow introduced a number of reforms. For example, he had liturgical books rewritten, and the sign of the cross was to be made with three fingers instead of two. Those who did not agree with the Greek-style innovations preferred to live in separately isolated communities, and they began to be called Old Believers.
A large number of Old Believer communities were located in the Saratov region. The largest Old Believer centers were the cities of Atkarsk, Volsk, and Khvalynsk. Since the followers of “original Orthodoxy” were engaged in accumulating ancient icons, large collections of old images and ancient religious manuscripts could be found in their monasteries and prayer houses. The icon depicting St. Daniel the Stylite comes from such a collection.
Daniel the Stylite was a Christian ascetic who, in his youth, witnessed the feat of Simeon the Stylite and decided to follow his example. He settled in the vicinity of Constantinople on the site of a pagan temple, where he had to withstand numerous temptations by the demons. Having erected a high pillar, Daniel spent many years on it in spiritual struggle.
On the back of the icon, there is an inscription reading that the image was bought in the workshop of artisans Mikhail Ivanovich Dikarev and Osip Semyonovich Chirikov, who came from Mstyora. The icon painters and restorers began working in Moscow in the last third of the 19th century and had connections in the Old Believer community. Apparently, Old Believers could also buy an old “pre-Nikon” icon there, as was the case with “Saint Daniel the Stylite”.
The saint is depicted wearing monastic attire. He has a scroll in his hand, which symbolizes his edifying mission.
