The Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos was established in the 10th century. It was based on a miraculous event that took place in Byzantium during the reign of Emperor Leo the Wise. Residents of the besieged city gathered for an all-night service in the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae. St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ and his disciple Epiphanius were among the worshipers. It was they who received a miraculous vision: the Mother of God, accompanied by John the Baptist, John the Theologian, angels and saints, walked through the air and prayed, spreading her omophorion over the gathered people. The city was saved.
Later, the Feast of the Intercession became even more beloved in Russia than in Byzantium.
The oldest Russian icons of the Intercession date back to the 13th century, at the same time churches and monasteries in honor of the Intercession began to appear. Initially, there were two iconographic canons: one from Suzdal and the other from Novgorod; later, new versions were developed. A single iconographic source — the hagiography of Andrew the Fool — does not mean uniformity of the icons. All figures, except the one of the Mother of God, extending the omophorion over the worshipers, may differ in details or even be absent.
The composition of the presented icon is multi-figured and fully reflects the wonderful event. The swirling clouds divide the icon space into two parts: at the bottom the master depicted the Blachernae Cathedral, at the top he placed the image of the blessing Christ with those coming to him.
The Savior, in the rays of glory emanating from Him and with a scroll in His left hand, is above the figures, above the dome of the cathedral. The Mother of God, depicted in the Orans position, and John the Baptist, John the Theologian, the kneeling Basil the Great, the apostles Peter and Andrew, John Chrysostom (with a book), Luke the Evangelist and others behind her stand between the Savior and the people, acting as intercessors for the latter. The faces of five angels are depicted above their heads.
Among the worshipers, the icon painter depicted Emperor Leo and Empress Irene (on the ambon — the platform), Euthymius the Great (with a book), his disciple Romanos the Melodist (on the ambon with a book) and choristers. On the bottom right are Andrew the Fool and Epiphanius. Apparently, they hold a conversation; Dmitry of Rostov believes it went like this: “Do you see, brother, the Queen and Mistress of all praying for the whole world?” asks Andrew, and the disciple replies:
Later, the Feast of the Intercession became even more beloved in Russia than in Byzantium.
The oldest Russian icons of the Intercession date back to the 13th century, at the same time churches and monasteries in honor of the Intercession began to appear. Initially, there were two iconographic canons: one from Suzdal and the other from Novgorod; later, new versions were developed. A single iconographic source — the hagiography of Andrew the Fool — does not mean uniformity of the icons. All figures, except the one of the Mother of God, extending the omophorion over the worshipers, may differ in details or even be absent.
The composition of the presented icon is multi-figured and fully reflects the wonderful event. The swirling clouds divide the icon space into two parts: at the bottom the master depicted the Blachernae Cathedral, at the top he placed the image of the blessing Christ with those coming to him.
The Savior, in the rays of glory emanating from Him and with a scroll in His left hand, is above the figures, above the dome of the cathedral. The Mother of God, depicted in the Orans position, and John the Baptist, John the Theologian, the kneeling Basil the Great, the apostles Peter and Andrew, John Chrysostom (with a book), Luke the Evangelist and others behind her stand between the Savior and the people, acting as intercessors for the latter. The faces of five angels are depicted above their heads.
Among the worshipers, the icon painter depicted Emperor Leo and Empress Irene (on the ambon — the platform), Euthymius the Great (with a book), his disciple Romanos the Melodist (on the ambon with a book) and choristers. On the bottom right are Andrew the Fool and Epiphanius. Apparently, they hold a conversation; Dmitry of Rostov believes it went like this: “Do you see, brother, the Queen and Mistress of all praying for the whole world?” asks Andrew, and the disciple replies:
