The icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker was created by an unknown icon painter in the late 13 – first half of the 14th centuries. Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is one of the most revered saint bishops in orthodoxy. He lived in the late 3 – first half of the 4th century. Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker served as Archbishop of Myra in Lycia in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker participated in the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea. There he spoke as a passionate opponent of the heresy disseminated by presbyter Arian of Alexandria.
There are several versions describing the life of the Saint. Different versions describe В the miracles performed by Saint Nicholas during his lifetime and after death. In 1087, the relics of the Saint were moved from Myra in Lycia to Bari, Italy. After that, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker became especially revered in Rus. In honor of translation of the relics, the Russian Orthodox Church established a special holiday that did not exist in Byzantium. Saint Nicholas was venerated as a Holy Hierarch equal to the Apostles and was considered the patron of humankind.
This is a half-length icon with a frontal view of Saint Nicholas. He is blessing worshipers with his right hand while holding the closed Gospel in his left hand. On both sides of the Saint are half-length images of Christ handing him the Gospel and the Holy Virgin with an omophorion in Her left hand. The lips of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker are tightly closed and oval almond-shaped eyes are looking directly at the viewer. His facial features are large and geometrically precise. The strands of hair and the beard are painted with great detail.
There are several versions describing the life of the Saint. Different versions describe В the miracles performed by Saint Nicholas during his lifetime and after death. In 1087, the relics of the Saint were moved from Myra in Lycia to Bari, Italy. After that, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker became especially revered in Rus. In honor of translation of the relics, the Russian Orthodox Church established a special holiday that did not exist in Byzantium. Saint Nicholas was venerated as a Holy Hierarch equal to the Apostles and was considered the patron of humankind.
The Murom cadastre of the 1630s, contain the description of the icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in a gilded silver frame with stamped crowns and grivnas (metal torcs) and attached silver coins. The book describes the lavish decoration of the icon, which points to its special reverence by Murom citizens who considered the icon miracle working.
The restoration of the icon by professionals revealed traces of a blue paint layer. They discovered later painting in places where the original had been destroyed. Fragments of XVII century painting have been preserved in the right half of the icon века: the image of the Holy Virgin and a medallion.
