Antique icon "the twelve great feasts'

Antique icon dating back to the beginning of XIX cen. and coming from the school of Yaroslav, Russia.
The byzantine traditional Churches may be also grouped under the expression 'twelve great feasts (dodekaorton)' the main feasts around the liturgical year, when, month after month, the main events enclosing the annunciation of the faith in the Church are celebrated.
Starting from XVIII cen., especially in Russia, iconographic schemes grouping the 12th celebrations under a sole representation of the year's cycle have been introduced.
This kind of composition has a central image which for its position, acquires a special importance and emphasis: usually is the very image enclosing all representations around Easter, 'mother of all feasts' .
Four symbolic scenes click in to perfection:
- centrally Christ's Resurrection from the sepulchre;
- below Christ's descent to hell;
- the apparition by Tiberias lake;
- in the background the saints procession to Heaven.
Each icon comes with a photograph and with a survey reported by experts from the Ministry of Russian culture, and export documents.
To take a look at them click here.
To listen to the comment of Prof. U. Procope related to this work of art, click on 'Play' here below.