Antimension.

The antimension takes the form of a rectangular sheet of white silk fabric (satin) with a printed image in black. At the center of the composition is an elaborate multi-figure scene of the "Entombment": the body of Christ, with the inscription "Ho Ōn" on his halo, lies on a shroud on a stone bier, surrounded by the sorrowfully bowed figures of the Mother of God and the saints Joseph, John the Theologian, Mary of Cleopas, Mary of James, Mary Magdalene, and Nicodemus. The figures are accompanied by printed Cyrillic inscriptions on their halos. On either side is a pair of Angels of the Lord. Above the bier rises the Golgotha cross with the title "INRI" ("Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews") and the crown of thorns. Behind the cross are clouds with depictions of cherubim and the Holy Spirit as a dove in radiant rays. In the four corners are the four Evangelists (Matthew, John, Mark, Luke) with their symbols and inscriptions on their halos; in the side cartouches are the instruments of the Passion (a ladder, a spear, a reed, a lantern, a column with a rooster, a vessel, a basket, and so on).

In the upper field is a cartouche with a printed Church Slavonic text: "This Antimension. This is the sacred table for the offering of the bloodless sacrifice in the Divine Liturgy, sanctified by the Grace of the Most Holy Life-Giving Spirit; for this reason authority is granted to perform the sacred rites upon it in the church." Below this is a handwritten inscription in black ink: "Of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, in the...monastery."

In the lower cartouche is a printed text: "By command of the Most Pious, Most Autocratic Great Sovereign, Our Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, of All Russia, and by the blessing of the Most Holy Governing Synod, consecrated by His Grace Stefan...of Pskov and Narva, in the God-saved city of Pskov, in the year 1744, on the 29th day of May." Below the frame is a handwritten inscription: "The humble Stefan, Bishop of Pskov and Narva."

The object entered the museum's holdings in 1956.

Note: an antimension is a consecrated liturgical cloth depicting the Entombment of Christ. It is placed on the altar table and is required for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox tradition.

Antimensia were made by printing (an engraving on fabric) sacred images and specific texts; on the reverse was sewn a tiny pouch containing a particle of a saint's relics, mixed with a compound of wax, incense, and other fragrances. The finished cloth was signed by hand on the front and finally consecrated by a bishop, who indicated the church, the date, and his own name. The antimension then became the authorization to celebrate the Liturgy.