Icon "Saint Great Martyr Panteleimon"

The icon shows a three-quarter-length, frontal image of Saint Great Martyr Panteleimon, with dark-brown curly hair. He wears a dark-green chiton and a red himation with a golden border; around his head is a halo of jagged rays, encircled by a dotted border. In his left hand Panteleimon holds an open box of medicines, and in his right a small spoon topped with a cross. To the left and right of the halo is the inscription: "Saint Great Martyr Panteleimon" (in Church Slavonic). The background of the icon is golden, covered with a diamond-mesh pattern bearing a stylized cross motif. The icon's frame is black, decorated with a geometric ornament with touches of light blue.

The icon was donated to the museum by Varvara Ivanivna Kreider of Kharkiv in 1966.

Legend: Saint Great Martyr Panteleimon was born in Nicomedia to a pagan father and a Christian mother, and was given the name Pantoleon ("lion in all things"). He studied medicine and later converted to Christianity, receiving the name Panteleimon ("all-merciful") at his baptism. Panteleimon treated the poor free of charge and converted many of them to Christianity, which left other healers without income. He also secretly treated imprisoned Christians. Denounced, he was imprisoned, and for refusing to renounce his faith he was tortured by order of Emperor Maximian, suffering martyrdom by beheading in the year 305.

Prayers to Saint Great Martyr Panteleimon are offered for healing from illness, forgiveness of sins, and protection from enemies. He is regarded as the patron of physicians, soldiers, and all who save human lives. He is also invoked for comfort in despair and for peace of mind.