Icon "Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker"

The icon shows a half-length image of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, in a three-quarter turn to the left, in episcopal vestments: sakkos, omophorion, mantle, and cuffs. He blesses with his right hand and holds the Gospel in his left. At the top, to the right of Saint Nicholas's head, is depicted the Mother of God, and to the left, Jesus Christ. Below Christ is Saint Mark. The icon is set in a solid metal riza with a relief depiction of the Gospel and the garments of Saint Nicholas, Saint Mark, Christ, and the Mother of God. The halos are applied. Inscriptions: beside Christ's halo, "S. Chris[t...]"; beside the Mother of God's halo, "Ma[...]"; beside Saint Mark's halo, "St. Mark." The faces and hands of Saints Nicholas and Mark, Christ, and the Mother of God are painted in oil. The icon panel is reinforced with inset end battens. At the top of the reverse is a round metal ring for hanging the icon.

The icon belonged to S. P. Hryhorieva of Kharkiv and was donated to the museum by Varvara Ivanivna Kreider in 1966.

Legend: the tradition of venerating Saint Nicholas in the Ukrainian lands dates back to the official adoption of Christianity in Kyivan Rus.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is invoked for help, for the protection of children, and for keeping families and fields safe from fire. He is the patron of travelers, sailors, farmers, beekeepers and children, and a protector of the poor, the sick, and the condemned.