€200 - €300
AN ANTIQUE RARE RUSSIAN ICON, depicting the third finding of the venerable head of saint John the Baptist. Tempura on wooden panel. Can be observed to be the ‘Third finding’ due to background depicting Constantinople - The third and final finding came during the reign of Emperor Michael III, in a time of great unrest in the Byzantine Empire. The holy head had been hidden in Comana of Cappadocia by Christians during earlier persecutions and eventually came into the possession of a group of monks. These monks, guided by a vision, brought the relic to Constantinople in the year 850. It was placed with honour in the Church of Saint John the Baptist in the capital. Condition as photographed, wear commensurate with age. Dimensions: 21cm x 27.8cm approx.
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