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A FINE RUSSIAN ICON: Saint Adrian Poshenkonskiy, 19th century. This icon
type is included in the official church list of miraculous Mother of God
icons. In the year 1540 Adrian, a disciple of Kornily of Komel, along with
the Starets Leonid, went to seek a suitable place to begin a monastery.
Before leaving they were blessed with an icon of the Dormition of the
Mother of God. While surveying the forest along the Votkha River near the
village of Poshekhonye, they placed the icon high up in a tree as they
continued to assess the area. At the same time three fishermen working the
nearby river saw the icon up in the tree. They decided to try fishing
beneath the tree that held the icon. There they caught two enormous pikes.
One of the fishermen then climbed the tree in hopes of retrieving the
icon, only to fall and become unconscious. They then decided that the icon
should not be touched, so they left one of the fish they had caught along
with a loaf of bread in the tree as an offering. When Adrian and Leonid
returned from their survey, they found the fish and bread in the tree.
Adrian decided to build his monastery across the river from the tree. The
icon illustrates this story. Adrian is depicted upon his return to the
tree to discover the fish and loaf beneath the icon. The monastery he
founded is seen in the background. He is identified by the lengthy
abbreviated inscription above his head as: "The Holy Venerable Adrian of
Poshekhonye Wonderworker". The entire image overlaid with a finely crafter
silvered metal riza. 7.25 inches x 5.75 inches (18 cm x 14 cm). Estimate
$1,000-$1,500 |
