Icona - Presentazione della Vergine al Tempio - Legno, Tempera

Presentation of Mary in the temple.
Tempera on wood.
Russia, 19th Century.

Exquisite icon made following the strict cannons of Orthodox Sacred art.

We can see Saint Anne and Saint Joachim bringing their daughter Mary to the temple at the age of three, as they had vowed to God that they would. Concerned that she might turn back to her parents, Joachim gathers the holy Hebrew virgins to form a procession. In the icon, we see two of these young women standing directly behind the couple.
The High Priest Zacharias greets the holy family and with arms outstretched, receives the child into the temple; a child who herself will become the “Holy Temple of God.” The Theotokos reaches her hands out to him. We are reminded of her complete, humble and trusting openness to the will of God and the “yes” that she will give when she is later asked to bear the Son of God.

Measurements
25 cm x 20 cm

Condition
Good condition. Some dents present at the borders of the icon. Restoration made at the top of the icon, probably a crack in the wood.