Ceramic icon “Saint George”
X–XI centuries
On both sides from his figure the writing in Greek is placed “A[gios] Georgios” (St. George)
Clay, colour glaze
17,2 х 17,3 cm
From: was in the collection of P.I. Sevastianov (the gift from the Athos conventual Panteleimon Sapoznikov); came to the museum from Rumyantsev Museum in 1920-ies.
Showcase 8
The ceramic icon of four cornered shape with the image of saint George in a round medallion. In the right hand of the saint is a cross. On both sides from his figure the writing in Greek is placed “A[gios] Georgios” (St. George).
More information...Tales of George’s miracles are widespread and various. Most of them are posthumous miracles.
On Rus’s lands George was worshiped as the Dragon Slayer, a patron of warriors, farmers and breeders. On the memory day of George on April 23, peasants had the day of the first outlet of a cattle to the field, that was accompanied by different rituals (including molding from dough, clay or wax figurines of horses, cows and sheep). As a patron of farmers and breeders George had been perceived already in pre-Mongolian period.
A special worship of George is connected to the name of the grand prince of Kiev Yaroslav the Wise who took Christianity with the name George. Taking example by Byzantium rulers prince Yaroslav transferred to his silver coins and seals the image of George-the warrior and also founded in honor of his patron saint a church in Kiev blessed by Metropolitan Hilarion between 1051 and 1054.
The name George (Gurgi, Yuri, Yegor) became one of the most popular in the Rus’s state not only among dukes, but also among ordinary people, that is proved by chronicles, birchbark letters, graffitos.
On November 26 in 1769 empress Catherine II established the Order of Saint George – the Saint George's Cross that is a special award for military merits. George is considered to be a patron saint of Russian warriors. The image of Saint George is tightly connected to the symbols of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.
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