Icon of the Mother of God Joy of All the Afflicted. Oil... Lot 32

Icon of the Mother of God Joy of All the Afflicted. Oil on wood (chips). Russia, 18th century. In its gilt oklad 84 zolotniks (875‰) with repoussé, openwork and chased decoration. Tula, 1788. Goldsmith N. Tch. in Cyrillic (Master unknown but listed). Gross weight : 1 300 g Height : 33,3 cm - Width : 28,5 cm Our icon was made for the Centenary of the miraculous healing of Euphemia, sister of the patriarch Joachim of Moscow, which she obtained on October 24, 1688, in the context of the Russian-Turkish war (1787-1792) for the possession of the Crimea The original icon Joy of All the Afflicted was located in Moscow in the parish church of the Transfiguration, and was glorified in 1688 as a result of this miraculous healing. Around 1720, Emperor Peter the Great had the icon brought from Moscow to his new capital, St. Petersburg, where it was venerated in the private chapel of the Imperial Family. A copy of the icon accompanied Peter I in the war against the Turks. There are several models of this icon whose iconographic canon is rather late, since the first mention of this icon dates back to 1688. The Mother of God is standing, surmounted by Christ in glory. At her feet, on either side, are those who pray and those who come to her to be helped and healed. The Mother of God may be clothed in royal robes and crowned. If she carries the Child in her arms, he is also crowned. She may hold in her hands an unfolded phylactery that bears the following message: O most merciful Son, turn your gaze to your Mother and hear the prayer of your servants. Groups of needy people who flock to the Mother of God often carry phylacteries with the following supplications: Visit us and help us in old age and infirmity, O Sovereign! Help those who are in the torments of cold and nakedness; Clothe those who are naked; Virgin, Mother of God, hope and consolation of the sick; Sovereign, healing of the sick and salvation of all; Give food to the hungry; Travel with us who are on a journey; Safe refuge for sailors; Sovereign consolation for pilgrims; Look upon us with Your merciful eyes, O Sovereign, joy of the afflicted, advocate of the forsaken; Change our affliction into joy, because we are unhappy.