Icon of Saint Alexius, Man of God

Icon "Alexey, Man of God"

Kyiv, late 19th century

wood, two inset splines, gesso, oil

Size: 31 x 24 x 3 cm

Icon "Alexey, Man of God"

Icon «Alexey, Man of God»

The icon depicts Saint Alexey – the Man of God. He stands barefoot on the floor of a simple room, dressed in long Roman attire, his right hand placed on his chest, his left leaning on a staff. Nearby is a table with a jug of water and a paper scroll. On the wall behind him, an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is visible, with an oil lamp burning before it. The image of the saint radiates unwavering Christian faith and hope for divine blessing.

The icon is painted in oil on a gessoed wooden board, in the academic style. The figure of the saint is well-drawn, his face framed by dark hair and a short beard, rendered in a realistic chiaroscuro manner. The broad, freely falling folds of his clothing are meticulously detailed. The image of Alexey is imbued with faith and conviction in the righteousness of his chosen path of spiritual and moral purification.

According to his hagiography, St. Alexey lived in Rome in the 5th century and was the only son of wealthy and devout parents, Euphemian and Aglaïs. Immediately after his wedding, he secretly left home and traveled to Edessa, where "having distributed all that he had to the poor, he himself embraced poverty" and began to beg for alms in the church porch. Then destiny brought him back to Rome, where he found refuge in his father's house. Unrecognized by anyone, in humility and patience, he lived there modestly for seventeen years and was informed by the Lord of the day of his death. Then the saint, taking paper, described his life, apologizing to his parents and fiancée. On the day of Alexey's death, Pope Innocent I (402–417) celebrated liturgy in the cathedral in the presence of Emperor Honorius (395–423). During the service, a miraculous voice rang out from the altar: "Find the Man of God, who is departing to eternal life, let him pray for the city." They searched everywhere but did not find the righteous man. The Pope asked the Lord to indicate God's chosen one. After the liturgy, a voice was heard again in the temple: "Seek the Man of God in Euphemian's house." Everyone rushed there, but the saint had already died. His face shone like an angel, and in his hand was clutched a paper, which he would not release, no matter how hard they tried to take it. The Pope and the Emperor appealed to the venerable one, as if to a living person, asking him to unclench his hand, and the saint granted their plea.

This icon belongs to the Kyiv icon-painting school of the late 19th century. The image is distinguished by its high craftsmanship. Monuments of this style are preserved in the collection of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve.