Triptych Russian Icon of Christ & The Virgin of the Unfading Roses, c. 1700's

A traditional Russian triptych of Christ and the Virgin of the Unfading Roses. The Mother of God and her son are shown wearing crowns and dressed in red; a color traditionally associated with royalty. According to tradition, the roses/flowers represent the Virgin's purity, offered as a sacrifice in order to give birth to him. Christ is shown holding a sphere as a symbol of his dominion over the world. He is often shown holding another object, such as a scepter or a scroll. The scepter symbolizes his authority and kingship, while a scroll can represent his teachings or the Gospel. They are surrounded by various saints and martyrs, having St. George below, slaying a dragon symbolizing the victory of good and bad. They also depict St. Demetrius slaying an enemy, possibly Lyaeus; whose role was to intimidate and defeat Christians. Dimensions: Icon Closed: 13"H x 8"W x .5"D Icon Opened as Triptych: 13"H x 16"W x .3"D