ICONS
Whenever I go to
Moscow, I am astonished at the variety of icons one can buy. Ranging from big
antique ones at very high prices, to small copies (that only cost a few roubles)
to put in your wallet.
However commercial it may have become, the Russian people still have a strong
believe in icons. It still occupies an important place in most Russian orthodox
families. They have a special corner (the 'beautiful' corner), where the
namesakes and patron saints are being worshipped. On special occasions candles
are being lit and sometimes the icons are even decorated with a flower wreath.
Visitors entering a house will always greet and pay their respect to the icons
first, before greeting their hosts.
**I have seen for myself, inside the churches, how much the icons are
still being worshipped. They get touched and kissed thousands of times and for
some reason people seem to get some inner strength from doing just that. I have
seen very poor old women, shivering with cold, hunger and/or sickness, shuffle
slowly and painfully into the church, standing in line to get to an icon; then
reaching out with a trembling hand, touching and kissing it; and turning away
from it with a smile and a brighter light in their eyes.**
That makes you wonder: there must be more to an icon than just the beauty of the
picture on the outside....
Most icons from my collection have been hand-painted, either on wood or on
paper-mache, again in the same way and technique as the lacquer boxes., made
exclusively for "De MiniLaars".
The icons that are not hand-painted, are originals that the Russians buy
themselves in metro-stations, churches, etc. They put them on the dash-board of
their car of give them to friends or family on special occasions. E.g. you have
a friend in hospital; you go and buy her an icon of the saint that protects the
sick.
Should you require an icon with a saint, other than the ones in the standard
collection, these can be ordered and made especially for you at very little
extra cost. Please contact me if you have a special request.