0439 Sts. Peter&Paul. Sts George, Spyridon &Demetrius

Greek.
17 cent. Last Quarter. 25.5x18x2.5 cms. 

The icon dates from the last Quarter of the 17th cent. in a period following the Ottoman conquest of Crete in 1669. Thereby the emotion that inspired the icon was protection; protection of the Greek  faith culture and family.

The icon is composed of two tears. In the uppermost is Peter. “The Rock” stands firm allegorically holding The Church. St Paul stand to his left, a reminder that even in times of repression it is the duty of every Christian to preach the Gospel and keep the Faith. Below, protected by the warrior Saints of St George [left] and St Demetrius  [right] is St. Spyridon not only protecting the family bt society in general.

Since purchase the icon has been cleaned revealing not only the strong individual portraits of the saints but the brightness of their clothing. The cleaning also revealed the soft 17th cent. gold leaf that is gilded to the icon’s background. Restoration to losses in the original paint has been minimal.