images of the angels, the heavenly
messengers bearing the bishop his
episcopal insignia.
It is significant that the one named
Michael is depicted under the figure
of the Savior, which suggests certain
associations with this archangel as the
leader of Christ’s heavenly host, while
the angel under the figure of the Virgin
Mary is identified by the inscription as
the Archangel Gabriel, which in turn
recalls the theme of the Annunciation.
Figure 8. Detail (left): The
rescue of the drowning Dimitri.
Figure 9. Detail (right): The
healing of the possessed boy.
The lower corners of the icon are taken
up with two scenes of miracles by the
saint (Figures 8, 9). On the left is the
saving of the young Demetrios, whose
boat has overturned in the sea and
on the right, the healing of the youth
possessed by an evil spirit. The unusual
feature of each scene is that Nicholas
himself is not depicted there. The miraculous events are taking place through the agency
of the angels who bear grace to those in trouble. The significance of the angels’ figures is
revealed by the inscriptions:
АГГЛЪ Г[осподе]НЬ ИЗБАВИ ДМИТРИЯ ОТ ПОТОПА
МОЛИТВАМИ СТГО НИКОЛЫ (The angel of the Lord saves
Demetrios from the flood through the prayers of Saint Nicholas)
АГГЛЪ Г[оспо]Д[ен]Ь ИЗГНА БИСА ОТ ЧОЛОВИКА
МОЛИТВАМИ СТГО НИКОЛЫ (The angel of the Lord drives a
demon from a man through the prayers of Saint Nicholas).
Figure 10. Detail from icon
of the Dormition. Novgorod,
beginning of the 13th century.
Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Thanks to these inscriptions the role of the saint as a miracle-worker is not only revealed
by the representation but also stressed in verbal form. The actual content of both
inscriptions points to the role of the word, the saint’s prayers, through the agency of
which his miraculous acts take place.
But the saint’s role as miracle-worker
is also revealed visually, as the angels
are flying to the suffering in this world
from the gold background where Saint
Nicholas is. They are perceived as
his messengers.
The icon’s composition clearly
expresses the theme of the glorification
of the saint. This theme is expressed
more clearly here than in any other
representation of Saint Nicholas, even
the most solemn: more strongly than in
6
Journal of Icon Studies