Vintage Russian Silver Icon, "Of the Three Hands"

Mid-20th Century, unique hand painted oil on wood panel, Orthodox Russian Icon, silver-plate and gold-plate 'riza' or casing with enamel detail. Consignor purchased from Poland. Titled, Mother of God - "Of the Three Hands." As the legend says, Saint John lived in the time of iconoclasm, when it was dangerous to be a dedicated follower of religious icons. In 726, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III “the Isaurian” announced an edict prohibiting the veneration of icons. Saint John, who was a heresy rival, highly criticized the actions of the Emperor and was slandered afterwards for his “treasonous” writings. The Caliph ordered to cut off the monk’s right hand as punishment for his disloyalty. Suffering physically, John begged to be given his cut-off hand. He put it to the joint and fell for praying before the icon of the Theotokos. Saint John was begging the Mother of God to heal his hand so that he could write again in the name of the Christian Church. Afterwards, in dreams, he saw the Theotokos who promised him to restore his hand and urged John to work hard all his life. After awakening, Saint John the Damaskus saw that his hand was healed, with just a red scar on the wrist, signifying the wonder performed by the Mother of God. Being grateful for the healing, Saint John made a silver hand and put it to the icon; hence, this Christian icon got its name “Of the Three Hands.” Condition commensurate with age. Size: 12 1/4 x 9 1/2 in.