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aint Seraphim (1759-1833) was the most renowned 19th century saint. At the age of 66 Seraphim began his career as a spiritual elder (Russian Satretz). Emerging from his trial of prayer and vigil, he turned to the suffering world as a healer, visionary and spiritual master of unusual vigor and radiance. He was known as a hard but compassionate taskmaster who taught that every man could achieve Christian perfection in his ordinary life through the practice of prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a miserable sinner.” In this icon he is depicted holding a chotki (prayer rope) upon which he said the Jesus Prayer. In the upper left corner is the icon of the Mother of God which Seraphim called his “Joy of Joys.” In the background is his monastery, as it looked at the time of his glorification (canonization) on July 19, 1903, due in large part to the insistence of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. On the day of Seraphim’s canonization, Nicholas II and other Sovereigns carried the coffin containing his relics to its resting-place. Seraphim was revered by the Royal family, and it is known that in the office of Nicholas II hung an icon protraying the beloved saint. The abbreviated inscription above his head reads, “The Holy Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, Wonderworker.” This icon ws most likely acquired by a pilgrim at Sarov.

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his icon was presented to Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, wife of Grand Duke Vladimir, who was the son of Tsar Alexander II, brother of Tsar Alexander III, and uncle of Tsar Nicholas II. It depicts the venerable Saint Savva of Storozhev. Savva was a disciple of Saint Sergiy of Radonezh and was considered a great Wonderworker. After his death in 1406 he appeared to many people, sometimes to instruct, sometimes to warn, and sometimes to heal. He wears the Great Skema, sign of his high monastic rank, and delivers a blessing with his right hand. In his left hand he holds a scroll upon which begins, “Brothers the fruits of the spirit are Love and Joy.” The distinctive style of this icon would suggest that it was by the hand or from the workshop of Mikhail Ivanovich Dikarev. Dikarev was born and trained in the icon-painting village of Mstera. He founded an icon-painting workshop in Moscow and is known to have created icons presented to the Royal family. The borders of the icon are overlaid with a gilded silver riza in the Pan Slavic style. It is set in a custom-fitted silk lined case with the retailers’ mark of Faberge. The reverse of the icon displays an engraved silver presentation plaque that reads; “To Her Imperial Highness, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, from the Police force of the District of Zvenigorod. April 10, 1908.” The connection to Zvenigorod, of course, is Saint Savva. The highly stylized and condensed inscription identifies him as “Holy Venerable Savva of Storozhevsk, Wonderworker of Zvenigorod.”