In accordance with Orthodox tradition, it is generally accepted that the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands was created by the divine power itself, but the world famous icon stored in the Tretyakov Gallery was supposedly painted around the 12th century and, apparently, by a very specific author.
Due to its venerable age, the origin and history of the creation of the icon cannot be unambiguously and completely reconstructed.
But then what is known about one of the most ancient Russian icons?
It is believed that the "Savior" was created by Novgorod icon painters in the late 11th - early 12th centuries for the Church of the Holy Image, located in Novgorod. The temple itself was mentioned at the beginning of the 12th century and, according to chronicle sources, was replaced by a new one, dedicated to the icon of the same name in 1191.
It is not known when and under what circumstances the shrine left Novgorod, but according to the most likely version, the transfer of the "Savior" to the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin took place during the reign of Ivan the Terrible.
The very image of the Savior is closely connected with Byzantine iconography, which is especially noticeable for its rigor, minimalism and almost perfect symmetry. The only exception is the slightly raised left eyebrow of Christ.
The icon painter used fairly restrained color schemes, using for the most part only various shades of yellowish and olive ocher.
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However, it is possible that the original color scheme of the icon was slightly different, and the upper layers of pigment were destroyed by time.
The Savior's face is highlighted by a round halo with an ivory-colored cross inscribed in it.
Christ looks to the left. His hair is dark in color and accentuated by golden lines, and his beard is slightly parted in different directions. In the left and right corners of the image there is a partially preserved signature - the letters IC XC (Ιησους Χριστος / Jesus Christ).
As a rule, two-sided icons were considered especially revered and were brought to the faithful only on special occasions, for example, during religious processions.
The reverse depicts the scene "The Glorification of the Cross", around which are the Archangel Gabriel and Michael, carrying the instruments of the Passion (torture) of Christ: a cane with a sponge in Gabriel's hands and Michael's spear.
Above the heads of the angels, the moon and the sun, in an allegorical representation, as well as the seraphim are cherubs with red wings.
The very color scheme used on the back of the icon is much wider than in the case of the image of Christ, and the style is quite dramatically different (most likely "Glorification of the Cross" was depicted a century later).
Since 1930, the Savior Not Made by Hands has been kept in the Tretyakov Gallery and is considered one of the most valuable works of Russian icon painting.
