Object ID
2013.5.126
Object Name
Icon
Object Entities
Poulos, Peter (is related to)
Spyirdon, (is related to)
Spyirdon, St. (is related to)
Object Description
Wooden Icon. The image itself is painted on paper and then attacked to the wooden backing. The back drop of the image is color blocked, about four and a half inches fromt he top is a grey/purple color and the set a faded red/brown color. In the center of the image of Spyridon. He has a halo set behind his head, it is all gold and is rimmed with a red and black line. He has a full white beard as well as white hair. He has a hat on his head that is rounded at the top; the top portion of the has is a fabirc material in a turquoise color and the bottom portion, around his head, is gold. Within the turquoise section there is images in it: three oval shaped pictures that are bordered with pearl like peices. In between these oval images there are two dimond shaped peices, gold in color with a red jewel in the center. Right above the gold band that is around his head there is waved edge that is trimmed with more pearl like peices. The gold band around his head is adorned with jewels. An oval piece with a red jewel and a dimond peice with a green one, set one after the other. He has a very serious expretion on his face, looking straight forward and has green eyes. He attire is a very traditional priest clothing. The cloak is a light orange color with dark cream/yellow floral details within it. The sleeves are egded with aa half inch gold strip. His under shirt is the same color as his hat and has a gold cuff around the wrist with pearl peices around the edges and a green jewel in the center. There is another peice of clothing that drapes around his neck and lays flat down the front of his body. It is gold and white; white in the center and gold around the edges. On the left area, slightly above the chest, there is a gold cross, the cross is also seen on the portion laying on the front of the body. His left has has the hand gesture with his ring finger touching his thumb and a bible in his right. The bible itself is in the same color as his hat and undershirt, with gold details. There is also a fold fram on the center of the front cover with an image of what looks like Jesus.
On the back on the icon, stamped in the wood in black ink reads "Refine. Petroleum, 65 [word unreadable]. Trademark. Atlantic. Refining. Company. Warren Frew & Co. Agents. Philadelphia.
Origin
Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous also sometimes written Saint Spiridon is a saint honoured in both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions.
Spyridon was born in Askeia, in Cyprus. He worked as a shepherd and was known for his great piety. He married and had one daughter, Irene. Upon the death of his wife, Spyridon entered a monastery, and their daughter, a convent.
Spyridon eventually became Bishop of Trimythous, or Tremithous (today called Tremetousia), in the district of Larnaca. He took part in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325), where he was instrumental in countering the theological arguments of Arius and his followers.
He reportedly converted a pagan philosopher to Christianity by using a potsherd to illustrate how one single entity (a piece of pottery) could be composed of three unique entities (fire, water and clay); a metaphor for the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
As soon as Spyridon finished speaking, the shard is said to have miraculously burst into flame, water dripped on the ground, and only dust remained in his hand (other accounts of this event say that it was a brick he held in his hand).
After the council, Saint Spiridon returned to his diocese in Tremithous. He later fell into disfavor during the persecutions of the emperor Maximinus, but died peacefully in old age. His biography was recorded by the hagiographer Simeon Metaphrastes and the church historians, Sozomen and Socrates Scholasticus.
When the Arabs took Cyprus, Spyridon's body was disinterred and taken to Constantinople. The relics were found to be incorrupt, and contained a sprig of basil, the "royal plant," both of which were taken as a sign of divine confirmation of his sanctity.
When, in 1453, Constantinople fell to the Turks, Spyridon's relics were removed again; this time, to the island of Corfu by a Corfiote monk called Kalohairetis , where they remain to this day, in Saint Spyridon Church.
The relics are taken in procession every Palm Sunday and on other special occasions, for veneration by the faithful. All Philharmonics of Corfu, including the Philharmonic Society of Corfu take part in these ceremonial events. The relic of his right hand is now located in Rome.
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Citation
Icon, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/10742. Accessed 03/28/24.