Icon. Images of the Venerable Arkadiy of Novotorzhok and Saint Martyr Alexandra

The icon shows full-length, frontal images of Saint Arkadia (left) and Saint Martyr Alexandra. Saint Arkadia wears a chiton and a golden-mustard maphorion, and the black orarion and apostolnik that form the monastic dress of deaconesses; she blesses with her right hand and holds a scroll in her left. The orarion and apostolnik bear images of the Instruments of the Passion: the Crucifixion cross, flanked by a spear (left) and a reed with a sponge (right). On the orarion, on either side of the cross, are paired letters that decode as "CROSS/CONQUERS/PARADISE HAS COME TO BE/THE PLACE OF THE SKULL/MOUNT GOLGOTHA." Around her head is a round halo of radiance, above which is the Church Slavonic inscription: "Saint Arkadia."

Saint Martyr Alexandra holds an eight-pointed cross in her right hand, her left hand lowered. She wears a light-brown tunic and a golden-mustard maphorion. Around her head is a round halo, above which is the inscription: "Saint Martyr Alexandra." The saints are shown in a "hall" with a dark-brown floor, with a wall bearing a winding floral ornament behind them. The icon's frame is decorated with stylized flowers set within larger and smaller circles, and a geometric ornament.

The icon panel is reinforced with inset horizontal battens.

The icon was acquired by the museum from S. P. Horiutkina in 1990.

Legend: the icon belongs to the so-called "family" type and was made to order. The saints depicted share the names of the patron's relatives. There is in fact no such saint as "Arkadia."

Saint Martyr Alexandra was the wife of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and secretly professed Christianity. Her public confession of Christianity occurred during the torture of Saint George the Victory-Bearer. The Emperor condemned Alexandra to death. On her way to execution, Alexandra asked permission to rest, leaned against the wall of a building, and died in the year 303.

Saint Alexandra is prayed to for protection from evil people, the strengthening of faith, and the granting of patience in trials.