Saints Guriy, Samon and Aviv

The guards of the home, the defenders of powerless wives from the willfulness of their husbands, prayers-saviors of the peasants from pernicious drunkenness-such are the Byzantine saints Guriy, Samon and Aviv.

The responsiveness of the women’s suffering prayer allowed them to occupy a very important place, especially in the peasant way of life. Although the veneration of saints in Russia dates back to the fourteenth century, the earliest icons are dated to the 17th century, and in the 19th century. they are already found everywhere.

Most of the icons are created by village craftsmen. This icon is written extremely sparingly and clearly intended “for salary”, that is, the icon painters did not bother to write the accessories, knowing that they will be closed with a salary. Nevertheless, the “podkladnitsy” often cause admiration for the skill of direct sketching of figures, which is very close to the art of calligraphy.

The memory of the saints is celebrated on November 28 n. Art. and coincides with the beginning of the Nativity Fast. Krasilin 1996.