Icon of Saint Boniface ancient Russia hand painted 25x20

Icon of Saint Boniface ancient Russia hand painted 25x20 cm.Antique religious icon dating back to the 19th century of Russian origin depicting Saint Boniface, hand painted with egg tempera on a wooden tablet and treated with levkas.According to legend, Boniface went from Rome to Tarsus, in Cilicia (Anatolia), in order to bring back the relics of the martyrs to his mistress Aglaida, of whom he was steward. Both Bonifacio and Aglaida were pagans and lived in debauchery. Tired of their way of life, but also interested in understanding Christianity, Aglaida sent Boniface on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to collect the relics of Christian martyrs. When he arrived in Tarsus, Boniface discovered that a massive persecution had begun against the Christians. He himself declared himself a Christian and, as such, was subjected to martyrdom. His embalmed body was brought back to Rome to be buried in an oratory on the Via Latina. Aglaida herself decided to join Christianity in her turn. Left all his wealth to the poor, he retired to monastic life for the eighteen years in which he still lived, receiving (again according to legend) the divine gift of exorcising evil spirits. In memory of Bonifacio, Aglaida had a church built on the Aventine, which later became the basilica of Saints Bonifacio and Alessio (where the remains of Alessio of Rome are also found), a place where the saint's relics were later transferred to an urn marble funerary church under the high altar on Palm Tuesday in 1217.This St Boniface icon is an original unique piece and measures 27x21 cm. On the back it is equipped with a hook for hanging and is accompanied by an appraisal drawn up by an expert. Delivered with an elegant blue satin case.