Icon of St. Nicholas

Icon of St. Nicholas is a hand-painted Orthodox icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia. This image presents him not only as a strict hierarch of the Church, but also as a merciful father, a quick intercessor, and one of the most beloved saints in the Christian world.

The icon is especially solemn and richly ornamented. Saint Nicholas is shown waist-length, blessing with his right hand and holding an open Gospel in his left. Beside him, in blue cloud medallions, appear Christ and the Mother of God, referring to the Miracle of Nicaea. The red phelonion, green omophorion, gold assist, warm gold background, and painted filigree-and-enamel borders make this icon a dignified image for a home prayer corner, chapel, church, or family shrine.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

Saint Nicholas is venerated throughout the Orthodox Church as a bishop, wonderworker, defender of the faith, and merciful intercessor. He is especially loved for his help to travelers, sailors, children, the poor, families, and people suffering from injustice or hardship.

In Orthodox devotion, Saint Nicholas is not approached as a distant historical bishop, but as a living intercessor before God. His icon helps the believer pray with attention, ask for mercy and guidance, and remember the Christian calling to compassion, generosity, courage, and faithfulness.

The Miracle of Nicaea

A central feature of this icon is the small scene on either side of Saint Nicholas’s head. Christ appears on one side and the Most Holy Theotokos on the other, each in a blue heavenly medallion surrounded by light clouds. This detail refers to the iconographic tradition known as the Miracle of Nicaea.

According to the tradition, Saint Nicholas was deprived of episcopal signs after his zeal at the First Ecumenical Council. In a miraculous vision, Christ returned the Gospel to him and the Mother of God returned the bishop’s omophorion. In this icon, the scene affirms Saint Nicholas as a true hierarch whose zeal was joined to faith and pastoral love.

Face, Blessing, and Open Gospel

Saint Nicholas is shown frontally, with the dignity and stillness of a bishop standing before God. His high forehead, gray hair, short beard, and attentive gaze are written in the tradition of Byzantine and Russian Orthodox icon painting. The expression is strict, but not cold; it carries the tenderness and compassion for which Saint Nicholas is loved.

His right hand is raised in blessing. In his left hand he holds a wide open Gospel. The Church Slavonic text begins with the words from Luke 6, a Gospel reading traditionally used in services for holy hierarchs. The open book emphasizes that Saint Nicholas’s mercy is inseparable from the Gospel and from his service as a bishop of the Church.

Red Phelonion and Green Omophorion

The saint’s vestments are painted with remarkable decorative detail. The red phelonion suggests fiery faith, sacrificial love, and victory in Christ. Its surface is covered with a fine gold pattern of circles, crosses, and rhythmic ornament.

Over the phelonion lies the green omophorion, the bishop’s vestment that recalls the lost sheep carried by the Good Shepherd. It is also enriched with gold floral ornament. These vestments make the image visibly episcopal, while the ornament supports the spiritual meaning rather than replacing it.

Gold, Filigree, and Painted Enamel Ornament

The background inside the kovcheg and the smooth halo around Saint Nicholas are gilded with 23K gold leaf (960 purity). Gold in Orthodox icon painting points to divine light and sanctity. Here it creates a warm radiance around the saint and helps the figure stand apart from ordinary portraiture.

The borders are one of the most distinctive parts of this icon. They are not a separate metal riza. The icon painter creates a painted imitation of old filigree and colored enamel: fine gold lines appear like delicate metalwork, while blue, red, and white color accents suggest cloisonne enamel. This gives the icon a refined, heirloom appearance while preserving the integrity of hand-painted icon work.

Prayer Before the Icon

Before an icon of Saint Nicholas, Orthodox Christians ask his intercession for safe travel by land, sea, and air; help for children and families; support in illness and poverty; protection from injustice; and wise guidance in difficult circumstances. Many also turn to him when a situation feels humanly impossible and they need courage, clarity, and mercy.

The icon should not be treated as a charm or a guarantee of worldly success. It is a sacred image for prayer. Through it, the believer asks God for help through the intercession of Saint Nicholas and learns mercy, generosity, patience, and trust.

Mstyora Icon-Painting Materials

This icon is made using traditional Mstyora icon-painting methods. The base is a dry linden wood board with a carved kovcheg and oak splines on the reverse side. Linen canvas is applied to the front, followed by layers of chalk gesso prepared for egg tempera painting.

The image is painted with mineral egg tempera. The gold background, halo, and decorative assist are made with 23K gold leaf (960 purity). The finished icon is protected with linseed oil and varnish. Because each icon is painted by hand, small differences in the face, Gospel text, vestment ornament, borders, and gold details are natural.

Gift and Placement

This icon can become a meaningful gift for a wedding, anniversary, name day, family celebration, spiritual mentor, leader, traveler, sailor, or someone named Nicholas. Its rich ornament and theological depth also make it suitable as a church or chapel donation.

In the home, it may be placed in the family icon corner near icons of Christ and the Mother of God. In a church or chapel, it can be placed on an analogion, in a kiot, in a side chapel, or in an iconostasis setting when the size and composition are chosen for that purpose.

Available Sizes

This icon is available in 17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in), 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in), 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in), and 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in). Larger iconostasis sizes can be discussed individually before the icon is painted.

The smaller sizes are suitable for home prayer. The larger sizes give more space for the face, open Gospel, Nicaea scene, vestment ornament, gold assist, and painted filigree-and-enamel borders.

Free international shipping is included. Payment is made after you receive and approve the icon.

Care for the Icon

Because this icon includes extensive gilding and fine painting, it should be cared for carefully. Keep it away from moisture, direct sunlight, heaters, kitchen steam, humidifiers, and sudden temperature changes. Do not clean it with water, alcohol, sprays, or household products.

Dust should be removed only with a dry soft brush or dry microfiber cloth, without pressure. For long-term preservation, especially with a richly decorated icon like this, a wooden kiot with glass is recommended.

Icon Characteristics

Name	Icon of St. Nicholas
Saint	Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
Iconographic type	Waist-length image with open Gospel and the Miracle of Nicaea
Main details	Christ and the Mother of God in cloud medallions, open Gospel, blessing hand, red phelonion, green omophorion
Materials	Linden wood board, kovcheg, oak splines, linen canvas, chalk gesso, mineral egg tempera
Gold and ornament	23K gold leaf (960 purity), gold assist, painted imitation of filigree and colored enamel
Available sizes	17×21 cm, 20×24 cm, 27×31 cm, 30×40 cm; larger iconostasis sizes by agreement

Questions and Answers

Why is this icon called the Merciful image of Saint Nicholas?

This name is often connected with icons where Saint Nicholas blesses the faithful and holds an open Gospel, emphasizing pastoral care, compassion, and readiness to help those who turn to God through his intercession.

Who are the figures beside Saint Nicholas?

They are Christ and the Mother of God. This iconographic detail is known as the Miracle of Nicaea and recalls the restoration of Saint Nicholas’s episcopal dignity.

What does the gold ornament on the vestments mean?

The fine gold assist on the vestments suggests divine grace and spiritual radiance. It also emphasizes the dignity of Saint Nicholas as a bishop and wonderworker.

What is written in the open Gospel?

The open Gospel begins with a Church Slavonic text from Luke 6, a Gospel reading traditionally associated with hierarchs and bishops in Orthodox worship.

Are the icon borders made of metal?

No. The borders are painted by hand with tempera and gold leaf to imitate old filigree and colored enamel work. This is painted ornament, not a separate metal cover.

What materials are used for this icon?

The icon is made on a linden wood board with a kovcheg, oak splines, linen canvas, chalk gesso, mineral egg tempera, 23K gold leaf (960 purity), linseed oil, and protective varnish.

What do Orthodox Christians ask Saint Nicholas to pray for?

They ask his intercession for travelers, sailors, children, families, people facing injustice, those in hardship, and anyone who needs help, mercy, and wise guidance.

When is Saint Nicholas commemorated?

Major commemorations include December 19, May 22, and August 11 in the Russian Orthodox calendar tradition.

Can this icon be used in a car?

This icon is intended for a home icon corner, chapel, church, or prayer space. For a vehicle, a much smaller travel or car icon is usually more practical.

How should this gilded icon be cared for?

Keep it away from moisture, direct sunlight, heat, and sudden temperature changes. Dust it only with a dry soft brush or microfiber cloth, without rubbing the gilded or painted surface.