Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker and Bishop of Myra (270 - 343), was a historic 4th-century Saint and Greek Bishop of Myra. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolas the Wonderworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus. His reputation evolved among the faithful, as was common for early Christian saints. Saint Nicholas is the patron Saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, and students in Greece, Belgium, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Albania, Russia, the Republic of Macedonia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Montenegro. He is also the patron saint of Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Barranquilla, Bari, Beit Jala, Fribourg, Huguenots, Kozani, Liverpool, Paternopoli, Sassari, Siggiewi, and Lorraine. His feast day is 6 December.

The hallmarks are of Moscow's town mark dating 1900 and "СГ" for silversmith Semyon Galkin.

Rare subject!

In Orthodoxy, a Guardian Angel is a type of angel that is assigned at birth to protect and guide a particular person. Each human has a guardian angel who stands before the face of the Lord. This guardian angel is not only a friend and a protector, who preserves from evil and who sends good thought; the image of God is reflected in the creature—angels and men—in such a way that angels are celestial prototypes of men. Guardian angels are especially our spiritual kin. Scripture testified that the guardianship and direction of the elements, of places, of peoples, of societies, are confined to the guardian angels of the cosmos, whose very substance adds something of harmony to the elements they watch over.

Saint Eudocia (Eudokia) was a Samarian woman who lived in Heliopolis of Phoenicia (present-day Baalbek, Lebanon). She was a very beautiful pagan and garnered her wealth by attracting wealthy lovers. Eudokia learned about Christianity from a monk by the name of Germanos and asked him if she, too, could be saved from Judgment. Germanos instructed her to remain alone in her chamber for one week, fasting and praying. Eudokia followed his instructions, and at the end of the week, she had a vision about the Archangel Michael that assured her of Christ's love for all people. At age 30, Eudokia commissioned the building of a monastery near Heliopolis and dispensed much of her wealth in various charitable projects. She rejected all of her suitors, and when one persistent suitor named Philostratus was struck down because of his persistence, Eudokia prayed for him until he recovered and then converted to Christianity. Eudokia persuaded many pagans to convert to Christianity and, by her actions, angered Roman officials who had her beheaded in 107 AD.

Small icon in silver revetment cover depicting Joy to All Who Sorrow Mother of God. Hallmarked with ca. Moscow 1869 mark. 

Christ Pantocrator refers to a specific depiction of Christ. The most common translation of Pantocrator is "Almighty" or "All-powerful". In this understanding, Pantocrator is a compound word formed from the Greek words for "all" and the noun "strength" (κρατος). This is often understood in terms of potential power, i.e., the ability to do anything, omnipotence. The iconic image of Christ Pantocrator was one of the first images of Christ developed in the Early Christian Church and remained a central icon of the Eastern Orthodox Church. 

Christ is depicted half-length, holding the Gospels in his left hand and making the blessing gesture with his right. The Gospels are opened on John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

The icon depicts St. Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus (Greek: Πελαγία, † early 4th century), a legendary Christian saint and martyr who lived in Tarsus in Cilicia (southeastern Asia Minor) during the reign of Roman emperor Diocletian. According to her vita, Pelagia was born in the 3rd century in Tarsus (the Cilician region of Asia Minor) in a family of noble pagans. The girl was distinguished by her extraordinary beauty, received a good education, and the emperor Diocletian decided to make her the wife of his adopted heir, who was captivated by her beauty. Pelagia, who heard about Christians, their faith and martyrdom, was baptized by Bishop Clinon in Tarsus. After that, she refused to marry the adopted son of Diocletian and was brought by her mother to the Emperor, who, after seeing her beauty, wanted to make her his wife. Pelagia refused Diocletian, confessed herself as a Christian, and was executed by being burned in a red-hot copper bull. The bones of the saint were collected by local Christians and buried on one of the hills in the vicinity of the city. Emperor Constantine I the Great built a holy church over the relics of Pelagia.

Christ Pantocrator refers to a specific depiction of Christ. The most common translation of Pantocrator is "Almighty" or "All-powerful". In this understanding, Pantocrator is a compound word formed from the Greek words for "all" and the noun "strength" (κρατος). This is often understood in terms of potential power, i.e., the ability to do anything, omnipotence. The iconic image of Christ Pantocrator was one of the first images of Christ developed in the Early Christian Church and remained a central icon of the Eastern Orthodox Church. 

Christ is depicted half-length, holding an Orb and a Cross in his left hand and making the blessing gesture with his right. 

In Russia, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is often shown as Holy Hierarch Nicholas of Mozhaisk, depicting a full-length Nicholas with a sword in his right hand and a city in his left because the prayers to Saint Nicholas saved the city of Mozhaisk from the enemy attack.

Saint John the Baptist was a Jewish itinerant preacher in the early first century AD who is revered as a major religious figure in Christianity, Islam, and other faiths. He is called a prophet by all of these traditions and is honored as a saint in many Christian traditions. The Orthodox faithful believe that John was the last of the Old Testament prophets, thus serving as a bridge between that period of revelation and the New Covenant. They also teach that, following his death, John descended into Hades and there once more preached that Jesus the Messiah was coming, so he was the Forerunner of Christ in death as he had been in life. Eastern Orthodox churches will often have an icon of St. John the Baptist in a place of honor on the iconostasis, and he is frequently mentioned during the Divine Services. Every Tuesday throughout the year is dedicated to his memory.

According to the Tradition, Herod's daughter Herodias danced before Herod, who was so pleased that he offered her anything she asked for in return. When the girl asks her mother what she should request, she is told to demand the head of John the Baptist. Reluctantly, Herod orders the beheading of John, and his head is delivered to her, at her request, on a plate. (Mark 6:17–29).

Greatmartyr Panteleimon (or Pantaleon) was the Unmercenary Healer martyred under the reign of Emperor Maximian (ca. 305 A.D.). Saint Panteleimon had been educated as a physician and dedicated his life to the suffering, the sick, the unfortunate, and the needy. He treated all those who turned to him without charge, healing them in the name of Jesus Christ. He visited those held captive in prison. These were usually Christians, and he healed them of their wounds. Saint Panteleimon is venerated in the Orthodox Church as a mighty saint and the protector of soldiers. This aspect of his veneration is derived from his first name Pantaleon, which means “a lion in everything”. His second name, Panteleimon, given him at Baptism, which means “all-merciful,” manifests in the veneration of the martyr as a healer. The connection between these two aspects of the saint is readily apparent in that soldiers, receiving wounds more frequently than others, are more in need of a physician-healer. Christians waging spiritual warfare also have recourse to this saint, asking him to heal their spiritual wounds.

The holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon is invoked in the Mystery of Anointing the Sick, at the Blessing of Water, and in the Prayers for the Sick.

The icon depicts prophet and Prophet and Mystic Elijah surrounded by the vignettes with scenes of his life and his fiery ascent into Havens. Saint Elijah was a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of king Ahab (9th century BC). According to the Books of Kings (17-19), Elijah defended the worship of Yahweh over that of the Phoenician god Baal, he raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky, and was taken up in a whirlwind. In the Book of Malachi, Elijah's return is prophesied "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord," making him a harbinger of the Messiah.

* rare subject *

The Savior of Smolensk is the iconographic type of Jesus Christ represented as the enthroned Pantocrator – full figured with his right hand raised in a blessing gesture and his right hand holding a book of Gospels. He is flanked by the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist and surrounded by the Apostles. To either side of Him, kneeling in prayer at His feet, are Saint Sergius of Radonezh and the Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn.

Small brass-cast travel icon depicting Christ Enthroned. Christ is shown fully-figured sitting on the Heavenly throne flanked by the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist, forming the Orthodox Deisis. Decorated with 3-color enamel. 

A small cast-brass travel icon plaquette depicting St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra decorated with blue enamel. Saint Nicholas is depicted frontally half-figured wearing bishop’s clothes, blessing with his right hand and holding open Gospels with his left one. Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary offering a bishop’s omofor, both in Heavens are shown behind him.

Saint Antipas of Pergamum was ordained by John the Apostle Antipas as bishop of Pergamon during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian. The traditional account goes on to say Antipas was martyred in ca. 92 AD by burning in a brazen bull-shaped altar to cast out demons worshiped by the local population. There is a tradition of oil ("manna of the saints") being secreted from the relics of Saint Antipas. On the calendars of Eastern Christianity, the feast day of Antipas is April 11. Saint Antipas is invoked to assist in toothache. 

Small brass-cast travel icon depicting the Descent of Christ Into Hades. Christ is shown breaking down the doors of Hell rescuing Adam and Eve. Behind them follow the kings, the prophets, and the righteous of the Old Testament. Feast day: Easter Sunday. Decorated with 2-color enamel. 

Mother of God, Joy of All Who Sorrow of Moscow is the name of a popular wonderworking Russian Orthodox icon dating to a miracle that occurred in 1688, when a woman named Euphymia received healing from sickness after obeying a voice telling her to find this icon and have the priest celebrate a prayer with blessing of water. The design of this icon depicts the Mother of God, standing among the flowers of paradise flanked suppliants asking for her intercession.

A small cast-brass travel icon plaquette depicting St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra. Saint Nicholas is depicted frontally half-figured wearing bishop’s clothes, blessing with his right hand and holding open Gospels with his left one. Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary offering a bishop’s omofor, both in Heavens are shown behind him.