The Legend of Conception of Svensky Monastery and the Icon of Our Lady of Pechersk Svensk: Text History, Poetics and Iconography

Abstract

The article defines the circumstances of the existence of the icon of Our Lady of Svensk Pechersk, which according to legend is a miracle-working icon of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, sent to Bryansk to heal the blind Prince Roman. Its iconography reproduces the altar mosaic of the assumption Pechersk Church with the image of Our Lady enthroned, supplemented by figures of the upcoming venerable Anthony and Theodosius, which are their first surviving images. The story, reflecting the history of the icon, preserved in the Legend of Conception of Svensky Monastery and in the Tale of Svensky Icon of Our Lady. The Legend dates no later than 1566, when the life of the Svensky monastery became more active in connection with the renewal of the icon’s riza, carried out on the instructions of Ivan IV Vasilyevich. Most likely, the protograph of the Legend is a petition about the restoration of the icon’s riza of the elder Job Kamy- nin, presumably included in the monastic chronicler. Two well-known lists of Tales published in the late 18th — early 20th centuries belong to editions dating back to this protograph. The text of the Legend does not reflect the ecphrasis of the miraculous icon, but contains a legend about the finding of the Shrine and the Foundation of the monastery, which dates back to 1288. It is the miracle-working icon that becomes the main text-generating factor of the Legend, which implements the traditional motif: an ancient Shrine changes a person’s life, heals him through the prayers of Our Lady, he builds a monastery that be- gins to live, preserving the memory of the shrine, the donator and legendary events. The Tale of Svensky Icon of Our Lady is a monument of the 19th century and it is a Special edition of the Legend, which is limited to the history of the icon and the emergence of Svensky monastery in the late 13th century.