RUSSIA, Tsars of Russia. Aleksandr II Nikolaevich, 1855-1881. Medal-like Orthodox Pendant (Silver and Porcelain, 75 mm, 52.43 g, 12 h), porcelain icon within silver setting. St. Petersburg, no date (circa 1850-1877). C. Митрофанiя above half-length figure of St. Mitrophan of Voronezh in clerical habit, holding Bible in his hands; in the upper left field, portrait of the Virgin Mary.
Rev. Образь / св: Митрофанiя / cпис: ворон: / гудом in four lines. A high-quality jeweller's work. With russian silver hallmarks (84 AM = 84 Zolotniki / 0.875 fine; assayer A. N. Mitin). Extremely fine.
From a British collection of mainly Armenian and Armenian related coins and medals, formed over the past four decades.
St. Mitrophan of Voronezh (1623–1703) was appointed as the first bishop of Voronezh in 1682. He was interred in the Annunciation Monastery in 1703, with Tsar Peter I Alexeyevich Velikiy (Peter the Great, 1682–1725) himself in attendance. Fourteen years later, when his tomb was opened, his body was found to be intact, and his relics were believed to possess healing properties. Officially canonized in 1832, Mitrophan's renown grew significantly after Emperor Nikolai I Pavlovich (1825–1855) visited his shrine. This surge in fame attracted countless pilgrims from across Central Russia to his tomb in Voronezh. By 1895, the first church in Moscow dedicated to his name was consecrated.
This finely crafted pendant bears the hallmarks of assayer A. N. Mitin, who was active in St. Petersburg between 1842 and 1877. However, the style of the icon painting suggests that the porcelain core dates back to the early 19th century. Pendants of this type were traditionally worn by clerical dignitaries.
