A RUSSIAN ICON OF THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL, 19TH CENTURY. CARVED WOOD the question of whether or

the question of whether or not Mary actually underwent physical death remains open in the Catholic view

The icon of St

made by Byzantine Iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian

he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury

A RUSSIAN ICON OF THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL, 19TH CENTURY. CARVED WOOD the question of whether orA RUSSIAN ICON OF THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL, 19TH CENTURY. This icon depicts the Archangel Gabriel as he announces to the Virgin Mary that she will bear a son who shall be called Jesus. He holds a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The thick wood panel, with shaped arch top, would suggest that this icon was once part of a pair of icons representing the Annunciation and of the type commonly displayed on the Royal doors or Tsar Doors (Tsarskiye Dveri), so