Icon of Zephaniah the Prophet (Rublev, 1408) – P84

Description

The Prophet Zephaniah lived in the sixth century before Christ and was the son of Cusi and the great-grandson of the Prophet Hezekiah.  The name Zephaniah in Hebrew means “[he who] God has hidden.”  Zephaniah prophesied in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah of Judah (b.c. 641-610) and lived at the same time as the Prophet Jeremiah.  Their words were not pleasing to many of the Israelites, who had strayed far from God’s Law and Commandments.  Often those who speak such words of admonishment for people to return to Godly ways and Godly thoughts are persecuted, as these two prophets were in their own time.

This icon is a remarkable masterpiece of iconography from the hand of Saint Andrei Rublev, the most famous and celebrated iconographer of Russia.  He lived at the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century in Central Russia, and was a monk of Saint Sergius Lavra in Sergei Posad.  His icons show a powerful transcendence and luminosity, with a dynamic and lively form while still held in balance, and are known to be above almost all other iconographic art in beauty and vitality.  This is a great icon.