AND NOW, TO MAKE THINGS MORE DIFFICULT ….

I hope you all remember the Bogoliubskaya icon type — particularly in the form known as the “Moscow” Bogoliubskaya, like this example:

The keys to look for in identifying the “Moscow” / Moskovskaya type of Bogoliubskaya icon are first, Mary standing at left, commonly with a scroll in her hand, and among the saints gathered on the right, one should find at least a couple of the Metropolitans of Moscow — Peter, Alexei, Iona/Jonah, and Filipp. Also look for at least two “holy fools” like the bare-chested holy fools Maksim and Ioann we see here. Beyond those, the other saints vary in name from example to example.

Do not think that every old icon you see with Mary standing at left and a gathering of saints at right is the “Moscow” Bogoliubskaya, however. It turns out there has been (and still is) a lot of confusion about this, but scholars now separate those with the kind of gathering mentioned above for the Moskovskaya/”Moscow” type from those with a gathering of saints that does not specifically include the Moscow Metropolitans and the Moscow Holy Fools.

Here is an example from the latter half of the 1500s:

(State Historical Museum, Moscow)

Again, scholars now hold that this latter type should not be classified under the Bogoliubskaya title at all, because it apparently developed independently and, confusingly, is thought to have originated in Moscow. In this example, Jesus is seen above, and to his right a crowned, six-winged angel some identify as Jesus represented as Holy Wisdom (Sophia) or as the Angel of Great Counsel. Others are not so sure, because neither of those manifestations of Jesus are commonly depicted with the six wings of seraphim.

To further complicate matters, this latter type — now commonly called the Molenie o Narode — the “Prayer for the People” — is rather variable. This example omits the crowned, six-winged angel and instead has a regular angel crowning Mary at left:

Here is a 16th century example that does have one metropolitan in the top row of saints, at left facing Mary — Metropolitan of Moscow Iona/Jonah:

(State Historical and Cultural Museum, Kremlin)

In the Vologda example below, dating from the last quarter of the 15th century, we see another Metropolitan identified by some as Pyotr/Peter, wearing his white klobuk (clerical hat) standing to the right of the other saints and depicted larger than they.

So, complicated and confusing as this can be, just remember that now not only are the Bogoliubskaya Moskovskaya and the Molenie o Narode considered to be two quite separate types, but also that that Molenie o Narode / “Prayer for the People” is not considered a Bogoliubskaya variant at all — but rather an icon form that shares a common descent with the Bogoliubskaya, both thought to have originated in the Byzantine Hagiosoritissa type — as in this circa 1150 byzantine example kept in the Freising Dombergmuseum:

And also in the Byzantine Paraklesis type, as in this fresco example dating 1310-1315 from the Church of St. Nicholas Orphanos, Thessaloniki:

Now that we have gone through all that and your head is thoroughly muddled, keep in mind that though the Molenie o Narode / “Prayer for the People” is no longer considered a Bogoliubskaya variant by scholars, many people still tend to classify it as such. That is not at all surprising, given that this is a very bewildering group of similar-appearing icons.

As for me, if the crowd of saints at right includes two or more Metropolitans of Moscow, and two or more holy fools associated with Moscow, I list it as a “Moscow” Bogoliubskaya. If not, even with the presence of a single metropolitan, it is more likely classified as a Molenie o Narode / “Prayer for the People” type. Generally the “Moscow” Bogoliubskaya has fewer saints grouped at right than the “Prayer for the People” type, but I would not regard that as an infallible rule. Icons can always surprise us.