Russian icon depicting St. George and the Dragon, Early 20th century

Height x width: 15 x 12,5 cm.

The iconography of St. George and the Dragon is a symbol of Christian virtues, courage, and the triumph of good over evil. St. George is depicted as a knight, placed on a white horse, symbol of purity, and holding a lance with which he pierces the dragon, typically represented as a terrifying beast, with a serpentine body and wings, immobilised by St. George and his horse. The victory over St George is a powerful metaphor for the Christian struggle against sin, temptation and evil. The white horse and the black dragon represent, respectively, the purity of faith and the dark forces. The image of St. George and the Dragon is very popular in Orthodox churches and monasteries.