Icon of Saint Marina holding a cross

Material: Wood, Tempera paint, Gold leaf (visible in the background)
Date range: Late 14th - Early 15th century AD
Origin: From the church of Hagios Gerasimos, Argostoli, donated by Georgios Kokkinos

This is a wooden icon depicting Saint Marina the Great Martyr, shown in a frontal, half-length pose. She is dressed in a vibrant red maphorion (a head covering and veil traditionally worn by pious women) over a dark blue tunic, with the rich red serving as a dominant color and contrasting sharply with the solemn expression on her face. The saint's dark hair is visible beneath the edge of the maphorion.

In her right hand, Saint Marina holds a large, elaborate double-barred cross with three crossbars (a patriarchal or Byzantine cross), a common attribute that signifies her martyrdom and faith. Her left hand is raised in a gesture of address or blessing, with the palm open towards the viewer. The background of the icon is covered in gold leaf, which is now tarnished and shows cracks, indicating its age. The icon is identified as having come from the church of Hagios Gerasimos in Argostoli and was dated to the Late 14th to Early 15th century AD. It was a donation by a man named Georgios Kokkinos.

Museum label reference: Icon with Saint Marina. From church of Hagios Gerasimos, Argostoli. Late 14th-early 15th c. Donated by Georgios Kokkinos. BXM 1546

Original Text: Εικόνα της αγίας Μαρίνας. Από το ναό του Αγίου Γερασίμου, Αργοστόλι. Τέλη 14ου-αρχές 15ου αι. Δωρεά Γεωργίου Κόκκινου. BXM 1546

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