48 Saints Anna, Noah, and Olga

18th Century, Russian

This icon depict three saints, Anne, Noah, and Olga. On the left is St. Anne, the mother of Mary. St. Anne is looking up to heaven with her arms open in surprise, this is how she is depicted in images when she is receiving the message from an angel that she will be the mother of Mary. The Annunciation to St. Anne is found is many of the legends telling the story Our Lady.

In the center is depicted Noah. We only know it is Noah due to his name being above the saint. Traditionally Noah would be holding an Ark in his hands, this detail is missing from this icon.

Finally we have on the right St. Olga of Kiev who was married to Prince Igor of Kiev. After Igor was killed Olga ruled Kiev until her son Sviatoslav came to age. During this time she is famous for her staying off of power hungry suitors in rather unorthodox ways. She is the first ruler of Kiev to be baptized and her grandson Prince Vladimir would become a Christian and make Christianity the official religion of the Kievan Rus, which would later become Russia. At the top center is a small icon of the Holy Face or the Not Made by Human Hands image.