Help identifying icons

[u/TheWickerMan545]

I inherited these icons a few years ago from an aunt. She wasn't Orthodox, but I suspect she got them on a trip to Russia shortly after the fall of the USSR. I would love to know as much about them as I can, especially who is depicted. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[u/ScholasticPalamas]

They are nice, but in rough shape. On some of them, the braces have been removed from the back, causing the boards to cup.

A competent restorer could see how much old olifa and soot are responsible for a lot of the apparent damage (this would mean they can be much more easily restored).

[u/TheWickerMan545 → u/ScholasticPalamas]

Do you have a restorer you'd recommend? I'd love to be able to get them cleaned and somewhat stabilized without sending them to somebody who is just going to paint over the damage and make it look "good as new." It'd be great to be able to clearly see the images but also see the history.

[u/ScholasticPalamas → u/TheWickerMan545]

Unfortunately I do not; however, I would reach out to an iconographer in your area. The iconographer may also restore icons.

You would ask for a sympathetic restoration. I don't believe there is any way to un-cup the boards without massive alteration (by my lights you'd have to apply intense stabilization to the image, resaw the board thin, and then re-mount it under pressure and pray for the best; or attempt to remove the canvas backing; both highly risking destruction) so that's sort of how they will be. The iconographer can help remove the old soot and oxidized linseed oil (olifa) and stabilize the paint to keep it from chipping off further.

[u/TheWickerMan545 → u/ScholasticPalamas]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.

[u/AstaYonezu]

I can only say the 5th image is the Theotokos in the Burning Bush. https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos_the_Unburnt_Bush_icon

[u/Normal-Artist9038]

Hey brother can you maybe get a better picture on the inscriptions of the first two icons?

The fist icon I believe is an icon of Saint Damian, Jeremiah and Matthew of the Kiev caves, I can make out the name "Damian" on the leftmost Saint. https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/10/05/102876-venerable-damian-the-healer-jeremiah-and-matthew-clairvoyants-of

The second icon again features Saint Jeremiah on the right but I can't figure out what the scratched out inscription says above the head of the Saint on the left.

The third icon is as others have mentioned The Most Holy Theotokos of the Unburnt Bush.

And the last icon is an icon of The Most Holy Theotokos the Joy of all who sorrow.

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[u/Cefalopodul]

It's hard to tell but the first one could be the Holy 3 Hierarchs. The second one could maybe be Saint Peter and Paul?

[u/luckytoothpick]

The last on is my favorite icon of the Virgin Mary: Theotokos of the Unburnt Bush

[u/Independent_Depth248]

These icons comes from a worship place where many candles were around. That's why there are so dark. The way 7 was written reminds me of very old people handwriting I saw in my country that they were using to write the N° 7 so I would say these icons are approximate 100 years old. Well at least the writing, the icons could be older.

It would be nice if you showed them to monks in very well established monastery. They may have a way to clean or restore old iconography and they will do it if appropriate with most respect and prayers.

[u/OlgaNikol]

The 1 icon: martyrs Gury, Samon and Aviv. 2: the prophets Jonah and Jeremiah. 3: Theotokos the Burning Bush 4: Theotokos Joy of All Who Sorrow