The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Barkalabava

The coin is rectangular in shape. The dimensions: 90.0 х 135.0 mm.

The Barkolabovskaya Theotokos was initially kept in Barkolabovsky St. John the Baptist (Voznesensky) Convent, located 8 kilometers north of Bykhov on the right bank of the Dnieper, which was founded in 1623 by Bogdan Stetkevich. According to legend, the icon was brought to the Convent on July 11, 1659 by some “Prince of Russian warriors” Pozharsky who gave it to the abbess Photinaya. In 1882 the Voznesenskaya Church of the Barkolabovsky Convent burned down but the miraculous icon was saved from the fire. During the Great Patriotic War the icon was kept by nuns in the closed Barkolabovsky Convent. According to other sources, it was kept in the chapel at the railway station Bykhov. In 1953 before the Easter the miracle-working icon was brought to the Trinity Church of Bykhov and placed in a special icon-case where it is stored until now.

The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Barkalabava
Obverse: 
In the centre — the ornamental pattern in the form of the grapevine symbolizing the Theotokos with the representation of the cross therein which was erected in the territory of Zaslavl’s stronghold to commemorate the thousandth anniversary of the Orthodox Church in Belarus and the alloy standard; at the top — the relief image of the State Coat of Arms of the Republic of Belarus and an inscription in two lines: РЭСПУБЛІКА БЕЛАРУСЬ (THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS); and at the bottom — the denomination: 500 РУБЛЁЎ (500 RUBLES) and the year of issue to the right of the denomination.
Reverse: 
In the centre — the image of the Most Holy Theotokos of Barkalabava (the halos above the Theotokos and Jesus Christ, the stars and edging on the Theotokos’s robe, as well as the ecclesiastical ornamental pattern are plated with gold); and at the bottom — an inscription: БАРКАЛАБАЎСКАЯ (OF BARKALABAVA).
Country: 
Catalog ID: 
BY236CM4
Value: 
€2000
Mintage: 
500
Quality: 
Face value: 
Material: 
Material: 
Purity: 
0.925
Weight: 
500g
Purity second metal: 
0.999
Weight second metal: 
0.002g
Year: 
Shape and style: 
Edge: 
Designer: