The Holy Princes Boris and Gleb, both full lengths, gazing upwards at Christ Our Lord in the skies above giving a blessing (The Princes considered being the first Russian martyrs having been killed (unresisting) by their elder brother Sviatopluk so that he could succeed to the throne of Prince Vladimir of Kiev who in 988 converted Russia to Christianity. Boris and Gleb were canonised in 1051).Russian icon, circa 1700, (30 x 24 cm).