Ikon (16th C.) : Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Saint Nicholas (Greek: Ἅγιος Νικόλαος, Hagios Nikólaos, Latin: Sanctus Nicolaus); (15 March 270 – 6 December 343),[3][4] also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century Christian saint and Greek Bishop of Myra, in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey). Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker (Νικόλαος ὁ Θαυματουργός, Nikolaos ho Thaumaturgos). He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, a practice celebrated on his feast day―St Nicholas Day (6 December, Gregorian calendar, in Western Christianity and 19 December, Julian calendar, in Eastern Christianity); and thus became the model for Santa Claus, whose modern name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas, itself from a series ofelisions and corruptions of the transliteration of "Saint Nikolaos".
Who needs Santa? We've got Street Nick the Postie all year round to deliver us treats (today, unaware it was his gift-giver namesake's commemoration day, Nick brought a gift of his own freshly picked red cherries) (more here), even his own portraits : this latest as Postal Cowboy on New Steed (mask painted by Nick).
*Note the black X on the Holy Steed's white collar, as on the ikon above!
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something...
LOGOS/HA HA
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something...
LOGOS/HA HA