Pernik State Archives discover antique icons hidden in book covers

Two antique icons, likely dating from the late 18th or early 19th century, were discovered hidden inside the wooden covers of an old liturgical book during a restoration process in Pernik, Bulgaria.

The book, a mineia covering the months of September and October, was originally from the St. Petka Church in Tran. Experts from the Institute for Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences suggest the icons may be part of a triptych. One icon depicts the ‘Heavenly Queen’ with a Greek inscription, while the other shows the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child.

The discovery was revealed by the State Archives - Pernik as part of an exhibition celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Bulgarian State Archives. The icons were painted with tempera on a ground without canvas and finished with colophony. This unusual find, where icons are attached to the inner covers of a printed volume, is considered a rare occurrence by art historians.