Based on more than half a century of creative experience, the author not only examines, but literally personally experiences the history of Russian icon painting. The deeply peculiar features of the Russian icon are compared with the characteristic features of Western religious painting, as well as with certain moments in the development of secular fine art. Offering interesting, original observations and conclusions of the art criticism plan, the author at the same time conveys the experience of comprehending the icon "from within" as a figurative expression of the spiritual depths of the Orthodox tradition. .Russian icon painting appears in the book not only as a unique phenomenon of world culture, but also as a condensed, concentrated expression of Russia itself, of all Russia