The sword of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk (on a 14th-century wooden sculpture from the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery)

In research devoted to the 14 th-century sculpture of Nicholas of Mozhaisk from the collection of the State Tretyakov Art Gallery (inv. № 22956) a range of opinions has been voiced regarding the sword held by the Saint. It has been interpreted as a West-European weapon and also as a medieval Russian one. In this article arguments are put forward in support of its Byzantine origin. The period of time when a weapon of this kind would have existed can be defined as the 9 th - 13 th centuries, and it can be stated with confidence that a weapon of this type would not have been used after that. On the basis of the identified typological features of Byzantine swords the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) Byzantine weapons can be singled out among the archaeological weapons originating from outside the territory of the Empire, like the sword from Novgorod for example; (2) the question should be raised regarding the artistic links between works of art of different periods and places of origin, as for example a bone plate from the fortified settlement in Taman and a post-Byzantine small steatite icon of the 15 th century; (3) an indirect argument needs to be put forward in support of G.K. Vagner’s suggestion that there is a link between this sculpture and the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Mozhaisk.