Riza

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Icon of Our Lady of Kazan covered with a gilded silver riza.
Icon of Our Lady of Kazan covered with a gilded silver riza.
Two-piece riza for the halo (venets) and collar (tsata) from Pskov, 17th century.
Two-piece riza for the halo (venets) and collar (tsata) from Pskov, 17th century.

A riza (Russian: риза, "robe") or oklad (оклад) is a metal cover protecting an icon. It is usually made of gilt or silvered metal with ornate bas relief workmanship, and is sometimes enameled, filigreed, or set with artificial, semiprecious or even precious stones and pearls.

The purpose of a riza is to show honour and veneration to an icon, and ultimately to Jesus or the saint depicted on it (the prototype). Because candles and lampadas (oil lamps) are burned in front of icons, as well as the frequent use of incense during the services, icons can become darkened over a period of time. The riza helps to protect the icon from these factors.

In its construction, a riza is custom made for the particular icon it is to cover, and it leaves open spaces for the face, hands, and feet of the subject on the original icon to show through. The haloes on rizas are often more elaborate than on the original icons, and rizas for icons of the Theotokos (Mother of God) will often have a crown on them. The robes worn by the subjects will often have pearls or jewels attached to them.

Usually a riza will cover the entire surface of the icon except for the face and hands, but someetimes, especially in older specimens, the riza will only cover the halo, called a venets. Sometimes there will also be a stylized torc or gorget around the neck, called a tsata.

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