This work studies a problem of the iconography of saint George the Winner in the fund collection of the National Historical and Ethnographic Reserve «Pereiaslav». It should be stressed been that this collection includes 17 icons dated from the first half of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century. They got into the museum collection from exhibits of ethnographic expeditions to Kyiv, Poltava and Chernihiv regions.

It was determined that the icons were created by painters of different skills and talent. They did not adhere to the traditional palette of church iconography, but chose bright colors that symbolized joy, strength and holiness. It is noted that there are vast majority of domestic icons in the collection. Their iconographic subjects were created in conditions of freedom from the strict canons of iconography, therefore they have simplified, stylized forms, made in a simple, folk style and are not very saturated with ornaments.

The researched icons are divided into two types: a Roman warrior in full height (tall) and a Snake Wrestler (a rider on a white horse). The second type has two options for image composition: simple and expanded (complex). The first on focuses on the main event, where the saint on the white horse slays the serpent. The second is the characters and details that reveal almost the entire history of the legend «The Miracle of the Snake». This type is the most represented in the stock collection.

The symbolism of the iconographic image is indicated: the saint in the form of a rider striking a snake symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The nimbus is above his head indicates his status of holiness. The snake is a symbol of evil, the devil or sin. The white horse is a symbol of purity, spiritual power. The spear in his hand George is an instrument of struggle, a symbol of faith that helps defeat evil. The queen personifies humanity or the church, was saved thanks to a feat the saint.

The attributes identifying St. George were characterized, the color scheme and its symbolic meaning in iconography were investigated, the inscriptions on the icons identifying the image of the saint and the date of creation of the image are significant.

The reseach work of the iconography of St. George in the fund collection of the NHER «Pereiaslav» provides an opportunity to determine the artistic and historical value of the icons for their further preservation, restoration and using in art reseach work in scientific publications, expositions and exhibitions.

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