The original of the icon is in the church of “Christmas” in the village of Arbanasi near Veliko Turnovo. The church was built between 1681 and 1705.
The icon “Giving names to all the animals is very similar with another icon called “The Creation of Adam”, where we see Adam in Heaven surrounded by animals. The interesting thing in “Giving names to all the animals” is the depth and the perspective of the composition of the ancient iconographer. The images are given in motion – not static, which tells us that the icon was made by an anonymous author who was quite familiar with the art of the Renaissance. In spite of the contemporary look upon the Bible parable, the canons of the Orthodox Church are also observed. In the icon “The Creation of Adam” God Savaot – the Old Testament name of God the Father is portrayed with a triangular nimbus cross. This element is absent in “Giving names to all the animals” and is replaced with an aureole.
