Images of the first Russian saint princes Vladimir, Boris and Gleb had a special place in artistic and ideological system of art of the period of the tsar Ivan IV. They were included in the iconographic programme of the wall painting of the churches and related to the topical ideas of the epoch — the origins of the Russian state and Russian Orthodox Church, succession of the authority and charism, service and feats of the sovereigns as defenders of the veritable faith. These were often compared and corresponded with the images of kings, prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament.