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The icon with the rare subject Three Barlaams belongs to the type of so-called patronal (from the Latin Patronus patron) icons. Such icons feature a saint or saints who are the patrons of a Christian named by the respective name.

This piece of art was created in 1700-1707 to the request of Metropolitan Stefan Jaworski for his teacher, Kyiv Metropolitan Barlaam Yasynski. Martyr Barlaam, St. Barlaam the Hermit, and St. Barlaam of Pechersk are depicted on the icon. Martyr Barlaam holds a burning incense in his right hand - a symbol of his martyrdom. He suffered in Caesarea Cappadocia in the early 4th century during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. The Saint was forced to stand before a pagan altar holding hot coals with incense on his hand. His torturers hoped that out of pain the Christian would involuntarily throw the coals and incense on the altar and, therefore, offer a sacrifice to the idol. But Barlaam kept the coal until his fingers burned. After that, he was executed.

St. Baarlaam the Hermit holds a precious stone in his left hand and points to it with his right hand. The Saint's gesture means that the true value is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. St. Barlaam of Pechersk holds an open scroll in his right hand with the words from the Gospel of John: And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1: 5).

The icon has a special meaning. Its main idea is the Divine light, the light of faith, which is reflected through the symbols - the light from the burning incense, the radiance of the precious stone, and the words of the evangelist John written on the scroll. As the patron saints of Barlaam Yasinsky, the represented saints carried at the dawn of Christianity the light of faith in the world. So the Metropolitan of Kyiv, Galicia, and all Rus had to carry the light of Divine faith to his flock.

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