The 30 gr metal medallion, crafted in a numismatic technique and featuring 37 year-old Tsar Ivan the Terrible in the prime of his Reign (circa. 1567/69).

Oprichnina is Tsar Ivan’s Secret Police Service, its symbols are a Dog’s Head and a Broom. Oprichniks ‘bite to death’ enemies of the Tsar, and then ‘sweep dead enemies away”. ‘In order to hunt hares, one must have many dogs; in order to destroy enemies, one must have many soldiers’.

In the same way as the original throne of Tsar Ivan Grozny, the label is featuring and is based on four mythical creatures: a lion, a hyena and two ‘oskrogans’. The idea to use these symbols was inspired by a Biblical description of King Solomon’s Throne, and Prophet Daniil’s prophecy which described them as symbolic representations of Four Tsars who were destined to become the last Rulers, preceding the creation of the ‘Kingdom of the Saints of Almighty on Earth’.

Coat of Arms of the Palaiologos Bysantine Imperial Family - direct ancestors of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The Crown above the Imperial Eagle was added following Tsar Ivan IV’s ascendance to the Russian throne.

The quote from Philotheus’ Prophecy: ‘The first and the second Rome fell, the Third Rome stands, the Fourth Rome will not to be’. It asserts that Moscow is the successor of the Roman-Byzantine Empire and the Protector of the Christian Orthodox Faith. According to the Prophecy, Moscow was destined to become the Third Rome, which would stand forever.

The 16th century society was fundamentally religious. No one was questioning the existence of God, Hell or Heaven, the coming of the Apocalypse or the Judgement Day. Tsar Ivan the Terrible was as religious as anyone else. Moreover, the Tsar learnt the Bible by heart and believed himself to be the Messenger of God on Earth. As such he couldn’t free himself from the expectation of the coming of the Judgment Day. In the religious tradition, Archangel Michael (also referred to as ‘The Formidable Angel’) is one of the main characters of the Judgement Day. Therefore, Tsar Ivan IV considered Archangel Michaell to be his Guardian Angel. And that’s why we chose to display a mural depiction of Doomsday on the inside label of our unique bottle - hidden away from the direct eye view.

Bespoke design of Tsar Ivan The Terrible vodka bottle features the elements of traditional Russian architecture and alchemical symbols in reference to Tsar Ivan’s hobbies and interests. The glass bottle was created in strict adherence to the Golden Ratio architectural rule, which is used in the best examples of the classical architecture, and is founded on the peculiarities of the human brain to assess all surrounding objects in accordance with a strict mathematical proportion.