Ireland issues St Patrick's Day stamp

An Post has issued a stamp to mark St Patrick's Day which features a portrait of the saint based on a Russian icon painting. The 82c stamp, designed by Steve Simpson, is based on a painting by Russian artist Ekaterina Platosechkina. The portrait is based on the ancient traditon of icon writing where spiritual images are used to increase veneration of the Christian faith.

Dublin's annual St Patrick's Day parade is a pouplar tradition in Ireland and is echoed by similar parades held in Irish communities across the world.

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