Early 17th century Albanian icon

I bought this icon in Albania from a small local trader who sourced it from a group of Albanian villages in the mountains. Orthodox communities were persecuted during the time of Stalinism, icons hidden and items now slowly come to market as people sell assets and feel less connected to the faith of their ancestors. Few icons of this size are however available.

Item size is app 40x50cm (incl original frame) Frame and painting are damaged but show lots of "character" It is hand painted on leather, which was then stretched on hardwood (chestnut) as is customary and clearly original (I think). These icons usually have been kept there for generations, hanging in a small byzantine church or peoples homes.

A good fiend, an Orthodox priest with a PhD in liturgy, inspected the icon and estimates it to be from early 17th century and positions its origins in this part of the Balkans. This is related to the method of production, the way greek lettering has been written on the icon, and his observations on the method of production used. (Beewax with gold powder and pigments, then applied to the leather)

There are candle and smoke damages at the bottom and other areas where the paint has come off as as a result of use over time through touching and kissing.