The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is an ancient image in which maternal tenderness and profound spiritual meaning are joined. The icon belongs to the Eleusa, or “Tenderness”, type: the Christ Child presses his cheek to the Theotokos and embraces her. The ancient prototype was created in Constantinople in the first third of the twelfth century, and according to Church tradition the very practice of depicting the Theotokos goes back to an image painted by the Evangelist Luke. Before the Vladimir Icon people pray for the protection of family and home, for peace between those close to them, for help in difficult circumstances and for the strengthening of faith.

The historical prototype of the Vladimir Icon was created by an unknown Byzantine master. In the twelfth century the image was brought from Constantinople to Rus and later came to be called the Vladimir Icon. According to Church tradition, the iconographic tradition goes back to an image of the Theotokos painted by the Evangelist Luke.