An icon to the Russian Christian is a “window to the eternal” connecting the created to his Creator and His saints. When looking at an icon one is considered to be in the presence of Christ, the Virgin or Saint portrayed. Eastern Christians have a great devotion to the Virgin Mary (called the THEOTOKOS or the “God Bearer”) with more than over 350 different icons dedicated to her. While all icons play a part in the religious life of Russia, some played a part in the historical and political development of Russia.
ABOUT THE ICONS OF THIS DIPTYCH:
Christ is the Teacher. King, Ruler and Judge if All.
Christ is pictured blessing us with his right hand and in his left hand he holds an open book of Gospels with the text in Slavonic from St Mathew: 28:30.
" Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
There are few icons of Christ by comparison to the many of the Virgin Mary. This icon is derived from the MADE WITHOUT HANDS icon of Christ.
This stunning Slavic Russian style icon is executed in silver and gold foil.
VLADIMIR MOTHER OF GOD
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior Save Us!
The Vladimir Mother of God icon, a variation of the “Eleousa” or “Tenderness” iconographical type, is the most beloved icon of all Russia. Tradition holds St Luke the Evangelist, the first iconographer, wrote (painted) the original “Vladimir” icon on boards from the table in the home of the Holy Family in Nazareth. It is believed St Luke knew the Virgin Mary and many of the Apostles; therefore, his representations are the pattern for later icon paintings. The letters “MP” and “O (Phi) Y” on either side is the Greek abbreviation for Mary as the “Mother of God.” The “stars” on her head and shoulders represent Mary’s virginity.
The original icon was taken from Jerusalem to Constantinople, the capital city of the Eastern Byzantine Empire, in 450AD. The Russian Chronicles tell us the icon was taken from Constantinople during the reign of Prince Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky (1090s-1157) to the women’s monastery of Vyshgorod in Kiev (Rus – the first capital of pre-Russian state) and preformed many miracles there. The icon appeared to Yuri’s son, Prince Andrei Yurievich Dolgoruky, directing him to take the icon to the city Vladimir-on-Klyazma. With great devotion the icon was installed in the Church of the Dormition performing many great miracles. There the icon became known “Vladimir Mother of God.”
The “Vladimir” icon is celebrated three times in the Russian Orthodox liturgical year: (1) May 21st to celebrate the icon’s helping to save Russia from the invading Crimean-Nogay Horde of Makhmet-Girey; (2) June 23rd in thanksgiving to the protection of the Mother of God from the Golden Horde’s Khan Akhmet in 1480; (3) and August 26th the commemoration of the Meeting of the Wonder-working icon in 1395 during the invasion of Moscow by the Tartar forces of Tamerlane.
The original icon is housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The ownership of the icon was in question after the fall of the Communist government. A compromise was reached in which the Church obtained ownership of the icon but the maintenance of the icon is the responsibility of the Russian state.
PERFECT AS TRAVEL ICONS -
Executed in silver and gold foil. Style is Slavic/Russian.
Beautiful attractive diptych - 3 3/8 inch tall x 2 3/8 Inch wide
width - when diptych open width 5 inch
Made in Ukraine
