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
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.
GUARDIAN ANGEL - Each of us has a Guardian Angel!
"An Angel of peace, a guide and guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord…”
A petition from the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom.
Angels are God’s special messengers between God and man!
The Guardian angel is pictured with his right hand blessing us (showing he is with us) and his left hand is holding a sword showing he is ready to defend us from the evil one.
Angels and the concept of a “guardian angel” appear in the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus and the Psalms. God said to Moses “"my angel shall go before thee” – the rabbis in the Talmud explain “before each man goes thousands of angels crying make way for the image of God!” "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;" (Cf. Psalm 33:8 and 34:5).
The Church, both east and west, through God’s revelations in both the Old and New Testament, teaches that each of us has Guardian Angel. One who stands for us before the face of God. Our Guardian Angel is our companion in life –our spiritual “kin” - alerting usof evil and directing our thoughts and actions to the will of God. Our Guardian Angel will stand with us on judgment day.
In the Slavic Eastern Christian traditions, your “birthday” is called your “angel day.”
WHEN IS THE “GUARDIAN ANGEL” FEAST DAY – IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!
PERFECT AS TRAVEL ICONS -PERFECT IN A BABY'S ROOM - PERFECT IN ANY ROOM!
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
Beautiful attractive diptych - 3 3/8 inch tall x 2 3/8 Inch wide
width - when diptych open width 5 inch
Made in Ukraine
