Theotokos of Vladimir

The Vladimirskaya, as Russians call it, is generally accepted as the finest of the few Byzantine icons left from its period (12th century), and according to art historian David Talbot Rice "is admitted by all who have seen it to be one of the most outstanding religious paintings of the world". A characteristic feature of this iconography is that the left foot of the Child is bent in such a way that His heel is visible. Unlike other representations of the Theotokos, Christ is on the left, and He is seen gently nuzzling His mother’s cheek, which she slightly inclines towards him. Mary’s attitude is one of tenderness and love.

The first trace we have of the “Virgin of Vladimir” is in 450 AD, when it arrives in Constantinople.

The history of Russia and the Vladimir icon are inseparable, particularly because of the miraculous interventions ascribed to the icon, news of which have always filled the Russian people with love for it. The Vladimir icon was so prominent in the religious lives of the Russian people that little by little it became customary for the Russian tsars to be crowned in front of the icon. And each time a new Metropolitan or Patriarch was about to be elected, the names of the candidates were inserted inside the frame containing the icon.

In 1164, Prince Andrey Bogolyubskiy took this Icon on his campaign against the people of Volga Bulgaria. After praying before the icon, and encouraging his soldiers to do the same. They went to battle with trust in the help of the Mother of God. The Volga Bulgarians were defeated. Following their victory, the soldiers and their prince prayed in front of the icon and a miracle occurred: light, coming from the icon and from the Holy Cross, illuminated the entire area.

The Russians attribute three other victories against the Tatars to the favor of the Vladimir Virgin: on the 26th of August 1395, on the 23rd of June 1480 and the 21st of May 1521.

Then came the Russian Revolution in 1917. The Communists, in control of the government, stole the precious gold covering, took the Icon from the Cathedral of the Assumption and hung it in the Tretiakov Gallery. Shortly after, the Cathedral itself was closed and later turned into a museum. This transfer of Russia's most beloved icon from a Church to a museum symbolizes the total secularization of public life and the atheistic propaganda, which plagued Russia for more than 70 years.

The Vladimir Icon is also considered a powerful symbol of unity between the Christian churches and many popes have said that it is through her intercession that we will achieve true unity in Christ. Even more than most famous icons, the original has been copied repeatedly for centuries, and many copies have considerable artistic and religious significance of their own.