Feast Day: 3rd June, 6th July, 8th September

The composition follows that of the great icon painted in Constantinople in the early 12th century and brought to Russia in 1131, since when it has been the chief protective icon of the Russian people, delivering them from enemies and performing many miracles. The Virgin’s glance varies; sometimes it is down, towards her son, sometimes outwards, as here.

The composition, in the embrace of the two figures, characterises tenderness hence the Russian epithet ‘Oumileinye’ sometimes translated as loving-kindness. Leonid Ouspensky highlights the contrast of this type with the Hodegetria iconography: 'In contrast with the solemn and severe majesty of the icons of the Mother of God Hodegetria, which emphasise the Divinity of the Child-Christ … [Vladimir Virgins] are full of a natural human feeling - of mother-love and tenderness...'[1]

According to ancient tradition, the original version was painted by St Luke who made a portrait of the Virgin during her lifetime. On seeing it, so the story goes, she said, "In this image is my grace and power" and then quoted Luke's gospel ‘All generations shall call me blessed’.

[1] The Meaning of Icons, p. 92