Vladimirskaja, the Mother of God of Vladimir, an Eleousa-type icon.

The Vladimirskaja is one of the most famous icons and a masterwork of classic Byzantine art. Characteristic of the Vladimirskaja is the uncovered foot sole of the child, referring to the future passion. For many centuries this icon was a model for icon painters and has been copied countless times. The Mother of God of Vladimir is called the palladium* of the old Russia, because a number of important events are connected with it. The icon was painted in 1130 probably. It is historically established that in 1135 the icon was taken by boat from Constantinople to Kiev as a present from the Byzantine emperor to the recently converted people. When in 1157 the Russian Grand Duke Andrej Bogoljubov transferred the residence from Kiev to his native town Vladimir in the princedom of Suzdal (about 160 kilometres east of Moscow) he took the icon with him. He had the icon decorated with gold, silver, pearls and gems, and made it, after the Byzantine example, the palladium* of his princedom. The icon remained in Ascension Cathedral in Vladimir to 1395, when, on 26 August, in a solemn procession it was taken to Moscow to avert the danger of the Mongols. These were on the point of taking the town, and Grand Duke Vassili I of Moscow hoped that the Vladimirskaja could save the town from destruction. Wonder of wonders, on the same day that the icon was carried into the town, the Mongols retreated. against all expectations. After this the icon became an object of deep veneration and was placed in the Ascension Church of the Kremlin, where it remained till the revolution of 1917. Its feast day was celebrated on 26 August. Two more days are devoted to the Vladimireskaja: 21 May and 23 June; both being dates that remind us of a miraculous intervention of the icon in the struggle of the Russians against the Mongols. Towards the end of the fifteenth century the Vladimirskaja got a place of honour in the iconostasis of the Uspenski-Cathedral, the principal church of the Moscow Kremlin. After the revolution of 1917 it was transferred to the Tretjakov-Gallery, the most important icon museum of Russia. It can still be admired there. The Vladimirskaja has always been the special patron saint of the Russian country and people, and also of the czar and his family. The icon (78 x 54,6 cm), painted on lime wood, has been repainted several times. Christ is sitting on his mother’s right arm, pressing his cheek against hers. He has placed his left arm round her neck, his little hand appearing again from under her head veil. With his other hand he holds her dress. He looks up to his mother, who affectionately holds him against her. Lost in thought she inclines her head to her child, fully conscious of the passion that is in store for him. Her expression is one of deep sadness. Quite tenderly the child lays his cheek against his mother’s, as if he wishes to console her.

*Palladium (Lat. Statue of Pallas Athene), the statue of the goddess Pallas Athene, patron of Troy which was preserved in that town. ’Palladium’ has got the meaning of something that guarantees the safety of a town.

Source: Ikonen Lexicon - Karin Braamhorst - Terra - Jan Morsink Ikons