Orthodox icon | Four-field icon | 24973

Mother of God of Kazan | Kazanskaya

On this icon, Jesus is not sitting on the hand of the Mother of God but stands to the left of her. His right hand is raised in a blessing. The head of the Mother of God is slightly inclined towards the child. The icon of the Mother of God appeared in the city of Kazan in 1579. The Mother of God appeared three times in a dream to a young girl in Kazan, the nine-year-old Matrona, and asked her to tell the archbishop and the city guides to dig up her icon from the earth. The Mother of God designated the place where one should look for her icon under the ashes of a house that had just burned down. But no heed was paid to the girl’s words. Then she decided to fulfill the mission of the Mother of God with the help of her mother. On July 8, Matronas’ mother began digging in the place the daughter showed her. But the icon was not found. After that, Matrona began to dig, and soon the sacred icon appeared. Although the icon had been in the ground, the icon was completely intact, and it seemed as if the icon had only just been painted.

Ascension of Saint Prophet Elijah

Elijah (Elias) from Tischbe in Gilead worked as a prophet in Israel at the time of King Ahab (873-853 BC) and Queen Jezebel. In the icon painting his ascent into heaven on a fiery chariot is shown, which is observed by his disciple Elisha (Elisa).

Praying Mother of God | Orans

Mother of God of the Burning Bush

The depiction of the not burning bush is considered to be the epitome of the virgin Mother of God: captured by divine fire, she nevertheless remained unharmed. Since the 16th century the very complex depiction in Russia unfolds as an epitome of piety regarding Mary: The Mother of God with Emmanuel is inserted in an eight-pointed star formed by two diamonds lying one on top of the other. This star in turn lies on a rosette.