Hey Deacon!

In June 2023, I was fortunate to go on a Holy Land pilgrimage with Fr. Joji Vincent to the Holy Land.  One of the sites we visited was the town of Bethlehem which included a stop at a specialty gift store.  It was there that my eyes were drawn to this particular icon of the Most Holy “Theotokos of Bogolyubovo” – Mary the Mother of God.   This rendition of the original icon dates to late 19^th century and was retrieved from a now defunct Russian orthodox church.   I was moved to purchase the icon and it now resides in the gathering space at Our Lady of the Ozarks Parish in Forsyth.
 
The following is a summary of the story of one of the most well-known icons of the Theotokos. 
 
According to ancient tradition, the Holy Evangelist Luke, Physician and Iconographer, painted three icons of the Theotokos. When the Blessed Virgin Mary looked at them, she said: “May the grace of the One who was born of me, and my grace, be with these Holy Icons.” 
 
One of these icons is now known as the Vladimir icon. This depiction of Our Lady was kept in Jerusalem until 450 AD, after which it was taken to Constantinople. In the first half of the  twelfth century Luke Chrysoberges, Patriarch of Constantinople, sent the icon as a gift to Grand Duke Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky, who placed it in the Vyshgorod convent near Kiev, (Ukraine). In 1155  Vyshgorod became a possession of Prince Andrew, son of Yuri Dolgoruky.
 
When Prince Andrew decided to return to his homeland in Suzdal, he took this icon without his father’s permission. As he traveled, he continually offered intercessory prayers before it. The people of Vladimir-on-Klyazma met their prince with joy.  Afterwards the prince wanted to continue on to Rostov, but six and half miles from Vladimir their horses stopped near the Klyazma River and refused to go any further. Even newly harnessed horses refused to proceed. The astounded Prince Andrew fell weeping in front of the icon and prayed. Soon after the Theotokos appeared to him in a dream with a scroll in her hand and ordered him to leave Her image in the city of Vladimir, and to build a monastery on the place of her appearance in honor of her Nativity.
 
Prince Andrew left the icon in Vladimir, and since 1160 it has been called the “Vladimir” icon.  In 1164 Prince Andrew took this icon into battle against Volga Bulgarians. After the prince went to confession and took communion, he prostrated before the image of Theotokos and said: “All who put their trust in Thee, Our Lady, will not perish!” All the soldiers followed their prince to venerate with tears the miraculous icon and went to battle with trust in the aid of the Mother of God.  The enemy was defeated. The soldiers held a prayer service giving thanks for Mary’s protection.  Then a miracle occurred – a light from the icon and from the Holy Cross illuminated the entire area.  
 
What is portrayed on this depiction of the icon?  
 
This Theotokos is presented in full stature, holding a scroll in Her left hand. Her right hand is turned in prayer to Jesus Christ, who is depicted in an aureole in the upper-right hand corner. Prince Andrew himself is depicted in a prayerful stance on his knees before the Theotokos. In variations of the icon, other saints may appear at the feet of the Virgin, such as saints Zosimus and Sabbatius of Solovki.

Author Bio:
 Deacon Dan Vaughn