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There is no other subject in Christian iconography, exclusive
of the Savior, that has been painted so often and with so much love, as
the image of the Most Holy Theotokos. Iconographers of all times tried
to impart to the face of Theotokos as much beauty, gentleness, dignity
and grandeur as they could imagine.
Russian icons always show the Mother of God grieving. This grief is sometimes
sorrowful, sometimes it is full of light, but it is always filled with
wisdom and spiritual strength. The Theotokos, whether She reveals her
Son gloriously to the world, or tenderly clasps Him to herself, or simply
forms a background, is always full of awe of her Divine Infant and humbled
before the inevitability of His sacrifice.
As befitted a married woman, the Most Pure Lady is always shown with her
head covered with a veil, which drops to her shoulders, according to the
tradition of Jewish women of that time. This veil or head covering is
called "maphory" in Greek. The "maphory" is usually
colored red (a symbol of suffering and a reminder of her royal roots).
The lower portion of her clothing is blue, symbolizing the heavenly purity
of the Theotokos, the most perfect of humans.
Another important piece of the Theotokos's attire are Her cuffs. Cuffs
are part of the vestments of priests. When on icons, they symbolize the
co-ministry of the Mother of God (and of the entire church in her person)
to Christ, the High Priest.
There are three golden stars on the forehead and shoulders of the Most
Holy Theotokos. This kind of decoration was popular among women in those
days. These stars on the icons of Theotokos are symbols of Her virginity:
She was a virgin before, during, and after the Nativity of Christ. Besides
this, the three stars are also a symbol of the Holy Trinity. Some of the
icons show only two stars, while the third is covered by the figure of
the Christ Child. The significance of this is the incarnation of the second
hypostasis of the Holy Trinity - God, the Word.
There are five main types of representation of the Theotokos in Orthodox
iconography:
1. Praying;
2. The Guide;
3. Tender Mercy;
4. All Merciful;
5. Intercessor.
1. "Praying" ("Oranta", "Panagia",
"Lady of the Sign")
"Praying" ("Oranta", "Panagia", "Lady
of the Sign"). This image of Theotokos was already evident in the
catacombs of the first Christians. The Theotokos is depicted on these
icons "en face" and half face, with her hands lifted up to the
level of her head, with elbows bent. From time immemorial this gesture
signified a prayerful appeal to God. The Child-Jesus, the Emmanuel, is
often depicted on Her bosom, within a spherical circle.
The icons of this type are also called "Oranta" (Greek "praying")
and "Panagia" (Greek "all-holy"). When it reached
the Russian land, this image acquired the name "Our Lady of the Sign".
This is one story of the icon. On November 27, 1165 in the midst of the
assault of the city of Novgorod by the detachments of Prince Andrew of
Bogolubovo, the citizens of the besieged town brought the icon to the
city wall. One of the arrows pierced the icon and the Most Holy Mother
of God turned her face to the city shedding tears. The tears dropped on
the clothes of His Eminence John, the Bishop of Novgorod and he exclaimed:
" O wonder of wonders! Tears are streaming from a piece of dry wood!
O heavenly Queen! You are giving us a sign of your prayerful intercession
for us before Your Son" The people of Novgorod inspired by the wonderful
sign repelled the attacks of the Suzdal regiments.
In orthodox churches, this icon is normally placed in the upper part of
the alter.
2. "The Guide" ("Hodigitria")
This icon shows the Theotokos with her right hand pointing at the Child
Christ sitting on her left hand. The images have regular features, faces
are serious, the heads of Christ and the Most Pure Virgin are not touching.
It is as if the Theotokos is saying to the human race that the right path
is the path to Christ. This icon shows the Theotokos as a guide to God
and salvation. This is also one of the oldest types of the icons portraying
the Theotokos and is believed to have originated with the first iconographer,
the Evangelist Luke. The best known icons of this type in Russia are "Our
Lady of Smolesk", "Our Lady of Tikhvin", and "Our
Lady of Iveron".
3. "Tender Mercy" ("Eleusa")
The icons of the "Tender Mercy" type show Christ Child pressing
his left cheek close to the right cheek of his Mother. Here the Theotokos
again represents the Church of Christ, thereby displaying the fullness
of love between God and man, a love that can only be achieved within the
bosom of church, the Mother. Love here bridges heaven and earth, the things
of God and the things of men; and this unity is expressed in the touching
of the faces and the halos. The Theotokos is pensive, as she presses her
Son to herself. She envisions His way of the cross, His life full of sufferings.
Among the icons of this type, "Our Lady of Vladimir" is the
one most widely known and loved by believers. It is not accidental, that
this very icon has become one of the greatest of holy Russian objects.
There are several reasons for this, including its ancient origin; again
associated with the name of the Evangelist Luke, and the numerous events
related to its transfer from Kiev to Vladimir and later to Moscow, as
well as multiple occasions of the delivery of Moscow from the plundering
raids of the Mongol hordes. However, the very character of the icon found
a positive response in the hearts of the Russian people. The idea of sacrificial
service for people has always been near and dear to Russians. The exalted
grief of the Theotokos who has brought her Son into this world of cruelty
and sufferings, and her pain are very much in keeping with the innermost
feelings of the common Russian people. 
4. "All Merciful" ("Panakranta")
All icons of this type have a common feature: the Mother of God is depicted
sitting on a throne. She holds the Christ Child on her lap. The throne
symbolizes the royal glory of the Theotokos, who alone is perfect among
those born on earth. The best known icons of this type are "The Powerful"
and "The Queen of all".
 5.
"Intercessor" ("Agiosortissa")
The icons of this type show the Theotokos in her full height, without
the Child, turned to the right, sometimes holding a scroll. In orthodox
churches, this icon occupies a place of honor: to the left of the icon
"Our Savior in Powers", the main icon of the iconostasis. |
