Virgin of Vladimir

Our Lady of Vladimir

Our Lady of Vladimir (Russian: Владимирская Богоматерь) is one of the most venerated Orthodox icons. Regarded by Russian imperialists as the holy protectress of Russia, the icon is displayed in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Ukrainians, on the other hand, see the icon as a symbol of the pillaging of early Ukraine, Kyivan Rus', by Russian invaders from the north.

The Patriarch Luke Chrysoberges of Constantinople sent the newly-painted icon as a gift to the capirtal of Rus'Ukraine, Kyiv, around 1131. However, Kyiv was invaded by Russia, and the icon was plundered by the Grand Duke of the proto-Russian state of Suzdal, led by the Grand Duke Yury Dolgoruky in 1158. The beautiful image was coveted by Yury's son Andrei the Pious who brought it to his favourite city Vladimir in 1155. When the horses that transported the icon stopped near Vladimir and refused to go further, this was interpreted as a sign that the Blessed Virgin wants to stay in Vladimir. To house the icon, the great Assumption cathedral was built there, followed by other churches dedicated to the Virgin throughout northwestern Russia.

In 1395, during Tamerlane's invasion, the image was taken from Vladimir to the new capital, Moscow. The spot where people and the ruling prince met the icon is commemorated with the Sretensky monastery. Vasili I of Moscow spent a night crying over the icon, and Tamerlane's armies retreated the same day. The Muscovites refused to return it back to Vladimir and placed it in the Assumption cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The image was also credited with saving Moscow from Tatar hordes in 1451 and 1480.

One of the most exquisite icons ever painted, Our Lady of Vladimir is imbued with universal feelings of motherly love and anxiety for her child. By the 16th century the Vladimirskaya (as the Russians call it) was a thing of legend. It was even rumoured that the icon was painted by St Luke on the Lord's table of the Last Supper. The venerated image was used in coronations of tsars, elections of patriarchs, and other important ceremonies of state.

But its most important service was yet to come. In December 1941, as the Germans approached Moscow, Stalin order that the icon be taken from a museum and placed in an airplane and that it be carried around the besieged capital. Several days later the German army started to retreat.