The Protection of the Mother of God Icon 119-BM

The feast of the Protection of the Mother of God commemorates a miracle from 910, when Constantinople faced invasion by barbarian forces. In desperation, the city's inhabitants, led by the patriarch and emperor, prayed in the Blachernae Church, where the Mother of God's relics were housed. During their prayers, Blessed Andrew had a vision of the Virgin Mary, who, surrounded by angels, spread her veil over the people, leading to a storm that destroyed the enemy ships. The celebration of this miracle was established in Russia in the 12th century under Prince Andrew the God-loving, who revered his celestial patron, Blessed Andrew.

The icon of the Protection of the Mother of God reflects the artistry of lacquered icons workshop, where we create folding icons, crosses, and various-sized icons.

The creation process begins with preparing wooden boards, which are cut into smaller panels and smoothed into refined oval shapes. These panels are transformed into polished lamellas that are then glued together to form a solid base. After selecting and laminating images stored for this purpose, artisans fit these images to the panels, cutting and verifying their symmetry before applying special glue to secure them. A final polish enhances durability and aesthetics.

Once the icons are fully dried, they undergo a blessing ritual, with a stamp of authenticity from the convent placed on the back. Each lacquered icon, crafted through this meticulous process, serves as thoughtful gift, or as part of your prayer corner.