Mother of God the Unfading Bloom Icons

The Unfading Flower Icon of the Theotokos: Background and Description

The "Unfading Flower" Icon of the Mother of God is distinct in its depiction of the Virgin Mary: holding up her Son, she carries in her other hand a bunch of white lilies, symbols of her purity.

The lilies allude to the well-known church hymn that lauds the Virgin Mary as "the root of all virginity" and "the unfading flower of purity."

The Russian tradition knows several variants of this icon. The oldest, dating back to the seventeenth century, portrays the Theotokos and Christ in royal garments, with Christ wielding the signs of kingly power — an orb and a sword of state. Unfortunately, the original image did not survive to our day. Newer versions include the images of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, Saint John the Baptist, and other saints. They also depict garlands and baskets of white flowers around the frame and in the background.

The Orthodox turn to this icon in their prayers for harmony and happiness in their families, good health, and healing from their afflictions.

The Unfading Flower Icon: Creation Process

At St Elisabeth Convent, we have been painting icons of the Mother of God "The Unfading Flower" since 1998.

We follow the established techniques grounded in the Byzantine and Russian traditions, passed down over centuries from generation to generation. Read more about the process of icon painting in our monastery's icon painting studio.

We recommend placing your icon in a special protective case — a kiot — for maximum durability of your handwritten icons.

Order and Delivery

Enrich the icon collection at your home or church with the icon of the Mother of God "The Unfading Flower." Choose from a variety of sizes and variants, or order a custom-painted icon. We encourage you to browse our catalogue and explore the wide selection of our wedding, family, and church icons.

You can place your order by filling in this Custom Icon Inquiry form or by contacting us directly at [email protected].

Ordering your icons from St Elisabeth Convent icon painting studio, you help our monastery serve those in need, as each purchase contributes to our many social ministries.

Please note that the final price depends on your location and delivery option. We will contact you to confirm the details after receiving your order.