Historical memory: August 10 - the feast of the Smolensk Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the defender of Rus'translated

August 10, 2026 · 1 min read

The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called “Hodegetria” (“Guide”), according to Church tradition, was painted by the holy evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the Antioch ruler Theophilus. From Antioch the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there Empress Eudokia, wife of Arcadius, transferred it to Constantinople to Pulcheria, the emperor’s sister, […]

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Юрій Марченко

I also have a small copy of the Smolensk Odigitry at home, brought back from my grandmother from Smolensk in the 70s. It is interesting that it was Luka who wrote it during the life of the Mother of God, he had not thought about it before. Thanks for the reminder, tomorrow at the service I will especially pray in front of her.

Christopher Scott

My grandmother had a small paper print of the Smolensk Hodigitria too, the one with the dark face and that distinctive tilt of the Child's head. Never knew the tradition that Luke painted it from life while the Mother of God was still with us; that detail stuck with me from the article. I'll light a candle for her memory at tomorrow's Liturgy.

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