Vladimir icon: when God was a childtranslated

Priest Evgeny MURZIN

editor of the direction "Faith and Church"

Why have millions of people for almost a thousand years been unable to take their eyes off Our Lady of Vladimir?

Probably the most recognizable detail of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is the slightly inverted leg of the Infant God. Christ presses himself so tightly to the Mother that the sole of His left foot is visible. She makes the image surprisingly alive. Your gaze involuntarily catches on to her, and you suddenly understand very clearly that God really was a child. He had small legs with which He learned to walk. The little arms with which he hugged Mom. This is a very strong feeling and strong evidence of the reality of the Incarnation.

Vladimir icon. 17th century Pereslavl-Zalessky State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve

Another touching touch is the thoughtfully sad look of the Mother of God. Christ hugs Her, looks at Her confidently, even encouragingly. But the Mother of God herself looks somewhere past, at the same time both deep into herself and into the space of eternity. She knows the future that Elder Simeon predicted to Her, she realizes that no matter how tightly She hugs her Son now, the rough hands of Roman soldiers will break these hugs and...