Icon - Mother of God - Wood

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is an icon of the Mother of God, the earliest known surviving icon, and one of the most revered miracle-working icons of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In the 12th century, the Vladimir icon was primarily the protector of the inhabitants of Vladimir, a shrine of Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky and his closest associates. But as early as the 'Story of Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God' from the second half of the 12th century, the idea of the Mother of God's patronage over Vladimir-Suzdal Russia and the entire Russian land was promoted. Later, the icon became the most important shrine of Russia.

According to a tradition dating back to the 16th century, Russian princes were crowned at the icon of Vladimir. As the most important Russian shrine, the icon participated in the election of metropolitans and patriarchs: the sealed names of the elected (lot) were placed in a box, and after the prayer service, one of the lots was drawn, which was then stamped by the tsar, and the name of the chosen was announced to the people.