Icon - Wood

“The Burning Bush” (Неопалимая Купина, Neopalimaya Kupina), a symbolically deeply theological image.

What it represents

This icon is not narrative in the historical sense, but symbolic and mystical:

The eight-pointed star (formed by two superimposed squares) symbolizes:
- The union of the divine and the human
- The divine fire that does not consume (as in the burning bush of Moses)
In the center appears the Virgin with the Child:
- It represents Mary as the “Burning Bush,” that is, she who contains God without being consumed by His presence.
The dark background with stars indicates celestial mystery.
The angels

Around it appear eight angels, each with distinct attributes:
- They represent heavenly forces, elements, or divine ministries.
- Sometimes they are interpreted as:
- Angels of the elements (fire, air, water, earth)
- Or as manifestations of God’s power in the world

The inscription
At the top, in ecclesiastical Slavonic, one reads:

“Неопалимая Купина Пресвятыя Богородицы”
→ “The Burning Bush of the Most Holy Mother of God”

This icon expresses several key ideas:

- Mary as the bearer of the divine without corruption
- The Incarnation as a mystery of fire and light
- Protection against dangers (especially fires, in the Russian popular tradition)