The Pimen Icon of the Mother of God

June 6/19

Photo: logoslovo.ru Photo: logoslovo.ru
The Pimen Icon of the Mother of God is an ancient Byzantine image of the Theotokos, rendered in what is known as the Ho Digitria or Odigitria type. The icon is two-sided: On its obverse, the Theotokos is depicted to the waist, holding the Divine Infant Christ. He rests against her left arm, but seems to be turning and standing up, as she touches His knee with her left hand and holds her right hand against His chest in support. The Theotokos' head is inclined slightly toward the Divine Infant. The Savior's right hand is in an attitude of blessing, and in His left hand He holds a red scroll. On the icon's reverse is the traditional representation of the Annunciation: On the left is depicted the heralding Archangel Gabriel, and on the right is the Mother of God, seated on a throne and holding yarn. Above is a representation of the Ancient of Days, with a ray of light extending from His Right Hand to the Mother of God. On the reverse side there is neither an “ark,” [a recessed surface on which an icon is painted] nor any trace of supports for a handle.

The Royal Chronicle includes an entry in the 1560s regarding this Icon: “Pimen, Metropolitan of All Russia, brought this marvelous Icon of the Mother of God from the Imperial City [Constantinople], and for many years it stood in the Great Cathedral Church in Moscow…. Now that same Holy Icon is in the Royal Palace, in the Holy Altar of the Church of the Annunciation to the Most-holy Theotokos.” According to the chronicle, Metropolitan Pimen made “expeditions” to Constantinople three times: in 1380 – 1381, 1385, and 1390. During his final trip, he reposed not far from Constantinople. A stylistic analysis [of the Icon] and comparison with historical documents regarding Metropolitan Pimen's arrival in Constantinople enable experts to date the Icon to the 1380s.

Until 1980, the Icon was in the Holy Myrrh-preparation Chambers in the Kremlin. Today, it is in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

Parish Life, A Monthly Publication of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Washington, DC, June 2018

6/19/2018

Used with permission.
See also
Wondrously Near to Those Who Call Upon Her Wondrously Near to Those Who Call Upon Her
Igumen Nektary (Morozov) Wondrously Near to Those Who Call Upon Her Wondrously Near to Those Who Call Upon Her
A Homily for the Laudation of the Mother of God
Igumen Nektary (Morozov)
Let us have hope that the Queen will not despise our humble praise, but that she will be merciful to us and vouchsafe us that joy that is never taken away from those who have found it, which she desires for every one of us from her loving, mother’s heart. A miraculous healing of the Varnakova Icon of the Mother of God A miraculous healing of the Varnakova Icon of the Mother of God A miraculous healing of the Varnakova Icon of the Mother of God A miraculous healing of the Varnakova Icon of the Mother of God
A seriously ill man was healed several weeks ago after his wife made a pilgrimage to the Holy Monastery of the Varnakova Panagia in Efpalio Greece, 145 miles west of Athens, from the Greek city of Agrinio, to pray before the monastery’s wonderworking Varnakova Panagia Icon. 8-yr-old mute girl begins to speak before miraculous icon of Mother of God 8-yr-old mute girl begins to speak before miraculous icon of Mother of God 8-yr-old mute girl begins to speak before miraculous icon of Mother of God 8-yr-old mute girl begins to speak before miraculous icon of Mother of God
The miracle involved an 8-year-old girl who had been mute from birth.
Comments
Anthony6/19/2018 4:04 pm
Hello. Do we know why this holy icon is being kept in a gallery, and not in a Church? Is this icon the same as the Mona Lisa? Is that why our forebears fought the iconoclasts? So we could treat icons like fine pieces of artwork to be oogled at? This is sad.
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