Mother of God of Georgia

The depiction of the Virgin Mary in this iconic artwork portrays a sense of divinity and grace.
Her face delicately turns to the left, with her divine Son positioned on her left arm. The figure of
Jesus Christ is shown in full form, his right hand raised in a blessing while the left hand securely
grasps a closed scroll.
The right hand of the Blessed Mother rests gently on her chest, displaying a sense of devotion
and reverence. At the same time, her left hand lovingly wraps around the robe of her child,
symbolizing a protective embrace.
History tells us that in 1622, the Persian king invaded Georgia and took this gold and
silver-plated icon as a prized booty. Soon after, an assistant of a merchant from Yaroslavl’
discovered the icon in Persia and purchased it at a significant price, bringing it back to Russia in
1623. The icon was then placed at the Chernogorsky Monastery, located on the Pinega River in
Arkhangel’sk Governorate. The monastery, founded in 1606 and later renamed Krasnogorsky
Monastery, is the origin of the notable copies of this iconic artwork.
The icon later made its way to Moscow in 1654 during the reign of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovic. Its
arrival in Moscow sparked many miraculous healings and multiple copies of the icon were
produced, attesting to its sacred and divine properties.
Overall, this religious artwork conveys a sense of beauty, divinity, and grace. Its rich history and
the sanctity it holds have made it a highly revered piece of religious art across the world.
Commemoration day: August 22