Greek icon | Mother of God Glykophilousa | 4584

Depicted is the Greek icon | Mother of God Glykophilousa.

The venerated “Umilenie” icon of the Mother of God, known as “the sweet kisser,” holds a miraculous status. It is commemorated on March 19, alongside two other depictions sharing the same name. Legend has it that the first icon emerged in 1103 and is presently housed in Smolensk. The second one, named Umilenie-Lyubjatowskaja, is located in the Pskovo-Pechersky Lavra in Pskov.

In the realm of art history, the Russian Umilenie icon finds its prototype in the forms of “Eleusa” or “Glykophilusa.” In this depiction, the child tenderly turns toward his mother, gently pressing his cheek against hers. The term “Eleusa” holds an esteemed position as an honorary title for the Mother of God, traceable back to Byzantium as early as the 11th century.

Source: Greek icon | Mother of God Glykophilousa | 4584 © Ikonen Mautner. Typing errors, other errors or changes reserved. For more information: “Das Synaxarion. Die Leben der Heiligen der Orthodoxen Kirche.” (http://www.prodromos-verlag.de/buecher.html) and Joachim Schäfer: Das Ökumenische Heiligenlexikon – https://www.heiligenlexikon.de