Orthodox icon | Pokrov | Intercession of the Mother of God | Bronze | 24615

Orthodox icon | Pokrov | Intercession | Bronze | 24615.

This is a bronze/brass/yellow metal icon depicting the Pokrov/Intercession of the Mother of God.

On October 1st, the feast of the Mother of God Pokrov takes place. It marks the time the Mother of God appeared at the Blachernae Church in Constantinople. This church was the home to several important relics, including her dress, veil, and a part of her belt.

Saint Andrew, also known as the Fool-for-Christ, and his disciple Epiphanius were there. They saw the Mother of God, Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Evangelist, and other saints walk to the Ambon. She moved to the altar, faced the people, and spread her veil over everyone in the church. While only Andrew and Epiphanius could see her, everyone felt her grace.

In this icon, the Mother of God floats on a small cloud, holding the veil. Saints led by John the Theologian are on her right. On her left, saints led by John the Baptist are present. At the bottom right, Andrew as a Fool-for-Christ and his disciple Epiphanius are shown.

In the middle of the church, around the ambon, stands Romanos the Melodist. He was a famous hymnographer from the 6th or 8th century. Behind the ambon, there’s a choir of youths and virgins. The architectural background of the icon signifies the Blachernae Church.

There’s an extra scene at the bottom right of the icon. It shows the Mother of God appearing to Saint Romanos in a dream, giving him a scroll to eat. The next day, he sang beautifully during the service and became one of the church’s leading poets.

Source: Orthodox icon | Pokrov | Intercession | Bronze | 24615 © 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