According to the historical chronicle, the Vladimir icon was brought from Constantinople to Russia in about 1131. It was painted by a Greek artist no doubt shortly before it was brought to Kiev. It belongs to the Byzantine art of the Macedonian period. The artist is unknown. It is known for its miraculous interventions and has escaped from several fires and tartar attacks. After 1395 the icon was taken to Moscow and was present at every major political event of the country as a sacred treasure. This icon is based on the Virgin of Vladimir which is also often called, the Eleousa, the Mother of Tenderness. Mary holds the Christ child close accentuating the maternal relationship with her son. In the original icon Mary’s face is full of heavenly majesty but at the same time human. She is dressed in a cloak of the deepest red showing her humanity. The maphorion or hood encircles her head. It has a golden patterned border and is ornamented with three stars, one over the forehead and the two others on the shoulders-signs of her virginity. Whoever has seen the original icon can never forget Mary’s expression. Her face is elongated, her nose is long and pointed breathing in the Holy Spirit, her eyebrows are slightly raised with folds between them. The eyes look off into eternity and give the face the expression of deep contemplation. It is as if she can see and understand all that it to come. In the icon it is as if time does not exist and the whole of the story of the life of Jesus is being told in the one picture. In her expression we remember the text “and she pondered all these things in her heart.”

Christ is a baby in size. He is “the word”. His face reflects the concern and the wisdom of God. His garments are gold which represents everlasting life, orange - revolution and over his shoulder is a scarf or clavium which represents “And the Government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, the mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The prince of peace.” Christ presses His face affectionately against his mother’s cheek and his arms encircle her neck in tenderness and consolation. It is as if they share together all that is to come. But the onlooker is not isolated.