According to tradition, this icon type became famous in the 18th century when the cleric Vikentiy of the Navrinskoy Church fell ill with a mouth disorder that affected his tongue. As the sick cleric lay in bed praying to the Mother of God to intercede on his behalf, his guardian angel appeared before him. At the request of the cleric, the angel then appealed to the Mother of God. The Mother of God then appeared to the cleric, at which time She gave him milk from Her breast, then vanished, and the man was healed. The icon depicts the moment the Mother of God administers Her medicinal milk. The lower left corner is inscribed with a narrative regarding this miraculous event. Along the top border is inscribed, βThe Healing Most Holy Mother of God: Her Singular Miracle Is The Healing Of The Navrinskaya Cleric.β This is a finely executed icon of a less frequently encountered subject.
previous
next