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9-Russian Icon
The Hodigitria Mother of God
Circa 1700
Egg tempera on wood panel, 23" x 18"
James and Tatiana Jackson Collection


ere Mary holds her infant son Christ who delivers a blessing to the viewer. She gestures towards Him with her right hand, hence the title “Hodigitria” roughly translated from the Greek as “Way-Shower” or “Guide” (as in spiritual guide). Executed here in the traditional old style, the light blue chiton of the Virgin is covered with a burgundy-purple maphorion decorated with three stars symbolizing her virginity. The borders and background are decorated with repoussé silver strips (basma). The heads of the Virgin and Christ are encircled with ornate repoussé and chased silver haloes embellished with angels, seraphim and flowers. Suspended from the halo is a similarly decorated silver tsata depicting the Old Testament Trinity. The halo and tsata were probably produced in Yaroslavl. The reverse of the icon bears an image of St. Nicholas.
 

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10-Russian Icon
The Unburnt Thornbush Mother of God
Circa 1700
Egg tempera, gold leaf, on wood panel, 12.25" x 10.5"
James and Tatiana Jackson Collection


ere Mary, the Mother of God, is shown at center within a four-pointed blue star upon a red star. She holds the Christ Child on her left arm, and in her right is a ladder (a symbol of Mary in the Akathist Canon), near which a circle with the head of Christ Immanuel is found. On Mary’s breast is the “stone not cut with hands,” in front of which is a shoulder-length image of Christ crowned and robed as a bishop (“the Great High Priest”). In the four points of the red star are the symbols of the Four Evangelists: the winged man of Matthew, the eagle of Mark, the ox of Luke and the lion of John. In the blue star and in the petals against which the red and blue star are set, angels are depicted, representing the virtues and the elemental powers. They are: "The Spirit of Wisdom, the angel who kindles fire;” “The Spirit of Understanding, angel of the voice;” “The Angel of Thunder and Lightning, who reveals the second coming of Christ;” “The Angel of Rainbows and Clouds;” “The Angel of Frost and Ice;” and “The Angel of Scorching.” At the upper left corner, Moses sees the bush which burns but is not consumed (Exodus 3:2). At upper right a Seraph purifies Isaiahs’s lips with coal taken from the altar (Isaiah 6:5-7). At the lower left corner is Ezekiel seeing the closed door to the East (Ezekiel 44:1-3). At lower right Jacob dreams of the ladder reaching heaven (Genesis 28:11-17). All of these scenes are considered Old Testament prefigurations of the Mother of God and her role in the Incarnation. This icon was popularly kept as a form of fire protection; having one, it was believed, would prevent your home from being consumed by fire.