Our Lady of Vladimir

https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-vladimir.html

May 21: Our Lady of Vladimir, Russia (1115)

One of most famous & most beautiful of all icons of Mother of God is that of Our Lady of Vladimir, also known as Virgin of Vladimir.
She is depicted cheek to cheek with Divine Child, whose arms caress her, yet image is strong & noble in workmanship, completely free from “sweetness” & sentimentality.

It is great example of type of icon that Russians call tenderness; Greeks express same.
It was probably painted in Constantinople in 12th century, but is first heard of in Kiev, whence it was taken in 1155 to city of Vladimir.

According to tradition, horses pulling cart taking icon to Kiev stopped in Vladimir & refused to budge from that spot.
The Assumption Cathedral was built there in honor of Blessed Virgin, & to house her image.

It became famous for wonders & was reverenced as Russia’s most sacred image, so that it was in 1395 enshrined in cathedral of the Assumption in Kremlin at Moscow during time of Tamerlane’s invasion.

Several times Tartars were beaten back under its inspiration & it was carried to critical places in time of distress.
It was taken to battlefront during World War I, & there are some who say Communist Joseph Stalin had icon taken up in an airplane & flown around Moscow during German invasion of World War II.
A few days later, German army retreated.

All tsars were crowned & patriarchs installed in presence of this image, up until revolution.
It has been reproduced many times in copies & in book illustrations.
The icon is now displayed in Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, & Russian calendar commemorates feast of Our Lady of Vladimir on May 21.