Mother of God Eleousa
Oil on wood panel
6.5" x 6.5"

An Icon very similar to this one was bought by a lady through Etsy.com. She explained that her brother used to have an Icon like that when they were younger, so she wanted it to be delivered to him as a gift. I happily promised to send it the following Monday, but how surprised I was to find out that this very Icon also got sold few days earlier in our Church's bookstore. I was very sorry about the situation.. But... she turned out to be the kindest buyer I ever had! She said that perhaps the Icon was destined to be with that buyer and she will just wait for me to make another one for her brother. Three weeks later her brother received the Icon shown here.

Isn't it interesting how sometimes you don't even need to meet the person face-to-face to know what a wonderful human being they are? Lorri, thank you, and May God bless you, your brother and all your loved ones! †

This Icon is often called Virgin Eleousa, -of Mercy, -of Tenderness. In the twelfth century this Icon spread across Byzantium and Russia, and until this day it is one of the most popular depictions of Mary. It expresses the gentle love between the Mother and Son. Their cheeks touch as they embrace. This love symbolizes the mystical union between Christ and the Church. Christ Child is looking at his Mother, while Theotokos' gaze is focused else-where. Her mood is solemn contemplation. On her shoulders and head are star-shaped crosses - Syrian symbol for Mary's perpetual virginity. Alfredo Tradigo's "Icons and Saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church (Translated by Stephen Sartarelli)