Filermskaya Mother of God
Paint over antique Italian ceramic tile
8"x9"

About two years ago I shared a couple of similar icons, they were an icon of Christ, Vladimir Mother of God, and Holy Angel. This tile is done with the same materials in a similar style. The subject of this icon is the Philermskaya Mother of God ( or Filermo Holy Virgin).

The icon is named after a mountain in Greece, where a church was built to shelter an icon brought there from Jerusalem in the beginning of 11th century. This icon, according to tradition was painted by Evangelist Luke. It was well known across Mediterranean world as a miraculous icon, but the great level of interest was due to the belief that it strongly resembled the face of Mary during Her earthly life.  That ancient icon is now lost, but in the 16th century a copy was made which served as a model for the later icons.