Icons of Mary holding her Son Jesus have been popular since the Council of Ephesus which in 431 solemnly declared Mary to be the Theotokos or Mother of God.
St. Luke was the first one who painted the "Theotokos", "Mother of God", while she was still alive. He is credited with three icons of the "Panagia", in one case using the wooden table where Mary and St. John ate their meals.
Throughout history, many Icons of the Most Holy Mother of God have had miracles attributed to them.
In addition, there are those Icons which may not have been miracle working, but still been venerated with the hope of intercession from the Mother of God.
St. Luke was the first one who painted the "Theotokos", "Mother of God", while she was still alive. He is credited with three icons of the "Panagia", in one case using the wooden table where Mary and St. John ate their meals.
Throughout history, many Icons of the Most Holy Mother of God have had miracles attributed to them.
In addition, there are those Icons which may not have been miracle working, but still been venerated with the hope of intercession from the Mother of God.
The Guide or Indicator of the Path (Hodigitria)
This icon shows the Mother of God with her right hand pointing at the Child Christ, Who is seated on her left arm. The images have regular features, faces are serious, the head of Christ and that of the Most-pure Virgin do not touch. It is as if the Theotokos is saying to the human race that the true path is the path to Christ. This icon shows the Theotokos as a guide, an indicator of the path, to God and salvation. This is also one of the most ancient types of icons depicting the Theotokos and is believed to have originated with the first iconographer, the Evangelist Luke. The best known icons of this type in Russia are Our Lady of Smolesk, Our Lady of Tikhvin and Our Lady of Iveron.
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