Our Lady of Vladimir.
First third of the XIIth century. Constantinople.
Wood, tempera, 104x69 cm. Fragment.
The State Tretyakov Gallery.

   The icon was brought to Kiev from Byzantium. The famous Byzantine icon of the XIIth century, "Our Lady of Vladimir", was painted by St. Lukas, as it was mentioned in the ancient chronicles. This icon was brought by the Prince Andrei named "Bogolubsky" ("Loved by God") to town Vladimir in the second part of the XIIth century. Just in the XIIth century Our Lady of Vladimir became the most honourable Russian saint of old religious art. Later, in a period of the Tartar horde raids, new town Moscow was the center of a struggle against the Tartar Golden Horde. The icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" became considered as a keeper of the Moscow State. This image has been the favorite one for painters up to now.