The Virgin of Vladimir , perhaps the most famous icon in Russian history, was brought from Constantinople to Kiev around 1183. About twenty years later it was moved to Vladimir, where it stayed until 1395. Although the icon has been in Moscow for the past six centuries, it is still referred to as the Virgin of Vladimir . Patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church were consecrated before this icon, tsars were crowned in its presence, and it was carried in procession in times of national crisis. A living symbol of Christian culture and Russia up to the Revolution, copied by generations of Russian painters, it was the image of the compassionate tenderness so loved by Russians.
Light becomes the background of the icon.
When we examine the Virgin's face, we see that her large eyes are hypnotic, but it is impossible to make eye contact with her. Her eyes look outward but beyond the surface of things, and inward as well. While at first sight Mary is the dominant figure in the icon, on closer inspection we see that the strong diagonals delineating the child and snapping across the folds of his garment indicate great strength and energy. Henri Nouwen interprets the powerful neck of the Child as a sign of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel writers described what the kingdom of God was like by using parables.