HODEGETRIA set of 4 icons of Virgin Mary | Russian Icons of the Mother of God - Hodegetria type of depiction

The Russian Virgin Hodegetria Icon: Its Creation and Description

The Hodegetria icon depicts the Child Jesus. He sits in His mother’s lap, blessing with His right hand and holding a scroll with His left hand. Some icons show Him holding a book instead of a scroll, similar to the images of Christ Pantocrator. The Virgin is shown in a solemn pose, with her hand pointing to Christ as the Savior of all humanity. The main meaning of this image is the arrival of the Heavenly Judge into the earthly world and the worship of the Son of God.

This iconographic type includes the following icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

• The Iveron icon of the Mother of God
• The Smolensk icon of the Mother of God
• The Kazan icon of the Mother of God
• Tikhvin Mother of God