Seen as Fire Mother of God | Silver and Gold foiled miniature icon | Size: 2,5" x 3,5" |
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This is the “Fire-Appearing” or “Fiery-faced” icon of Mary, also known as “Fiery Visage” and “Seen as Fire.” Its Russian title is Ognevidnaya.
Historically, there is little that can be said about this icon, because its precise origin and the date of its “appearance” are unknown. It depicts Mary without the Christ Child, seen shoulder length to half-length. It is found in Russian iconography of the 18th-early 20th century, frequently on multiple icons of Mary, that is, icons that depict more than one “wonder-working” icon of Mary on the same painted panel. It commonly appears in icons of the “Priestless” Old Believers.
The icon is likely based upon the symbology that equates Mary with the Burning Bush seen by Moses in the Old Testament — the bush that burned with fire but was not consumed.
