Our Lady of Vladimir, Moscow, Russia

One of the most beloved and well-known Marian images in the world, the Mother of God of Vladimir icon is of the type known as the Virgin of Tenderness or Eleusa (Merciful One), showing Mother and Child cheek to cheek in loving embrace. Prince Andrei Bogolubsky brought the tempera panel from Kiev when he became ruler of Vladimir, placing it in a gold case in the new Dormition Cathedral there. Carried to Moscow in 1395 for the purpose, the image was credited with lifting Tamerlane's seige, an event commemorated annually on August 26 / September 8. In 1480, after another victory over invading Tatars, the image moved to Moscow permanently. There it became known as the work of St. Luke the Evangelist, said to have been moved from Jerusalem to Constantinople in 450 and to the women's monastery in Vyshgorod, near Kiev, in 1131. The Virgin of Vladimir hung in Moscow's Church of the Annunciation until 1918. It is now in the Tretyakov State Gallery there. Today's celebration (May 21 in the Julian calendar still used by Orthodox churches) commemorates Moscow's deliverance from Khan Mahmet Ghirei in 1521. The icon's move to Moscow in 1480 is commemorated on June 23 / July 6. 

As ones delivered from evils by the arrival of thy precious image, O Mistress Theotokos, do we splendidly chant hymns of victory to thee, the chosen leader, on the feast of thy meeting, and we cry to thee as is our wont: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded! (Kontakion from today's liturgy, from "Orthodox Calendar," Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, www.holytrinityorthodox.com)

Image from "Collection — 
GTG," Tretyakov State Gallery, www.tretyakovgallery.ru