Ancient Russian icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands, 19th century, 14x12 in
Ancient Russian icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands, 19th century, 14x12 in.
Ancient Russian icon depicting the Mother of God of the Three Hands, one of the most renowned Marian images in the Orthodox tradition.
The devotion to this icon is linked to Saint John Damascene. In the 8th century he was unjustly accused before the caliph and punished by the amputation of his right hand. After fervent prayer before an image of the Mother of God, he miraculously received healing.
In gratitude, Joh...
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Ancient Russian icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands, 19th century, 14x12 in.
Ancient Russian icon depicting the Mother of God of the Three Hands, one of the most renowned Marian images in the Orthodox tradition.
The devotion to this icon is linked to Saint John Damascene. In the 8th century he was unjustly accused before the caliph and punished by the amputation of his right hand. After fervent prayer before an image of the Mother of God, he miraculously received healing.
In gratitude, John had a silver hand made and placed under the icon as an ex-voto, giving rise to the representation known as the "Three Hands."
The icon was later brought to Serbia and, during the Ottoman invasions, was saved by placing it on a donkey which, according to tradition, reached the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos. There the image is venerated as the monastery's protector and symbolically regarded as its true spiritual guide.
This iconography highlights the Mother of God as intercessor and healer, deeply revered in Orthodox spirituality.
Subject: Mother of God of the Three Hands.
Provenance: Moscow, Russia.
Technique: egg tempera.
Materials: wood panel prepared with levkas.
Dimensions: 13.9x12 in.
Period: 19th century.