The artwork titled “Hodegitria” is a significant icon created around 1350, associated with the genre of Orthodox Icons. This piece is part of the series representing the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and reflects the Late Byzantine/Palaeologan Renaissance period, which spanned from around 1261 to 1453. Currently, it resides in the Cathedral of the Annunciation situated within the Moscow Kremlin in Russia.
This particular artwork is characterized by its traditional iconography, displaying the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, who is blessing with his right hand and holding a scroll in the left, signifying divine wisdom. The faces of both figures are rendered with solemnity and grace, reflecting the sacramental nature of the icon. The Virgin is typically portrayed as the “Hodegitria,” Greek for “She who shows the way,” indicating her role in guiding the faithful towards Christ. The precise painting style and spiritual ambience are hallmarks of the devotional aesthetic cultivated during the Late Byzantine era. Despite evident signs of age and wear, the icon’s commanding presence and devotional impact remain undiminished, serving as a testament to the enduring nature of religious art and its significance within Eastern Orthodox tradition.
