The Holy Virgin of Pochaev, 19th century, Russia, gesso, gold, tempera, with embossing and engraving on the board, size 31 x 26 cm, The history of apparition of the Holy Virgin of Pochaev states that the icon miraculously appeared in Pochaev, South-West of Russia, in the 13th century. The Pochaev Laura of Dormition was one of the 4 main laura of Russian Empire, the cornerstone of Orthodox faith, located in a town Volyn (currently the territory of Ternopol province of Ukraine), being just 8 kilometers from the Austro-Hungarian border up until 1914. The fame of Pochaev sanctities reached Bulgaria, Bosnia and Serbia. Initially Pochaev Laura was a forested mountain with a number of caves, serving as hermitages for celibate monks of Kievo-Pecherskaya Laura, who moved there after the devastation of the “Mother of Russian lands”, by Batu khan in 1240. In the same XIII century the two monks whose names are unknown and a local shepherd were witnessing a great miracle – the vision of the Holy Virgin in a pillar of fire, being elevated over the rock of Pochaev (what is reflected in this icon). At the place where She was standing and praying during that night, remained a footprint of the right foot of the Holy Virgin, set in a limestone– the oldest of the Pochaev miracles. This footprint was always filled with clear water from a spring, which opened the same night.

Condition: authentic icon in original condition. Provenance: private collection Germany.