Byzantine Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Byzantine Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Icon made on liquid gold on board.

Dimensions of the icon: 13 x 10 cm.

95.00 

Out of stock

Description

According to tradition, the icon of the Czestochowa Mother of God was written by the Apostle Luke. Until the destruction of Jerusalem, it was hidden in a cave. In 326, after the Empress Helena found the Cross on which Jesus Christ had been crucified, the icon came into her hands in gratitude. She placed it in a chapel and there it became famous for its miracles. It later travelled to various places until it ended up in Russia. There, in the castle of Belz, she appeared again as a miracle-working icon, and the original name (Belzhskaya) derives from this place. In the 14th century, the castle was attacked by Tatars and the miracle-working icon was hit by an arrow. Blood flew from the wound of the Mother of God. Afterwards, the icon stayed in Lviv and it was intended to place it in Opole, where it was supposed to be more peaceful, but on the way to Opole, the horses stopped in Częstochowa and would not budge. This was taken as a sign from God and she was left in that city. In the 15th century, there was an attempt to rob the icon, among others, and deport it. And this time the Mother of God did not allow it. The icon was cut into three parts with a sabre. In later years, attempts were made to restore and reproduce the original image of the icon. Jasna Góra became a place of worship not only for the faithful, but also for the whole Polish Kingdom. To this day, it is still kept in the Jasna Góra monastery.