The Bethlehem Icon of the Mother of God , or the “ Smiling Virgin ” is a miraculous icon of the Virgin , located in the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem a few meters to the right of the descent into the cave of the Nativity . The icon of Russian writing [1] .
| Bethlehem Icon of the Mother of God | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Iconographic Type | Hodegetria |
| Location | Basilica of the Nativity |
| Celebration date | August 15 (28) |
In the left hand of the Divine Infant, a power is depicted, a symbol of royal authority, with his right he blesses all worshipers [2] .
There is no historical data on the origin of the icon. There is speculation that the Bethlehem Icon was donated to the Basilica of the Nativity by the Russian Imperial House . It is believed that the image was transmitted by the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna when she was healed of a serious illness before him [3] .
According to another version, by prayer in front of the icon, the Reverend Martyr Elizaveta Fedorovna was healed, who then transferred the icon to the Basilica in Bethlehem. The riza for the icon was made of her dress [4] .
Notes
- ↑ Basilica of the Birth of Christ in Bethlehem . Russian spiritual mission in Jerusalem. Moscow Patriarchate.
- ↑ Compound of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church in Moscow. Church of All Saints.
- ↑ Icon of the Virgin of Bethlehem .
- ↑ Bethlehem Icon of the Mother of God .
Sources
- Lyudmila Dianova - The riddle of the Bethlehem Icon // Orthodox Pilgrim Magazine No. 12, December 2016