---
title: "Theotokos of Vladimir — Icons"
description: "The Mother of God holds the Christ Child, who presses his face to her cheek. It is among the best-known examples of the Eleusa, or Tender Mercy, type."
url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/icons/theotokos-of-vladimir"
language: "en"
---

Historical icon

# Theotokos of Vladimir

[![Icon of the Mother of God of the Eleusa type: the Christ Child presses his cheek to his Mother's face.](https://spas.life/_astro/theotokos-of-vladimir.DHE9gcl2_Z1TX3h3.webp)](https://spas.life/_astro/theotokos-of-vladimir.DHE9gcl2.webp)

Theotokos of Vladimir

[Open the image at full size](https://spas.life/_astro/theotokos-of-vladimir.DHE9gcl2.webp)

Dating

Early 12th century

Origin

Constantinople, Byzantine Empire

Author / school

Unknown

Location

Church of St Nicholas in Tolmachi at the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Iconographic type

[Eleousa (“Tenderness”) — iconographic type](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/icons/type-eleousa)

## About the icon

The Mother of God holds the Christ Child, who presses his face to her cheek. It is among the best-known examples of the Eleusa, or Tender Mercy, type.

## Composition

Of the Eleousa type; the Child on the Mother's right arm, His left foot bared to the knee — a recognizable detail of this icon and its copies.

Feasts: Vladimir Icon of the Theotokos (deliverance of Moscow, 1521), Vladimir Icon of the Theotokos (deliverance of Moscow from Khan Akhmat, 1480), Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Theotokos (deliverance of Moscow from Tamerlane, 1395)

[History of the icon: The Vladimir Icon of the Theotokos: history](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/icon-vladimir)

An icon is an image for prayer. The description explains theological meaning and prayer tradition; it does not promise an outcome.

**Source and image rights**

Theotokos of Vladimir, early 12th century; public-domain faithful reproduction via Wikimedia Commons.

Public domain

[Open the source page (Wikimedia Commons)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimirskaja_ikona_Bo%C5%BEiej_Materi.jpg)