---
title: "Eleousa (“Tenderness”) — iconographic type — Icons"
description: "The Mother and Child press cheek to cheek: an image of the mutual love of God and humanity and a foreshadowing of the Passion the Mother will mourn."
url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/icons/type-eleousa"
language: "en"
---

Iconographic type

# Eleousa (“Tenderness”) — iconographic type

## Examples of this type

- [![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_2jMtzJ.webp) Theotokos of Vladimir Early 12th century](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/icons/theotokos-of-vladimir)
- [![Detail of Our Lady of the Don: the faces of the Mother of God and the Christ Child pressing his cheek to hers.](https://spas.life/_astro/our-lady-of-the-don.C0lmO4Lb_2dtSdq.webp) Our Lady of the Don Late 14th century, approximately 1380–1395](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/icons/our-lady-of-the-don)

Dating

The type took shape in Byzantium by the 11th–12th centuries

Origin

Byzantium

Author / school

Unknown

## About the icon

The Mother and Child press cheek to cheek: an image of the mutual love of God and humanity and a foreshadowing of the Passion the Mother will mourn.

## Composition

The Child on the Virgin's right (less often left) arm embraces her neck; the faces touch.

## Symbols

- Three stars on the maphorion — the perpetual virginity of the Theotokos

## Inscriptions

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