---
title: "Orans / “Of the Sign” — iconographic type — Icons"
description: "The Theotokos with hands raised in prayer and the image of Christ Emmanuel on her breast — Isaiah's prophecy of the sign (Isaiah 7:14) and the Church praying…"
url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/icons/type-oranta"
language: "en"
---

Iconographic type

# Orans / “Of the Sign” — iconographic type

## Examples of this type

- [![Icon of the Sign: the Mother of God with hands raised in prayer and a medallion with the Christ Child on her breast.](https://spas.life/_astro/our-lady-of-the-sign-novgorod.6I5-2XOo_Z1ryiA5.webp) Our Lady of the Sign of Novgorod First half of the 12th century](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/icons/our-lady-of-the-sign-novgorod)

Dating

Early Christian art

Origin

Roman catacombs; Byzantium

Author / school

Unknown

## About the icon

The Theotokos with hands raised in prayer and the image of Christ Emmanuel on her breast — Isaiah's prophecy of the sign (Isaiah 7:14) and the Church praying for the world.

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