A153 

Icon: Deesis Mother od God

The Mother of God is shown alone, her head inclined downwards to the right with a grieving expression. Her right hand is extended outwards in a gesture of supplication, while she holds a red cloth, a symbol of her grief, in her left hand.

She bears a golden star upon each shoulder (the left shoulder is hidden behind the red cloth) and on her head, signifying her perpetual virginity before, during and after the birth of Christ.

In the ivory background of the gesso traces of nails from a former revetment (oklad) are visible. The icon has a double kovcheg. Het Russische woord (Ковчег) kovcheg betekent ‘ark’. Bedoeld wordt het uitgediepte middengedeelte van de ikoon.