Clicking here goes to information on the icon.Welcome to the St. Luke Web Page.
Search the site.Talk with fellow followers of Christ.See What St. Luke Orthodox Church has planned.Password protected area for only members of St. Luke Orthodox Church.Contact the St. Luke Orthodox Church Web Development Team.
Find something on the site in a hurry.
St. Lukes Orthodox Church Home PageDonate Now!Shop for Orthodox goods from your Computerchurchdirectory Pages that deal with St. Luke the Evangelist Orthodox Church. What's the news at St. Lukes.View all the previous and current Evangelist newsletters.View the Sunday bulletin.Information about St. Luke Orthodox Church including the Mission and Vision statements. Pages for 'keeping in touch' with God. Information on prayers and prayingView the prayer of the week and all other previos prayers of the week.Need to pray for something? What is the Orthodox Church and how/why do Orthodox Christians worship? What is the Orthodox Church of America?Who were the Saints, and why do we honor them?Find and explore many different liturgical texts we have available, including the Divine LiturgyWhat is Pascha? See what it's like at St. Luke's.How is Orthodoxy playing a role in the present times?Learn what are icons and how are they used in the Orthodox Church today.BellsSee what we have to offer!Current Issues Pages for Organizations of St. Lukes. Christian Education, Youth Group, Music, Church Resource Center, Adult Education, and Junior Olympics.Maintenance, New Building, Strategic Planning, Cell Phone Tower, Inventory, Cemetery/Memorial Book, and Historian.Outreach, Charities, Internet, Evangelist Newsletter, Media, Prison, Sanctity of Life, and Mission.Fellowship, Supply Coordinator, Prayer, Women's Ministry, New Americans, Sunshinem, Flowers, and Vestments. Some stuff Study the bibleSearch the bibleOrthodoxy on the lighter side...Words of Wisdom...If you've got the taste for great Orthodox foods, this is the place to be.Children friendly section of the pageMessages

Vladimir Mother of God Icon

Vladimir Mother of God Icon

The Icon

Commemorated on: December 7

The Seligersk "Vladimir" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

As tradition has it, the Vladimir Icon of Our Lady, which ranks among the greatest Russian holy relics, was painted by Apostle Luke on top of a table, at which the Holy Family would eat. In the middle of the 12-th century that icon was presented by emperor Theodosius of Byzantium to grand duke Yury Dolgoruky, the founder of Moscow.

At first, that icon was kept at Vyshgorod monastery near Kiev. In 1160 it was transferred to Vladimir's Assumption cathedral, with the people subsequently calling it the Vladimir Icon of Our lady. (Vladimir, which was an ancient Russian capital, is located north-east of Moscow -- Ed.) The people of Moscow revere this icon, believing that it had protected Russia against foreign invaders on at least three occasions. The three invasions were mounted by Asian hordes in warm weather.

In 1395 the armies of khan Tamerlane approached Moscow. For his own part, grand duke Vasily, who didn't count on his soldiers alone, had the Icon of Our Lady delivered from Vladimir. That icon was welcomed by the people of Moscow September 8, 1395; September 8 has been celebrated as the Feast of the Purification (Sretenye in Russian) ever since. Moreover, a monastery of the same name was built on what is now Moscow's Sretenka street. Khan Tamerlane subsequently dreamed of a shining lady, who descended on him, and who was surrounded by a multitude of warriors. His dream was so terrifying that Tamerlane beat a hasty retreat. Consequently, Russia has been celebrating the Feast of Purification since September 8, 1395.

The Russian army was apparently protected by this icon on some other occasions, too.