Our Lady of Tenderness 1200

Orthodox Icons created this ‘Our Lady of Tenderness’, a tempera on wood panel, sometime after the fourth century. Here we see Mary and her son Jesus pressing their faces together in intimate embrace. The artwork exemplifies the Orthodox tradition of icon painting. Icons like this were not only objects of devotion but also powerful symbols of cultural and national identity, especially within the context of the Dormition Cathedral of Moscow Kremlin. Moscow, Russia, in particular, saw this image rise to prominence, serving as a focal point for the Orthodox Christian faith during periods of political upheaval and foreign invasion. We can see how the icon acts as a potent symbol of divine protection and national resilience. To truly understand the power of this image, we need to dig into Russia's religious history and explore the ways in which the Orthodox Church shaped Russian culture, politics, and national identity.