Virgin Mary Leushinskaya

Orthodox icon of Virgin Mary Leushinskaya on thick plywood 20mm, which does not sting and keeps its shape over time. Preparation with acrylic stucco and have been used acrylic colors. It has been covered with varnish to keep the colors undiluted in time and humidity. Hanging clip included on the back of the icon. 

This “Leushino” or “Leushinskaya” icon type takes its name from the Leushinskiy Monastery at the village of Leushino. In 1862, when the Leushinskiy Monastery was still under construction, a merchant from Gatchina named Gavriil Medvedev had an icon painted and donated it to the project.  It was eventually placed in the new cathedral (1889) that had been built under Abbess Taisiya Solopova. The Leushinskiy Monastery had an icon-painting workshop, and copies of the icon were made there, one of which was placed in the iconostasis of the Leushinsky Metochion (подворье/podvor’e) in St. Petersburg. A copy of the icon was also made for John of Kronstadt, who called it “Savioress of Russia.” Taken to the St. George Kozeletskiy (Danivskyy) convent in Chernigov diocese it developed a reputation as a “wonder-working” icon. The popularity of this image grew tremendously in the late 20th-early 21st century, which is why most examples one sees are recent.  It is used today in hope for healing of illness, for girls to find a husband, for conceiving a first-born child, for settling family quarrels, etc.