Our Lady of Vladimir

by Zsolt Aradi

A Russian nobleman, when asked by foreign diplomats to describe the image of Our Lady of Vladimir, quoted the words of St. Basil of Seleucia:

"What tongue is there so eloquent and worthy to hymn her praises . . .? With what flowers of eulogy shall we weave a garland befitting her . . .? What gifts shall we offer worthy of her of whom all the things of this world are not worthy?"

The Vladimir icon was brought to Russia from Constantinople in the twelfth century. First it was taken to Kiev, then to the city of Vladimir and finally to Moscow. When Tamerlane invaded Russia and was approaching the gates of Moscow in 1395, the Grand Duke Vassili Dimitrievitch sent a large mission composed of officers, soldiers and monks to Vladimir where the image rested, requesting the aid of the Blessed Virgin. Then the Grand Duke ordered the image taken to Moscow to protect the city against the invading Tamerlane.

Meanwhile it is said that Tamerlane had a dream in which a beautiful lady appeared to the Tartar leader, ordering him to leave Russia. Tamerlane immediately asked his advisors to explain the significance of the dream, and when the pagan tyrant learned that the apparition was the Mother of God of the Christians, he immediately issued orders to withdraw from Moscow and leave the country.

On the spot where the population of Moscow met the holy image, a monastery was erected and August 26, the date of the meeting, was set as a date for eternal commemoration of the salvation of Moscow.

The image of Our Lady of Vladimir played an important part in the life of the Church of Russia and in its resistance against arbitrary actions of the Tsars. There were times when during election of the highest church dignitaries of the Russian Orthodox Church, the icon of Our Lady of Vladmir was placed in a room where the balloting was proceeding and the Tsar announced the result of the elections facing Our Lady of Vladimir. Later on, it became customary for those of the Russian hierarchy who were removed by the Tsars because of their opposition to their arbitrary acts to flee into the church where the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir was located, and pray before her image to free Russia from the evil deeds of the Tsar.

The icon of Our Lady of Vladimir is located now in the Uspensky Cathedral in Moscow.

This item 3199 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org