The Maximovsk Icon of the Mother of God
Commemorated on April 18
The Maximovsk Icon of the Mother of God was written in the year 1299 through a vision to Sainted Maxim, Metropolitan of Vladimir (+ 1305, Comm. 6 December). On it is depicted the Mother of God in full stature with the Praeternal Christ-Child, and with Metropolitan Maxim on his knees accepting the hierarch's omophor. The icon was written in memory of the appearance of the Mother of God to Saint Maxim, when he arrived in Vladimir from Kiev. In the vision, the Mother of God entrusted to him the omophor with the words: "My servant Maxim, it is good that thou hast come to visit My city. Take this omophor and shepherd thou the flock in My city". When the saint awoke, in his hands lay the omophor. The appearance of the Mother of God was a signal of the Heavenly blessing of the metropolitanate from Kiev to Vladimir. The omophor, bestown by the Mother of God, was preserved at the Uspenie (Dormition) cathedral in Vladimir for 112 years. In the year 1412, during an incursion of the Tatars, the omophor was hidden by the cathedral doorsman Patrikii, martyred by the Tatars.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
