Virgin of the Sign (Znа́meniye)

The icon symbolizes the Annunciation of the Virgin, showing Her with hands raised for praying (orans position), and the figure of the holy infant on her chest in a circular halo. It is based on a twelfth-century icon located in the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Novgorod, Russia.

Icon painting and the veneration of icons originated in the Greek Orthodox tradition and were imported into Russia. Orthodox religions claimed that icons were directly inspired by God, and, in some cases, they were said to be actually painted or delivered by saints themselves. For example, the famous icon “Tenderness and Hodigitria, Mother of God,” was said to have been painted by Saint Luke in biblical times. “The Not by Hands” image of Jesus was said to have been directly given to King Akbar's servant by Christ Himself. Prior to the 15th century, icon styles were primarily derived from Orthodox Christian icon painting from the Byzantine Empire (330 –1453 C.E.).