The mid-17th-century icon “The Mother of God — the Star Most Bright” originated from the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Balakhna, Nizhny Novgorod Region. This icon is rare in Russian iconography. It depicts the Virgin Mary seated on a throne with the Christ Child, surrounded by scenes of feasts, symbolic and allegorical compositions, and illustrations of psalms and liturgical hymns.

Mary is depicted wearing royal clothing and a white head covering below a crenelated crown topped with a cross. The image of Mary seated on a throne is similar to the Hodegetria type. However, in this case, the Child is seated half-turned towards the Mother, blessing Her. The image is based on the Roman Catholic icon “Madonna del Rosario” (Our Lady of the Rosary) which formed in the late 15th century. This refers to the practice of reciting the Ave Maria (Hail Mary) salutation 150 times, with a rosary used to keep track of the count.

The prayer is dedicated to 15 episodes from the life of Mary known as the Mysteries of the Rosary. They are traditionally grouped by fives into sets known as the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries. These scenes were depicted in the composition “Our Lady of the Rosary”. The scenes in the Balakhna icon follow the same principle, with their order changed slightly. The scenes are arranged to venerate Mary as the Virgin, the Mother of God, and the Queen of Heaven.

Above the head of the enthroned Mother of God is a scene called “The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles” which illustrates the days after Pentecost, the feast of the Trinity. It marks the birth of the earthly Church. Remarkably, this version of the scene also features the Mother of God enthroned in its center. Above the centerpiece, there are other scenes venerating the Virgin Mary — “Coronation” and “The Queen Did Stand” — followed by the Feasts of the Mother of God, the Birth of Jesus, the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Candlemas), and Mid-Pentecost.

Notably, in the Candlemas scene, Joseph presents Jesus to the priest as if it were an illustration of the Circumcision of Jesus. Behind the Child’s back are the events of Holy Week — from Holy Thursday (the Washing of the Feet) to Easter (the Rising from the Tomb and Harrowing of Hell). The Ascension of Jesus on the 40th day of Easter completes the cycle. The Mother of God, with the apostles praying alongside Her, serves as a symbolic center of the composition, history, and the earthly realm.