The exhibited icon of “Our Lady of Akhtyrka” is an example of the influence of secular painting style on icon painting. This influence was expressed primarily in the depiction of the faces: they are painted in a manner typical of the portrait painting of that time. The face of the Virgin Mary is rounded, with a slightly flattened nose.
The icon depicts a chest-high image of the Virgin Mary on a green background, in a three-quarter turn to the right, with a slightly bowed head and dark brown curly hair falling down to the shoulders. At the level of Our Lady’s left shoulder is the Crucifixion. The Mother of God is dressed in a blue chiton and a red cloak with stars on her shoulders.
The displayed icon of “Our Lady of Akhtyrka” was created by the icon painter Ivan Denisov. In 1841, he painted the iconostasis in the chapel at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. This iconography of “Our Lady of Akhtyrka” has been known since 1739. Its characteristic feature is the image of the Crucifixion. According to the Gospel, the Mother of God stood by the cross throughout the entire execution of the Savior. And there, on Golgotha, Our Lady symbolically adopted all mankind.
Tradition tells of the priest Vasily Danilov, who
served at the Church of the Intercession in Akhtyrka, Kharkov Governorate. He
was characterized by a righteous life, faith, and diligence. Once, while
haymaking in his vegetable garden, Vasily decided to try a new scythe. As he
swung the scythe, he saw an icon of the Virgin Mary lying in the tall grass,
shining with a dazzling radiance. Dropping the scythe and kneeling down, the
priest recited prayers to the Virgin Mary, then took the icon with reverence and
brought it to his house. In the house it stood for three years, and then, on
the day of the Intercession, Father Vasily saw in a dream Our Lady who
commanded him to wash the icon with fresh water and decorate it. When the
priest went to the river to pour out the water left after washing, he met Our
Lady in the image of a Beautiful Virgin who addressed him,
