Features:
Dimensions, mm: 42 * 18 * 3
Average weight: 11 grams
Materials: silver 925, gilding 999
Techniques: casting, gilding, blackening
On the pendent face - the icon "Smolensk", decorated with graceful carved facing is also surrounded with beams of Divine Glory. This icon is one of the oldest orthodox shrines. She has been brought to Kievan Rus' in 1046 by Anna, the Greek princess. In the future mother of the grand duke Vladimir Monomakh who has taken an icon in Smolensk. Since then the image has been called by Odigitriya, that from Greek means "accompanying in way". The name "Odigitriya" has appeared in the 9th century, and is connected with wonderful healing of two blind people. Blessed Mother of God was before them and has taken away them to the monastery where the icon was stored, on arrival they zraza have recovered.
The Smolensk icon of the Mother of God was one of the most exact copies of ancient icons, written by the apostle Luka. This great shrine protected a southwest part of Kievan Rus' and is later than Russia and Ukraine. After the victory in 1812 of residents of Smolensk over Napoleon's army the icon of Odigitriya has been returned to the city. But soon her list has disappeared. However later many lists of this image which have shown the beneficial power many times have been made.
Pray to the Smolensk icon in a disease, in different troubles and struggles of life. "We pray to you, the Defender to both the Invincible wall, and a world shelter, and a grace source, You, the Queen Nebesnaya, we call and we pray for protection and disposal of troubles" is a hand-written inscription on a reverse side of an image. Orthodox Christians know that Blessed Virgin Mary always in her surprising image gives help to people who pray to her.
Memory of the Smolensk icon is celebrated on August 10 (on July 28).
