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Icons are images of a sacred person or scene used in the Eastern churches of the Christian world. True icons are the culmination of a long period of prayer, meditation, and fasting undertaken by the artist. In this way, the artist is brought close in spirit to God. Thus, icons are often called "a meeting of heaven and earth" or "windows into heaven."
The artistic style of icons often appears strange to our western eyes. Icons are not meant to be "life-like' representations. Rather, they are intended to arouse in the beholder a spirit of prayer. Hence, only details which convey a spiritual meaning are retained or highlighted.
Our icon, hand painted by a Byzantine nun, was placed in our sanctuary in 1977. It is a depiction of the Virgin Mary and Christ under the title of Our Lady of Vladimir. The original Vladimir icon is the most venerated image of Mary in all of Russia. It predates the fifteenth century.
In our Roman Catholic tradition, Mary is seen as a model of discipleship: she was radically open to God's word and fruitful in her response to it. Thus, Mary embodies what the Church is called to be. Our icon is placed near the baptismal font in order to highlight the connection between our baptism and Christ's call to faithful discipleship.
Lord, in the Blessed Virgin you have given
your Pilgrim Church an image of the glory to come.
May those who look upon this likeness of Mary look to Her
as a model of holiness for all your chosen people