Icon "Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos"

At the center of the composition is a full-length image of the Virgin Mary in a blue tunic, a red maphorion, and a white veil draped over her head, its long ends falling freely; around her head is a golden halo with a red border. Both of the Ever-Virgin's hands, palms open, are bent at the elbow and raised in a gesture of adoration (prayer). She stands before a lectern with carved legs, covered with a green cloth, looking into an open book. The floor of the room is laid with rectangular tiles. To the left and right of her halo is the inscription: "MR ΘU" [Mother of God]. From above, a white dove descends toward the Virgin Mary in a radiance of light, symbolizing the presence of divine grace — the Holy Spirit. At the top of the icon, in a semicircle, is the inscription: "The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos" (in Church Slavonic).

The icon is rounded at the top and rectangular at the bottom. On the reverse are two inset battens.

The icon was seized at the Chop customs post. It entered the museum by decision of the State Customs Committee of Ukraine and the National Committee for the Return of Cultural Property to Ukraine under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in 1995.

Legend: The Gospel of Luke recounts the miracle of the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel brought the Virgin Mary the news that she would bear the Son of God, the Savior of mankind.

One iconographic depiction of the Annunciation shows the Virgin Mary reading a book at a lectern, together with the Holy Spirit bringing her the joyful news. The faithful pray before this icon for health, protection, help in difficult situations, and forgiveness of sins, and give thanks for blessings received. Prayer before this icon is said to help in making the right decision, strengthening faith, and finding one's way through difficult life circumstances.