Icon. "Tikhvin Most Holy Mother of God"

The icon belongs to the Hodegetria type (from the Greek "She Who Shows the Way"). In this variant, the crossed legs of the Infant Christ are positioned so that the bare sole of his right foot is visible.

The Mother of God is shown half-length, inclining slightly toward the Child, who sits on her left arm. Her right hand points to the Child. The icon panel is covered in golden paint, on which the halos, the Mother of God's garments (tunic, veil, maphorion), Christ's garments (himation and chiton), and the frame are rendered in relief. The faces, the Mother of God's hands, and Christ's hands and feet are painted in oil. The halos are decorated with a geometric ornament. Around the image, along the edge of the icon, is an arch-shaped frame whose field is decorated with a floral ornament. At the bottom center of the frame is the inscription: "O.M.G. of Tikhvin." The icon is covered in varnish and set in a wooden case. The case is shaped, covered in black paint on the outside and in gold paint and varnish on the inside.

The icon was made by a local artel workshop in the early 20th century.

It was donated to the museum in 1974 by L. V. Koniakova of Kharkiv.

Legend: the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is one of the depictions of the Virgin Mary made during her lifetime, attributed to the hand of the Apostle Luke. After it was painted, the holy image was passed to Theophilus, a disciple of the Evangelist Luke, in Antioch. After his repose, the icon was transferred to Jerusalem. Later, in the 5th century, the image took an honored place in the Blachernae church built specially for it in Constantinople, where it remained until 1383, when it mysteriously disappeared from the church.

According to tradition, traces of the missing icon were found on the shores of Lake Ladoga near the town of Tikhvin. A church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos was built at the site of its appearance, and some time later a men's monastery was established nearby.

Many copies of the Tikhvin Icon exist.

This icon is said to help women, aiding conception, a healthy pregnancy, and easy childbirth. It is also invoked by those suffering from mental illness, seizures, and paralysis.