Description
The icon of the Virgin Mary Praying, also referred to as Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn, is primarily linked to the Eastern Orthodox Church. The icon was given the name of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn from the church in which the icon is housed; the Chapel of the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius, Lithuania. Prior to being housed in the chapel, the icon was on display above the city gate in Vilnius.
The icon is regarded as wonder-working and according to tradition it played a role in saving the city of Vilnius from invasion in 1702 when the Swedish army attacked. The gate fell on top of the invading soldiers, killing four of them and allowing the Polish-Lithuanian forces time to advance and save the city.
The icon depicts the Virgin Mary alone, with her head slightly tilted toward the right, while her hands are crossed, showing her devotion to the Lord. This depiction of the Theotokos serves as a reminder of her humble and faithful service to her Son, Jesus Christ. Atop her head is a crown, symbolizing her status as the Queen Mother to the King of Kings. Also appearing on the icon are the letters ‘ΜΡ ΘΥ’, which mean “Mother of God” in Greek.
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