Many Catholics around the world are familiar with the "Virgin of Vladimir," as it is an icon that is frequently used and bears a striking resemblance to the popular image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
One of the reasons behind its popularity is because it is said to be an icon written by St. Luke. Its history is nearly identical to many similar icons, tracing its origin to Constantinople.
An ancient tradition states that during the 5th century a Byzantine empress brought from Jerusalem to Constantinople an icon attributed to St. Luke. The Hodegon Monastery was built to enshrine it, and later all copies of this icon became known as Hodegetria. Most believe the original image was lost during the Middle Ages.
Virgin of Vyshgorod
The "Virgin of Vladimir" is from this same school of iconography, but was originally a gift to Kyiv.
Elaine Elizabeth Belz wrote the history of this icon in a paper for the graduate journal of the Harvard Divinity School.
At the time, it was enshrined in the Convent of Vyshgorod, near Kyiv.
Transfer to Vladimir and destruction of Kyiv
The image stayed there until Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky took the icon to Vladimir and established a new shrine there in 1160.
Afterwards, Bogolyubsky permitted his troops to sack and pillage Kyiv in 1169 and made his residence in Vladimir. This is briefly explained in the book A History of Russia.
Afterwards, the Virgin of Vladimir became a national icon for Russia and has is currently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
