nation of the second hypostasis of the Holy Trinity - God, the Word. There are five main types of repre­sentation of the Theotokos in Orthodox iconography;!. Praying;2. The Guide;3. Tender Mercy;4. All Merciful;5. Intercessor.

1. "Praying" ("Oranta", "Panagia". "Lady of the Sign")

"Praying" ("Oranta". "Panagia", "Lady of the Sign"). This image of Theotokos was already evident in the catacombs of the first Christians. The Theotokos is depicted on these icons "en face" and half face, with her hands lifted up to the level of her head, with elbows bent. From time immemorial this gesture signi­fied a prayerful appeal to God. The Child-Jesus, the Emmanuel, is often depicted on Her bosom, within a spherical circle.

The icons of this type are also called "Oranta" (Greek "praying") and "Panagia" (Greek "all-holy"). When it reached the Russian land, this image acquired the name "Our Lady of the Sign". This is one story of the icon. On November 27, 1165 in the midst of the assault of the city of Novgorod by the detachments of Prince Andrew of Bogolubovo, the citizens of the besieged town brought the icon to the city wall. One of the arrows pierced the icon and the Most Holy Mother of God turned her face to the city shedding tears. The tears dropped on the clothes of His Eminence John, the Bishop of Novgorod and he exclaimed: " O wonder of wonders! Tears are streaming from a piece of dry wood! O heavenly Queen! You are giving us a sign of your prayerful intercession for us before Your Son" The people of Novgorod inspired by the wonderful sign repelled the attacks of the Suzdal regiments.In orthodox churches, this icon is normally placed in the upper part of the alter. 2 "The Guide" ("Hodigitria")

This icon shows the Theotokos with her right hand pointing at the Child Christ sitting on her left hand. The images have regular features, faces are serious, the heads of Christ and the Most Pure Virgin are not touching.

It is as if the Theotokos is saying to the human race that the right path is the path to Christ. This icon shows the Theotokos as a guide to God and salvation. This is also one of the oldest types of the icons por­traying the Theotokos and is believed to have originated with the first iconographer, the Evangelist Luke. The best known icons of this type in Russia are "Our Lady of Smolesk", "Our Lady of Tikhvin", and "Our Ladv of Iveron".

3. "TenderMercy" ("Eleusa")

The icons of the "Tender Mercy" type show Christ Child pressing his left cheek close to the right cheek of his Mother. Here the Theotokos again represents the Church of Christ, thereby displaying the fullness of love between God and man, a love that can only be achieved within the bosom of church, the Mother. Love here bridges heaven and earth, the things of God and the things of men; and this unity is expressed in the touching of the faces and the halos. The Theotokos is pensive, as she presses her Son to herself. She envisions His way of the cross. His life full of sufferings. Among the icons of this type, "Our Lady of Vladimir" is the one most widely known and loved by believers. It is not accidental, that this very icon has become one of the greatest of holy Russian objects. There are several reasons for this, including its ancient origin; again associated with the name of the Evangelist Luke, and the numerous events related to its transfer from Kiev to Vladimir and later to Moscow, as well as multiple occasions of the delivery⁷ of Moscow from the plundering raids of the Mongol hordes. However, the very character of the icon found a positive response in the hearts of the Russian people. The idea of sacrificial service for people has always been near and dear to Russians. The exalted grief of the Theotokos who has brought her Son into this world of cruelty and sufferings, and her pain are very much in keeping with the innermost feelings of the common Russian people.

4. "AllMerciful" ("Panakranta")

All icons of this type have a common feature: the Mother of God is depicted sitting on a throne. She holds the Christ Child on her lap. The throne symbolizes the royal glory of the Theotokos, who alone is perfect among those bom on earth. The best known icons of this type are "The Powerful" and "The Queen of all".

5. "Intercessor" ("Agiosortissa")

The icons of this type show the Theotokos in her full height, without the Child, turned to the right, some­times holding a scroll. In orthodox churches, this icon occupies a place of honor: to the left of the icon "Our Savior in Powers", the main icon of the iconostasis

Our Lady The Sign (Bogomater' Znamenie) The images of Our Lady with amis raised in a prayer and with Christ the Child on her chest are known in the christian religious art since IV century. This composition showing the tenet of the embodiment of the God is often called "The Embodiment". The name "The Sign" for icons of this iconography is emerged in Rus* (ancient Russia) from the legend of a miraculous salvation of Novgorod from the campaign of Suz­dal troops (Suzdaltsy) in 1170. The first mention of this name is found in Novgorod's chronicle (letopis¹) in XIV century. But yet it was not widely used by that time. According to the legend (found in manu-