Home

The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Vladimir

Rectangle 14 x 23.5 mm

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is the oldest known surviving icons of Ancient Russia. According to legend, recorded in the XV century, this icon painted by St. Luke. Up to the year of 450 the icon was in Jerusalem and then was brought to Constantinople by the Emperor Theodosius the Younger. In 1130 it was placed in a convent of Vyshgorod (15 km from Kiev), then in 1155 was taken away by Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky to Vladimir and became the main shrine of the Uspensky Cathedral build by him in 1158-1160.

The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Vladimir
Obverse: 
In the centre — the ornamental pattern in the form of the grapevine symbolizing the Theotokos with the representation of the cross therein which was erected in the territory of Zaslavl’s stronghold to commemorate the thousandth anniversary of the Orthodox Church in Belarus and the alloy standard; at the top — the relief image of the State Coat of Arms of the Republic of Belarus and an inscription in two lines: РЭСПУБЛІКА БЕЛАРУСЬ (THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS); and at the bottom — the denomination: 50 РУБЛЁЎ (50 RUBLES) and the year of issue to the right of the denomination.
Reverse: 
In the center — an image of the Most Holy Theotokos of Vladimir and at the bottom — an inscription: УЛАДЗIMIPСКАЯ (OF VLADIMIR).
Country: 
Catalog ID: 
BY223CM2
Value: 
€280
Mintage: 
5000
Quality: 
Face value: 
Material: 
Purity: 
0.999
Weight: 
5g
Year: 
Type: 
Shape and style: 
Edge: 
Mint: 
Local program: 
Designer: 
Source of information: