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The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Vladimir

Rectangle 36 x 53 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: 1000 РУБЛЁЎ (1000 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 against the gold-plated background; along the perimeter of the coin — the Deesis: the Saviour in the center with the Theotokos, Michael the Archangel, Peter the Apostle, Basil the Great, and Gregory the Theologian on the right side and John the Baptist, Gabriel the Archangel, Paul the Apostle, John Chrysostom, and Nicholas the Wonderworker on the left side; and at the bottom — an inscription: УЛАДЗIMIPСКАЯ (OF VLADIMIR).
Country: 
Catalog ID: 
BY223CM3
Value: 
€5000
Mintage: 
250
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Face value: 
Material: 
Purity: 
0.999
Weight: 
100g
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