Hand-Painted Icon of Virgin Eleousa (Our Lady of Tenderness)

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• a hand-painted tempera-on-wood reproduction of the original icon
• available in three sizes: 6" x 7 7/8" (small), 7" x 9 4/9" (medium) and 7 7/8" x 11 4/5" (large)
• origin: Russia

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"The Eleusa (or Eleousa) (Greek: Ἐλεούσα – tenderness or showing mercy) is a type of depiction of the Virgin Mary in icons in which the infant Jesus Christ is nestled against her cheek. In the Western church the type is often known as the Virgin of Tenderness. Such icons have been venerated in the Eastern Church for centuries. In Eastern Orthodoxy the term Panagia Eleousa is often used. The Theotokos of Vladimir and Theotokos of Pochayiv are well-known examples of this type of icon. Eleusa is also used as epithet for describing and praising the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) in the Eastern Orthodox tradition..."
-- Source: WikipediA

"Panagia Eleousa (Gr. ελεούσα) is an icon known as the Virgin of Tenderness or showing mercy and is often compared to the Virgin of Loving Kindness or the Hodegetria type icons. The difference from the first icon is that in the Eleousa, the Child Christ touches his mother's face and wraps one arm around her neck or shoulder. The mutual gestures of loving kindness between the Theotokos and her child give this icon a warmth and tenderness though the sentimentality is not excessive and retains a noble quality. The personal pain and grief in the face of the Theotokos can be felt and transformed into a universal grief and pain for the present life. In the Hodegetria, the emphasis is on the divinity of Christ, whereas, in this icon, the emphasis is on the humanity of Christ and the compassion of the Theotokos are emphasised as a motherly compassion for all human beings."
-- Source: OrthodoxWiki

"Today is the beginning of our salvation and
the manifestation of the mystery that is from all eternity.
The Son of God becomes Son of the Virgin,
and Gabriel announces the good tidings of grace.
Therefore let us also join him and cry aloud to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee. "
-- Dismissal Hymn of the feast (Tone Four)