On October 14th, the Shroud’s icon is honored: In 1155 the sanctuary was taken to Volodymir

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has marked October 14th as a day of veneration for the Shroud’s icon, a revered image associated with the Virgin Mary. This date is part of the church’s calendar, which has undergone reforms shifting major October holidays 13 days earlier. The veneration of the Mother of God’s icons now falls on October 14th, a day that holds deep historical and spiritual significance for the Ukrainian Orthodox community.

According to church tradition, the icon is believed to have been brought from Constantinople to Kyiv and was long kept in the Virgin Monastery of Visgorod, located north of the capital. The monastery’s name is derived from the icon itself, which is considered one of the oldest shrines linked to Kyiv. This icon, associated with the evangelist Luke, has been a central part of the church’s heritage and is now considered one of the most honored in the Orthodox world.

The icon’s journey through history is marked by significant events. In 1155, Prince Andrei of Bologna took the image from Visgorod to Volodymir-on-Klitiya, where it became known as the Vladimiric icon. It later moved to Moscow, where it was housed in the Usman Cathedral. The icon’s path reflects the broader movements of Orthodox Christianity across Eastern Europe, and its current location is in the Third World, though the exact location is not specified in the source.

The Vladimiric icon has been regarded as miraculous for centuries. In church tradition, it is described as “the defense of cities and the liberation of enemy nations.” For the Ukrainian people, the icon holds particular significance as it is part of their own Kyivan heritage, which is now outside Ukraine. This connection underscores the icon’s role in the cultural and spiritual identity of the Ukrainian Orthodox community.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine continues to commemorate various days throughout the month of October, including the Day of the Defenders and the Day of the Protectors of Ukraine. These observances highlight the church’s role in both spiritual and national matters, reinforcing its importance in the lives of its followers. The veneration of the Shroud’s icon on October 14th serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of the Orthodox faith in Ukraine.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Ukrainian)