Holy Mother of God & the 12 Apostles

Holy Mother of God & the 12 Apostles

This icon depicts the Holy Mother of God with the Christ Child at the center, surrounded by the Twelve Apostles, rendered in the traditional Byzantine style. 

The Virgin Mary is shown holding Christ tenderly in her arms, symbolizing her role as the Mother of God and protector of the faithful. 

The Christ Child leans toward His Mother in a gesture of love and closeness, while His halo bears the traditional Christogram, affirming His divine identity.

Around the central composition, the Twelve Apostles are portrayed individually within decorative panels, each holding scrolls or Gospel books as symbols of their mission to spread the teachings of Christ throughout the world. 

Their calm and spiritual expressions reflect wisdom, faith, and devotion. The icon is framed within an elaborately carved wooden border featuring the Byzantine double-headed eagle, a traditional symbol of Orthodox heritage and spiritual authority.

The garments are painted in rich red, blue, green, and golden tones. The deep red mantle of the Virgin symbolizes sacrifice, royalty, and divine love, while the varied colors of the Apostles’ garments emphasize their individual presence and sacred role within the Church.

The background is covered with genuine 24-karat gold leaf, carefully applied by hand. The gold used is real 24K gold. The pigments are specially prepared traditional mixtures, following the methods used in historic iconography. These materials make the icon highly durable and resistant, allowing it to be preserved for hundreds of years, as seen in surviving ancient icons.

Each icon is 100 percent handmade by skilled iconographers. Every stage of the process is completed by hand. The wooden panel is specially selected and carved by an expert woodcarver, ensuring stability and quality.