0266 Virgin of The Sign

0266 Virgin of The Sign
Russian. 19th cent.32.5×27 2.5 cms

In the traditional sign of prayer for a martyr, The Virgin stands with arms raised and palms raised to Heaven. Over Her entire upper torso is a medallion [signum] which is not the Emperor [which it would have been in Byzantium] to show allegiance but to demonstrate the deliverance of God’s promise as in Isaiah 7:14 ” Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:The Virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel”. [N.I.V.] The figure shown is not The Christ Child but symbolic of the eternal, ageless, indestructable presence of God whose promises and sacrifice is ever present in daily celebration of Eucharist.