0206 Virgin of Unexpected Joy

Russian.
19th cent. 31x26x2.5 cms.

This is an icon that focusses on the legend of the repentant thief. The events that caused the creation of the icon are related by the words that are shown of the thief and a plaque within the image itself. Although a thief, the man daily visits a Church that has an icon of The Virgin holding the Christ child. As he begins his veneration with the words “Rejoice, Blessed one”, he sees The Virgin weeping and blood seeping from Christ’s crucifixion wounds. Shocked, the sinner asks who was responsible and, when told it is the sins of mankind, he repents.