The Historic Kursk Root Icona
The Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign dates from the 13th century, and is one of the most ancient icons of the Russian Church. During the Tatar invasion in the thirteenth century, the city of Kursk was ravaged by the Horde of Batu and fell into desolation. After this, the residents of the city of Rylsk often journeyed to the site of Kursk to hunt wild beasts. On September 8, 1259, a hunter noticed the icon lying on a root face downwards to the ground. The hunter lifted it and saw that the image of the icon was similar to the Novgorod "Znamenie" Icon of the Mother of God. Just as the hunter lifted up the holy icon from the earth, a strong spring of pure water surged up at that place where the icon rested. The icon itself depicts the Theotokos "of the Sign" with the Christ child before her. Her arms are outstretched. Above her is the "Lord of Hosts," and on either side and below are nine prophets who wrote about the birth of Christ (clockwise, starting in the top right): King Solomon, Prophets Daniel, Jeremiah, Elijah, Habakkuk, Judge Gideon, Prophets Isaiah, Moses, and King David. The wooden icon is covered with an intricately worked cover of blue and gold.
The Historic Kursk Root Icona
The Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign dates from the 13th century, and is one of the most ancient icons of the Russian Church. During the Tatar invasion in the thirteenth century, the city of Kursk was ravaged by the Horde of Batu and fell into desolation. After this, the residents of the city of Rylsk often journeyed to the site of Kursk to hunt wild beasts. On September 8, 1259, a hunter noticed the icon lying on a root face downwards to the ground. The hunter lifted it and saw that the image of the icon was similar to the Novgorod "Znamenie" Icon of the Mother of God. Just as the hunter lifted up the holy icon from the earth, a strong spring of pure water surged up at that place where the icon rested. The icon itself depicts the Theotokos "of the Sign" with the Christ child before her. Her arms are outstretched. Above her is the "Lord of Hosts," and on either side and below are nine prophets who wrote about the birth of Christ (clockwise, starting in the top right): King Solomon, Prophets Daniel, Jeremiah, Elijah, Habakkuk, Judge Gideon, Prophets Isaiah, Moses, and King David. The wooden icon is covered with an intricately worked cover of blue and gold.