<P> The Theotokos of Vladimir (Greek: Θεοτόκος του Βλαντίμιρ), also known as Our Lady of Vladimir, Vladimir Mother of God, or Virgin of Vladimir (Russian: Владимирская Икона Божией Матери, Ukrainian: Вишгородська ікона Божої Матері) is a medieval Byzantine icon of the Virgin and Child . In 1169 Andrei Bogolyubsky sacked Kyiv, and, after plundering the city, stole much religious artwork, including a Byzantine "Mother of God" icon which was transferred to Vladimir (for references see Yury Dolgorukiy and Andrey Bogolyubskiy). It is one of the most venerated Orthodox icons and a fine and early example of the iconography of the Eleusa (tenderness) type, with the Christ child snuggling up to his mother's cheek . The Theotokos (Greek for Virgin Mary, literally meaning "Birth - Giver of God") is regarded as the holy protectress of Russia . The icon is displayed in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow in a functioning church in the grounds of the museum . Her feast day is June 23rd o.s. / July 6th n.s. Even more than most famous icons, the original has been copied repeatedly for centuries, and many copies have considerable artistic and religious significance of their own . </P> <P> Unlike some icons with a special following in religious terms the high artistic quality of the work is universally agreed, and the Vladimirskaya, as Russians call it, is generally accepted as the finest of the few Byzantine icons surviving from its period, and according to the art historian David Talbot Rice "is admitted by all who have seen it to be one of the most outstanding religious paintings of the world". </P> <P> As a work of art, the icon is dated to the earlier part of the 12th century, and a date shortly before its arrival in Rus about 1131, according to the chronicles, seems plausible . Like other Byzantine works of high quality, it is thought to have been painted in Constantinople, and is regarded as the finest panel icon surviving from the Komnenian period, the few survivors from which vary considerably in quality . Only the faces and hands are original, with the clothes repainted after suffering damage when a metal cover or riza was placed over them, and in a fire in 1195 . The work shows a humanity and tenderness new to Byzantine art in this period . The reverse of the icon, which is much less well known, has a 15th - century image of the "Prepared Table": a Hetoimasia with the Instruments of the Passion and other symbols . </P> <P> About 1131 the Greek Patriarch of Constantinople sent the icon as a gift to Grand Duke Yury Dolgorukiy of Kyiv . The image was kept in a monastery (according to a recent legend, in the Mezhyhirskyi Monastery, first mentioned in the 14th century) until Dolgorukiy's son Andrey Bogolyubskiy brought it to his favourite city, Vladimir, in 1155 . Tradition tells that the horses transporting the icon stopped near Vladimir and refused to go further . People interpreted this as a sign that the Theotokos wanted her icon to stay in Vladimir . To house the icon, the great Assumption Cathedral was built there, followed by other churches dedicated to the Virgin throughout Ukraine . However the presence of the icon did not prevent the sack and burning of the city by the Mongols in 1238, when the icon was damaged by fire . It was first restored after this, and again before 1431 and in 1512 . </P>

When was the eastern orthodox church icon the virgin of vladimir made