The Unfading Flower

 

The time of the appearance of this icon in Russia is unknown. Its name, 'The Unfading Flower," is related with hymns dedicated 10 the Mother of God, The original miracle-working icon shows the Most Holy Theotokos with the Pre-Eteraal Infant on Her right arm, holding in Her left hand a flower of the lily symbolizing "the unfading flower of virginity of the Most Pure and All-Immaculate Virgin Mary. Sometimes roses and other flowers are painted instead of the lily. As a rule, miraculous icons of this iconographic type were locally revered and were popular over the area from the Perm Gubernia in the Urals to the Poltava Gubernia in the Ukraine, They have healed a great number of sick people-Feast day: April 3/16.