The Theotokos of Minneapolis “Deliverer” is painted in the style of the Hodigitria (“Guide”) and is consistent with other copies of the original “Deliverer” icon. The “Deliverer” is one of the earliest styles of depicting the Theotokos in icons, from approximately the 5th century. This date aligns with the theological debates around the term Theotokos vs Christotokos.

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The portrayal of the Theotokos and Christ Child in the "Deliverer" icon was the basis for other famous later icons of the Theotokos (Smolensk, Tambov, Tikhvin, Neamts, Georgian, Blachernae).

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The “Deliverer” is distinctive with the Theotokos’ right hand directing the viewer to Christ who holds a scroll in His left hand, while blessing with His right hand. It is customary for the “Deliverer” icon to be carried in procession during festive occasions as well as times of distress, as the Theotokos directs us to her Son, Who is our deliverer from afflictions.

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Details about the Theotokos of Minneapolis Icon

Our icon, the Theotokos of Minneapolis, is an original painting painted as a copy of the wonder-working “Deliverer” icon brought to St. Panteleimon’s Monastery on Mt. Athos in 1884 and housed at the New Athos Monastery in Abkhazia, in the Caucasus since 1889.

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The icon is painted on a large, heavy composite board (28¼ x 20⅛”), held together with butterfly struts, and was painted in oil on canvas adhered to the board with rabbit glue, a common binding agent in the 19th century. The icon has gilding and ornate decoration.

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The name of the icon is featured above the right shoulder of the Virgin Mary in Slavonic: Икона Пресвятая Богородица Извабительница (Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, the “Deliverer”). The face and hands of both figures are painted in a naturalistic style, reflective of style of most Orthodox iconography in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The background of the icon features a solid color gradient from ocean blue to sand brown.

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The Mother of God wears golden robes with a floral pattern and a crown adorned with gems and pearls, while the Christ Child has a white paisley patterned robe. These fabric patterns utilize pointillism, a technique developed in the 1880s, where small distinct dots of color are used. Embossed pointillist design patterns of pearls and gems are featured in the gold leaf halos of both figures. The three stars, commonly found on icons of the Mother of God and her virginity before, during, and after giving birth, are encircled by text in Greek, Slavonic, and - interestingly - German.

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The Theotokos of Minneapolis icon has been present in the parish community for at least 100 years. It was, for many years (and yet unknown reasons) not located in the cathedral. The icon was cleaned in the mid 1980s, revealing its stunning beauty. In the early 2000s, the icon was seriously damaged causing the separation of the wood panels on the left side of the icon, tearing of the canvas and cracking the gesso beneath the icon.

 

In 2023, the icon was expertly examined by the Midwest Art Conservation Center, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

 

The team of conservationists, including an experienced icon conservationist, stabilized and restored the icon, minimizing further degradation. The work included stabilizing the paint layers, repair of the panel supports, application of neutral filler to damaged areas, cleaning, and repainting the icon to its original beauty.

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The work was completed in early 2025 and the icon was joyously returned to the Cathedral where a newly composed akathist specifically for the Theotokos of Minneapolis was celebrated before the Mother of God and Christ Child. Since the return of the icon, services have been celebrated in honor of the Mother of God, the icon has been carried in festal processions, and the faithful have offered prayers to the Virgin Mary for her intercessions on our behalf.​

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Most Holy Theotokos, save us!