Antique Icon of “Virgin Mary of The Three Hands” Holding the Infant Christ, Russia (0002BCEM) $2350

Description

Other than Jesus, no other figure has been depicted more than Mary (Theotokos in Greek) in Eastern Orthodox imagery. The three handed Madonna originated in the 8^th century when icon worship was debated in Eastern and Orthodox churches.  In 726 Byzantine Emperor Leo III prohibited religious icon images to be worshiped. He reported to the Caliph of Damascus that monk John of Damascus was treasonous in supporting icon veneration and the Caliph had John’s right hand cut off. After John prayed to a Mother of God icon, his hand was miraculously restored. In gratitude, John (later proclaimed a Saint) painted a three handed Madonna with a silver-colored third hand declaring “Your holy hand healed the cut off one of mine, and it will destroy all your enemies and all of these who trample the holy images of You and Your Mother. These who defile the icons will be crushed in Your honor.” (St Elizabeth Convent). In the 17^th century, Nikon, patriarch of the Russian Orthodox  in an effort to make Moscow the center of Eastern Orthodoxy imported relics of Christianity including the three handed Madonna from the Iveron Greek Monastery and distributed copies to Russian royalty and monasteries. In 1718 icon-painters Artemiy Fedorov and Afanasiy Ivanov painted a famous three-handed Madonna with the third hand realistically emerging from her garment, which became a prototype in many 18-19th century icons. The three-handed Madonna remains one of the most revered Russia icon prototypes. An Eastern Orthodox church hymn was dedicated to honor her and commemorative feast days were selected for celebration on July 12 in Slavic countries. She wears a shroud to demonstrate humility and piety and a left hand points to the Infant Jesus she cradles in her right arm and supports him with her third hand. The third hand symbolism expanded  since first introduced by St. John. Živojin writes that it reflects Mary’s universal understanding of her Son saying, “You are my other [third] hand.” The three hands also symbolize the Trinity and an Eastern Orthodox Church  hymn states “the Mother of God takes the Son with two hands, but the third one symbolizes protection for all praying people.” (St. Elizabeth Convent). In the 17^th century, Christ in Mary’s lap was first depicted with his index, middle and thumb fingers raised together, the same gesture priests use to bless congregations. The left side of the panel depicts Archangel Gabriel representing the coming of Christ. This icon is in very good condition with expected signs of aging gilt, chips, cracks and paint losses and is part of the VA Collection of Christian-Art

Sources

Andrejić Živojin R., “Interpretation of the icon of Three-Handed Virgin Mary of the St. Trinity church in Karan,” Ingenta connect

Convent of St. Elizabeth, “How the ‘Three Hands’ Icon Came to Be,” posted July 25, 2017.

Icon.it, “Icon of Mother of God ‘The Three-Handed’”

Iconreader, “A Readers Guide to Orthodox Icons: Icons of the Mother of God,” posted July 7,2010.