Hand painted Orthodox icon on wood, "Our Lady of the Way (Hodegetria)", 20x26 cm

This hand-painted Orthodox icon on wood by Ana Drăgan (DAM) is an interpretation of the Panagia Hodegetria - Our Lady of the Way icon - one of the most revered iconographic representations of the Virgin Mary in the Orthodox Church.

This Holy Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on July 9.

The Panagia Hodegetria or "Directress" icon depicts the Virgin Mary presenting her son on arm to the viewer and with her hand she is gesturing towards him, pointing to Christ as 'The Way'. Christ, on the other hand, has his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing with the index and middle fingers joined (to refer to the two natures of Christ) and his thumb locks over the other fingers (to signify the Holy Trinity).

The term 'Hodegetria' is Greek and translates to 'the One who Shows the Way'. In this icon, although the Virgin Mary is the largest subject, the principal image in the icon is Christ. His presence is like that of an adult.

Typical features of the Hodegetria include the starburst on one or both shoulders and on the part of the blue mantle that covers the forehead. The fringe on the mantle indicates imperial status, as does the throne that is occasionally included in the image. The Virgin Mary's frontal gaze is also a key feature of the Hodegetria type.

The odd letters on the left and right and level with the top of the Virgin's head appear to be an adaptation of the usual inscription that occupies this position in other Hodegetrias: "MP θY" -- the first and last Greek letters of the Greek words for "Mother of God."