Russian Orthodox 19th Century Icon Known as “Joy of All Who Sorrow”

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On offer is a traditional Russian Orthodox icon known as "Joy of All Who Sorrow.” It’s a highly venerated image … Read more On offer is a traditional Russian Orthodox icon known as "Joy of All Who Sorrow.” It’s a highly venerated image of Mary that emerged in the late 17th century and remained revered through the 19th century. It symbolizes the Virgin Mary as a compassionate intercessor who feels human pain and provides divine protection and guidance. In this specific "Moscow" variation, she holds the crowned Christ Child on her left arm.
Overall rich with symbolic figures and religious narrative, this piece presents the Mother of God in the center within a mandorla of light and crowned as a queen while surrounded by various groups of people representing those in need—the sick, the poor, the naked, and the sorrowful. Angels are depicted moving among the suffering people, acting as the Virgin's messengers and providing comfort. Scrolls held by these figures often contain phrases such as "the healing of the sick" and "the clothing of the naked.”
At the very top among the clouds, God the Father overlooks the scene. The side borders feature additional saints who may be the patron saints of the family that commissioned the icon.
The large, stylized lettering at the top is written in Vyaz, a decorative form of Church Slavic calligraphy. It translates to "[To] All Who Suffer" or "[To] All Who Sorrow," the standard title for this specific iconographic type of the Virgin Mary. Down below is a prayer written in Old Church Slavonic directed to the Virgin Mary, asking for protection from troubles and liberation from sufferings. “O all-praised Mother, who bore the holiest of all holy Word, receive this present offering and deliver all from every misfortune: and deliver from torment those who cry out to Thee: Alleluia.”
As apparent from the last seven detail photos, this icon has bumped and banged through unrest, war, revolution and even more wars likely for the past 150 years. And yet, it survived. For people of the faith, it has provided comfort and hope throughout.
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