The Icon of the Mother of God the Merciful in Cyprus, written, according to Holy Tradition, by St. Luke- covered except for a portion of the lower icon.
Today the Eastern Churches commemorate the icon of the Theotokos, the Merciful. According to Holy Tradition, this was one of three icons that St. Luke the Evangelist wrote of the Mother of God after she gace him a piece of wood that the Archangel Gabriel had given her from the Tree of Life. St. Luke gave the icon to Christians in Egypt, but it was later taken to Constantinople, until Elder Isaiah took it to Cyprus and built a church in honor of the Mother of God. Once the icon arrived miracles began to occur. One story tells of the miraculous saving of sailors on a boat that was sinking after its side had been pierced by a swordfish. In desparation the sailors prayed, "Blessed Virgin of Kykko, save us!"
There are many copies of the icon of the Mother of God, including one of my favorites written by Simon Ushakov in 1668- a copy of which hangs near my bed. One of the distinctive features of this icon is the figure of Christ, who hides one hand in his mother's head covering while turning his body away from her. The Mother of God holds him in one hand, and points to him, or directs our attention to him with her other hand.
The icon of the Mother of God the merciful on Cyprus is specially venerated by many as it is believed to have been touched by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself. Since we have no relics of her, other than the clothes she wore or the objects she touched, this icon serves as a very real connection with the Mother of God for those who believe she not only held it, but blessed it.
Mother of God Eleusa Kiksk- Moscow, 1668
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