Icon "Tikhvin Mother of God with Child", in a solid frame

The icon belongs to the Hodegetria type (from the Greek "She Who Shows the Way"). This is a variant in which Christ turns slightly toward the Mother of God, with his legs crossed so that the bare sole of his right foot is visible.

The icon has painted "flesh" areas, with everything else worked in relief on a silver riza. The icon shows a half-length image of the Mother of God with the Infant Christ, his right hand raised in blessing. The Mother of God inclines toward the Child, who sits on her left arm, pointing to him with her right hand. The Mother of God wears a tunic and maphorion, Christ a chiton and himation; applied halos are set above the heads of both. Around the perimeter of the icon is a rectangular frame with a floral ornament. At the bottom of the riza is the Church Slavonic inscription: "Tikhvin Most Holy Mother of God." A relief frame runs along the edge of the riza. The reverse of the icon panel is reinforced with end battens.

The icon was donated to the museum by L. V. Konkova of Kharkiv in 1974.

Legend: the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is one of the depictions of the Virgin Mary made during her lifetime, attributed to the hand of the Apostle Luke. After it was painted, the holy image was passed to Theophilus, a disciple of the Evangelist Luke, in Antioch. After his repose, the icon was transferred to Jerusalem. Later, in the 5th century, the image took an honored place in the Blachernae church built specially for it in Constantinople, where it remained until 1383, when it mysteriously disappeared from the church.

According to tradition, traces of the missing icon were found on the shores of Lake Ladoga near the town of Tikhvin. A church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos was built at the site of its appearance, and some time later a men's monastery was established nearby.

Many copies of the Tikhvin Icon exist.

This icon is said to help women, aiding conception, a healthy pregnancy, and easy childbirth. It is also invoked by those suffering from mental illness, seizures, and paralysis.