Tender Mercy - Umilenie

Umilenie is a Russian word which means in Greek ?Eleusa? or in English ?Tenderness?. This iconographic type comes from Byzantine?s 11th century based on the iconographic technique ?Odigitria?. The ?Eleusa? Icon contours, depicting the Virgin touching a cheek of the infant Jesus, appear especially touching and gentle. The Virgin lowers her head to the Child seeking a mercy from him to the mankind. In turn, The Child responds to her and the rest of the world with holiness. This Icon was rewritten from the Novgorod original of 13th century which is located in Uspenkiy Dome of the Moscow Kremlin.

Prayers usually seek for mercifulness to themselves and people when they pray to the Virgin ?Eleusa? Icon.