"VIRGIN OF THE THIRD MILLENIUM" ICON

The icon is inspired on the Virgin of Vladimir that can be found in theTretjakov Gallery in Moscow and is considered to be the largest icon of the Holy Mother of God. Pope John XXIII declared it the patron of the unity of all faiths.

In our icon the real focal point is the Maddonas eyes: It's no longer us who look at the Virgin but it's her who looks at us, our suffering, our sin, our anguish...and provides, as she has in Canaa of Galilee when there was no wine in the wedding.

The "fiery" red and yellow colors remind us of the burning bush through which God spoke to Moses. It is the fire of divine jealousy for the salvation of all men.

The Virgin contemplates our life and sees we are missing the wine of resurrection: the victory over death. Our human weddings, our happiness are not complete, we are missing the wine. Jesus Christ, her beloved son, provides eternal salvation for us. He rises from death and consumates the wine.

Now all makes sense: Jesus Christ has resurrected, death has been defeated and the Madonna as she intercedes for us invites us to take the wine of the New Evangelization to all mankind.

The Holy Virgin with the Child are surrounded by the inscription:

"Ave stella novae evangelizationis
tertio millenio Maria humilis
mater gloriosa".

The icon is 100 x 74 centimeters. It's painted on an cooked (bolo) oak board and is laminated in gold.