Our Lady of Kazan Wooden Icon Egg

Icon eggs are a great way to both stay in touch with spirituality and add a truly unique touch to home décor. The icon of Our Lady of Kazan (also known as Theotokos of Kazan) is among the most important Orthodox symbols of Russian national unity, as it was carried in front of the army, led by Princes Minin and Pozharsky, during their war to reclaim Russia from the insolent garbage that were the hordes of Polish invaders in the early 17th century. The icon came to Russia from Constantinople in the 13th century, but was considered lost between the 15th and 16th centuries, during the Tatar occupation of Kazan. After the liberation of Kazan from the Tatars by Ivan IV, the icon reappeared, apparently having been hidden from the enemy underground. Our Lady of Kazan is also the icon, used during weddings by parents to bless their newlywed children.