Let us, sinful and humbled, now run earnestly to the Theotokos, / and let us fall down in repentance, crying from the depths of our soul: / “Help us, O Sovereign Lady, and have compassion on us. / Make haste, for we perish from the multitude of our sins. / Do not turn your servants empty away, for we have you as our only hope. – Troparion — Tone 4
The Icon is called the ”Unbreakable Wall“ because for ten centuries it has remained intact, in spite of the fact that both Kyiv’s Holy Wisdom Cathedral and the city have been damaged several times. An ancient description of this Icon has been preserved: “A gigantic full-length portrait of the Theotokos…. She stands upon a gold stone, as an unshakable foundation for all who resort to her protection. Her chiton is blue, and she wears a scarlet belt. Hanging from it is an embroidered cloth with which she wipes away so many tears.
There are several possible sources for this Icon’s title:
The Prophet-King David wrote “God is in the midst of her (i. e. the city of God); she shall not be moved: God shall help her with his countenance” (Psalm 45/46:5).
“Thus the Lord showed me; and behold, he stood upon a wall of adamant…” (Amos 7:7, LXX).
The Akathist to the Mother of God, Ikos 12. “Rejoice, indestructible wall of kingdoms” - Ikos XII).
According to Kyivan tradition, the wall of the church will not perish while the hands of the Mother of God are extended over it.
* Adapted from “The Unbreakable Wall” by the Orthodox Church in America.
see also: #icon, #mary
