This modern large beautiful icon of our Lady of Czestochowa is hand-painted on a solid wood base with a silver-plated cover with incredible ornate gold and silver accents. The entire icon is overlaid with a beautifully executed highly detailed repousse (high relief) gold and silver-plated metallic cover (also known as a riza) with an attached 24-carat gold-plated halo. The riza uses a scrolled floral pattern to accent the subjects and covers the less important areas of the icon.The image of Our Lady in Czestochowa Poland is among that small group of Black Madonnas recognized throughout the entire world largely due to the recent manifestations of public piety shown by the reigning Polish Pope John Paul II. The image is sometimes called Our Lady of Jasna Gora after the name of the monastery site in which it has been kept for six centuries. Each year hundreds of thousands of European pilgrims ritually humble themselves before the image of Black Mary and her child Jesus at Black Madonna sites throughout France Germany Spain Italy Belgium Portugal and other Catholic countries. Many Black Madonna statues have the black paint literally kissed off of their hands and feet. In Poland the Church encourages believers to pray to the Black Madonna of Czestochowa every morning before rising. It is reported that Pope John Paul follows this ritual.St. Ladislaus determined to save the image from the repeated invasions of the Tartars by taking it to the more secure city of Opala his birthplace. This journey took him through Czestochowa where he decided to rest for the night. During this brief pause in their journey the image was taken to Jasna Gora [meaning Bright Hill]. There it was placed in a small wooden church named for the Assumption. The following morning after the portrait was carefully replaced in its wagon the horses refused to move. Accepting this as a heavenly sign that the portrait was to remain in Czestochowa St. Ladislaus had the image solemnly returned to the Church of the Assumption.Another 'miraculous' aspect of this image is that its antiquity is so great that its origins are unknown as if dropped from the heavens. Legend attributes its creation to St. Luke the evangelist who painted a portrait of the Virgin on the cedar wood table at which she had taken her meals. St. Helena the Queen-Mother of Emperor Constantine is said to have located the portrait during her visit to the Holy Land and to have brought it to Constantinople in the fourth century. After remaining there for five centuries it allegedly was transferred in royal dowries until it made its way to Poland and the possession of St. Ladislaus in the fifteenth century.The legend continues: During Ladislaus' time the image was damaged during a siege by a Tartar arrow inflicting a scar on the throat of the Blessed Virgin. In 1430 Hussites stole and vandalized the precious image breaking it into three pieces. Adding insult to injury: One of the robbers drew his sword struck the image and inflicted two deep gashes. While preparing to inflict a third gash he fell to the ground and writhed in agony until his death.The two slashes on the cheek of the Blessed Virgin together with the previous injury to the throat have always reappeared - despite repeated attempts to repair them
Length: 18. Rosary Features 5mm Glass Beads with Blue Thread Oxidized Links Center and 1.5 Crucifix. Center is Double Sided with Image of Jesus the Divine Mercy on One Side and St. Faustina on the other. Imported. Comes in Plastic Box. The Color and Shape of the Box May Vary.
