We’re excited to have recently added to our inventory the Tikhvin anniversary pectoral cross. But with some thought I’ve realized that maybe folks would appreciate to be able to read a little bit of the history of the both the icon and then the cross itself.
The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, one of several icons painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist, is a revered Orthodox Christian icon of the Hodegetria type, depicting the Theotokos (Mother of God) holding the Christ Child. The Tikhvin Icon’s depiction of Christ making the two-finger sign of the cross further ties it to Orthodox tradition, emphasizing the ancient practice of blessing. Its history spans centuries, marked by miraculous appearances and a remarkable journey across continents.
The icon’s story begins with its traditional origin in Jerusalem, from where it was transferred to Constantinople in the 5th century and enshrined in the Church of Blachernae. In 1383, it miraculously appeared in Russia near Tikhvin, hovering over Lake Ladoga, and eventually settled at the Tikhvin Assumption Monastery, becoming a symbol of divine protection for Russia. During World War II, the icon was taken from Tikhvin by the Nazis, moved to Pskov and then Riga, Latvia. As Soviet forces advanced, Bishop John Garklavs of Riga safeguarded the icon, bringing it to the United States in 1949, where it was venerated at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago.
For decades, the icon remained in the U.S. under the care of Bishop John and later his adopted son, Archpriest Sergei Garklavs. After the fall of communism and the revival of the Russian Orthodox Church, the decision was made to return the icon to its original home in Tikhvin. This historic return occurred in 2004, a momentous event celebrated by thousands in Russia, symbolizing the end of a challenging era and the restoration of spiritual heritage. The icon was processed through Moscow, St. Petersburg, and finally Tikhvin, where it was reinstated in the Tikhvin Assumption Monastery on July 8, 2004.
The pectoral cross was commissioned by the Patriarchate of Moscow to commemorate the 20th anniversary of this return, celebrated in 2024. The Diocese of the Midwest of the Orthodox Church in America organized events to mark this milestone, including a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago on June 25-26, 2024, and a Cross Procession with a replica of the Tikhvin Icon, known as the Tikhvin-Chicago Icon. These celebrations highlighted the icon’s role in the Orthodox Church and its journey from exile back to Russia.
