This type of Marian icon has many names: Paraklesis, Madonna Avvocata, Khalkopratiskaya. Hagiosoritissa (Panagia ’Agiosoritissa) means ”of the Holy Shrine”, after a chapel in Constantinople that housed the girdle of Virgin Mary.

This version has some rather strange details. One wonders if it is really a Marian image…

I have about three more pages to upload. My faithful readers haven’t been waiting in vain! Hopefully I will get this chapter finished before the end of the year (famous last words)?