June 3
Our Lady of Vladimir, Moscow, Russia
One of the most beloved and well-known Marian images in the world, the Mother of God of Vladimir icon is of the type known as the Virgin of Tenderness or Eleusa (Merciful One), showing Mother and Child cheek to cheek in loving embrace. Prince Andrei Bogolubsky brought the tempera panel from Kiev when he became ruler of Vladimir, placing it in a gold case in the new Dormition Cathedral there. Carried to Moscow in 1395 for the purpose, the image was credited with lifting Tamerlane's seige, an event commemorated annually on August 26 / September 8. In 1480, after another victory over invading Tatars, the image moved to Moscow permanently. There it became known as the work of St. Luke the Evangelist, said to have been moved from Jerusalem to Constantinople in 450 and to the women's monastery in Vyshgorod, near Kiev, in 1131. The Virgin of Vladimir hung in Moscow's Church of the Annunciation until 1918. It is now in the Tretyakov State Gallery there (photo from "Collection — GTG," Tretyakov State Gallery, www.tretyakovgallery.ru). Today's celebration (May 21 in the Julian calendar still used by Orthodox churches) commemorates Moscow's deliverance from Khan Mahmet Ghirei in 1521. The icon's move to Moscow in 1480 is commemorated on June 23 / July 6.
As ones delivered from evils by the arrival of thy precious image, O Mistress Theotokos, do we splendidly chant hymns of victory to thee, the chosen leader, on the feast of thy meeting, and we cry to thee as is our wont: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded! (Kontakion from today's liturgy, from "Orthodox Calendar," Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, www.holytrinityorthodox.com)
Also celebrated this date:
 | Our Lady of Lourdes, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. Grotto blessed, 1921. Annual pilgrimage August 14-15. |
| Panna Maria Loretánská, Prague, Czech Republic (Virgin Mary of Loreto). Foundation laid, 1626. Feast December 10. |
| Nostra Signora del Soccorso, Vezzano Ligure, La Spezia, Liguria, Italy, Molinello district (Our Lady of Help). Locution, 1523. Fair. |
| Madonna della Lettera, Messina, Sicily, Italy. City's patronal feast day; procession. |
| Matka Pocieszenia, Gniezno, Greater Poland, Poland (Consoling Mother). Icon c1620 crowned, 1997; feast May 24. |
| Matka Niezawodnej Nadziei, Jamna, Zakliczyn, Tarnów, Lesser Poland, Poland (Mother of Sure Hope). Painting crowned, 1998. |
| Nuestra Señora del Águila, Alcalá de Guadaira, Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain (Our Lady of the Eagle). Statue crowned, 2000; feast Aug. 15. |
| Our Lady of Bethlehem, Carmel, California, USA. St. Junípero Serra placed the statue on the temporary altar of Mission San Carlos Borromeo at its founding June 3, 1770 in Monterey; relocated to Carmel 1771. |