The Mother of God "Sweet Kissing" or "Loving
Kindness"
Greek: GlykophilousaAbove, left, is a beautiful
icon of the Mother of God "Sweet Kissing" or "Loving Kindness", in Greek :
Glykophilousa. The icon is of the Cretan School of the XVIIth century.
The characteristic of the Mother of God of Tenderness (Virgin of Tenderness) is
even more pronounced. Glykophilousa could be literally translated as "She who
embraces gently". In the
Eleousa
(Virgin of Tenderness), the Mother simply accepts the
signs of affection demonstrated by the Child, while sometimes looking
elesewhere; but in the Glykophilousa, the Virgin Mother caresses the Child.
Shown above to the right is a Russian icon of the Mother of God Sweet Kissing,
of which I love the facial expression, notably her eyes.
(Bibl.: Maria Donadeo, Icônes de la Mère de Dieu,
Éditions Médiaspaul, Paris, 1987, pp. 61, 139, 140)
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