Russian icon depicting Our Lady of the Sign, 19th century

The Virgin has her hands raised in a prayerful attitude, while Jesus blessing is depicted inside a shield on the Virgin's breast.
This representation leads back to ancient iconographic representations of the Theotokos. The Virgin of the sign appeared in Russia during the 11th-12th century when the liberation of the city of Novgorod became famous. The inhabitants, seeing themselves lost in the fight against the enemy Suzdal, prayed to God and the Virgin. Their archbishop decided to bring the icon to the city walls in front of the combatants, which received an arrow to the face and began to tear. All the besieged cried out to miracle and to the salvation of the city.