Travel icon depicting the Mother of God of the Burning Bush, 19th century

Bronze casting with polychrome enamels

Height × Width: 10 × 9 cm Weight: 223.2 g.

As well as being one of the most complex and symbolic images in Orthodox iconography, rich in biblical and theological references, the icon is based on the miracle described in the Book of Exodus, in which Moses sees a bush that burns without being consumed. In Christian tradition, this is a symbol of the Virgin Mary: just as the bush contained the divine fire without being consumed, so Mary bore the Son of God while preserving her integrity. Beyond its profound theological meaning, this specific icon is traditionally venerated as a protector against fires. In the past, in Russia, it was customary to carry it in procession around houses or villages to invoke divine protection against fire. This icon also belongs to the group of icons of the Russian Old Believers, mass-produced from the 17th century onward and characterized by strict adherence to the canons of Byzantine tradition. These objects, often made of bronze and sometimes enriched with colored enamels, were generally small in size and intended for private devotion. Their portability allowed them to be easily carried and, if necessary, concealed, thus meeting the religious needs of a community that, after the schism known as the Raskol, endured periods of persecution by the official Russian Orthodox Church.