Hodegitria

JOHN A. MCGUCKIN

Greek term meaning “She who shows the way.” In Antiquity this meant a guide, but in Christian usage it alludes to the role of the Virgin as parallel to that of John the Forerunner, showing to humankind the “Way, the Truth, and the Life” by witnessing to Jesus. In Byzantine icons of the Deisis, the Virgin and St. John are always closely

Plate 29 Fresco of the Virgin Mary from the Monastery Church of St. Antony, Egypt. Photo by John McGuckin.

associated as the supreme eschatological intercessors, because they were the two pre­eminent witnesses of Christ’s First Coming. The term especially refers to a classical and early type of iconography of the Virgin Mary, where she is usually shown in a three-quarter frontal view, holding the Christ-child on her left arm and pointing to him with her right: showing to the observer him who is “The Way” (Jn. 14.6). The shrine of the Icon of the Panagia Hodegitria in Constantinople (attributed to St. Luke) was one of the most venerated holy places of the ancient city.

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

Vassilaki, M. (ed.) (2005) Images of the Mother of

God: Perceptions of the Theotokos in Byzantium.

Aldershot: Ashgate Press.