According to legend, in 358 AD, a Roman patrician named Giovanni and his wife were unable to conceive a long-awaited child. In response, they fervently prayed to the Virgin Mary, seeking Her intercession. On the night of August 5, the Virgin Mary appeared to both of them in a dream. She informed them that their wish would be granted only if they built a church in Her honor on the Esquiline Hill. As a sign of the truth of Her words, She promised to cover the hill with snow in the middle of summer.

Upon awakening, the couple went to Pope Liberius to relay the miraculous vision. To their astonishment, the pontiff had received a similar revelation. Accompanied by clergy, they proceeded to the designated location and found the hill covered with snow. The site was consecrated, and construction of a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary soon began.

These events are linked to the miraculous image of Mary of the Snows, housed in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The image is also known as Salus Populi Romani (“Salvation of the Roman People”) and is considered one of the most venerated icons in Rome.

The iconographic type of this image belongs to the Hodegetria (Guide). Notable features include the Virgin’s crossed arms embracing Christ. Her right hand offers a blessing, while the left holds a white veil. In some depictions, including the original, the Virgin is portrayed looking away from Emmanuel.

One of the most renowned replicas of this icon is the miraculous image of the Kohavyn Mother of God (Kohavyno village, now Hnizdychiv settlement, Zhydachiv District, Ukraine).

The icon of Mary of the Snows gained significant popularity among Catholics, especially in Ukrainian art of the 17th and 18th centuries during the rise of the Uniate Church. Most depictions of this type were created for Catholic churches.