Our Lady the Unfading Flower
Icons of the “Unfading Flower” type typically depict the Virgin Mary with the Child in the iconographic styles of Hodegetria or Eleusa. A defining feature of this type is the presence of a flower or a blossoming rod in Mary’s hand, although in some representations, the flower is held by Christ. Occasionally, Christ is depicted holding an orb.
Another variation includes the “Unfading Flower” combined with the iconography of Agiosoritissa (the Virgin in prayer, often part of a Deesis composition). However, this analysis focuses on the most widespread variant. The title “Unfading Flower” originates from the works of John of Damascus (8th century) and the canon of Joseph the Hymnographer (late 9th century).
According to one tradition, the “Unfading Flower” iconography emerged on Mount Athos in the 16th century. This version often depicts the Virgin holding not a small flower but a rod blossoming with flowers or a long lily stem, which symbolizes Old Testament prototypes of the Virgin Mary: Aaron’s rod that budded (Num. 17:23), the “rod from the root of Jesse” (Isa. 11:1), and the “lily among thorns” (Song of Songs 2:1). This type is more characteristic of Russian iconography, where Christ is often depicted in the attire of a Muscovite tsar.
However, given the relatively late emergence of this type in the East, its origins are more likely rooted in Western tradition, where representations of Mary with a rose or in a rosary were widespread earlier.
In Ukrainian iconography, the initial Western variant with a small flower — typically a wildflower or rose suited to the local climate — was prevalent. Additionally, there is a rich tradition of folk apocrypha associated with Mary and flowers, many of which were collected by Ivan Franko. These texts confirm the popularity of the theme in folk imagination and significantly influenced its iconographic representation.
The variant with the blossoming rod entered Ukrainian tradition only in the 18th century from Muscovy.
Mykhailo Skop
