From a theological point of view, the icon of the Mother of God represents the first human being who realized the purpose of the Incarnation: the deification of man. This representation is, together with the icon of Christ, the foundation of all iconographies that represent God becoming man.
Iconographers of all times have tried to present the Mother of God as beautiful, gentle, dignified and glorious as they were able. Sometimes they painted her sad and sometimes sorrowful, but always full of spiritual strength and wisdom.
Tradition attributes to Saint Luke the Apostle the honor of having painted the first icon of the Mother of God. Three types of icons painted by him are known: "Humility" (Our Lady of Affection), "Hodigitria" (She who shows us the way) and the third type, without the Child or praying to the Child Jesus. (Information about the third type is confusing).
The Immaculate Lady is always shown with her head covered with a veil, which falls on her shoulders, according to the Jewish tradition of those times. This headdress or headdress is usually red to symbolize suffering and the holiness thus achieved. Beneath this fury, His clothes are blue, symbolizing the humanity of the Mother of God.
Three stars are also painted, one on the forehead and one on each shoulder of the Mother of God. These stars symbolize virginity. The Mother of God was a virgin before, during her pregnancy and after the Nativity. These three stars are also the symbol of the Holy Trinity. Sometimes the third star is covered by the face of the Child Saviour, the second person of the Holy Trinity.
In these icons there is no other subject, apart from the Savior, who is painted with as much love and as often as the Mother of God. There are five main types of Icons of the Mother of God in Orthodox iconography: the Guide, the Affectionate Mercy, the Sweet-kissing, the Merciful, the Mediator, the Supplicant, the "Galaktotrophous" Mother of God.
In conclusion, we can say that the Mother of God is the Face of the Christian Church.
