Description

The name "Kykkotissa" (or "Kiksk" in your spelling) refers to the Monastery of Kykkos in Cyprus. According to tradition, the original icon was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist.

The Pose: It belongs to the Eleusa (Tenderness) type, but with a unique twist. In this version, the Christ Child is more energetic; He often plays with His mother's veil or holds a scroll, and His legs are often shown kicked out or crossed, creating a sense of movement rare in older icons.
The "Veiled" Tradition: Interestingly, the original icon in Cyprus is kept behind a protective shroud and is never viewed directly by the public. Ushakov’s version, however, follows the tradition of "revealing" the faces for the viewer.

Simon Ushakov (1626–1686) was the leading master of the Moscow Armoury School. He was a pioneer of zhivopodie (life-like painting), a style that attempted to harmonize traditional icon canons with Western European realism.

Anatomical Detail: Look at the faces. Unlike the flat, stylized "olive" skin tones of earlier centuries, Ushakov used a technique called plav (multiple thin, translucent layers) to create soft transitions, rounded chins, and realistic shadows.
The Eyes: One of Ushakov’s hallmarks is the "spark" in the eyes, including the tiny red dot in the corner of the eye (the lacrimal caruncle), making the figures look more human and present.

Key Visual Details

The Inscriptions: The icon features Greek lettering emphasizing its pedigree. Underneath, Ushakov often added tiny Church Slavonic translations for the local faithful.
The Scroll: The Christ Child holds a scroll with a quote from Isaiah 61:1: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me..."

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):

Theophany Works Icons are handcrafted Orthodox Christian icon reproductions made in the United States with prayer and a desire for excellence. Each of our icons are printed on museum-quality matte canvas, providing a rich print with saturated coloration that lends to a beautiful handwritten-icon appearance.

All Theophany Works Icons are mounted on beveled wooden boards and finished with a high-quality UV protection sealant. This offers a subtle authentic-feeling texture while also enhancing durability, allowing for cleaning with a damp cloth. Additionally, each icon is given a maple-shelled keyhole slot on its back for easy and balanced hanging.

Our beautiful icon reproductions are lovingly made in our Lancaster, Pennsylvania studio. We pray they are a blessing to all who receive them, and we believe they will be a beloved addition to any home or parish—each at a fraction of the cost of a hand-painted icon.

***Our Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ: Please allow 3 weeks for production as each icon is made to order. If an icon is needed sooner for a baptism, chrismation, wedding, or name day, please contact us—we will always do our very best to accommodate your request.

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