The Mother of God of Vladimir is the most famous Russian mercy picture. According to legend, the archetype of this icon was painted by the apostle Luke.  Under Emperor Theodosius the archetype was brought from Jerusalem to Constantinople in 450 AD.
In 1131, Patriarch Chrysoberges of Constantinople bequeathed it to the Russian Prince Dolgorukij.  It was initially enshrined at the convent of Wyschgorod near Kiev, but was taken to Vladimir in 1155 by Prince Andre Bogoljubskij.  The relic is said to have positively influenced Russia’s destiny several times.  Thus, the appearance of the icon is said to have prevented Tamerlan from conquering Moscow in 1395.  Today the sacred relic is safeguarded at the Moscow Tretjakov gallery ... and is particularly popular as a house icon.