550th anniversary of the appearance of the Zhirovichi Mother of God Icon

On May 20, 2020 the Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus will issue the souvenir sheet “550^thanniversary of the appearance of the Zhirovichi Mother of God Icon”.

 

Design: Yelena Medved. Print process: offset. Colour: multicoloured with additional paint like gold. Paper: chalk-surfaced, gummed. Perforations: oval 13^3/4. Stamp size: 40x56 mm. Souvenir sheet size: 71x89 mm. The technology of thermal stamping with matte foil of golden colour and selective varnishing was applied on the souvenir sheet. Print quantity: 20.000 souvenir sheets.

 

Printer: Unitary Enterprise “Bobruisk Integrated Printing House named after A. T.  Nepogodin”.

 

The icon of the Zhirovichi Mother of God is one of the most revered Christian shrines in Belarus. It is kept in the Zhirovichi Holy Assumption Stavropegic Monastery.

 

This icon is the smallest among the revered virgin icons. The image of the Mother of God with the Baby Christ in her arms represents the iconographic type, which was called "Tenderness." After a first glance at the icon, an impression of extraordinary refinement and depth remains.

 

Every year on May 20, Belarussian believers celebrate a great holiday of the miraculous icon of the Zhirovichi Mother of God. The project was prepared in cooperation with the Zhirovichi Holy Assumption Stavropegic Monastery and on its materials.

550^thanniversary of the appearance of the Zhirovichi Mother of God Icon

Elements of protection

The imperforated souvenir sheet was also printed. Print quantity: 7.000 souvenir sheets.

A special cancellation on FDC will be carried out on the souvenir sheet issuing day at the post office of Zhirovichi, Grodno region.