The icon of Theotokos Tricherousa is placed in the Katholikon of the Holy Monastery of Hilandar, in a shrine next to the southeastern column of the church. The Virgin Mary is represented based on the iconographic type of Theotokos Hodegetria. According to its stylistic elements, the icon is considered to be a work of the first half of the 19th century. The name “Tricherousa” comes from the raised third hand that is represented in bottom, between the pictures of Saint Sava, the first archbishop of the Serbian Church, and his son Saint Simeon, who has been the Grand Prince of Serbia.
The Virgin Mary appears to be slightly turned towards Jesus. She holds him in her arms, while she gazes directly to the faithful, expressing her infinite love and affection. Two angels are hovering above her, placing a sparkling crown, decorated by precious stones, on her head.
According to the history of the icon, at the beginning of the 20th century, during Russia's war with Japan, the commanders of the Russian army asked the monastery to send the miraculous icon of Theotokos to the battlefield in order to protect and help the orthodox soldiers. Although the monks were reluctant to send the original, they consented to send a copy. The Russian army won a great number of battles. At the end of the war the icon was returned to the monastery in great glory, since its intervention on the war was considered to be miraculous and saving .
In 1945, and again in 2012, the monastery was threatened by severe fires. On both occasions a procession of the icon was held and the heavy rain that broke out prevented the total destruction of the place. Those two events proved the miraculous presence of the Virgin Mary in the life of the monastery.
The icon is decorated by a beautiful, gilded frame that covers the entire surface, except for the faces and hands of the figures. The garments, the third hand of the Virgin at the bottom and the clouds from which the angels emerge are in relief.
At the bottom, between the figures of the founders of the monastery, there is an inscription in Old Slavonic: "For the repose of Athanasius, Xenia, Paul, Gabriel, Paraskevi and their relatives. For the health of Eudocia, Simeon, Paraskeva, Maria, Anna, Barbara, Paraskevi, Eudocia, Avgi."
