Oldest Icon of Mary in Rome Framed Postcard

This ancient picture of Mary is one of the oldest pictures of her. It is believed to be the oldest Icon of Mary in Rome, and dates to perhaps the 400s, or even earlier. It is an icon of just Mary, without the Christ child, and is called Maria Advocata, or Advocata Nostra, Our Advocate. In Medieval times it was often attributed to St. Luke. It demonstrates the existence of Marian devotion in the Early Church.

The image has been in custody of the Dominican sisters in Rome since February 28, 1221, when St. Dominic himself carried this icon in a procession to a new convnet.The icon was Canonically crowned by the Pope in 1641. In 1931 the Dominican sisters moved to the Monastero di Santa Maria del Rosario, where the icon remains to this day. It may be seen there on certain days and times.