The burning bush is described in the Book of Exodus as the place on Mount Horeb where God asked Moses to lead the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan. The event is described in Exodus book three, verses 2-3: “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.” In Russian folk tradition, the Burning Bush Mother of God icon is revered as protection against fire.

While the first Mother of God Burning Bush icons were relatively simple, the type became increasingly complex over time; this 19th century example is extremely detailed. The Mother of God and Christ appear at the center of an eight-pointed star, formed by two four-pointed stars, one red and one blue. On Mary’s chest is an image of Christ as a bishop, representing Heavenly Jerusalem. She holds Jacob’s ladder, which reaches from Earth to Heaven. Surrounding them are different ranks of angels from the heavenly host, or the “army” of angels described in the Bible. These begin with the red seraphim who form the circle around the Mother of God and Christ. The points of the blue star show angels representing the elements (fire, wind, water, earth), and the points of the red star show the Evangelists’ symbols. Angels appear between the pairs of red and blue points—the seven Arch angels and two others.

The treatment of the text on this icon is unusual as compared to other unburnt bush icons: rather than appear in the margins of the icon, the text appears at the borders of the clouds, following their curved lines in a decorative element. The text is difficult to decipher, but it likely identifies the eight angels shown within its borders.

The small scene in the upper right corner shows Moses and the Angel of God at the unburnt bush.