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The Virgin Mary is venerated throughout the world and has been represented in beautiful images that express the love that the peoples have received from the Mother of God in the midst of their history, tradition, and particular context.
Over the centuries, devotion to Mary has spread from the West to other cultures that have represented her following their own characteristics, creating beautiful images of the Mother of God.
Next, we share with you eight non-traditional representations of the Virgin Mary:
1. The Virgin with the Child Jesus Thai style
The image is found in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary would have taken place.
In this place there is also a gallery of mosaics with Marian dedications from different countries.
Credit: Flickr Mojotrotters (CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0)
2. Painting in the Church of Saint Mary of Zion (Ethiopia)
The image is found in the city of Axum (Ethiopia) where, according to tradition, the true Ark of the Covenant of the people of Israel would be found.
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Credit: Miko Stavrev – Wikimedia Commons.
3. Our Lady of China
This image is in the Basilica of Our Lady of She Shan (China). The shrine is dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians and is the only basilica in China.
It was built in 1871 as thanks to the Virgin for saving Shanghai from a massacre against Christians. The current temple was built between 1925 and 1935.
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Credit: Ximena Rondón (ACI Press)
4. The Virgin and Child Japanese style
The image is found in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary would have taken place.
In this place there is also a gallery of mosaics with Marian dedications from different countries.
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Credit: Flickr Larrywkoester (CC-BY-2.0)
5. The Black Madonna of Czestochowa (Poland)
The image of the Patron Saint of Poland, the Virgin of Czestochowa, is located in the Jasna Gora monastery.
The icon of the image, also known as “The Black Madonna”, is one of the most venerated in Poland and Europe, and represents the Virgin Mary with the Child in her arms.
Throughout history it has suffered several attacks that have left marks on its face and neck.
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Credit: Wikipedia (Public Domain)
6. Image of the Virgin with the Child Jesus in Macao (China)
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Credit: Flickr Pondspider (CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0)
7. Mosaic of the Virgin Mary in Hagia Sophia (Turkey)
The icon dates from 1122 and is located in the Basilica of Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (Turkey). The image shows the Virgin in the center with a blue mantle and the child on her lap.
The boy blesses with his right hand and holds a scroll with his left.
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Credit: Flickr Kotomi (CC-BY-NC-2.0)
8. Korean representation of the Mother of God
The image is found in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary would have taken place.
In this place there is also a gallery of mosaics with Marian dedications from different countries.
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Credit: Flickr Larrywkoester (CC-BY-2.0)
