The mosaic set is 6 meters in height and required approximately 2 million tesserae ( small pieces of tile, glass, or other material used in creating mosaics). It is a significant example of Old Rus art and is considered one of the largest monumental pieces. In Greek, "Orans" translates to "praying". This depiction of the Virgin Mary with raised hands in prayer is known as the Virgin Orans, also referred to as "the Unbreakable Wall". It is believed that as long as the image of the Virgin Orans remains in St. Sophia, the city of Kyiv and all of Rus will endure, as it has been believed since ancient times.
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Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv - Wikipedia
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