Icon Gifted to the Pope: A Fresh Perspective on a Noteworthy Project
Recently, Volodymyr Zelensky gifted a unique icon to Pope Leo XIV, crafted by Herman Klimenko, Sonya Atlantova, and Alexander Klimenko. This icon was made from a fragment of a crate used for heavy artillery, which was transported from the Izium region.
Herman Klimenko shared with UP.Culture that the icon "Mother of God with Child" was created during the winter of 2025 as part of the project "Icons on Ammo Crates," which has existed since 2014. Throughout the project's duration, the icons have been exhibited in 22 countries, 117 cities, and at 211 different locations.
In the past year, the creators focused on the theme of deported Ukrainian children, dedicating a cycle of icons to them known as the Marian cycle. "Mother of God with Child" is a part of this cycle.
"The Marian cycle emerged quite naturally, as the first work of the project was also an icon of the Mother of God. Since then, we have continuously revisited this theme. Thus, the Marian icons became a response to Russia's actions regarding Ukrainian children.
The archetypal image of a mother with a child, understood even outside a religious context, can draw attention to the most vulnerable and defenseless, those who cannot stand up for themselves. At the same time, it represents an image of hope and love, embodying faith in the reunion of children with their mothers," – noted Herman Klimenko.
The icon depicts the Mother of God holding the infant Christ tightly with both hands. Herman explained that this is a "call for our children, who are in occupation or have been deported, not to be forgotten or left to fend for themselves." This effort should be supported not only by Ukrainians but also by the global community.
Herman also emphasized that the decision to present this work was made by the leadership of the state. Volodymyr Zelensky has long been acquainted with the team's creativity and even possesses an icon from the project "Icons on Ammo Crates" in his collection. Furthermore, last year, the President of Ukraine's Easter greeting was filmed against the backdrop of the team's works, which are part of a permanent exhibition at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.
