Praise for The Hermit, The Icon and The Emperor by Professor Annemarie Weyl Carr

Deeply embedded in the history and hearts of Cypriots and venerated in the Orthodox Church, the icon of the Mother of God at Kykkos Monastery in Cyprus is among the oldest continuously active miracle-working images in the Christian world. Its legend, already well formed when it was first recorded in the fifteenth century, revolves around recognized historical figures from the early twelfth century in the imperial court of Byzantium, thus rooting the image in the prime of the most enduring Christian empire the world has ever known. The story of the icon of Kykkos has been retold many times over the centuries, and shaped to serve many different aims and ideals. In this visually captivating book, its story is told in a way that will enchant children. Opening a world of splendor and heartfelt feeling to them that will surely arouse their curiosity about Byzantium, the book prompts them at the same time to ponder the deep design that underlies the dramas and traumas of the characters, drawing them together with the icon into a luminous web of divine intention. Annemarie Weyl Carr Professor of Art History Emerita, Southern Methodist University