Icon of the Mother of God "Untier of Knots" (Maria Undoer of Knots)
The icon of the Mother of God "Untier of Knots" (Maria Knotenlöserin) depicts the Virgin Mary standing with her hands gently unraveling a long white ribbon knotted along its length, while two angels present the tangled cord to her from either side — one offering the knots yet to be undone, the other receiving the ribbon made smooth and straight. The image speaks with quiet eloquence of the Mother of God's role as intercessor, patiently loosening the "knots" of human life — the entanglements of sin, misunderstanding, fear, and broken relationships that bind the human heart.
The devotion has its roots in eighteenth-century Germany. A young nobleman named Wolfgang Langenmantel, whose marriage was in danger of ruin, brought the couple's difficulties to a Jesuit priest, Father Jakob Schmuck, and asked him to place the marriage ribbon — the cord used in the wedding ceremony as a symbol of the couple's union — before an image of the Virgin Mary in prayer. As the priest prayed, untying the knots of the ribbon one by one and asking the Mother of God to loosen the knots of the troubled marriage, the ribbon is said to have become miraculously smooth and white in his hands, and the couple's marriage was restored. In gratitude, the family commissioned a painting of the Virgin untying knotted ribbon, which was placed in St. Peter am Perlach Church in Augsburg, Germany, around 1700, where it remains venerated to this day.
The devotion remained largely local for centuries until it was carried to Argentina in the 1980s by a young priest who had seen the original image while studying in Germany — a priest who would later become known to the world as Pope Francis. Through his lifelong devotion to this image, "Our Lady Undoer of Knots" spread throughout Latin America and eventually across the globe, becoming one of the most beloved modern images of the Mother of God's maternal care.
The faithful turn to the Virgin under this title in times of difficulty within marriage and family life, in situations that feel hopelessly tangled or beyond human resolution, and whenever anxiety, conflict, or broken relationships seem to have no way forward. The image offers a message of quiet hope: that no knot, however tightly bound, is beyond the gentle and patient hands of the Mother of God, who unties each one and returns it, smooth and whole, into the light.
This icon is a meaningful gift for anyone facing a difficult or "tangled" season of life — a reminder that patience, prayer, and trust can, in time, undo what seems impossible to unravel.
🖼 Product Features
Each icon in our workshop is made to last a lifetime and beyond. The image is printed with rich, fade-resistant pigment inks on a premium solid-core wood panel — then hand-finished with a natural beeswax coating that deepens the colors, protects the surface, and gives each piece the warm, reverent quality of a traditionally crafted sacred object. A metal hanging hook is included on the back, so your icon is ready to display the moment it arrives.
- Crafted on a premium wood panel — 1.6 cm (0.6") thick, sturdy yet lightweight
- Fade-resistant pigment print — rich, true-to-life colors that last for generations
- Natural beeswax finish — hand-applied for depth, protection, and a traditional feel
- Ready to hang — metal hook pre-attached on the reverse
- Hand-finished by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal
📏 Available Sizes
• Small – 12 x 15 cm (5” x 6”)
• Medium – 23 x 30 cm (9” x 12”)
• Large – 30 x 39 cm (12” x 15”)
🎁 Perfect For
• Meaningful Orthodox Christian gifts
• Housewarming and family blessings
• Prayer corners and devotional spaces
• Baptisms, name days, weddings, and feast days
🌍 Worldwide Delivery
Securely packed and shipped worldwide from Portugal with tracking.
✨ Crafted with Tradition
Each icon is carefully made by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal — created to become a lasting blessing for your home or a treasured gift for someone you love.
