The icon depicts the adoration of the shepherds and the bathing of the Divine Infant. An inscription identifies the Mother of God as Saint Mary, referring to her standing in the Church before the term Theotokos was ratified by the Council of Ephesus in 431. The crib is portrayed as a Holy Altar inside a conch, and reminds one of the Nativity cave in the church of Bethlehem. This latter element is also found in pilgrim mementos and fresco paintings, and is closely linked with the Holy Land.
