Among Russian icons, the 'Kazanskaya' (Our Lady of Kazan) is the most famous icon type after the 'Virgin of Vladimir'. According to tradition, in 1579 the Mother of God appeared to a young girl in the city of Kazan, east of Moscow, telling her where to find a miraculous icon. Several miracles followed its discovery and the icon was installed in Kazan Cathedral, where it served to protect the Russian State in times of national danger, as well as being used for private prayers and devotion. In 2004, Pope John Paul II allowed a version of the icon that was in the Vatican to be returned to the Patriarch of Moscow as a gesture of unity between the Orthodox and Catholic churches. (Source: Robin Cormack, 'Icons', 2007, The British Museum Press)