The Catholic Military Association commissioned the first world icon of Our Lady of Victories in 2023, written by Ukrainian Catholic iconographers during active conflict and blessed on October 7, 2025, by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski and Bishop Paul Mason. The icon survived live fire before reaching the United Kingdom, where it now travels to service members as a source of grace. This revival connects ancient Byzantine and Spanish military devotion with contemporary witness, echoing precedents from Lepanto to the Falklands War, while the project’s deeper historical and theological dimensions reveal further connections.
Throughout history, soldiers have sought divine protection before battle, and a newly commissioned icon of Our Lady of Victories continues this ancient tradition for modern military personnel. The Catholic Military Association commissioned the first world icon of Our Lady of Victories in 2023, written by Ukrainian Catholic iconographers during the height of the Ukraine conflict. The icon survived live fire before reaching the United Kingdom, where it now serves as a traveling source of grace for service members.
The tradition of invoking Mary as a military protector extends back centuries. Byzantine Emperor Leo I built the Holy Reliquary church in Constantinople in the 5th century to enshrine Our Lady’s veil, honoring her as strategos, Greek for commander in war. The 718 victory at Covadonga in Asturias was attributed to the Madonna of Covadonga, who became known as Our Lady of Battles throughout Christian Spain. In France, Notre Dame des Victoires was built in thanksgiving for Louis XIII’s defeat of Protestant Huguenots at the Siege of La Rochelle. The Battle of Lepanto in 1571 saw extensive rosary recitation before the Christian naval victory, prompting Pope St. Pius V to institute a Feast of Our Lady of Victory.
This devotion has persisted into modern conflicts. During the 1982 Falklands War, Argentina designated Our Lady as Commander-in-Chief of its armed forces by law, and every Argentine recruit received metal rosary beads with their gear. The Russo-Japanese War of 1904 saw an icon of the Triumph of Theotokos commissioned for Port Arthur, though it arrived a century late in 2004, prompting penitential prayers for denying the Mother of God’s will.
The new icon was blessed on October 7, 2025, the Feast of Our Lady of Victories, by Right Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski OBE, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy Bishop, and Bishop Paul Mason. Commander James Francis noted the icon symbolizes the Catholic Military Association’s prayer for peace. Bishop Nowakowski emphasized that Our Lady of Victories heralds victory over death and evil. John Pontifex highlighted the project’s fulfillment for renewed focus on Ukraine solidarity. The CMA-UK arranges for the icon to travel and be venerated by service members where needed. The icon represents both continuity with ancient military devotion and contemporary witness to ongoing conflict. Acknowledging the deep roots of covenantal promises in Christian history, this devotion echoes the biblical theme of God’s promises as a source of communal identity and hope.
