The incredible success of Dan Brown and his followers once again showed the enormous popularity of the Christian theme. But much more books devoted to “new readings” and “mysteries” of Christianity have been published than books about Christianity itself, especially those written for a non-church audience. This is precisely what explains the “excursion” of Elena Prudnikova, the author of acclaimed historical studies on the Stalin era, into such a seemingly unexpected area. Is it possible to combine commitment to Orthodoxy with historical objectivity? A traditionally “boring” religious topic with the author’s main principle “the book should be interesting”? It turned out that it was possible – and not only that. The book sets out the story of the life and veneration of the Mother of God in the context of the history of Christianity and world history. It is designed in the author’s “trademark” style: light pen, exciting narration, little-known facts, unexpected conclusions...