Q. 1. What is an icon?

A. 1. "An icon, from the Greek word "image", is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, and certain Eastern Catholic churches. The most common subjects include Christ, Mary, saints or angels. Though especially associated with "portrait" style images concentrating on one or two main figures, the term also covers most religious images in a variety of artistic media produced by Eastern Christianity, including narrative scenes."

"Icons may also be cast in metal, carved in stone, embroidered on cloth, painted on wood, done in mosaic or fresco work, printed on paper or metal, etc. Comparable images from Western Christianity are generally not described as "icons", although "iconic" may be used to describe a static style of devotional image."

[Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon]

Large icons of the Madonna and Child are frequently found in the side front of Churches where the faithful may kneel and say a prayer, asking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on their behalf.