An icon is a special picture that people who follow the Christian religion use to help them remember important people or events. The hodegetria is a specific type of icon that shows Mary, the mother of Jesus, holding her son. The word "hodegetria" means "she who shows the way" in Greek.
In this particular icon, Mary is holding Jesus on her left arm and pointing towards him with her right hand. This is meant to show that Jesus is the way to God and that Mary is guiding people towards him. Usually, Mary and Jesus are shown with serious or solemn expressions on their faces.
The icon of the hodegetria is important to many Christians because it helps them remember the role that Mary played in the life of Jesus and in the history of their religion. It also reminds them of the importance of finding their way to God through Jesus.