Аbstract. To identify the phenomenon of local highly revered icons of the Mother of God in the Kharkov region: Yeletskaya-Kharkovskaya and Ozeryanskaya, as well as for the purpose of their further museumification, the article analyzes historical conditions. It has been proven that the legends reflect the key political events of the 11th – 17th centuries. taking place in the southern outlying territories of the Russian state - Slobozhanshchina. Icons appear at critical moments in the life of the region, and are associated with the need to unite the population on the basis of Orthodoxy. The characters mentioned in the legends are real personalities, and the events are significant for the history of the country. The results of the study can be used in the museumification of Kharkov Mother of God icons, as they characterize their content and reveal the symbolism embedded in them, which makes it possible to understand the social significance of these icons.

Key words: princes of Baratyansky, icons of Our Lady of Yelets-Kharkov and Ozeryanskaya, Slobozhanshchina, Chernigov, Merefa, Kharkov, Сossacks.