The veneration of the Heart of Jesus in the Catholic Church began thanks to the visions of St. Mary Margaret Alacoque (a French nun) in 1673–1675. In 1856 Pope Pius IX introduced a new holiday. And then the cult of the Sacred Heart of Jesus became one of the "identifying signs" of Catholic Christians. In Ukraine it was spread among Greek Catholics by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. He addressed his flock with a message "On the Veneration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus" in which in particular he recommended introducing a corresponding tradition in each parish.
This icon served as a talisman for the Drymail-Krokis family – relatives of Vira Shevchuk (Krokis) – the mother of the UGCC Patriarch His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk). The Primate’s grandfather Vasyl Krokis was drafted into the Polish army in 1938–1939, participated in battles against the Wehrmacht in 1939, was taken prisoner and was later released. For his actions during World War II on June 2, 1997 he was awarded the medal “For Participation in the Defensive War of 1939.
The icon is rectangular in shape, vertical in format; the inscription in Latin on the border at the bottom indicates that it was printed on February 11, 1938 in the city of Bautzen (Latin name – Budissa) Germany. On a dark gray-green background there is a waist-length image of a male figure (Jesus Christ) with long wavy hair, a mustache and a short beard. The face has a calm, gentle expression, a halo shines around the head. The Savior’s clothing is a purple chiton and a yellow-turquoise himation over it. The edges of the himation are decorated with a strip of ornament with elements of yellow and turquoise colors. The himation is fastened in the middle with a long buckle opening the chiton on the chest. In the center of the chest is shown a blood-stained heart wrapped in a crown of thorns. The heart is framed by a light halo. Above the heart is a cross in flames. The right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing. The left hand holds the edge of the himation and is directed towards the heart. On the outer surface of the palm is visible the stigmata – a wound which is also a characteristic symbol in such images. The icon is set in a wooden frame decorated with carved geometric ornaments typical for the Lviv region. The frame is covered with dark varnish; the ornament is light.