Unexpected joy, icon and prayer. Prayer for health. Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" meaning, what helps

Memory icons Holy Mother of God"Unexpected Joy" takes place in the Russian Orthodox Church May 14 and December 22 in a new style.

The history of the iconography of the image "Unexpected Joy"
The Unexpected Joy icon was created in the second half of the 17th century. The reason for the creation of this image was the story recorded by St. Dmitry of Rostov in his work "The Irrigated Fleece". This book includes narratives about the miracles shown by the Most Holy Theotokos in the Holy Elias Monastery in Chernigov, where the saint served for some time and of which he was a witness. The name of the saint's literary work goes back to the Old Testament story of how, at the prayer of the Israeli judge Gideon, the Divine dew sprinkled the fleece. Since before every miracle performed by the Mother of God in the monastery, people saw tears on the icon of the Queen of Heaven, Saint Dmitry of Rostov compared this wondrous phenomenon with the Old Testament miracle of the appearance of dew.
The saint reports the following about the amazing incident that formed the basis of the iconography "Unexpected Joy". A certain person lived unrighteously, doing wicked and unrighteous deeds. However, it was different great love To Mother of God and, every time before going on an unrighteous deed, he prayed before the image of the Queen of Heaven. Once during a prayer, he saw that the icon seemed to come to life: terrible wounds appeared on the hands and feet of the Divine Infant, from which blood was flowing. Frightened by this phenomenon, the sinner asked the Mother of God to explain the terrible image he had seen, and then he received the answer that people still continue to crucify the Lord Jesus Christ with their sins and wicked life. The man realized that, by the grace of God, that terrible spiritual state in which he found himself because of his wicked deeds. With tears, the sinner asked for mercy, but he saw that the Divine Infant turned away from him and only when the Mother of God asked for her Divine Son, did she receive forgiveness, as a sign of which he was commanded to touch the wounds of the Savior. When the miraculous vision disappeared, the person felt great joy. Saint Dmitry of Rostov testifies that after this the former sinner completely changed his life and became a pious and righteous man.

Description of the image "Unexpected Joy"
The composition of the icon is quite complex, since the image belongs to the so-called event icons, which depict not only the saint or the Mother of God, but also some kind of plot that served as the reason for writing the icon-painting image.
On the right, the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria or the Guide is written, which is very symbolic, since in this image the Queen of Heaven points to the Divine Infant as the true path to salvation. We do not know which icon of the Mother of God the person about whom St. Dmitry wrote was praying, but the story itself with the miraculous admonition of the sinner says that the Mother of God calls every person to turn to Christ, because only in Him can you find salvation and deliverance from the eternal death. The Divine Infant on the icon is depicted with bleeding wounds and in torn clothes, as a symbol of the torment that people inflict on Him by their wicked deeds.
On the left in front of the image is the figure of a man kneeling in front of the miraculous image and praying with his hands raised to the sky for forgiveness. The icon also contains the words of the prayer that the sinner turns to the Mother of God, and at the bottom of the icon is the beginning of the story from the book "The Watered Fleece".
This icon is very revered and beloved by believers, since the very name of the image gives joy and hope. There are a large number of copies of this icon, many of which are considered miraculous.

Troparion, voice 4:
Today the faithful people / we are spiritually triumphant, / glorifying the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race / and flowing to Her most pure image, we cry out to her: / oh, Merciful to the Lady Theotokos, / give us unexpected joy, / burdened with sins and sorrows by many, / and deliver us all evil, / pray to Thy Son, Christ our God, to save our souls.

Kontakion, voice 6:
Not imams of any other help, / not imams of any other hope, / unless You, Lady. / You help us, / we hope in You / and we boast of You, / Your God is Rabbi, / let us not be ashamed.

Magnification:
We magnify Thee, / Blessed Virgin / God's Chosen Young Woman / and we honor Your holy image, / also sharpen healing / to all who flow with faith.

Prayer:
O Most Holy Virgin, All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, City of Moscow, Patroness, of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and diseases, Faithful Representative and Intercessor! Receive this prayer singing from us, unworthy Thy servant, Thou hast exalted, and, as an ancient sinner, who prayed many times before Thy honest icon, Thou hast not despised, but Thou hast granted him unexpected joy and bowed Thy Son to Thy intercessor to many and zealous to the forgiveness of this sinner and deluded, so even now do not despise the prayers of us unworthy of Thy servants, and beg Thy Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness worshiping Thy celibate image, will grant joy, unexpected by every need: a sinner those who are mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; to those in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; to those found in troubles and anger - this perfect abundance; faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; in joy and abundance to those who live - continuous thanksgiving to the Benefactor; to the needy - mercy; to those who are in sickness and lingering sickness and abandoned by doctors - inadvertent healing and strengthening; to those who are dependent on the disease, the mind - the mind's return and renewal; departing into eternal and endless life - mortal memory, tenderness and contrition for sin, a cheerful spirit and hope firm in the Judge's mercy. O Most Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor the honorable your name and reveal to all your all-powerful protection and intercession; in piety, purity and an honest life, remaining until their last death in goodness; do evil good; guide delusions to the right path; To every good deed and to Thy Son, advance; destroy every evil and godly deed; in bewilderment and difficult and dangerous situations to those who are gaining invisible help and admonition from Heaven descended; save from temptations, temptations and destruction; from angry man and protect and save from enemies visible and invisible; float; travel travelers; to those in need and gladness, awake the Nourishing; for those who have not shelter and shelter, wake up cover and shelter; put on a robe naked; offended and unrighteously persecuted - intercession; Invisibly justify slander, reproach and blasphemy of the patient; slanderers and blasphemers in front of everyone; Give to those who are fiercely at odds with inestimable reconciliation, and to all of us love, peace and piety and health with longevity for each other. Preserve matrimony in love and like-mindedness; spouses, in enmity and division of existence, subdue, unite me to each other and give them an indestructible union of love; mother, children giving birth, give permission soon; raise babies; young survivors, open their minds to the perception of all useful teachings, the fear of God, instruct abstinence and diligence; protect from domestic war and enmity with peace and love. Motherless motherless orphans wake up Mother, turn away from every vice and filth and teach everything good and God-pleasing, deceived and fallen into sin and uncleanness, having devoured the filth of sin, lead out of the abyss of destruction. Wake widows Comforter and Helper, wake old age with a rod, save us all from sudden death without repentance, and grant us all the Christian death of our belly, painless, shameless, peaceful and a kind response to the terrible Judgment of Christ. Having reposed in faith and repentance from this life with the Angels and all the saints of life create, for those who died a sudden death, the mercy of being Thy Son, and for all the departed, who have no relatives, for the repose of Thy Son, those who plead for the rest of their Son, Wake up the ceaseless and warm Walker Himself , so that everyone in Heaven and on earth lead Thee, like a firm and shameless Representative of the Christian clan, and, leading, they glorify Thee and Thy Son of Thy, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and forever and forever. Amen.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

The icon is named so in memory of the healing of one sinner. A certain wicked person spent his life in sins, but he used to bow before the image of the Mother of God and bring her the Archangel's greeting: “Rejoice, Graceful One! The Lord is with You. " Somehow, getting ready to go on a sinful deed, he, without even thinking about his blasphemous deed, again turned to the Mother of God with prayer. Suddenly, fear and trembling seized him: the Mother of God appeared on the icon alive, and the Divine Child opened up ulcers on the arms, legs and side, and blood flowed from there.

Falling to the ground, the sinner cried out: "Oh, Lady, who did this?" “You and other sinners,” the Mother of God answered him, “crucify My Son again. You call Me merciful, why do you offend Me with your lawless deeds? " Shaken to the depths of his soul, with a broken heart, the repentant sinner prayed to God for the forgiveness of his sins and asked the Mother of God to beg His Son to forgive him.

Since then, the former sinner began to live a pure and godly life. So the Mother of God gave the sinner the already unexpected joy of forgiveness and forgiveness of sins, and these events gave rise to the writing of the image "Unexpected Joy". It depicts a man kneeling before the image of the Mother of God with Her Eternal Child. The first words of the story "A certain wicked man ..." are usually placed under the image.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

The surviving miraculous copies of the Unexpected Joy icon are known, for example, in Moscow churches: in the temple of the prophet Elijah in Obydenny Lane and in the temple in honor of the Unexpected Joy icon of the Mother of God in Maryina Roshcha.

The iconography of the icon arose on the basis of the story of St. Demetrius of Rostov about the robber who received the unexpected joy of forgiveness of sins, included in his work "The Watered Fleece", dedicated to the glorification of the icon of the Mother of God from the Chernigov Ilyinsky Monastery (published in Chernigov in 1680). In accordance with the story, the icon depicts a kneeling sinner in front of the image of the Mother of God with the Christ Child in her arms. Under the image of the Mother of God on the pedestal is written a text from the story, beginning with the words: "A certain wicked man ...".

The miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" was in the royal rooms of the Kremlin palace. After 1817 it was moved to the Church of the Annunciation at the Zhitny Dvor near the Kremlin wall; the icon has become one of the most famous Moscow shrines.

After the church was closed in 1918, the icon was saved by the believers. The now revered icon "Unexpected Joy" from the Church of Elijah the Prophet in Obydenny Lane in Moscow probably comes from the Church of the Annunciation in Zhitny Dvor (according to another version, from the Church of Constantine and Helena at the Kremlin wall).

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Celebration

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Prayer before the icon

Prayer in front of the icon and knowledge of the events that are associated with the birth of the image inspire a person for moral rebirth, and prayer for loved ones helps the desperate to find unexpected joy and gives hope for a sudden joyful deliverance from troubles and sorrows, if they are present in their lives.

Through her holy intercession through our prayers before the icon Her "Unexpected Joy", the Mother of God protects us from all the sorrows and troubles that may be in our life, because, as it is said in the kontakion (see the section "How to pray before the icon"), we do not have another hope, another help, besides Her. Unexpected joy - one that we no longer expected, did not expect. The icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy", the prayer to the Mother of God in front of her will protect from diseases, especially those related to hearing, and this means not only physical, but also spiritual hearing - how much we hear the Lord and His answer to prayers through the Mother of God and the saints.
Yes, and will protect from many misfortunes prayer appeal to the Mother of God in front of the Unexpected Joy icon. This list of sorrows is expressed in a lengthy, heartfelt prayer to Her. In all sorrows - the separation of spouses, lost relatives, in hardships, in salvation from slanderous slander, in all difficult situations, you can ask the Mother of God in front of Her icon "Unexpected Joy" for protection. For example, praying for those who sail at sea or for those traveling by land in any difficult conditions, it is worth asking Her icon "Unexpected Joy" to protect them from dangers, ask for their quick and successful return.

Prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" helps to find peace of mind and inner spiritual strength. As Marina Ivanovna Tsvetaeva wrote in Poems about Moscow:

To Unexpected Joy in the Garden
I will bring a foreign guest.

Hearts will stir up the domes,
Sleepless bells will ring

And on you from crimson clouds
The Mother of God will drop the veil,

And you will rise, full of wondrous powers ...
- You do not regret that you loved me.

Prayer in front of this icon helps to receive everything that we have longed for, which we no longer hoped to receive, each according to his own desire: for a priest, this can be the repentance of a sinner in the flock and the salvation of his soul, for those who pray for the forgiveness of sins, forgiveness. It helps parents in cases where it is necessary to reason with children who have gotten out of hand, who have gone on a vicious path. At the request of people, someone finds lost loved ones, someone reconciles with someone with whom reconciliation seems already impossible, and much, much more happens, even an apparent failure can turn into a happy accident.

It is believed that praying in front of the icon "Unexpected Joy" helps in healing from diseases, especially those associated with deafness. Here physical deafness is probably subconsciously associated among believers with spiritual deafness, with the loss of moral guidelines, which is evidently manifested at the bodily level.

Also, a prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" helps to find just such a joy, the most amazing, because it is unexpected, sudden. It is known that in the Great Patriotic War many women in the rear prayed in front of this icon (there is information about this) about the men of their family who went missing, and others even about those who died after the funeral. And it happened unexpected joy- information about the death turned out to be erroneous, the fighter was returning home.
Many believers know: ask Her icon "Unexpected Joy" for everything the soul grieves for, and She, the Intercessor, helps everyone who flows with faith and prayer, even in what seems almost impossible, returning lost hopes.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Troparion, voice 4th

Today, faithful people are spiritually triumphant, glorifying the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race and flowing to Her Most Pure Image, we cry out to her sitsa: oh, Merciful to the Lady Theotokos, give us unexpected joy, burdened with many sins and sorrows, and deliver us from Thy prayers of all evil Our God, to save our souls.

Kontakion, voice 6th

Not the imams of any other help, not the imams of any other hope, unless You, Lady, help us, we hope for You and we boast of You, Your Gods are slaves, so we will not be ashamed.

First prayer

Oh, Blessed Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the city and the holy temple of this Patroness, faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Receive this prayer song from us, unworthy of Thy servants, Thou hast exalted, and, like an ancient sinner, who prayed many times before Thy honest icon, Thou didst not despise, but gave him the unexpected joy of repentance and bowed down to many Thou and Thy Son intercession for the forgiveness of this sinner and lost, so now do not despise the prayers of us unworthy of Thy servants, and pray to Thy Son and our God, and to all of us with faith and tenderness worshiping Thy celibate image, bestows an unexpected joy according to every need: pastors to the church - holy zeal for the salvation of the flock; by a sinner, mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; to those in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; to those found in troubles and anger - this perfect abundance; faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; in the joy and contentment of those who live - incessant thanksgiving to the Benefactor God; to the needy - mercy; to those in sickness and lingering suffering and abandoned by doctors - an accidental healing and strengthening; to those who are dependent on the disease, the mind - the mind's return and renewal; departing into eternal and endless life - the memory of mortal, tenderness and contrition for sin, the spirit is vigorous and firm in God's mercy hope. Oh, Holy Lady!
Have mercy on all who honor Thy honorable name, and reveal Thy all-powerful protection and intercession to all; in piety, purity and an honest life, remaining until their last death in goodness; do evil good; instruct the lost on the right path; To every good deed and to Thy Son, advance; destroy every evil and godly deed; in bewilderment and difficult and dangerous situations to those who are gaining invisible help and admonition from heaven sent down; save from temptations, temptations and destruction; protect and save from all evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; float; travel travelers; to those in need and gladness, awake the Nourishing, to those who have no shelter and shelter, awake the Cover and Refuge; put on a robe naked; to those who are offended and those who suffer from falsehoods - intercession; Accept slander, reproach and blasphemy invisibly; slanderers and blasphemers in front of everyone; To those who are bitterly at war, inadvertently give reconciliation, and to all of us - to each other love, peace and piety and health with longevity.
Preserve matrimony in love and like-mindedness; spouses, in enmity and separation of existence, subdue, unite to each other and make them an indestructible union of love; mother, children giving birth, give permission soon; educate babies, young undaunted, open your mind to the perception of all useful teaching, the fear of God, instruct abstinence and diligence; protect from domestic warfare and enmity with peace and love.
Motherless wake orphans, Mother, turn away from all vice and filth, and teach everything good and God-pleasing; Those who have been deceived into sin and uncleanness, having eaten away the filth of sin, bring them out of the abyss of perdition.
Wake up widows, Comforter and Helper, wake up old age with a rod.
Deliver all of us from sudden death without repentance, and grant to all of us the Christian death of our life, painless, shameless, peaceful and a kind response to the terrible judgment of Christ.
Having died in faith and repentance from this living with the angels and all the saints, create life; to those who died a sudden death of the mercy of being Thy Son, pray for all the departed, who have no relatives, for the repose of Thy Son, those who plead with them, Wake Yourself an unceasing and warm Prayer and Intercessor; Yes, they lead You to heaven and earth, like a firm and shameless Representative of the Christian clan, glorify You and Your Son with His Beginning Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever.
Amen.

Second prayer

Oh, Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Good Mother, the City of this Patroness, faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Receive this prayer singing from us, unworthy of Thy servants, which You are exalted: even as anciently as a sinner, who prayed many times before Thy honest icon, Thou didst not despise, but you have bestowed the unexpected joy of repentance, and zealous to Thy Son, to Thy intercessor bowed so and now do not despise the prayers of us, unworthy of Thy servants, but pray Thy Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness before Thy celibate image, who worship Thy, according to which need, unexpected joy bestows: yes, all in heaven and on the earths lead Thee, like the firm and shameless Representative of the Christian clan, and this is leading, they glorify Thee and Thee of Thy Son with His Beginning Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever.
Amen. - Tuesday Bright Week, February 25, April 13, May 6, October 26
- April 16, January 13.
- April 17.
- April 17, October 17.

Icon of the Mother of God "UNEXPECTED JOY"

Vintage miraculous icon Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" - one of the shrines of Moscow is located in the temple of the Prophet Elijah the Ordinary.The time and place of origin of the prototype are unknown.

Currently, the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" enjoys great veneration among believers, lists from the image are in almost every Orthodox church, although the spread of the holy icon in Moscow began in the middle of the 19th century.

The icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" is named in memory of the healing of a certain sinner through the holy icon with the prayers of the Most Pure Theotokos.

The history of this icon is told by St. Demetrius of Rostov in his creation "The Watered Fleece". According to legend, one robber, spending his life in sins, used to pray for a long time in front of the image of the Mother of God, asking for help in his deeds.
Each time he began his prayer with the Archangel's greeting: "Rejoice, Blessed One!" One day, about to go to a sinful business, during prayer, a sudden strong fear attacked him, and he saw that the Mother of God and the Child appeared before him alive. Christ opened wounds on his arms, legs and side, and blood began to flow from them, just as during the Crucifixion. The robber was horrified and exclaimed: "Oh, Lady! Who did this?" The Mother of God answered him: "You and other sinners; you crucify my Son again with your sins, like the ancient Jews." The amazed robber began to pray to the Mother of God to have mercy on him.
Then, in front of his eyes, She began to ask Christ to forgive him his sins, but He refused. Then the Most Holy Theotokos stepped down from her throne and wanted to fall at the feet of the Infant. "What do You want to do, O My Mother!" - exclaimed the Son. "I will abide at Your feet with this sinner," She answered, "until You forgive him his sins." Christ said: "The law commands every son to honor his mother; and justice requires that the lawgiver was also the executor of the law. I am Your Son, and You are My Mother. I must honor You, doing what you implore Me for. Be According to Your desire. Now his sins are forgiven for Your sake. And as a sign of forgiveness, let him kiss My wounds. " Then the shocked sinner got up and touched his lips to the wounds of Christ, revealed on the icon. With this, the vision ended, and it was not in vain for a person: from that time on he reformed and began to live in a godly manner.
Shaken to the depths of his soul, with a broken heart, the man prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos to be his Intercessor before God and Intercessor for the forgiveness of his sins. That man realized the depth of his fall and with the help of God left his sinful life. Until the end of his days, with tears and gratitude, he prayed to the Mother of God, through whose intercession he received the unexpected joy of repentance and forgiveness of sins from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This image, very revered in Orthodox Moscow, is found in almost every temple in the city.

By its type, the icon "Unexpected Joy" refers to Hodegetria - a guide to Christ. It depicts a sinner on his knees in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and stretches out his hands to her with a prayer for mercy. Sometimes from his lips, in the form of ribbons, icon painters depicted the text of prayers addressed to Her. It turns out an icon in an icon: the Mother of God holds her Son on her left hand, and the Christ Child lifted up His little hands. The face of the Virgin is turned to the sinner. Under the image is an inscription describing the history of the salvation of a sinner ...

Hodegetria "Unexpected Joy" once again testifies that all who wish to be forgiven sincerely will be forgiven. Moreover, the story about the icon says that the repentant sinner prayed for the grant of a vision of his sins, and this does not mean that he was going to lead a vicious life again. Any person is a sinner - this is our dual nature, but if a sin suddenly happens due to human weakness, then, seeing it in person, we get the opportunity to repentance and, possibly, complete repentance, which will become another step of salvation in the spirit.

This image has many lists that have spread throughout Russia. He is glorified by miracles, we venerate and love everywhere, because Unexpected Joy is the Mother of God herself, immensely loving, persistently in prayer before her Divine Son for the whole human race, leaving people without hope for the forgiveness of the most serious sins, granting the unexpected joy of meeting, faith , love.

Miraculous icons of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" arein the Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" in Maryina Roshcha (Sheremetyevskaya street, 33)and inTemple of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane (metro station "Kropotkinskaya", 2nd Obydensky per., 6).

Temple of the Prophet of God Elijah in Obydensky Lane

The most famous revered icons of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" are located in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration on the Sands (metro station "Smolenskaya", Spasopeskovsky per, 4a) and in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word in Danilovskaya Sloboda (metro station "Tulskaya", Danilovsky Val, 2 2) ...

Many, who with faith and love resort to the help of the Most Holy Theotokos, receive through this icon the unexpected joy of forgiveness of sins and grace-filled consolation. This icon awakens in every believer a consoling faith in the help of the Queen of Heaven and through Her in the mercy of the Lord in all our deeds, as well as in prayer for children.

Days of celebration of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joyb "- May 14 and December 22.

Troparion, voice 4th:
Today, faithful people are spiritually triumphant, glorifying the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race and flowing to Her Most Pure Image, we cry out to her sitsa: oh, Merciful to the Lady Theotokos, give us unexpected joy, burdened with many sins and sorrows, and deliver us from Thy prayers of all evil Our God, to save our souls.

Kontakion, voice 6:
Not the imams of any other help, not the imams of any other hope, unless You, Lady, help us, we hope for You and we boast of You, Your Gods are slaves, so we will not be ashamed.

Prayer of the Mother of God before her icon "Unexpected Joy":
O Most Holy Virgin, All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, City of Moscow, Patroness, of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and diseases, Faithful Representative and Intercessor! Receive this prayer singing from us, unworthy Thy servant, Thou hast exalted, and, as an ancient sinner, who prayed many times before Thy honest icon, Thou hast not despised, but Thou hast granted him unexpected joy and bowed Thy Son to Thy intercessor to many and zealous to the forgiveness of this sinner and deluded, so even now do not despise the prayers of us unworthy of Thy servants, and beg Thy Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness worshiping Thy celibate image, will grant joy, unexpected by every need: a sinner those who are mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; to those in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; to those found in troubles and anger - this perfect abundance; faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; in joy and abundance to those who live - continuous thanksgiving to the Benefactor; to the needy - mercy; to those who are in sickness and lingering sickness and abandoned by doctors - inadvertent healing and strengthening; to those who are dependent on the disease, the mind - the mind's return and renewal; departing into eternal and endless life - mortal memory, tenderness and contrition for sin, a cheerful spirit and hope firm in the Judge's mercy. O Most Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor Thy honorable name, and reveal Thy all-powerful protection and intercession to all; in piety, purity and an honest life, remaining until their last death in goodness; do evil good; guide delusions to the right path; To every good deed and to Thy Son, advance; destroy every evil and godly deed; in bewilderment and difficult and dangerous situations to those who are gaining invisible help and admonition from Heaven descended; save from temptations, temptations and destruction; protect and save from evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; float; travel travelers; to those in need and gladness, awake the Nourishing; for those who have not shelter and shelter, wake up cover and shelter; put on a robe naked; offended and unrighteously persecuted - intercession; Invisibly justify slander, reproach and blasphemy of the patient; slanderers and blasphemers in front of everyone; Give to those who are fiercely at odds with inestimable reconciliation, and to all of us love, peace and piety and health with longevity for each other. Preserve matrimony in love and like-mindedness; spouses, in enmity and division of existence, subdue, unite me to each other and give them an indestructible union of love; mother, children giving birth, give permission soon; raise babies; young survivors, open their minds to the perception of all useful teachings, the fear of God, instruct abstinence and diligence; protect from domestic war and enmity with peace and love. Motherless motherless orphans wake up Mother, turn away from every vice and filth and teach everything good and God-pleasing, deceived and fallen into sin and uncleanness, having devoured the filth of sin, lead out of the abyss of destruction. Wake widows Comforter and Helper, wake old age with a rod, save us all from sudden death without repentance, and grant us all the Christian death of our belly, painless, shameless, peaceful and a kind response to the terrible Judgment of Christ. Having reposed in faith and repentance from this life with the Angels and all the saints of life create, for those who died a sudden death, the mercy of being Thy Son, and for all the departed, who have no relatives, for the repose of Thy Son, those who plead for the rest of their Son, Wake up the ceaseless and warm Walker Himself , so that everyone in Heaven and on earth lead Thee, like a firm and shameless Representative of the Christian clan, and, leading, they glorify Thee and Thy Son of Thy, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and forever and forever. Amen.

The Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" is an icon that helps lost souls find repentance, cope with their passions, bad thoughts and embark on the path of truth.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Icon "Unexpected Joy" - the history of

In the writings of St. Demetrius of Rostov, there is an instructive story about a certain sinner who unexpectedly felt the joy of repentance before the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy". The icon depicts a sinner kneeling, praying in front of the icon of the Virgin and purifying the soul through repentance.

This sinner had the habit of praying every day to the icon "Unexpected Joy" to the Most Holy Theotokos, often repeating the greeting of the Archangel Gabriel: "Rejoice, Gracious One, the Lord is with You." Once, as usual, before committing to sin, he turned to the holy image of the Most Holy Theotokos " Unexpected Joy ”and he became afraid when he looked at the image of the Holy Virgin with her Divine Son in her arms. The Baby had wounds on his arms and legs, and blood was flowing from the wounds, just like on the cross. The sinner fell to his knees and shouted, “Oh, Lady! Who did this?"

“You and other sinners. Again and again you crucify My Son with your sins, as the Jews did, ”the Mother of God answered quietly. “Have mercy on me,” the sinner exclaimed with tears. "You call Me the Mother of mercy, but you insult Me and bring sorrow to Me for your deeds." “No, lady,” the sinner exclaimed in fear. - May my malice not overcome Your indescribable kindness and mercy! You alone are the hope and safe haven for all sinners! Have mercy on me, oh merciful Mother! Call on Your Son and my Creator on my behalf. "

Seeing that the sinner repented and his soul was cleansed by repentance, the most blessed Mother began to beg Her Son: “My benevolent Son! For the sake of My love, have mercy on this sinner. " But the Son answered her: “Do not be angry, My Mother, if I do not obey You.

Again and again the Mother of God pleaded with Her Son, reminding Him how She raised Him on Her bosom, how she suffered on His cross. But the Lord would not bow to mercy. Then the Mother of God got up, let Her Son go and was ready to fall on His feet. "What do you want to do, Mother ?!" - exclaimed the Son. “I will stay,” she replied, “lying at Your feet with this sinner until You forgive him for his sins.” Then the Son said: “The law requires the son to honor his mother, and justice requires that the giver of the law himself obey the law. I am Your Son, You are My Mother; I am obliged to fulfill Your worship by fulfilling Your request. May it be just as wise! His sins are now forgiven for you! And as a sign of forgiveness, let him press his lips to my wounds. "

The sinner got up, with trepidation and joy kissed the most holy wounds of the baby and came to himself. When the vision ended, he felt fear and joy in his heart. His soul was jubilant, tears streamed down his face. He kissed the icon, with gratitude for having found repentance and forgiveness, and prayed that he would receive the gift to always see his sins and repent of them. His life completely changed and remained rich until the end of his days.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" in what helps

The icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy", created in the 18th century, protects from many misfortunes and troubles that damage human life. It brings joy, and when people are desperately waiting for positive changes, when they no longer have hope in their souls, and they live, hoping only for a miracle. And a miracle is performed by this icon, and gives the joy of prayer.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" what they pray for

It is important that "Unexpected Joy" is able to hear and receive prayer, begging for help from someone else's deafness, but it is not necessary for this deafness to be physical. Much more common spiritual or mental deafness, and much worse than illness. The Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" is an icon, a prayer to which is able to protect against a large number misfortunes. The main thing is to pray correctly. If you just read a prayer without feeling it, such a prayer is empty and will not bear fruit. You need to pray sincerely, from the bottom of your heart, and then it will be heard and your request will be fulfilled. If there are many sorrows in life, the family is being destroyed, you have been slandered, you only need to ask the Mother of God for protection and help. And everything will work out right away.

Parents pray for lost children in order to guide them on the right path, to help them get away from the vicious path.

The Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" also helps those who disappeared on the thorny roads of war to return home if information about his death was not confirmed.

Most importantly, you need to ask for what the soul is grieving for, which makes it difficult to breathe and live a normal life. And when faith fades away, the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" will return hope.

Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" meaning, what helps

All human life consists of small joys that are not always visible to people and, in pursuit of an illusory dream, they forget to pay attention to their loved ones and express gratitude to them. This is how dreams become obsessions that prevent people from enjoying life every day.

The icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy", the value and essence of this image carries in itself hope for the will of God and rejection of immoral acts and sinful thoughts, helps to come to repentance, cope with bad thoughts and criminal acts, anger, envy, which often suppress the human heart ... You need to pray every day, then peace and quiet will come to your soul.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" day of celebration

The miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy", which so vividly embodied people's hopes for merciful intercession and help, has always been very valuable in Russia. And even today, Orthodox people approach the icon with warm and heartfelt prayer and receive consolation in sorrow and misfortune.

Orthodox believers esteem especially, calling them a defender, intercessor, helper. Almost every day in churches according to the calendar Orthodox dates one or another icon of the Mother of God is remembered with a prayer request. Twice a year on May 14 and December 22, the celebration of the miraculous image "Unexpected Joy" is established. Please note that both words in the title are written with a capital letter, because Joy means the Most Pure Virgin herself. What does unexpected joy mean? - the one that did not expect, did not expect. Such an unexpected heartfelt feeling once touched a sinner.

How was the Unexpected Joy image revealed?

The exact date and place of the appearance of the icon is unknown; it became widespread less than three centuries ago.

It is surprising that the icon is usually called miraculous, after performing numerous miraculous healings and phenomena. Only the image "Unexpected Joy" precedes a wonderful event. For the first time Saint Dmitry of Rostov mentions him in his work "Irrigated Fleece"... This book was written by the saint for the glorification of the locally revered Holy Mother of God Icon of the Elias monastery in the city of Chernigov.

The last chapter described the following story: one unrighteous man lived wickedly, but he always treated the Most Holy Theotokos with special reverence. Once he was going to once again commit lawlessness, as usual, he uttered the words of a prayer, turning with an angelic greeting: Hail, Gracious. Suddenly the icon seemed to become alive, instead of joy, sorrow was reflected on its face. She was holding in her arms the Infant God, whose shirt was torn, and bleeding wounds opened on his arms, legs and under the rib. The wicked was amazed at what he saw. He bent down, knelt down, asking who could do this to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The answer he received knocked him down. The Mother of God replied that this was the work of his hands and other sinful people who crucified her Son again and again. The sinner prayed for a long time, twice without receiving forgiveness. The Mother of God, together with him, asked the Divine Child for help. For the third time, after the heartfelt repentance of the wicked and the desire of the Mother of God, praying with him at the feet of the Son, the Lord said that the law commands that the Son should honor the mother, let it be as she says. The Forgiven kissed the icon, falling unconscious. Passing into himself, he felt an unprecedented joy in his heart, the hope of forgiveness for his deeds. The man was reborn spiritually, began to lead a righteous life.

This event formed the basis for writing the Unexpected Joy icon. She received an incredible response in the hearts of believers; by the end of the 18th century, a copy of the miraculous image was found in almost every Orthodox church. You can find it today in many churches, it is especially revered in Moscow in the Church of Elijah the Prophet. Initially, this icon was kept in one of the temples of the Kremlin, in the middle of the 20th century it was transported to Sokolniki, and since 1959 it has been in the Ilya Church of Elijah, it is known that Patriarch Pimen often prayed in front of it.

What type of icons of the Theotokos does it belong to?

On the icon "Unexpected Joy" the Mother of God is depicted with the Child Christ in her arms, this is the type, which in translation means the Guide, she, pointing with one hand at her Son, asserting which way the Christian should go. The unique image differs from most canonical images. This is not just an icon, but an iconographic composition (an icon in an icon).

The action takes place in the temple. In the lower left corner there is a man who bowed in kneeling prayer before the image of the Mother of God. Sometimes letters are depicted from his lips, like ribbons, to show his fervent prayer. The head of the Queen of Heaven is slightly tilted, an indirect gaze is directed at the person praying. She points with one hand to the Son, with the other holds Him as if on a throne. The Divine Infant has wounds from which blood flows, one hand is raised, it blesses all believers. A number of theologians classify "Unexpected Joy" as a type of akathist icons.

Below the image are the words from the book of the Prelate of Rostov: A certain lawless man. Think about it, because each of us daily commits iniquity, sins: discussing, discouraging, shouting, cursing, proud, performing seemingly harmless actions, thereby becoming an accomplice in this distant story, crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ again and again, going out in repentance, hope for forgiveness and prayer help.

What to pray to her for?

Often a person finds himself in a critical situation when he has to hope only for the help of God. Then they pray to the Mother of God, asking her to cling to the heart of her Son and ask for spiritual joy, help in business, strengthening in faith, about the return of the lost and the preservation of children.

Parents prayerfully ask the Mother of God for their children, so that they are healthy, go right life path, about their confirmation in faith, about spiritual and bodily enlightenment. The image of the Mother of God helps spouses to establish peace and mutual understanding, eliminate strife, reconcile warring parties. This icon is asked to be protected from enemies and spiteful critics. Through prayers from the image "Unexpected joy" many healings and miracles occur, but most often from it they receive healing from deafness. Here he means not only a physical illness, but also a spiritual one: inability to hear the words of Holy Scripture, close people. Cases were established when women prayed for an early marriage, for the return of their husbands from the battlefield, from a trip, received help, prayer is effective from serious adversity, unrighteous accusations.

There are several prayer rules, which are read depending on life circumstances. When time permits, it's best to read full text prayers or even akathist. There is a lot of evidence that reading the akathist helps infertile women: despite the diagnosis, they get the opportunity to feel the joy of motherhood.

Prayer for pregnancy to the Mother of God in front of the Unexpected Joy icon:

Oh, Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Good Mother, the City of this Patroness, faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses!
Receive this prayer singing from us, unworthy of Thy servants, which You are exalted: even as anciently as a sinner, who prayed many times before Thy honest icon, Thou didst not despise, but you have bestowed the unexpected joy of repentance, and zealous to Thy Son, to Thy intercessor bowed so and now do not despise the prayers of us, unworthy of Thy servants, but pray Thy Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness before Thy celibate image, who worship Thy, according to which need, unexpected joy bestows: yes, all in heaven and on the earths lead Thee, like the firm and shameless Representative of the Christian clan, and this is leading, they glorify Thee and Thee of Thy Son with His Beginning Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

With a lack of time, you can limit yourself to a short vocation for the help of the Virgin Mary. The clergy emphasize that the main thing is that the prayer should come from a pure heart. It is important to first say the words of the prayer, after which you formulate the petition in your own words.

Prayer (short):

Chosen from all generations of the Mother of God and the Queen, who sometimes appeared to a lawless man, in a hedgehog turn him away from the path of wickedness, we bring thanksgiving singing to Ty, the Mother of God: You, who have unspeakable mercy, free us from all our troubles and sins, let us call Ty: Rejoice, granting unexpected joy to the faithful.

Troparion:

Today, return the people who glorify the Zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, and flowing to Her most pure image, we cry out to her sitsa: oh, Mercy on the Lady Theotokos, give us unexpected joy, burdened with sins and sorrows by many, and deliver us from all evil, praying to Christ Thy Son ours, to save our souls.

What does the name of the icon say?

Unexpected joy is an image that reminds us that forgiveness of sins is possible with heartfelt repentance and prayer. A joyful feeling does not fill a person right away, he read the prayer and was immediately delighted, no. After heartfelt labor, repentance (remember that Jesus Christ did not immediately forgive the sinner), when it would seem that there is no more strength, forgiveness comes, and at the same time, suddenly the heart becomes light, joyful. The icon teaches you to stay true to your word. After repentance and forgiveness received, a person does not move on to iniquity, but begins to lead a righteous life.

It is no accident, according to legend, that the robber who sincerely repented was the first to go to the heavenly abodes with Christ. Whatever circumstances happen in life, the Most Holy Theotokos becomes the first intercessor of every person. And you need to be able to notice joy in every moment. It is that there is a family, children, beloved work, that you can hear birds singing and admire nature, it is that there is hope for healing, help, eternal life, there is a heavenly Intercessor, ready to help everyone to her to the applicant.

Rejoice, granting unexpected joy to the faithful!