Icon of the mother of God grieving joy name. Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow"

The famous street in the capital - Bolshaya Ordynka - is rightfully called the place of golden domes. Among believers, the church "Joy of All Who Sorrow" is especially revered. This place of worship was first mentioned in chronicles in 1571. At that time, the temple was known under a different name, as the Church of Varlaam Khutynsky. According to the assumptions of historians, it was erected in 1523 during the time of Metropolitan Varlaam, in the name of his heavenly intercessor and patron. In 1625, the clergy conducted the consecration of the throne here in the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord. It is currently the main altar of the Sorrowful Church.

Temple on Ordynka "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in 1683/85 was built in stone. A few years later, a miracle happened within its walls: one of the parishioners received complete healing from the image of the Mother of God. As the legends say, the sister of Patriarch Joachim experienced severe suffering from a painful wound in her side. She called out in prayers for help. One day, a mysterious voice reached Euphemia, indicating that she should serve a water-blessed prayer service at the icon of the Queen of Heaven in the Transfiguration Church. The woman realized that she had heard the call of the All-Defender herself. She followed all instructions and was healed. Since then, the icon has been famous as miraculous, and to this day the image is revered by all Orthodox believers in the country.

The temple on Ordynka "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in 1922 was destroyed during the seizure of church valuables. All jewelry and utensils were expropriated (more than 65 kg of silver and gold). In 1933 it was closed, the Bolsheviks removed the bells, but interior decoration remained virtually untouched.

During the Great Patriotic War the temple on Ordynka "Joy of All Who Sorrow" was the storeroom of the Tretyakov Gallery. In 1948 it was reopened for worship.

Joy of All Who Sorrow Church is of particular interest due to its architectural solutions. Its bell tower has a rare shape. The building was built in the form of a cylindrical rotunda, with semicircular arched windows and Ionic two-columned porticos. Inside there are 12 columns serving as a support for a small drum with a dome in the form of a hemisphere and a spherical dome. A characteristic feature of the interior decoration is the placement of candlesticks. They are at the top, the attendants go up the portable wooden stairs to light a candle.

Image

The Joy of All Who Sorrow icon is an amazing phenomenon in the history of icon painting. There is a lot of documentary evidence of the miraculous deeds of this image. The list of such documents is perhaps the longest in the history of Orthodoxy.

Icons and lists of "Joy of All Who Sorrow": Meaning in the Orthodox Faith

“Joy to all who mourn” is the first line of one of their verses. Even the name of this image served to make it so widespread in our country. In addition to the first icon located in the Moscow church, there are about two dozen locally venerated and miraculous lists.

The soul of a Russian person is very close and understandable to the meaning hidden in the name of the icon. In the images of “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” the meaning is revealed as follows: this is the reckless hope of the believer in the Most Pure Mother of God, hurrying everywhere to alleviate sorrow, console, save people from sorrow and suffering, give healing to the sick and clothing to the naked ...

Iconography

The icon depicts the Mother of God in full growth, with or without a baby on her arm. The all-protector is surrounded by the radiance of the mandrola. This is a special halo oval shape extended in the vertical direction. The Mother of God is surrounded by angels, the New Testament Trinity and the Lord of hosts are depicted in the clouds.

This principle of iconography developed in Rus' in the seventeenth century under the influence of Western European traditions. The iconography of the image could not get a single complete composition and is presented in churches in a variety of options. The most famous are two types of icon painting - with a baby in her arms, as in the temple on Ordynka, and without it.

The peculiarity of the icon is that, together with the Mother of God, it depicts people tormented by sorrows and illnesses, and angels who perform good deeds on behalf of the All-Saviour.

Icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" with pennies

The image became famous in St. Petersburg in 1888, when lightning struck the chapel where it was located. The icon remained intact, only copper pennies (penny) stuck to it. Subsequently, a temple was built on this site. The famous icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" with pennies is in it to this day.

How to pray to the Queen of Heaven

To the miraculous icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” prayer should be offered with a pure heart and thoughts. All needy, sick people, mothers expecting children from the war, entire families where trouble has happened can ask the intercessor for help.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin

“The Tsarina, my Hope, the Mother of God, Intercessor to the orphans and the strange Patroness! Grieving Joy, offended Representative! Behold my trouble, behold my sorrow: help me the weak servant of God (name). Resolve my offense at your will. I rely on your help. Only you, Mother of God, I ask for help! Amen".

The clergy advise to turn to the image of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” as often as possible, the prayer can be said in your own words, the main thing is the sincerity and true faith of the parishioner.

Lists from the icon of the Queen of Heaven

When in 1711 Tsar Peter the Great, together with his entourage, moved to St. Petersburg, his sister put a copy of the icon of the All-Intercessor in the new palace church. Later, in the name of the Mother of God, a whole temple was rebuilt in the Northern capital, which took place during the reign of Elizabeth the First.

How and when to visit the temple

The church is located in Moscow, B. Ordynka street, 20. You can get to the place by metro, to the Tretyakovskaya and Novokuznetskaya stations. The temple on Ordynka "Joy of All Who Sorrow" is available for visiting daily, from 7.30 to 20.00 pm.

Instead of completing

One of the oldest and most famous churches in the capital is always ready to receive parishioners. Access to the miraculous icon is always open, but you may have to stand in a short queue.

There is no higher service than bringing joy to those who mourn. The word "sorrow" had a broader meaning in ancient times than it does today. It meant not only sorrowful experiences, but also physical suffering from illnesses, and failures of the everyday plan, and in general everything that we now call the word “negative”. It is through these troubles and hardships of life, with which the world is full, that the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” brings the joy of consolation.

Grace given through icons

Before starting a conversation about it, one very important fact should be emphasized - it is not the icon itself that works miracles and brings Divine grace to people, but the Mother of God depicted on it. She does this through her images, before which we offer prayers to her. There are great icons among them, which are usually called miraculous. This means that the Queen of Heaven chose them, and it is her pleasure to send down grace through these icons. For this we honor them, but we pray not to them, not to the boards covered with a picturesque layer, but to the One whose holy image is imprinted on them.

For the name of the icon in question, the words of one of the Theotokos stichera (a special liturgical text) are used - “Joy to All Who Sorrow.” Icon Mother of God with this name appeared in Rus' in the 17th century. Art critics note in its iconography the tangible influence of the Western European school. In addition, it should be noted that many of its versions (variants) lack a single compositional scheme. As a result, significant differences can be found in icons with this name.

An example is the saints depicted on it. In the earliest versions, these figures were absent and appeared only on icons painted after 1688. The explanation for this is as follows: this year the icon of the Theotokos “Joy of All Who Sorrow” brought miraculous healing from an illness to the sister of Patriarch Joachim, Euphemia. Since then, her glorification began, and figures of the afflicted began to be introduced into the picturesque plot, thereby focusing on the healing power of the image.

Features of the generally accepted iconographic tradition

Over the years, a tradition has developed to depict the Virgin in full growth, standing in the so-called mandorla - a vertical oval radiance. An interesting fact: a similar image is typical for Christian and Buddhist art. In such a halo, it is customary to depict the figures of Christ, the Virgin and Buddha. In Christian iconography, the image of Christ in a mandorla is often found on the icons "Transfiguration of the Lord" and "Second Coming", and in the iconography of the Mother of God - on the icon "Assumption Holy Mother of God».

In addition to the Mother of God and figures suffering from ailments, it has become a tradition to depict angels on the icon performing acts of mercy on behalf of the Queen of Heaven. In addition, one can find numerous depictions with images of saints standing on the right and on the left side of the Virgin. Despite the fact that the icon "Our Lady of All Who Sorrow" appeared after the church schism, which was caused by the well-known reform of Patriarch Nikon, it is very common among the Old Believers. Especially many of her lists appeared, made in the Belarusian village of Vetka.

The history of the glorification of the icon

It is necessary to dwell in more detail on the history of the icon. As mentioned above, her glorification began in 1688 with the healing of the ailments of the patriarchal sister Euphemia Papina. Legend has it that she suffered from a non-healing wound in her side. And then one day, during a prayer, Euphemia heard a wondrous voice announcing that the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” would bring her healing.

On Ordynka there is the Church of the Transfiguration, where you should look for this icon. After a prayer, a miracle will happen before her, and the illness will leave the patient. The voice also added that Euphemia would have to confess this miracle, glorifying the name of the Most Holy Theotokos. Soon the icon was delivered to the suffering woman, and after praying in front of her, the wound began to heal quickly. It happened on October 24th. Fulfilling the order of the Blessed Virgin (it was She who belonged to that voice), the brother of Euphemia - Patriarch Joachim - ordered to compose a prayer service to the image of "Joy to All Who Sorrow." The icon of the Mother of God has been glorified since then, along with other miraculous icons.

Among the inhabitants of Moscow and all of Russia, this story became widely known, which is not surprising - its main character was the sister of the Patriarch. An akathist "Joy to All Who Sorrow" was written. In addition to the already mentioned service, they compiled a "Tale of the Icon", which set out in detail all the circumstances of what happened, and the royal icon painters began to make lists from it. Unfortunately, it was not possible to establish where the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow” came from to the Church of the Transfiguration. Its significance for Russian Orthodoxy is great, and the lack of information about its early history is a big gap.

Creation of a list from the icon and departure to St. Petersburg

Further events related to the miraculous icon date back to 1711. During this period, the capital of Russia was moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg. moved there and royal family. From historical documents it is clear that the sister of Tsar Peter I, Princess Natalya Alekseevna, leaving for the new capital, ordered a copy from the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow”. The icon of the Mother of God was taken to Petersburg. But here a disagreement appears in the documents - according to some sources, a copy went to the banks of the Neva, and the original remained in Moscow, other sources claim the opposite.

It should be noted that after the glorification of the icon, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, where the boundary consecrated in her honor was located, began to be called among the people “Grieving” or “Joy of All Who Sorrow” on Ordynka. It can be said with full confidence that the icon that Tsarevna Natalya left for the Muscovites was in the temple until the revolution. Then the riddles begin.

After the revolution, the church was closed, its building was used for state needs. There is a version that the icon kept there disappeared without a trace during the church hard times, and the image now in the restored church is a list of the 18th century presented to it by Patriarch Alexy I. But there is another version, according to which the original icon miraculously survived the years of theomachism and is now in its original place.

Petersburg icon of the Mother of God

However, let's fast forward to St. Petersburg and follow the icon that the tsar's sister brought here from Moscow. It remains unclear whether this is an original or a copy, but, in spite of everything, both the Moscow icon and its St. Petersburg sister were revered equally as miraculous. This is confirmed by the fact that, going on the Prut campaign in 1711, the tsar ordered to take her with him as a pledge of heavenly patronage of the army.

Princess Natalya Alekseevna placed the icon brought to her in the house church of her own palace, which was located on Shpalernaya Street. In those years, the famous brainchild of her brother, the Foundry Yard, was also located there, where guns for the army and anchors for the navy were cast. The military and economic power of Russia was created there.

Natalya Alekseevna spared no expense for the shrine. The frame of the icon, made of silver and covered with gold, was richly decorated with family jewels. According to the established tradition, particles of the relics of saints and other relics were placed in it. Over time, the pious princess set up an almshouse at her palace, to which the church moved after her death in 1716.

The veneration of the icon by the kings

Half a century later, Empress Catherine II treated the miraculous image of “Joy to All Who Sorrow” with special reverence. The icon of the Mother of God gave her strength during the period of the smallpox epidemic that broke out in 1768. It is known that the Empress was one of the first to be vaccinated against this terrible disease for herself and the heir to the throne, thereby setting an example for the rest.

It was very important, since vaccinations in those years were an innovation and were met in society with fear and misunderstanding. Before deciding to take such a step, Catherine II came to the house church of Princess Natalya. Prayer to the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" instilled confidence in her. As a result, vaccinations following her example have saved the lives of hundreds of people. As a token of gratitude, a new, even richer setting for the icon was soon made.

During the reign of her grandson Alexander I, the house church on Shpalernaya was completely rebuilt according to the project of the architect L. Ruska, a special niche was created for the icon on the right side of the iconostasis. This period includes the creation of a new, third salary for the icon.

It was done with extraordinary generosity. Almost seven kilograms of gold went into its manufacture. In addition, for decoration were used in in large numbers gems. A photo from the lithograph of the icon, made in 1862, can be seen in this article. Particles of the relics of many saints were also placed in the salary. After the solemn consecration, which was performed by Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov), the salary took its place.

Three lists with icons

It should also be noted that in the temple on Shpalernaya, in addition to the icon in question, there were three more lists made from it, but they are considered lost. It is only known that one of them practically did not differ in its iconographic features from the one brought by Natalya Alekseevna. Decorated with his precious salary. In 1847, the icon was transferred to the ownership of the Spaso-Efrosinevsky Monastery in Polotsk, and its place was taken by a copy made by the painter P.M. Shamshin.

It is known about the other two lists that they had their own iconographic features. The figures of the suffering were included in their composition, which indicates their later writing. The pictorial manner in which they were executed is more characteristic of the Western school. One of the icons was at the top of the room in the choir stalls. Its authorship is attributed to the then-famous artist F.A. Bronnikov. The other was created specifically in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the rebuilding of the temple. It is written on a copper board by the artist I.A. Tyurin.

Somewhat later, the church was rebuilt, and since then it has been called Skorbyashchinsky. It was also known as the Church of the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow". It existed until 1932, when it was closed together with many Russian churches. After that, the miraculous icon stored in it, a family heirloom of Princess Natalia, also disappeared without a trace.

In St. Petersburg, in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior, there is an icon that many consider to be the one that was lost when the church on Shpalernaya was closed. But this, unfortunately, is an erroneous opinion. An old lithograph made from an icon that belonged to the princess proves their non-identity. It is more likely that in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior there is that revered list, which, as you know, was kept in a precious salary next to the icon of Natalia Alekseevna and was transferred to the cathedral after the closure of the house church.

Icon with pennies

Among the St. Petersburg icons of the Mother of God there is one unique in its own way. It is called the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" with pennies. There is a legend that once, in the middle of the 19th century, it was washed ashore by the Neva waves near the estate of the merchant Kurakin. From them, the icon passed to the merchant Matveev, who presented it as a gift to the chapel built in honor of the icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God in the Village of Klochki near St. Petersburg. The chapel was located next to the famous St. Petersburg glass factory.

This icon gained fame after a terrible thunderstorm that raged over the city on July 23, 1888. From the documents that have remained since that time, it is known that a lightning strike that hit the chapel scorched internal walls and the icons there. The mug for collecting donations suffered the most - it was completely broken. Only the icon that was in the chapel remained unharmed - a gift from the merchant Matveev. Moreover, the coins that scattered during a lightning strike in an incomprehensible way firmly stuck to the surface of the icon.

When, after a thunderstorm, the damaged chapel was opened, they found that the image of the Virgin, previously attached to the corner on a cord, fell down from a strong blow. But the most striking thing was that the face of the Mother of God, darkened by time, brightened and renewed itself. There were many witnesses to this miracle, the rumor about it quickly spread throughout St. Petersburg.

Her glorification began with the fact that, at the command of the ruling bishop, Metropolitan Isidor (Nikolsky), regular prayer services began in front of the icon. By this time, there are also reports of the first miraculous healings that took place through prayers before this newly acquired image. From the records it is clear that after the prayer to the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow” was performed on December 6, 1890, the lad Nikolai Grachev, 14 years old, was healed of epilepsy. The next case was recorded in February 1891, when 26-year-old Vera Belonogova, who had completely lost the ability to speak due to a sore throat, suddenly gained the gift of speech.

Ruined Temple "Joy of All Who Sorrow" (St. Petersburg)

Pious Emperor Alexander III in 1893 he served a prayer service before this icon. Five years later, thanks to the financial resources donated by him, a stone temple “Joy of All Who Sorrow” was erected for her on a specially designated area. He towered on the embankment of the Neva. However, in the thirties it suffered the same fate as many churches in our country - it was demolished. Now only a miraculously preserved chapel reminds of it.

Fortunately, the miraculous icon itself was saved, and now it is also located on the Nevsky Bank, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, which the people for its architectural features called "Kulich and Easter". In honor of this icon, a special day of celebration is set - August 5th. By the way, the St. Petersburg Icon of Joy of All Who Sorrow with pennies received its official name on the personal instructions of Patriarch Alexy II in 1998. On all subsequent copies made from it, the coins were depicted with paint.

Lists famous for miracles

It is known that not only the icons already mentioned in this article, but also the lists made from them became famous for many miracles. In terms of their iconographic type, these icons often repeat both Moscow and St. Petersburg icons. They are located in different parts of the country, but the legends about the miracles they manifested become public property.

We should dwell on this in more detail. The most famous of these icons is Reshnevskaya. Its name comes from the village of Reshnev, where the temple "Joy of All Who Sorrow" was specially built for it. According to legend, a pious and wealthy landowner, M. Savich, received this icon from a wandering monk. With her funds, the temple was built.

Tradition says that on the day of his consecration, a miracle happened - through the prayers of his mother, the boy who suffered from paralysis was healed. This icon itself is somewhat different from other icons of this type. She almost completely copies the "Iberian Mother of God", however, among the locals and among her admirers in general, she is referred to as the icon of "Joy of All Who Sorrow." Its significance for believers lies in the feeling of the reality of intercession and help sent down by the Most Holy Theotokos.

Lists of icons famous in hospitals and prisons

For several centuries now, the Joy of All Who Sorrow icon has been helping the sick who have lost all hope of recovery. An example of this is the image located in the hospital belonging to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Tradition says that the founder of the hospital, Prince Nikolai Svyatosha, later glorified as a saint, donated the icon there. Further, the legend tells that the hospital watchman more than once witnessed how an unknown woman visited the hospital, and those patients to whom she approached soon recovered. There was also one monk who suffered from an incurable disease and was ready to finish his earthly journey. And then one day a distinct image of the Virgin Mary appeared above his headboard in the moonlight. The patient saw her and was soon healed.

Since ancient times in Vologda in the prison hospital there was a miraculous icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow". Its value was also appreciated there. People who have been imprisoned through their own fault or due to circumstances, like no one else, need the help and intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. The inhabitants of the city, who venerated the icon, made for it a silver and gilded salary and carried it out for every religious procession. Unfortunately, this miraculous image has not survived to this day, having disappeared without a trace during the years of the revolution.

Icon from Voronezh

The Voronezh Theological Church is also known for its miraculous icon. There is a legend that one of the associates of Peter I, sailing in a boat along the Voronezh River, refused to moor to the shore near the temple and bow to the icon located in it. He even allowed himself to be very bold about this. However, a storm that soon broke out, threatening the life of both the nobleman himself and his retinue, forced him to repent of his rash words and, having moored to the shore, hasten to the temple. After he kissed the icon, the storm miraculously stopped. This icon is revered as miraculous. There are many testimonies of healings that took place through prayers before her.

It is difficult to enumerate all the miraculous lists from this blessed icon. They were always revered, temples and chapels were built for them. Such a chapel "Joy of All Who Sorrow" was built in St. Petersburg in 1915. It was intended to help mentally ill children and was built under the patronage of Empress Maria Feodorovna. After the revolution, it was closed and re-consecrated only in 1990.

It is impossible not to recall the list of the icon located in Tobolsk. There is little information about its creation, but art historians believe that its writing can be attributed to the end of the 16th century. In the temple, this icon was exhibited in a precious setting and decorated with numerous rings, crosses and pendants donated by parishioners on the occasion of the granting of help through prayers. It is characteristic that it was held in special esteem by city merchants, among them it was considered the key to successful commerce to carry it through the shopping malls. Unfortunately, this icon has not survived to this day. Like many others, she disappeared during the revolution.

Many believers in their home meetings have this wonderful image. Icons in the apartment always create a special atmosphere. Even people who do not identify themselves with religion feel the fertile energy emanating from them. It operates independently of our perception. But if a person's heart is warmed by faith in God, then the icons become truly miraculous.

Queen of heaven and earth, Consolation to those who grieve, Listen to the prayer of sinners: In You is hope and salvation.

We are mired in the evil of passions, Wandering in the darkness of vice, But ... our Motherland ... Oh, tilt the all-seeing eye to it.

Holy Rus' - your bright house Almost dies, To you, Intercessor, we call: No one else knows about us.

Oh, do not leave Your children, Grieving Hope, Do not turn Your eyes away From our sorrow and suffering.

One of the poems transcribed by the Royal Martyrs in Tobolsk

Undoubtedly, the very name of this image, “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” was the reason for its widest distribution on Russian soil. In addition to the first Moscow image, there were at least two and a half dozen miraculous and locally venerated copies from this icon: in the Mother See itself and in its environs, on the banks of the Neva and in Abkhazia, in Siberian Tobolsk and in Kiev, in Vologda and in Nizhny Novgorod, in other cities, villages and monasteries. The soul of a Russian person is especially close and understandable to the meaning hidden in the name of the icon - hope for the Most Pure One, who invariably rushes to console, alleviate human sorrow and suffering, to give “naked clothes, healing to the sick” ...

The Mother of God is written on this icon in full growth, usually with a scepter in her right hand and with the Child on a shuitz, but sometimes without Him, with outstretched arms, as on the famous “Joy of All Who Sorrow” (with pennies), surrounded by distressed Christians falling to Her and Angels sent to quench their sorrows, pointing to the Ever-Virgin - a source of inexhaustible and all-conquering joy. The attire of the Most Pure on the lists varies: She appears either in glory, with a crown on her head and in the robes of a queen, or in a cloak and a white dress that is usual for Her earthly days.

As the old church chronicle tells, in the summer of 7196 from the creation of the world (1648 from the Nativity of Christ), tormented by a huge unhealed ulcer in her side, the widow Evfimiya Akinfieva, the sister of Patriarch Joachim, desperate to receive healing from the doctors, appealed to the Most Pure One and suddenly heard a voice: “Euphemia, why don’t you run in your grief to the common Healer of all? - "Where can you find such a Healer?" the patient asked humbly. And then the voice commanded to turn to the priest of the “Temple of the Divine Transfiguration of the Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ and the Reverend Father Varlaam of Khutynsky, Novgorod miracle worker”, on Bolshaya Ordynka in Moscow, so that he would take there “on the left side in the meal, where women usually stand”, the image of the Most Pure and served a prayer service with water blessing in front of him. Having immediately done all this, Euphemia received healing. So the first miracle happened from the “icon of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, which is called Joy to all who mourn”, and the temple itself received and still retains the name of Sorrowful (although its main throne was consecrated in the name of the Transfiguration). The temple on Bolshaya Ordynka is also famous for the fact that S. V. Rachmaninov’s Vespers are annually performed here (on the Saturday closest to the day of his death, March 28) and P. I. Tchaikovsky’s Liturgy (the day of his death fell on October 25, according to the old style - the miraculous day following the celebration). Every Saturday, a prayer service is performed here at the miraculous, in last years which revealed a new fertile gift of healing those suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Each century has its own sorrows - only the joy of healing granted by the Intercessor does not pass.

Church on Bolshaya Ordynka

In addition to the church on Bolshaya Ordynka, four more parish churches in the name of the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” icon now operate in the capital city (on the 3rd Meshchanskaya at the Staro-Ekaterininsky hospital, at the Kalitnikovskoye cemetery (with a locally honored list), on Zatsep (better known from the chapel as the temple of Frol and Lavr) and at the psychiatric hospital at Kanatchikova Dacha); the throne of the hospital church of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery has the same dedication. Formerly in Moscow there were also Skorbyashchensky convent on Novoslobodskaya Street and almost a dozen Churches of Sorrow, including those at several hospitals, shelters and the Matrosskaya Tishina prison.

Unlike Muscovites, the Orthodox cities on the Neva were sure that the miraculous icon was transported to the new capital in 1711 by the sister of Peter I, Tsarevna Natalia Alekseevna, and eventually ended up in the Sorrowful Church on Shpalernaya Street. It was from this image that the miracle of the smallpox epidemic that raged during the time of Catherine II was attributed to a miracle.

By the beginning of the 20th century, church historians found it difficult to answer which of the icons - on Bolshaya Ordynka in Moscow or on Shpalernaya in St. Petersburg - was the first image. But judging by the fact that the St. Petersburg icon is painted on a cypress board on a primed canvas, it is younger than the Moscow one.

However, over time, St. Petersburg also acquired its own icon of "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in its special version - the so-called "Virgin with pennies." In ancient times, the merchants Kurakins, who lived in the suburban village of Klochki (now this is the area of ​​​​the Glass Factory, which has long been part of the boundaries of St. Petersburg), found the image of the Virgin nailed to the shore by the waves of the Neva; generations later, their heirs donated the family shrine to the chapel at the Glassworks.

On July 23, 1888, a terrible thunderstorm broke out over the banks of the Neva. A lightning strike burned out the inner walls of the chapel, along with all the icons, and scattered the coins from the alms mug. Only one icon survived, and later records fell off the face of the Most Pure One, and twelve copper coins from the mug were hammered into the icon board with superhuman strength. Since then, the new miraculous has received the popular name "Our Lady (with pennies)". The next day, streams of pilgrims flowed to the chapel, miraculous healings began and did not stop. In 1898, a new temple was consecrated here, and the miraculous remained in the chapel and was transferred to the temple only during divine services. It is this place that is mentioned in the lines of A. A. Akhmatova “The steamboat goes to the Sorrowful ...” - this is how the pilgrims usually got here. IN Soviet time the temple was destroyed, the chapel by the Providence of God has survived to this day, the miraculous image itself (with pennies) is located nearby, in the Trinity Church "Kulich and Easter".

On the St. Petersburg recension, the Most Pure is written with outstretched arms, with her face bowed to the left, her lower clothes are crimson, her upper ones are dark blue, her head is clothed in a white veil, without a royal crown. Above in the clouds - the blessing Savior, around - Angels, suffering, green branches and indispensable twelve coins.

The celebration of the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" takes place on October 24 according to the old style (some of the lists from it have their own special days of celebration). And within the current borders of Russia, and within its historical boundaries, and throughout the world, wherever the foot of a Russian person has set foot, the words of hymns in honor of this holy icon sounded, sound and will sound until the end of this world.

Stichira, tone 2, sung at a prayer service instead of a troparion

All the grieving Joy and the offended Intercessor, and the hungry Nurse, the strange Consolation, the overwhelmed Shelter, the sick Visitation, the weak Veil and Intercessor, the Wand of old age, the Mother of the Most High God, Thou art the Most Pure, pand, pray, be saved by Your servant.

Prayer

O Most Holy and Blessed Virgin, Lady Mother of God! Look with Your merciful eye on us, standing before Your holy icon and praying to You with tenderness: raise us up from the depths of sin, enlighten our mind, darkened by passions, and heal the ulcers of our souls and bodies. Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, except for You, the Lady. You weigh all our infirmities and sins, we resort to You and cry out: do not leave us with Your heavenly help, but appear before us and with Your inexpressible mercy and bounty, save and have mercy on us who are perishing. Grant us the correction of our sinful lives and deliver us from sorrows, troubles and illnesses, from sudden death, hell and eternal torment. You are more, Queen and Mistress, an ambulance and Intercessor to all who flow to You and a strong Refuge of penitent sinners. Grant us, Blessing and All-Immaculate Virgin, the Christian end of our life is peaceful and shameless, and vouchsafe us with Your intercession to settle in the abodes of heaven, where the unceasing voice of the celebrating with joy glorifies Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Nadezhda Dmitrieva

From the book “Rejoices in You!”

Undoubtedly, the very name of this image, “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” was the reason for its widest distribution on Russian soil. In addition to the first Moscow image, there were at least two and a half dozen miraculous and locally venerated copies from this icon: in the Mother See itself and in its environs, on the banks of the Neva and in Abkhazia, in Siberian Tobolsk and in Kiev, in Vologda and in Nizhny Novgorod, in other cities, villages and monasteries.

The soul of a Russian person is especially close and understandable to the meaning hidden in the name of the icon - hope for the Most Pure One, who invariably rushes to console, alleviate human sorrow and suffering, to give “naked clothes, healing to the sick” ...

The Mother of God is written on this icon in full growth, usually with a scepter in her right hand and with the Child on a shuitz, but sometimes without Him, with outstretched arms, as on the famous “Joy of All Who Sorrow” (with pennies), surrounded by distressed Christians falling to Her and Angels sent to quench their sorrows, pointing to the Ever-Virgin - a source of inexhaustible and all-conquering joy. The attire of the Most Pure on the lists varies: She appears either in glory, with a crown on her head and in the robes of a queen, or in a cloak and a white dress that is usual for Her earthly days.

As the old church chronicle tells, in the summer of 7196 from the creation of the world (1648 from the Nativity of Christ), tormented by a huge unhealed ulcer in her side, the widow Evfimiya Akinfieva, the sister of Patriarch Joachim, desperate to receive healing from the doctors, appealed to the Most Pure One and suddenly heard a voice: “Euphemia, why don’t you run in your grief to the common Healer of all? - "Where can you find such a Healer?" the patient asked humbly. And then the voice commanded to turn to the priest of the “Temple of the Divine Transfiguration of the Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ and the Reverend Father Varlaam of Khutynsky, Novgorod miracle worker”, on Bolshaya Ordynka in Moscow, so that he would take there “on the left side in the meal, where women usually stand”, the image of the Most Pure and served a prayer service with water blessing in front of him. Having immediately done all this, Euphemia received healing. So the first miracle happened from the “icon of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, which is called Joy to all who mourn”, and the temple itself received and still retains the name of Sorrowful (although its main throne was consecrated in the name of the Transfiguration). The temple on Bolshaya Ordynka is also famous for the fact that S. V. Rachmaninov’s Vespers are annually performed here (on the Saturday closest to the day of his death, March 28) and P. I. Tchaikovsky’s Liturgy (the day of his death fell on October 25, according to the old style - the miraculous day following the celebration). Every Saturday, a prayer service is performed here at the miraculous, who in recent years has shown a new grace-filled gift of healing those suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Each century has its own sorrows - only the joy of healing granted by the Intercessor does not pass.

In addition to the church on Bolshaya Ordynka, four more parish churches in the name of the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” icon now operate in the capital city (on the 3rd Meshchanskaya at the Staro-Ekaterininsky hospital, at the Kalitnikovskoye cemetery (with a locally honored list), on Zatsep (better known from the chapel as the temple of Frol and Lavr) and at the psychiatric hospital at Kanatchikova Dacha); the throne of the hospital church of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery has the same dedication. Previously, Moscow also had the Sorrowful Convent on Novoslobodskaya Street and almost a dozen Churches of Sorrow, including those at several hospitals, shelters, and the Matrosskaya Tishina prison.

Unlike Muscovites, the Orthodox cities on the Neva were sure that the miraculous icon was transported to the new capital in 1711 by the sister of Peter I, Tsarevna Natalia Alekseevna, and eventually ended up in the Sorrowful Church on Shpalernaya Street. It was from this image that the miracle of the smallpox epidemic that raged during the time of Catherine II was attributed to a miracle.

By the beginning of the 20th century, church historians found it difficult to answer which of the icons - on Bolshaya Ordynka in Moscow or on Shpalernaya in St. Petersburg - was the first image. But judging by the fact that the St. Petersburg icon is painted on a cypress board on a primed canvas, it is younger than the Moscow one.

However, over time, St. Petersburg also acquired its own icon of "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in its special version - the so-called "Virgin with pennies." In ancient times, the merchants Kurakins, who lived in the suburban village of Klochki (now this is the area of ​​​​the Glass Factory, which has long been part of the boundaries of St. Petersburg), found the image of the Virgin nailed to the shore by the waves of the Neva; generations later, their heirs donated the family shrine to the chapel at the Glassworks.

On July 23, 1888, a terrible thunderstorm broke out over the banks of the Neva. A lightning strike burned out the inner walls of the chapel, along with all the icons, and scattered the coins from the alms mug. Only one icon survived, and later records fell off the face of the Most Pure One, and twelve copper coins from the mug were hammered into the icon board with superhuman strength. Since then, the new miraculous has received the popular name "Our Lady (with pennies)". The next day, streams of pilgrims flowed to the chapel, miraculous healings began and did not stop. In 1898, a new temple was consecrated here, and the miraculous remained in the chapel and was transferred to the temple only during divine services. It is this place that is mentioned in the lines of A. A. Akhmatova “The steamboat goes to the Sorrowful ...” - this is how the pilgrims usually got here. In Soviet times, the temple was destroyed, the chapel by the Providence of God has survived to this day, the miraculous image itself (with pennies) is located nearby, in the Trinity Church "Kulich and Easter".

On the St. Petersburg recension, the Most Pure is written with outstretched arms, with her face bowed to the left, her lower clothes are crimson, her upper ones are dark blue, her head is clothed in a white veil, without a royal crown. Above in the clouds - the blessing Savior, around - Angels, suffering, green branches and indispensable twelve coins.

The celebration of the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" takes place on October 24 according to the old style (some of the lists from it have their own special days of celebration). And within the current borders of Russia, and within its historical boundaries, and throughout the world, wherever the foot of a Russian person has set foot, the words of hymns in honor of this holy icon sounded, sound and will sound until the end of this world.

Icon of the Mother of God
"Joy of All Who Sorrow"

Icon of Princess Natalia Alekseevna

The history of this miraculous image begins in Moscow. In 1688, during the reign of Tsars John and Peter Alekseevich, the sister of Patriarch Joachim Euthymia, who had suffered for a long time from an incurable illness, one morning during a prayer heard a voice calling her to go to pray before the image of the Most Holy Theotokos “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Ordynka and order a prayer service with water blessing. Euphemia fulfilled what was said and received healing. Since then, many suffering from illnesses, people in sorrows, prayerfully turning to the Mother of God, through Her miraculous image began to receive healing and deliverance from troubles.

In 1711, when the royal residence was transferred from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Tsarevna Natalya Alekseevna, who reverently revered the miraculous icon, made a list (copy) of it and transported it, among other relics, to St. Petersburg. According to other sources, a copy remained in Moscow, and the princess took the true image with her. In any case, both icons - both Moscow and St. Petersburg were equally revered as miraculous. The list of the princess was placed in the house church of the Resurrection of Christ at the palace of Natalya Alekseevna behind the Foundry Yard on Shpalernaya Street. Both Moscow and St. Petersburg churches kept early handwritten lists of services and legends about the icon.

Petersburg list

In St. Petersburg, the icon became one of the main shrines; numerous lists were made from it. On the Petersburg image, the Mother of God was depicted in full growth without the Divine Infant. Left hand It is extended to the sick depicted near, and the right one points them to the Savior. The head of the Virgin is covered with a white veil, outerwear dark blue, and the bottom - dark red; green branches are depicted behind the Queen of Heaven paradise trees. The Mother of God is surrounded by people who are thirsty for healing and intercession, and Angels sent to comfort them, pointing to the Ever-Virgin - a source of inexhaustible and all-conquering joy. On the scrolls - texts with prayer names grace-filled help from the Mother of God: “naked robe”, “sick healing”. At the top of the icon is the Savior on the clouds, right hand blessing, and in the left holding holy gospel. One of these lists from the chapel near the Glassworks became famous in 1888.

Tikhvin chapel

Chapel in honor Tikhvin icon The Mother of God was built on the territory of the Imperial Glass Factory in the 18th century. Its construction, according to legend, was associated with a miraculous phenomenon. In the place where the Tikhvin Chapel was placed, there used to be a transfer from the Glass Factory from the left bank of the Neva to the right. One day, boatmen-carriers saw that an icon was floating right at them. As she approached the raft where the boats moored, she stopped. Having taken the icon out of the water, the boatmen saw that the Most Holy Theotokos of Tikhvin was depicted on it. Seeing the special mercy of God in this, the locals built a chapel in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos of Tikhvin near this place, where the icon appeared and was found. Until 1882, it belonged to the parish Church of Sorrow, which was located above the gates of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra; from 1882 to 1898 - to the Borisoglebskaya Kalashnikovskaya Church, and since 1898, after the consecration of the new church built near the chapel, it came under the jurisdiction of the clergy of the newly formed parish of the Sorrowful Church at the Glass Factory.

Chapel at the pillar

The first chapel was wooden, "one square sazhen at the base and two sazhens high." In appearance, it resembled the chapels found in villages on high roads. Once above it hung the image of St. Elijah the Prophet, therefore, earlier the chapel was called Ilyinsky, and on the day of St. Prophet Elijah, a procession to the chapel was made annually and a moleben of St. prophet. In church books there is also the name "chapel at the pillar", or "Nikolskaya chapel", since there was a pillar with the image of St. Nicholas on it at the chapel.

Holy Prophet Elijah. St. Nikolay.
Mosaic above the south entrance. Mosaic above the north entrance.
Artist V. A. Frolov Artist V. A. Frolov

After the flood

During the great flood of 1824, the chapel was washed away and moved by the current to the opposite bank of the Neva to the village of Klochki. The inhabitants of Klochkov left the chapel with them, and the icon of the Mother of God was returned to the village of the Glass Factory. A new chapel for her was built by one of the Tulyakov brothers (Dmitry), who later supported her and provided her with other icons. When this chapel completely dilapidated, the inhabitants of the village of the Glass Factory built a new Tikhvin chapel (1870) with their donations and transferred to it all the icons that were in the former chapel, among which was already the image of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow."

Shrine of merchants Kurakins

This small icon of the Mother of God was donated to the chapel by the Ladoga merchant Semyon Ivanovich Matveev in gratitude for the miraculous salvation from drowning, as stated in his spiritual testament. Once, in bad weather, the merchant capsized in the boat along with the rowers in the middle of the Neva. All the rowers died, and he, clinging to the board, fought the waves. When his strength completely betrayed him, he prayed to the Mother of God for intercession. A side wind blew and the board with the drowning man was nailed to the place where the Tikhvin chapel stood. Matveev thanked the Lady of Heaven for his salvation and donated the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" to the chapel. This image, as a particularly revered family shrine, was received by him from his mother, who came from the Kurakin family of merchants. It is said that one of the merchants Kurakins accepted this icon when it was nailed to the bank of the Neva by a wave.

Miracle with pennies

On August 5 (July 23 according to the old style), 1888, a terrible thunderstorm broke out over St. Petersburg. Lightning struck the roof of the Tikhvin Chapel, next to the dome. During the fire that began after this, the chapel burned down, but the icon of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” that was in it miraculously survived and was miraculously renewed by heavenly fire: the face of the Mother of God, darkened with time and soot, brightened. The cord on which the icon hung in the corner of the chapel was burnt, and the icon itself fell on coins scattered from the donation box, and 12 small copper coins (groszyki) stuck to the icon (later 1 coin fell off). The coins were kept on the surface of the icon for no apparent reason - evidence of a divine sign, a miracle of God.

Petersburg miraculous

The very next day, many pilgrims began to flock to the chapel, news began to spread of miraculous healings from the icon (one of the first miracles was the healing of a relaxed peasant who had not left his bed for several years). With the blessing of Metropolitan Isidore (Nikolsky), the service of prayer services began before the icon. There were so many people that prayers were performed from morning to evening. The news of the glorification of the holy icon spread throughout the cities and towns of Russia. Requests for prayer before the newly-appeared image flowed from all its ends, including from the heterodox. Hundreds of pilgrims began to arrive in St. Petersburg to pray before the miraculous image of the Mother of God, which received the name "Joy of All Who Sorrow" with pennies.
The small chapel could not accommodate everyone, people prayed under open sky, kneeling right on the ground, patiently waiting for hours in line to enter inside, defend a prayer service, and venerate the icon. In order to slightly increase the area of ​​the chapel, a teak canopy was built.

The construction of a new chapel by the merchant Orlov

With the onset of autumn, the influx of pilgrims did not decrease. The canopy became a poor protection against rain and wind, so the merchant Orlov, who rented a piece of land adjacent to the chapel, built a new, more spacious chapel. It was built in the form of a tent over a small old chapel. In front of the old chapel, in the new one, an iconostasis was placed, similar to church iconostases, only the royal gates in it replaced the iron lattice double doors through which one could enter the inside of the old chapel. The glorified icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" was placed in the iconostasis in the place of the temple icon. Dozens of lamps flickered day and night in front of the holy icon, and the huge candlestick was often not enough to hold all the candles lit by the pilgrims.

First miracles. Healing of Nikolai Grachev

History has preserved many amazing testimonies of the miraculous help flowing from the icon. The first healing, which received all-Russian fame, occurred on December 6, 1890, when 14-year-old orphan Nikolai Grachev, who had suffered from severe seizures since childhood, caused him unbearable suffering, was cured of the icon. The boy almost lost his arms and legs. Once, after a particularly strong seizure, the Mother of God appeared to the boy who fell into oblivion with St. Nicholas and ordered him to go to the “chapel where the coins fell”, where he would be healed. The boy persuaded his sister to take him to the chapel, where he had a seizure again. There were many people in the chapel. When the prayer service began, everyone prayed for the healing of the suffering person, and while singing the kontakion, they applied it to the holy icon. After that, before the eyes of the numb people, the boy got up and independently approached the cross and venerated the icon. A real miracle happened in front of everyone's eyes! The boy subsequently studied at the drawing school of the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of Arts. In the house where the miraculous appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos to Nikolai Grachev took place, a church was later built and with it a shelter for mentally retarded children. Nikolai's sister, Ekaterina Gracheva, worked as a caretaker and educator in this shelter.

Healing of Vera Belonogina

On February 7, 1891, the 26-year-old wife of a clerk from the Thornton factory, Vera Belonogina, was healed, suffering from an incurable sore throat, as a result of which she lost her voice. The disease was fatal. And suddenly she saw in a dream the Most Holy Theotokos, who commanded her to pray fervently and serve a prayer service before the holy icon in Petersburg. After the prayer service, the woman received instant and complete healing from her illness.

"The steam engine goes to the Sorrowful..."

Many more sick and suffering, who ran with prayer to the Most Pure Lady, received healing before Her holy image. The icon began to be called "Joy of All Who Sorrow" with pennies. The chapel in the settlement of the Glass Factory became a place of pilgrimage not only for the inhabitants of St. Petersburg, but also for numerous pilgrims from all over Russia. Its popularity is evidenced by the fact that not only the location of the chapel appeared on the plans of the city, but also the name - the Sorrowful Mother of God. It is this place that is mentioned in the lines of A. A. Akhmatova “The steamer goes to the Sorrowful ...” - this is how the pilgrims usually got here.

New stone chapel

In 1906-1909, for the Miraculous Image, designed by the architect A.I. von Gauguin, a large stone chapel was built in the “Russian style”, which included a burnt historical chapel like a case. Architect A.I. von Gauguin took the chapel of the famous Moscow Church of the Nativity in Putinki in the middle of the 17th century. It was the largest chapel in Russia: it could accommodate up to 800 people.

Construction of the temple in the name of the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow with pennies"

In 1893, Emperor Alexander III with his wife and children prayed in the chapel and donated money and land plot for the construction of a stone temple. The construction of the Church of All Who Sorrow (the authors of the project A. I. von Gauguin and A. V. Ivanov) next to the chapel began in 1894 and was completed in 1898. The main chapel in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” was consecrated on August 2, 1898 by Bishop Veniamin of Yamburg.

The Church of Sorrow operated until 1932, then it was closed and dismantled in 1933. The chapel in 1932-1938 acted as a parish renovation church, and after closing in November 1938, its building was transferred to the Volodarsk district headquarters of the MPVO. This circumstance saved the chapel from demolition. In Soviet times, the chapel housed manufacturing facility rubber products "Gummilat". When "withdrawal of church property" from miraculous icon removed the precious chasuble.

The parishioners hid the miraculous icon in their homes, and in the spring of 1946 they transferred it to the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity (“Kulich and Easter”), which was returned to believers after the war. In this temple on Obukhov Defense Avenue in St. Petersburg, it is still located.

Modern history

In the first half of the 1990s, the territory former church with the surviving (without tent completions) chapel was transferred to the St. Petersburg diocese.

Since 1991, the chapel has been operating as a temple in honor of the Joy of All Who Sorrow icon and is a courtyard of the Holy Trinity Zelenetsky Monastery. Through the efforts of the abbot and the brethren of the monastery, the temple was restored.

The internal and external splendor of the temple was revived: the tents were restored, crosses with crystals were installed, as in pre-revolutionary years, the interior decoration was restored. With the blessing of the rector of the temple, hegumen Pachomius, an exact copy of the miraculous image of the Most Holy Theotokos "Joy of All Who Sorrow" with pennies was made. The kiot has been recreated, which exactly repeats the original. The kiot was consecrated on January 30, 1995 by Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg.

In 1998, in commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the miraculous glorification of the icon, by decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', the image was named “The St. Petersburg Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” with pennies.”

Prayers before the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow"

Stikhira, voice 2

All the grieving Joy and the offended Intercessor, and the hungry Nurse, the strange Consolation, the overwhelmed Shelter, the sick Visitation, the weak Veil and Intercessor, the Wand of old age, the Mother of the Most High God, Thou art the Most Pure, pand, pray, be saved by Your servant.

Kontakion, tone 6

Not imams of other help, not imams of other hopes, except for You, the Lady. Help us, we hope in You and boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.

magnificence

We magnify Thee, Blessed Virgin, God-chosen Maiden, and honor Your holy image. With it, bring healing to all who flow with faith.

Prayer one

Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Blessed Mother of Christ God our Savior, Joy to all those who grieve, visiting the sick, the weak cover and intercessor, widows and orphans, the patroness, sad mothers, the all-reliable comforter, babies weak fortress, and all the helpless are always ready help and true refuge! You, O All-Merciful One, have been given grace from the Almighty to intercede and deliver from sorrow and illness, for you yourself have endured fierce sorrow and illness, looking at the free suffering of Your beloved Son and Him crucified on the cross, seeing, when the weapon of Simeon, the foretold heart of Yours, will pass. The same, O Mother, loving child, hearken to the voice of our prayer, comfort us in the sorrows of those who are, as if faithful to the joy of the Intercessor: coming to the throne of the Most Holy Trinity, at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God, you can, if you rise, ask all that is useful to us. For this sake, with heartfelt faith and love from the bottom of our hearts, we fall down to You as the Queen and Lady and cry out to You in a Psalm way: Hear, Dshi, and see, and incline Your ear, hear our prayer, and deliver us from present troubles and sorrows; For you fulfill the petitions of all the faithful, as if grieving joy, and grant peace and comfort to their souls. Behold, see our misfortune and sorrow: show us Your mercy, send consolation to our wounded sorrow in our hearts, show and surprise us sinners with the wealth of Your mercy, give us tears of repentance to cleanse our sins and satisfy the wrath of God, and with a pure heart, a good conscience and undoubted hope, we resort to Your intercession and intercession: accept, all honoring our Lady Theotokos, our fervent prayer is brought to you, and do not reject us, unworthy, from your mercy, but grant us deliverance from sorrow and illness, protect us from all slander of the enemy and human slander, be our unrelenting helper all the days of our life, as if under your maternal protection we will always remain goals and be preserved by your intercession and prayers to Your Son and God our Savior, to Him all glory, honor and worship befits, with His Father without beginning and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer two

Oh, Most Holy and Blessed Virgin, Lady Mother of God! Look with Your merciful eye on us, standing before Your holy icon and praying to You with tenderness: raise us up from the depths of sin, enlighten our mind, darkened by passions, and heal the ulcers of our souls and bodies. Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, except for You, the Lady. You weigh all our infirmities and sins, we resort to You and cry out: do not leave us with Your heavenly help, but appear before us and with Your inexpressible mercy and bounty, save and have mercy on us who are perishing. Grant us the correction of our sinful lives and deliver us from sorrows, troubles and illnesses, from sudden death, hell and eternal torment. You are more, Queen and Mistress, an ambulance and Intercessor to all who flow to You and a strong Refuge of penitent sinners. Grant us, Blessing and Immaculate Virgin, the Christian end of our life is peaceful and shameless, and vouchsafe us with Your intercession to settle in the abodes of heaven, where the unceasing voice of those celebrating with joy glorifies the Most Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.