Holy tenderness. Prayer to the Icon of the Mother of God Tenderness. Other icons of the Mother of God "Tenderness" and their meaning

Icon "Tenderness Holy Mother of God"is associated with the name of the great Russian saint - St. Seraphim of Sarov. His life and spiritual exploits have extraordinary power and patronage for all of Christianity. His name is inextricably linked with the name of the Mother of God "Tenderness". The meaning of the icon "Tenderness of the Most Holy Theotokos" and the question of what it helps are of interest to many.

Even Father Seraphim called this image "Joy of all joys." He was the founder of the amazing spiritual women's monastery of Serafimo - Diveevsky Monastery, so the image began to be called the icon "Tenderness" Serafimo - Diveevsky. This spiritual center is the fourth lot of the Mother of God, there is also the famous groove of the Virgin, along which She walked with her feet.

Father Seraphim called this image "Joy of all joys"

A prayer request to the Most Holy Theotokos is a thin, but very strong thread between heaven and us sinners, if the heart and soul ignites and is imbued with the words of prayer. The name of the icon is very pure, gentle, warm. Sincere prayer before the icon "Tenderness of the Most Holy Theotokos" will acquire the same properties.

Accept, all-merciful, Most Pure Lady, Lady of the Mother of God, this honest gift, the only applied to You, from us, Your unworthy servants: chosen from all generations, the highest being of all creatures of heaven and earth, for the sake of You, the Lord of Forces be with us, and with You We will know the Son of God and be made worthy of His holy Body and His most pure Blood; even more blessed are you in the birth of childbirth, God-blessed, the brightest of the Cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, all-singing Most Holy Theotokos, do not stop praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, to deliver us from every evil advice and every circumstance and keep us intact from every poisonous pretense of the devil; but even to the end with your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if by your intercession and help we save, glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for the whole in the Trinity to the one God and all the Creator we send now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

The history of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Tenderness"

The image of "Theotokos Tenderness" was the cell shrine of the Monk Seraphim. His whole life passed under the visible and invisible cover of the Virgin Mary from childhood. She came to him and said: "This one of our kind." The monk departed to the Lord while praying before this icon.

When the monastery was closed during the October Revolution, the shrine was secretly taken out and saved from desecration. For many years it was kept by pious Orthodox Christians.

Today, returned in the early 1990s, the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" lives in the residence of the Patriarch. Alexy II did not bless the return of the shrine to Diveevo. Once a year, she is taken out to the Epiphany Patriarchal Church on the day of the celebration of the praise of the Virgin Mary.

The image of "Theotokos Tenderness" was the cell shrine of the Monk Seraphim

A large number of lists from this image were made and they acquired, as it were, additional “patronymic names”: “Tenderness” Lokotskaya, Smolenskaya, Pskov-Pecherskaya. This is due to the manifestation of the miraculous properties of icons in those spiritual abodes where they are located.

The meaning of the icon "Tenderness of the Virgin"

Having acquired this image for home cell prayer, the question arises: how more correctly and where to hang the icon “Tenderness of the Most Holy Theotokos” meaning, in what way it helps so that these properties are not lost.

The icon must be freely available

Basically, the answer of the priests today sounds like this: the icon should be freely available so that you can calmly pray in front of the home shrine. The meaning of the icon is acquired not by the location, but by the attention and reverence that the believer pays to it.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness": what helps

Despite the fact that the image and name are more commonly considered “feminine”, this does not mean that prayer in front of her will not help men.

On the contrary, the meaning, in which the icon “Tenderness of the Most Holy Theotokos” helps, is to improve relations with the mother, wife, in search of a soul mate to create a family. And if the parents of their daughters pray for the chastity of their daughters, their pious prayer will be heard.

Icons do not have any "specialization" problems

Remember that icons don't have any "specialized" problems. The icon of the Virgin "Tenderness" is an image that reflects a specific quality brighter than others. But this does not mean that they do not exist, it just dominates in this image.

You can pray before her about any of your pure intentions or your needs:

well-being in household chores;
success at work;
about children and their problems;
about health;
creating a family;
about the gift of compassion and heartfelt mercy.

Before the icon they pray for health

An interesting fact is that no matter how the icon is made - a fresco, a list, a photo, the meaning of the icon “Tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, and in what it helps, they manifest themselves in an inexplicable way. This is clearly evidenced by the icon found in the village. Elbow of the Bryansk region. This is a miracle that has already happened today.

A woman, seeing an expired calendar with the image of the “Tenderness” icon in the store and learning that the saleswoman wanted to throw it away, did not allow this desecration and bought the publication. Having cut off the numbers and hung the lithograph of the icon at home, he began to stream myrrh and smell fragrant.

The woman informed the clergy about this, the arriving ruling bishop, taking the icon in his hands, was amazed, because myrrh began to flow down his hands. He blessed to keep the image of this family at home, adding a small chapel.

The meaning of the icon "Tenderness" of the Most Holy Theotokos was so important that it was taken to Pskov - Caves monastery, where the inspired elder Hermogenes spoke about the special gifts of this icon. Those praying before her will:

successfully resolved in childbirth;
receive healing from oncological diseases;
find missing people;
change sinful life path on a godly path.

In which temples is the icon "Tenderness" today

Wherever the list of the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” is located, the value in which it helps, its power is not lost. Each list of icons has its own evidence of miracles. In many Orthodox churches there is a copy of this image.

Also in churches built in memory of the miraculous icon - in the Arkhangelsk, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Kostroma, Leningrad, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novgorod, Pskov, Samara, Sverdlovsk regions; Republics of Karelia and Tatarstan; Cyprus, Ukraine. This is only a small part of the geography of the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness", confirming the significance and special grace of this wondrous image.

In Moscow, you can visit the feast of praise of the Most Holy Theotokos and bow to the great shrine, which Seraphim of Sarov himself prayed to.

Download the text of the prayer in front of the icon "Tenderness of the Most Holy Theotokos"

With special reverence, Orthodox Christians treat the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" of Seraphim-Diveevo. For believers, this is not just an image. This is the embodied evidence of forgiveness, eternal life. The face of the Mother of God "Tenderness" foreshadows elected death for infinite love and mercy.

Synonymous names

The icon "Tenderness" from the Diveevo Orthodox Convent is known by several names. The name "Diveevskaya" indicates that for a long time the image was the main shrine of the Trinity Cathedral in the monastery of the village of Diveevo, Nizhny Novgorod Region. Local Orthodox Churches venerate this monastery as the fourth "earthly inheritance of the Most Holy Theotokos" (after Iberia, Athos, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra). Since 1861, the monastery began to be called "Serafimo-Diveevsky Trinity".

This renaming is connected with the fact that the founder of the Diveevsky monastery was St. Seraphim of Sarov. He also secured the status of the patron saint of the monastery. The great ascetic often prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Tenderness. Through the prayers of St. Seraphim, many miracles were performed before this icon. Next to this icon, the great old man reposed. Therefore, the part "Serafimo" was added to the definition of "Diveevskaya".

Along with the name "Serafimo-Diveevskaya" they use the name "Serafimo's Tenderness". The elder himself called the icon "Joy of all joys."

Description

The Serafimo-Diveevsky Icon of the Mother of God belongs to the category of "acquired" icons. Their origin is a secret and sacred secret. According to legend, the icon "Tenderness" was found by the Monk Seraphim in the Sarov forest wilds. The image "Tenderness" was painted on canvas gesso, stretched on a cypress board. The size of the icon is 70x50 cm.

A distinctive feature of the Diveyevo image is the image of the Mother of God without the Divine Infant. The ever-virgin is depicted on the icon at a very young age. The image captures the moment of the announcement of the good news to the Virgin Mary. At the Annunciation from the Archangel Gabriel, the Mother of God humbly answers her consent to accept the will of the Lord.

The canvas depicts the pensive face of the Virgin Mary with her arms folded crosswise on her chest. The head is tilted slightly to the right. Downcast eyes are directed to the inner depths. The whole appearance conveys deep humility and endless love.

Above the head of the Mother of God, depicted in half-length, the words from the akathist "Rejoice, Bride of the Bride!" are inscribed. The captured moment of the beginning of the Incarnation heralds the fulfillment of the promised salvation of all mankind.

The spiritual meaning of the concept of "Tenderness" is reduced to a special state of the human soul. She experiences the moment of contact of the believing heart with the Grace and mercy of the Lord.

The historical fate of the shrine

Sarov Rector Fr. Nifont, after the death of the Monk Seraphim, handed over the icon "Tenderness" to the sisters of the Diveevo monastery. The nuns placed the icon in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where a chapel was specially built. The shrine was dressed in a special elegant kiot. Since then, a tradition has been entrenched, according to which the nuns of the monastery during worship were behind the icon case of the Mother of God.

Saint Nicholas II in 1902 presented a gilded riza for "Tenderness" and a silver icon lamp as a gift from the monastery. At the initiative of the emperor, in 1903 Seraphim of Sarov was glorified as a saint. At the same time, several exact lists were made from the Mother of God icon. They were sent to various Russian monasteries.

1927 was the stage of closing the Diveevsky monastery. The original of the Holy Icon was secretly taken out by Abbess Alexandra to the city of Murom. For decades, the shrine was carefully kept by pious and truly believing people.

1991 The miraculous image is handed over to Patriarch Alexy II. Since that time, the shrine has been in the Patriarchal Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

Traditionally, once a year, on the feast of the Praise of the Ever-Virgin (Saturday Akathist) by the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church the shrine is brought to the Cathedral of the Epiphany. The Great Akathist is read before her at the morning of the holiday. Then the miraculous face is taken out for worship. Anyone can apply to the image.

In the Serafimo-Diveevo monastery there is now an exact list of "Tenderness". The copy is revered as one of the main shrines of the monastery. The inhabitants and nuns consider the icon to be the “Heavenly Abbess”. The celebration of the Seraphim-Diveevsky "Tenderness" falls on July 28 (August 10).

The manifest miraculous power of Tenderness

The icon-painting image of the Virgin Mary more than once bestowed grace on the Orthodox, led them to the mercy of God. Tenderness as a Christian virtue is embodied in a state of joyful sadness. Contacting with Tenderness, the souls of people are filled with tender, touching and warm feelings.

Through Tenderness, the realization becomes more obvious that none of the mortals is worthy of the boundless love of God. But a person receives the mercy of the Lord as a priceless gift and the highest grace. Under the influence of Tenderness, in a simultaneous combination of joy and sadness, the souls of people are brought to contrition, filled with love for God and neighbors.

Salvation from pestilence

According to chronicles, in 1337 Novgorod conquered a frightening pestilence. With each passing day, the deadly affliction was reaping a bountiful harvest of human bodies. It seemed that there was no salvation from the epidemic disease.

Approaching despair, the Orthodox people gathered under the vaults of the Trinity Cathedral. There, believers tearfully appealed to the image of the Ever-Virgin. At these requests, prayers were sung. The laity asked the Mother of God to send down mercy and save the unfortunate from the deadly embrace of the epidemic.

After that, the attack hastily retreated. Grateful believers fixed in the memory of generations this phenomenon of Divine help. There is an annual veneration of the created miracle: a procession to the Trinity Monastery is made from St. Sophia Cathedral.

Blessing from the Holy Elder

According to the compiled biographies, Seraphim of Sarov spent his entire earthly existence under the patronage of the Mother of God. The image of the Mother of God appeared to the Reverend many times. Thanks to this, Seraphim was healed from deadly diseases, protected from the intentions of evil people.

Seraphim-Diveevo "Tenderness" was a private icon of the Reverend Elder. He anointed the sick with oil from the lamp burning in front of the shrine. Asking and suffering received healing after the anointing.

Bilateral (Lokotskaya) myrrh-streaming icon

The fame of one modern images"Tenderness" is associated with the place of its acquisition in the village of Lokot (Bryansk region). An image appeared in a most wonderful and incomprehensible way.

One woman saw the calendar of the Mother of God on one of the store shelves. The number was out of date. The woman brought the image home. After a while, the image began to stream. This is how a unique two-sided myrrh-streaming icon appeared.

Miracles, amazing healings began to happen in the woman's house. Numerous testimonies about the healing of mental and bodily diseases have been collected. Prayer before the Lokot Mother of God "Tenderness" more than once helped to overcome severe illness cope with difficult life challenges.

The meeting of one sufferer with this modern miraculous face is known. The woman was expecting a complex oncological operation. Therefore, the sufferer prayed for a successful overcoming of the disease. The hospital performed an ultrasound examination. Disappearance discovered cancer cells. The patient made a full recovery.

What they pray for and what helps Serafimo-Diveevo "Tenderness"

The meaning of the Seraphim-Diveevo icon "Tenderness" finds many interpretations. One of them is the embodiment of purity. Therefore, among the people, this image of the Virgin is perceived as a faithful assistant in choosing a worthy groom.

Before the miraculous image they ask:

liberation from ailments, diseases, mental hardships;
overcoming the transitional age;
facilitated childbirth;
tenderness of evil hearts;
deliverance from immoral thoughts;
giving inner harmony.

The discreet joy radiated by the Ever-Devada instructs the chaste maidens. "Tenderness" prompts the girls to choose the right path. You can ask the Mother of God for a successful marriage, a long-awaited conception, a happy birth. They also pray before the holy image for the gift of a meek and noble disposition.

The image of "Tenderness" saves from painful despondency. The miraculous face will save you from mental depression caused by a series of monotonous gray-spiritual everyday life.

miraculous Seraphim- Diveevo icon Mother of God "Tenderness" bestows the highest spiritual understanding. The miracles sent down through the icon-painting face are associated with humility, hope, and love for God. Filling the souls of believers with joy and grace, the Serafimo-Diveevsky image of "Tenderness" shows the mercy of the Lord and effective indulgence towards man.

In icon painting, there are several styles of depicting the Mother of God, one of them is “Tenderness”. The icon of the Mother of God in this genre depicts the Mother of God in the form of a waist-length portrait, bowing her gaze to the newborn, looking at him with love and tenderness.

This genre of the image of the Virgin is one of the oldest. He came to Rus' from Byzantium, like Orthodoxy itself. This iconographic type is called "Eleusa" in Greek. The icons painted in it have become, over the centuries of Christianity, one of the most revered in Orthodoxy.

Are there many such icons?

The icon "Tenderness" is not any single image of the Mother of God, located in a particular temple and having an author. This is a type, a genre of icon painting, and there are a lot of similar images. The icon "Tenderness" can be found in almost every temple, old farmhouse living in which did not throw away the image in the period Soviet power, in ethnographic museums, both in halls and in storerooms, and in other places.

The image of the Mother of God in this iconographic type is extremely revered. Of course, there is also a prayerful, well-known among Orthodox icon"Tenderness", prayer before which has miraculous power. There are several such images.

The most famous are Serafimo-Diveevskaya and Pskov-Pecherskaya, which are a list from the ancient Vladimir icon. Prayer will have no less power in front of other images of this type of iconography. The icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" is in almost every church in any of the Russian cities. The most famous, after Diveevskaya and Pecherskaya, are Yaroslavskaya, Vladimirskaya, Zhirovitskaya, Donskaya. However, in each of the localities storing famous images, there are many more icons in this genre that have not become popular.

For example, in Yaroslavl, the icon "Tenderness" was in every house before the revolution. Now in every functioning temple of this city you can see several images in this type iconography. Both the old ones, preserved during the years of Soviet power, and the new ones, written quite recently, but because of this have not lost either their content or the power of emotional impact on believers.

Seraphim-Diveevo icon

This image is acquired. The meaning of the word "acquired" in Orthodox tradition in relation to icon-painting images includes the following concepts:

given from above;
having no author;
lost and found.

That is, everything that can be said about is acquired. According to the legend, with which the official representatives of the clergy do not argue, the Serafimo-Diveevo icon "Tenderness" was found in the forest thickets, located near modern Saratov. The icon was given into the hands of the ascetic Seraphim, who did not part with the image throughout his life. That is why the name of the image is associated with its name.

Where is the Seraphim-Diveevo Icon located?

This question does not concern many believers, but only those who are prone to meticulousness and have curiosity. The location of the miraculous image is shrouded in a fog of mystery, just like the history of its acquisition centuries ago.

However, in addition to curiosity and the desire for inquiry, actual originality is sometimes important, for example, when it comes to the need to heal from diseases, for which the real Seraphim image “Tenderness” became famous. The icon of the Mother of God, according to numerous testimonies preserved in church records, possessed such power. Seraphim personally placed before the icon for the duration of the service, and after the end he carried out the anointing of the sick. After his death, other clergy continued to do this.

The Diveevo Monastery, where the miraculous face was kept, was closed, and, most likely, plundered in the distant 1927. For decades, the icon was considered lost by the church. However, in 1991 it was rediscovered. The image was handed over to Patriarch Alexy II by people whose church names are either unknown or kept secret.

Since then, that is, since 1991, the original face has been kept in the residence of the Patriarch. The Diveevo icon “Tenderness” is available, the significance of which is not only great for believers, the history of the Orthodox Russian Church, but also deeply symbolic for the whole country, only once a year, on the day of Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos. On this holiday, the image is exhibited in the hall of the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral and is available for prayer and worship.

The Tretyakov Gallery exhibits a copy of the icon, its analogues, that is, lists from the image are presented in other places. However miraculous power, confirmed by evidence, such lists do not possess. Although the question of the impact of the image on the believer is an open topic for discussion in church philosophy. Many clergy believe that the miraculous power does not depend on the specific icon itself, but on the faith of the one who prays.

What is the name of the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

The question of the name of the miraculous image is also quite interesting. The currently accepted name for this icon is Seraphim-Diveevskaya. However, along with this, other names for this image are common. Among them - just "Tenderness". “Tenderness of the Mother of God” is also one of the options for the name of this image.

Often the icon is called “female”, the names of monasteries are attributed to it, for example, Trinity, where before the revolution the image had its own separate limit, often simply called Serafimovskaya or Sarovskaya. The ascetic Seraphim himself called the image "Joy of all joys."

How can the Seraphim-Diveevo icon help?

The veneration of the image was started by Seraphim himself, who found the icon. The saint had more than one image of the Mother of God in his cell, but only this icon had a meaning. What this image helps with, no clergyman can unequivocally answer, since it affects everything with which the believer approaches the image.

heals the sick;
helps women find personal happiness;
promotes the conception and birth of healthy babies;
relieves sorrows and misfortunes;
prevents destruction and misfortune.

Every believer can verify this on the day of the Praise of the Virgin.

When is the Seraphim-Diveevo icon venerated?

This image has special days on which it is customary to honor it. These dates stood out before the onset of the Soviet era. A special service was held in the Trinity Cathedral of the monastery twice a year - on July 28 and December 9. The numbers were chosen for the following reasons:

July 28 - the day of finding the image;
December 9 - the date of foundation of the monastery.

July 28 and December 9 are old style dates, now these are different calendar days. In modern realities, the celebration of the Praise of the Virgin can be considered the day of veneration of the icon.

A curious fact is that a large number of copies of the image were made in the icon-painting courtyard of the Diveevo monastery, simply copies of it. In the days of veneration of the icon, before the coming of the power of the Soviets, separate services were held in front of its copies in every church where these analogues were.

Does the Seraphim-Diveevo icon differ from others?

The Diveevo Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" is unique not only in the history of its acquisition, but also in the manner of artistic performance and the materials used.

The original icon was painted not on a board, but on a canvas stretched over a cypress tree cut. This point is of little interest to believers, but extremely curious to historians. Questions about how it was possible to find a canvas stretched on a board of cypress in the wilderness of the Saratov icons haunt many students of the history of Orthodoxy.

The image itself is also interesting. It is incorrect to say that the Mother of God is depicted without a baby, although Jesus is absent from the icon. The Mother of God is not alone in this image, she is simply depicted before the fact of the birth of the baby, that is, she is pregnant with him. This is a unique image of the Mother of God, not characteristic of Orthodox iconography.

How to pray before the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

Many believers today are concerned about the question of how to pray so that the icon “Tenderness” will give meaning to what has been said. What helps the parishioners understand the spiritual mentor or the collections of prayers available for sale in shops at each temple.

However, with regard to prayer in front of a miraculous image, the canons are important only for churchmen who conduct services dedicated to the icon. A simple parishioner should remember only the main commandment of any prayer - sincerity. There is no need to memorize the words of prayers from collections, both ancient and modern, they are given only to help true believers, but who find it difficult to choose the right words that can reflect their feelings.

If the icon of the “Tenderness” of the Mother of God is in front of the parishioner, it is not the order of words that matters, but the faith of the person and the purity of his thoughts.

What do they pray for before the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

They come to the miraculous image with various troubles. Of course, there are no statistics on how the “Tenderness” icon affects, what it helps with, what ailments it heals from - does not exist.

about health, not only one’s own, but also those of loved ones;
about the well-being of children;
on the gift of family and heirs;
about everything "feminine" and maternal.

There is also a conviction that the image is able to prevent destruction, wars and related misfortunes. However, skeptics who modern world not a few, even among believers, question these qualities of the icon, citing as an example the war under Nicholas II, who worshiped the original image and even gave the icon one of its vestments. They remember the revolution, and the Chechen military conflict, and terrorist acts.

The question of whether the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" helps in what, and for what it is useless - has no answer. The help of the image depends on the faith and sincerity of a person, on his need for participation, on the depth of despair and misfortune. An equally important role is played by such qualities of the soul as humility, patience, gratitude, which most modern parishioners forget about.

What could be the prayer before the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

Praying for your "feminine" in front of the image can be done in different ways. There are no rules limiting the appeal to the Mother of God, except for the purity of one's own heart.

Prayer before the image can be like this:

“Accept, Omnipotent Most Pure Brideless Mother of God, my prayer (proper name). I trust in you, the One Most Holy Intercessor, in my adversity and infirmities. I beg you to grant me (proper name) from the blessings of the Son of God, but to save him from his sorrows.

I beg you, Virgin Mary about (listing what is asked for). I hope for your infinite mercy in hope and humility. I pray for the preservation of what has been given. I pray for the gift of what I can keep. I pray for strengthening (listing personal, important). I pray for the protection and bestowal of all kinds of blessings (listing the names of loved ones). I beg you Holy Mother of God with gratitude and humility, with patience and faith, with pure thoughts and hope. Amen".

When praying in this way, it is important to really have all the qualities that are stated in the text. Although the icon "Tenderness" is of great importance for believers, the very fact of standing in front of it already bestows a special state of mind, the request will only be answered by a truthful one, the image is not a robot that fulfills momentary desires.

What could be the mother's prayer before the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

Mothers who are worried about their children can pray like this:

“The Most Pure Mother of God, our intercessor before the Son of God and the Throne of Heaven. I beg you to accept my worries and resolve them. I pray you for the health and safety of the well-being of my children (names). I pray for their protection from misfortunes and sorrows, unclean thoughts, deceitful paths, demonic temptations. I beg you, most holy Mother of God, to give peace to my soul, to instruct my foolish children, to protect them and give them the thoughts they need, pleasing to the Lord. Amen".

A mother's prayer always comes from a pure heart and has great power. However, even a mother praying for her children should not only rely on the help of a miraculous image, but also have a sincere and deep faith in the Lord.

The image of the Virgin is the most revered among Christians. But they especially love her in Rus'. In the XII century, a new church holiday was established - the Protection of the Virgin. The icon with her image has become the main shrine of many churches. The Blessed Virgin began to be considered the patroness and protector of Russia. The Novgorod icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" is a copy of the Byzantine image, written at the end of this century.

In the 14th century, Moscow finally became the center of Orthodoxy in Rus', and the Assumption Cathedral at that time received the name "House of the Virgin".

Origins of iconography

Historians attribute the first images of the Mother of God to the beginning of our era. In the catacombs of Priscila, scenes with images of the Virgin were found, which date back to the 2nd century. Images of the Blessed Virgin at the dawn of Christianity were applied to incense vessels. Such ampoules, decorated with biblical scenes, were presented around 600 to the Lombard queen Theodelinda.

The first renderings of the Blessed Virgin

In 431, the Council of Ephesus approved for Mary the eternal right to be called the Mother of God. After this significant event, the Icons of the Mother of God appeared in their usual form. Several images from that period have survived. On them, the Virgin Mary most often appears sitting on a throne with a baby in her arms.

Images of the Mother of God are also found in early mosaics that adorn old churches. These include:

the Roman church of Santa Maggiore (dating back to the 5th century);

church of the 7th century Panagia Angeloktista, located in Cyprus.

But painters from Constantinople were able to give this image a special harmony. The Church of Hagia Sophia is famous for its mosaics of the 9th-12th centuries, in which different types iconography of the Virgin. Byzantium is the birthplace of wonderful images of the Blessed Virgin. One of these icons was brought to Russia. Later it was named Vladimirskaya and became the standard of Russian Orthodox icon painting. The Novgorod icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" is, as already mentioned, a copy of the Byzantine image.

Types of Virgin Icons

In iconography, 4 main groups of images of the Blessed Virgin are distinguished according to the main idea:

"Sign" (a truncated version was called "Oranta"). This iconographic type is considered the most rich in theological content. main topic here is the Incarnation.

"Hodegetria", which in Greek means "Guide".

"Tenderness" - the name from the Greek "eleus" ("merciful").

The fourth type is conditionally called Akathist. The main idea of such icons is the glorification of the Mother of God. These images are very diverse.

Iconographic type "Omen"

On the ends of this group, the Holy Mother of God is represented as praying. Depicted in full growth or waist. On the chest of the Mother of Christ is a medallion with the image of the unborn Savior. The icon of the praying Mother of God symbolizes the immaculate conception of Christ, the unity of the mother and the Holy Infant. This type includes Yaroslavl Oranta, Kursk Root, Novgorod "Sign". Oranta is a simpler version of the icons, in which the Mother of God is presented without a baby and is a symbol of the church.

Iconography "Hodegetria"

A very common type of the Theotokos images. Such icons of the Virgin and Child embody the idea that the Mother of God directs us to faith, to Christ. The Mother of God is depicted frontally shoulder-length or waist-deep, sometimes in full growth. She holds a baby in one hand and points to Jesus with the other. This gesture has deep meaning. The Mother of God seems to show the true path - to God, to faith.

Christ blesses the Mother with one hand, and with her all the faithful. In the other, he holds a book, an unfolded or folded scroll. More rarely - orb and scepter. The most famous icons of the Mother of God of this type are: Smolensk, Iverskaya, Tikhvinskaya, Petrovskaya, Kazanskaya.

Iconography of the Mother of God "Tenderness"

Such images are the most lyrical of those depicting the Mother of God and a baby hugging her neck. The images of mother and child are symbols of Christ and the Church of Christ.

A variation of this type is "Jumping". Here the baby is painted in a freer pose, with one hand he touches the face of the Virgin.

In such images, the Blessed Mary is a symbol not only of motherhood, but of a soul close to God. The mutual contact of two faces is Christ and the Church of Christ, the unity of the earthly and the heavenly.

There is another variety of this type - "Mammal feeder". On these icons, the Mother of God is breastfeeding the baby. This is how the spiritual nourishment of believers is symbolically depicted.

Volokolamsk, Vladimir, Yaroslavl icons of the Mother of God belong to this type of images of the holy image.

"Akathist" icons of the Mother of God

Images of this type most often carry the features of one of the main ones, but have additional details and details. In iconography, they include such icons as " Burning bush", the Mother of God -" Life-Giving Spring", the Mother of God - "Mount Unhandled".

Ostrabramskaya-Vilna, "Softener of Evil Hearts" - rare icons of the Virgin, in which she is depicted without a baby. Usually they are also referred to as "Akathist". One of them, the Seraphim-Diveevo icon "Tenderness" of the Most Holy Theotokos, was a favorite image of Seraphim of Sarov, canonized after death. The priest himself called it "Joy of all Joys" and used it to heal those who came to him for help. And later, before this face, he departed into another world.

Canons of the icon painting of the Mother of God, the meaning of symbols

According to the Orthodox tradition, the following elements are used to depict the clothes of the Virgin: a blue tunic, a blue cap and a cherry kerchief on her head, otherwise called "maforium". Every detail has its own meaning. Three golden stars on the maphoria are a triple symbol of the immaculate conception, birth and death, the border on it is a sign of glorification. The board itself personifies motherhood, belonging to God, the blue color of the clothes - virginity.

There are known cases of violation of traditions. This is used by icon painters to emphasize certain features. For example, to emphasize the purity, the Virginity of the Mother of God, they depict her in a blue robe. Our Lady of Akhtyrskaya is just such an option.

Writing the Blessed Virgin without a maphorium is also considered a violation of church canons.

By Orthodox rules, even the crown, a sign of the kingdom, is usually depicted on top of the board. This is how the Novodvorskaya and Kholmovskaya icons are painted. The crown on the head of the Virgin came to Eastern Christian icon painting from Western Europe, in the early images the head of the Mother of God was covered only by maforium.

Russian traditions in the iconography of the Mother of God

The image of the Blessed Virgin on the throne is more common among the Italo-Greek images. The writing of the Queen of Heaven, sitting on a throne or in full growth, in Russia was mainly used in large-scale compositions: in frescoes or on iconostases.

Icon painters, on the other hand, were more fond of the half-length or shoulder-length image of the Queen of Heaven. In this way, renditions were created that were more understandable and close to the heart. In many ways, this can be explained by the special role of the icon in Rus': it was both a life partner, a shrine, a prayer image, and a family value that was passed down from generation to generation. No wonder the people perceived the Mother of God as an intercessor who is able to soften the wrath of the Terrible Judge. Moreover, the older the image and the more “prayerful”, the greater the power it has.

A large number of icons in the houses of believers and temples - distinguishing feature Russian land. Many of the Mother of God images are considered miraculous here, which is confirmed by numerous testimonies.

The Mother of God - a witness and participant in Russian history

For many centuries the history of Russia has been accompanied by icons of the Mother of God, the significance of which cannot be overestimated. One small example- Feodorovskaya icon:

In 1239, in this way, Prince Yaroslav blessed his son Alexander to marry Princess Paraskevna. This icon accompanied Alexander in all his military campaigns. Later, it was in front of this face of the Mother of God that St. Alexander took monastic vows.

In 1613, before this image, Mikhail Romanov, called to the kingdom Zemsky Cathedral accepted the Russian throne. The Theodore Mother of God became a witness to the vows of allegiance to Russia, its people and the Orthodox Church.

In the 18th century, all members of the royal family would definitely come to Kostroma to pay their respects to the miraculous rendition, from which the history of the royal Romanov dynasty began.

Special mention should be made of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, presented to Russia by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Luke Chrysoverg, in the 12th century. According to legend, prayers in front of this image more than once saved Moscow from conquerors.

Miraculous power of the Mother of God icons

Many images of the Blessed Virgin Mary are considered miraculous. They are inseparable from the life of Christians. They live with the people and help in sorrows.

Some Moscow miraculous icons Mother of God:

Vladimirskaya, kept in the church of St. Nicholas. It is believed that she defended Rus' from enemies three times. Therefore, the Orthodox honor this icon 3 times a year: in June, July and September.

The Tikhvin icon "Tenderness" of the Most Holy Theotokos, which adorns the temple of the same name in Moscow. In 1941, a plane with this image circled the capital three times, after which the Nazi offensive on the city was stopped. It is curious that this church was not closed even in Soviet times.

The icon of the Mother of God "Merciful", a shrine of the Zachatievsky convent, which gave many women the happiness of motherhood.

“Recovery of the Lost”, Mother of God of Iberia, “Assuage My Sorrows” are only a part of the miraculous Moscow images of the Queen of Heaven. It is impossible even to count how many of them there are in the vast territory of Russia.

Miracles of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

This image deserves special attention. The Kazan icon of the Mother of God showed a miracle already with its appearance in 1579 after a big fire in the city, when it was found among the ashes absolutely not affected by the fire.

Numerous healings of the sick, help in business gave this edition to the believers. But the most significant miracles of this icon are associated by Russian Christians with the defense of the fatherland from foreign invaders.

Already in the middle of the 17th century, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich ordered the establishment of an all-Russian holiday in her honor. This happened after the successful birth of the heir to the Russian throne during the all-night service in honor of the Kazan Mother of God. This icon was considered the patroness of the royal dynasty.

Commander Kutuzov, going to the battlefields of the Patriotic War of 1812, knelt before this shrine and asked for her intercession. After the victory over Napoleon, he presented all the silver taken from the French as a gift to the Kazan Cathedral.

Myrrh-streaming prayer images of the Mother of God

This is one of the greatest miracles associated with icons. Until now, no explanation has been found as to why icons stream myrrh. But this always happens on the eve of tragic events as a reminder of human sinfulness and the need for repentance. What is this phenomenon? A fragrant liquid resembling myrrh appears on the images. Its consistency and color can be different - from transparent dew to viscous dark resin. It is curious that not only the images written on the tree stream myrrh. This happens with frescoes, photographs, metal icons, and even photocopies.

And miracles are happening right now. Several dozen Tiraspol icons began to stream myrrh in the period from 2004 to 2008. It was the Lord's warning about the bloody events of Beslan, Georgia, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine.

One of these images, the icon of the Mother of God "Seven Arrows" (another name is "Softener of Evil Hearts"), began to stream myrrh in May 1998. This miracle continues to this day.

On the protection of the house - Holy Mother of God

The icon of the Mother of God must be in the house of a believer who cares about the safety of his home.

It is believed that prayers in front of her face protect everyone living in the house physically and spiritually. Since ancient times, it was customary to place over entrance doors into the hut of the icon of the Mother of God and ask her for protection and support. The most beloved Mother of God renditions: Iverskaya, Seven-strelnaya, " indestructible wall"," Burning Bush "and some others. In total there are more than 860 names of icons of the Mother of God. It is impossible to remember them all, and it is not necessary. When choosing a prayer image, it is important to listen to your soul and follow its advice.

Not only ordinary believers, but also royal persons revered the icons of the Virgin. A photo taken in the bedroom of Tsar Alexander confirms this.

Icons of the Mother of God with the Child give consolation in sorrow, deliverance from illnesses, spiritual insight only to those whose prayers are sincere and faith is unshakable. The main thing is that the appeal to the Blessed Virgin comes from a pure heart, and the intentions are good.

Glorification of the Mother of God

The universal love of the Orthodox for this holy image was also reflected in in large numbers church holidays in her honor. In almost every month of the year there is such a day, and sometimes several. About 260 miraculous images of the Theotokos are mentioned in the Russian Orthodox calendar.

Significant Orthodox holiday- The Protection of the Virgin - became the theme of the icons of the same name. On these outlets Holy Virgin shown in full length. In her hands in front of her, she holds a veil with or without the image of Christ. Found at the end of the 20th century, the Port Arthur icon "The Triumph of the Most Holy Theotokos" has become a symbol of the revival of Russian spirituality and a reminder of the significance of this image in the history of the country. She is increasingly ranked among the most revered Russian icons.

The icon "Tenderness" depicts the Virgin Mary before the birth of the baby Jesus, but after the Annunciation. The Most Holy Theotokos in this image has an enthusiastic, bright, joyful expression on her face. It reflects the state of tenderness that the Virgin Mary experienced when she learned that she was to become the Mother of God.

The Blessed Virgin on this icon has half-lowered eyes, a slightly inclined head, and arms crossed in prayer. This image symbolizes humility before God's will, chastity, meekness. The Tenderness icon depicts the moment when the Archangel Gabriel informed the Mother of God about the mission entrusted to her. The day of this holy image is celebrated on August 1 and 10.

History of the Holy Image

Initially, the face of Tenderness was made on canvas attached to a cypress board. The author of the icon and the history of its painting are unknown, but experts suggest that the miraculous image appeared in late XVIII century. The face gained wide popularity thanks to Seraphim of Sarov.

The monk was able to see the souls of people and pray for their healing. He asked the Most Holy Theotokos for intercession for the suffering. Next to the icon was a lamp, the oil from which possessed healing properties. The Monk Seraphim of Sarov anointed the bodies of the sick with this oil, after which people were healed.

The monk called the icon of the Mother of God "The joy of all joys." Seraphim of Sarov died on his knees right in front of this image. Some time later, Nicholas II presented the miraculous image with a festive crown of pearls and precious stones, as well as a luxurious chasuble.
In 1991, the icon was transferred to the Moscow Patriarch Alexy II, and he moved it to the patriarchal church. Every year the icon is transferred to the Cathedral of the Epiphany for veneration. Over time, many copies of this icon were made, and some of them have miraculous powers comparable to those of the original.

female assistant

The miraculous face is rightfully considered female. Representatives of the fair sex turn to the Blessed Virgin in a period of troubles and illnesses. But not only in this is the Mother of God Tenderness able to help. Through this image, parents turn to the Prototype with a request to preserve the purity, chastity and good disposition of their daughter.

People turn to the Virgin Mary for intercession when they need:

In getting rid of various ailments, both physical and mental.
In the early onset of pregnancy and its successful course, as well as in the maximum facilitation of the process of childbirth.
In getting rid of anger and immoral thoughts, in finding harmony, peace.
In overcoming the difficulties of adolescence, delivering boys and girls from those mental hardships that adolescents face.
In search of worthy life partners for girls, in finding family happiness and harmony.

It is believed that if you ask for support from the Virgin Mary, then she will definitely help, but on condition sincere faith to her help. And the stronger the faith, the sooner the prayer will receive what the intercessor asks for.

The meaning of the icon determines those miracles that were created by God through the mediation of the Mother of God of Tenderness. So, there have been cases when, thanks to the face, people got rid of severe oncological diseases. For example, one woman prayed for a long time in front of the image of the Virgin Mary shortly before the upcoming surgical intervention about a malignant tumor. As a result, the operation was canceled, because at the next examination, the neoplasm was simply not found. It disappeared without leaving a trace.

It must be remembered that all the icons of the Mother of God help in difficult moments in the life of both an individual and the entire Orthodox World. The Blessed Virgin is the first prayer book and protector of Christians before the Throne of God, so you can turn to her in any spiritual torment, illness and need. She will always hear sincere prayers and help those who ask.

You can communicate with the Virgin Mary both in your own words (but always coming from the heart!) And with the help of special prayers.