Great favor of the Lord and his disposition to our sinful, suffering world, and this is hard not to notice. You need to take a closer look, and you can see it in the usual religion of every Christian, in the humble shining of the faces of the blameless, in the course of our history and the shares of leaders. And the benevolence and favor of God are presented to us in the form of sacred icons, which are so rich in our Orthodox church... As before, so today it is of particular importance and respect among people who believe in God has a face.

The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God is the patroness of the Russian people and Russian Federation... According to legend, this appearance was prescribed by the Evangelist Luke during the period of Her earthly existence. And seeing her own display, the Virgin Mary uttered:

From now on, all the births will please me. The grace of one born of me, and mine will arrive with this face.

Throughout the entire history of the appearance of the Most Holy, a lot of amazing deeds and amazing incidents have been recorded, which affected the fate of not only the Russian Federation, but also thousands of people who believe in the Creator Lord. The significance of what the Vladimir image of the Immaculate can help in, how to offer prayer and beg for support - our publication will tell about absolutely everything.

THE MEANING OF THE VLADIMIR ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD AND WHAT SHE HELPS

Of great importance is prayer before any of the revered images of the Most Holy Guardian and Patroness of the human race before our Creator. After all, it can protect each of us, and our soul from misfortune. The population of the earth was presented with many of its miraculous icons, and the history of their acquisition testifies to the fact that in various moments of life we \u200b\u200bcan aspire to its diverse hypostases.

God's Most Pure Theotokos of Vladimir can help any person who believes in God and turns to her with a sincere prayer. She is the patroness and defender, protects the home and can help in solving a large number of everyday affairs. Any pious Christian is simply obliged to have this miraculous face in his own home.

And about the history and significance of the icon for the people of Russia, many cases have been recorded that happened in antiquity and are committed up to the present time.

In addition to the fact that the icon saved the Russian lands three times from enemy invasions, the Most Pure Virgin expressed her will with the help of her own image. So, for example, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, at the time of prayer, received the knowledge of where the image was supposed to be located on the territory of Vladimir.

Also on the territory of Vyshgorod, in the cathedral, the icon independently moved from one place to another. As a result, Prince Andrey, at the end of the prayer, took the icon with him to the Rostov lands.

Subsequently, a fairly large number of miraculous cures of Christians were attested. In particular, eye and heart ailments succumbed to frequent healing.

A cleric named Mikula had a wife in a position. She miraculously managed to escape from the horse that went berserk after she offered her prayer.

Parishioner Mary managed to heal from an eye ailment after she drank water from her immaculate appearance with prayer.

Once, a misfortune happened in the city named Vladimir. The golden gates of the travel tower fell and overwhelmed twelve people. The ruler of the city continuously offered up prayers before the face of the Mother of God, and all the people not only remained alive, but also got out without a single scratch.

The newborn was saved from the evil eye after being washed with holy water.

The Christian Efimia was diagnosed with a heart ailment. As soon as she was told about the miraculous cures from the face of the Most Pure, she, together with the priest Lazarus, sent a large number of gold items to the cathedral for the image. And later he brought her holy water. She offered prayer, drank it, and recovered.

There are a lot of similar stories. They relate both to the original appearance of the Most Holy Patroness, and to a large number her lists and the prayers of those who strive to her.

IN WHAT IS THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF VLADIMIR

The icon is a witness to the most important events in the history of the Russian Federation. Namely: military campaigns, the appointment of patriarchs, in front of the face of the Most Holy Mother of God, the coronation of the monarch and the oath of allegiance to the fatherland were held. Prayer, directed towards the sacred, is salvation in times of trouble and schism in the state. It helps to eliminate hostility, anger, and calm passions.

A large number of people who believe in God rush to the Immaculate for support in making important decisions, in the presence of ailments, in order to strengthen the spirit. In case you wonder what can help orthodox Christian icon response will be as follows:

• Assists in finding the true path, making the right decision.
• It gives strength in the most difficult moments of existence, helps to strengthen faith.
• Heals from physical ailments. In particular, a prayer is often offered to her for the cure of heart and eye ailments.
• Protects from the raids of enemies, sinful thoughts and despondency.

The patroness helps the marriage to remain happy, and also to maintain the strength of family ties, excluding quarrels, strife. After all, this is precisely the guarantee of a strong state.

PRAYER TO THE ICON OF VLADIMIR

** “O Mother of God, Heavenly Queen, Omnipotent Patroness, our shameful Hope! Thank you for all the great blessings, in generations to the people of Russia from you who were, before your Immaculate appearance we send a prayer: save this city and your servants and all the Russian lands from floods, fires, ruin, earthquakes, internecine warriors, alien invasions. Save and help, Most Holy, our Most High (name of rivers), Holy Patriarch Moscow and all Russian land, and our Lord (name of the rivers), Pre most holy bishop (title), and all the Right Reverend Metropolitans, Archbishops and Orthodox Bishops. Give them the Church of Russia a good steward, the faithful sheep of Christ bend over to keep. Remember, Lady, and the entire priestly and monastic rite and preserving them, warm their hearts with zeal for Boz and walk worthy of your title, and strengthen everyone. Save, Lady, and have mercy, all your servants and grant us the path of the earthly field without blemish to pass. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for the Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, put on us patience in adversity, temperance in prosperity, understanding for neighbors, forgiveness for the enemy, for good deeds prosperity. Deliver us from every sinful act and from petrified insensibility, on the terrible day of the Judgment, grant us by Thy intercession to be at the right hand of Thy Son, Christ our God, all glory, respect and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and in eyelids of centuries. Let it be so".**

The original of the Most Pure Image is located on the territory of the city of Tolmach in Tretyakov Gallery Cathedral - Museum of St. Nicholas. It is allowed to make wanderings to the miraculous list that are located in cathedrals named in reverence to the Most Holy Mother of God:

• In the village of Novovasilievka, Berdyansk region,
• the village of Bykovo, which is located in the Ramensky district,
• also you can see the lists in the village of Vilne in the Moscow region,
• South Butovo has lists of icons,
• the city of Vinogradovo,
  and of course in the capital.

On the territory of Ukraine, you can rush with prayer in the temple that is named in honor of Our Lady of Vladimir in the capital.

May our almighty creator and patron be with you!

It was written by the Evangelist Luke on the board from the table, at which the Savior ate with the Most Pure Mother and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed.

Until the middle of the 5th century, the icon remained in Jerusalem. Under Theodosius the Younger, it was transferred to Constantinople, from where in 1131 it was sent to Russia as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky from Patriarch Luke Chrysoverkh of Constantinople. The icon was erected in a maiden monastery in the city of Vyshgorod, not far from Kiev, where it immediately became famous for many miracles. In 1155 the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, St. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, wishing to have a glorified relic, transported the icon to the north, to Vladimir, and placed it in the famous Assumption Cathedral erected by him. Since that time, the icon has received the name Vladimirskaya.

During the campaign of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky against the Volga Bulgarians, in 1164, the image of the “Holy Mother of God of Vladimir” helped the Russians to defeat the enemy. The icon was preserved during a terrible fire on April 13, 1185, when the Vladimir Cathedral burned down, and remained unharmed during the devastation of Vladimir Batu on February 17, 1237.

The further history of the image is already entirely connected with the capital city of Moscow, where it was first brought in 1395 during the invasion of Khan Tamerlane. The conqueror with his army invaded Ryazan, plundered and ruined it and directed his way to Moscow, devastating and destroying everything around. While the Moscow Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich was gathering troops and sending them to Kolomna, in Moscow itself, Metropolitan Cyprian blessed the population for fasting and prayerful repentance. By mutual advice, Vasily Dmitrievich and Cyprian decided to resort to spiritual weapons and to transfer the miraculous icon of the Most Pure Mother of God from Vladimir to Moscow.

The icon was brought to the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin .. The Chronicle reports that Tamerlane, having stood in one place for two weeks, suddenly became frightened, turned south and left the Moscow borders. A great miracle happened: during procession with a miraculous icon, heading from Vladimir to Moscow, when countless people knelt on both sides of the road and prayed: "Mother of God, save the Russian land!" Tamerlane had a vision. Before his mind's eye appeared a high mountain, from the top of which the saints with golden rods descended, and above them in a radiant radiance appeared the Majestic Wife. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. He was told that the radiant Wife is the Mother of God, the great Protector of Christians. Then Tamerlane ordered the regiments to go back.

In memory of the miraculous deliverance of Russia from the invasion of Tamerlane on the day of the meeting in Moscow of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on August 26 / September 8, a solemn religious holiday The meeting of this icon, and at the very place of the meeting, a temple was erected, around which was later located Sretensky monastery.

For the second time, the Mother of God saved Russia from ruin in 1480 (commemorated June 23 / July 6), when the army of the Khan of the Golden Horde Akhmat approached Moscow.

The meeting of the Tatars with the Russian army took place near the Ugra River (the so-called “standing on the Ugra”): the troops stood on different banks and waited for a pretext for an attack. In the front ranks of the Russian troops held the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, which miraculously put the Horde regiments to flight.

The third celebration of the Vladimir Mother of God (May 21 / June 3), recalls the deliverance of Moscow from the defeat of Makhmet-Girey, Khan of Kazan, who in 1521 reached the limits of Moscow and began to burn its villages, but suddenly retreated from the capital without harming it.

Before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, many important events of Russian church history took place: the election and installation of Saint Jonah - Primate of the Autocephalous Russian Church (1448), Saint Job - the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1589), His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon (1917) .), And also in all ages before her, oaths of allegiance to the Motherland were taken, prayers were performed before military campaigns.

IconographyVladimir Mother of God

The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God belongs to the type of "Caressing", also known under the epithets "Eleusa" (ελεουσα - "Merciful"), "Tenderness", "Glycophilus" (γλυκυφιλουσα - "Sweet kiss"). This is the most lyrical of all types of iconography of the Virgin Mary, revealing the intimate side of the communication of the Virgin Mary with Her Son. The image of the Mother of God caressing the Infant, his deep humanity turned out to be especially close to Russian painting.

The iconographic scheme includes two figures - the Mother of God and the Infant Christ, clinging to each other with their faces. Mary's head is inclined towards the Son, and He embraces the Mother by the neck with His hand. Distinctive feature The Vladimir icon from other icons such as Tenderness: the left leg of the Infant Christ is bent in such a way that the sole of the foot, the "heel", is visible.

This touching composition, in addition to its direct meaning, contains a deep theological idea: the Mother of God, caressing the Son, appears as a symbol of the soul in close communion with God. In addition, the embraces of Mary and the Son suggest the future sufferings of the Savior on the Cross; in the caress of the Infant by the Mother, his future mourning is foreseen.

The work is permeated with completely obvious sacrificial symbolism. From a theological point of view, its content can be reduced to three main themes: "the incarnation, the predestination of the Infant to the sacrifice and the unity in love of Mary the Church with Christ the High Priest." This interpretation of Our Lady of Caress is confirmed by the image on the back of the icon of the throne with the symbols of the Passion. Here in the XV century. they painted an image of the throne (etymasy - "the prepared throne") covered with an altar cover, the Gospel with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, nails, a crown of thorns, behind the throne - the Calvary cross, a spear and a cane with a sponge, below - the floor of the altar floor. The theological interpretation of etymasy is based on the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Church Fathers. Etimasia symbolically signifies Christ's resurrection and His judgment on the living and the dead, and the instruments of His torment - the sacrifice offered for the atonement of the sins of mankind. The juxtaposition of Mary, caressing the Child, and the turn with the throne clearly expressed sacrificial symbolism.

Arguments were put forward in favor of the fact that from the very beginning the icon was two-sided: this is evidenced by the identical shapes of the ark and husks of both sides. In the Byzantine tradition, there were often images of a cross on the back of the Mother of God icons. Starting from the 12th century, the time of the creation of Our Lady of Vladimir, in Byzantine murals, the etymassia was often placed in the altar as an altar image, visually revealing the sacrificial meaning of the Eucharist taking place here on the throne. This suggests a possible location of the icon in antiquity. For example, in the Vyshgorod monastery church, it could be placed in the altar as a double-sided altarpiece. The text of the Legend contains information about the use of the Vladimir icon as an altar and portable one, which moved in the church.

The luxurious dress of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which she had according to the chronicles, also does not testify in favor of the possibility of its location in the altar barrier in the 12th century: “And there are more than thirty hryvnias of gold on it, except for silver and except for expensive stone and pearls, and Having decorated it, put your rkvi in \u200b\u200bVolodymeri. " But many of the external icons were later reinforced precisely in the iconostases, like the Vladimir icon in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow, originally placed to the right of the royal gates: “And<икону> in the preimite church of her glorious Assumption, like the great Cathedral and Apostolic churches Russian Metropolitanate, and put it in an icon case on the right-hand country, where it still stands visible and worshiped by all "(See: Book of the Degree. M., 1775. Part 1. P. 552).

There is an opinion that the “Vladimirskaya Mother of God” was one of the copies of the icon of the Mother of God “Caressing” from the Blachernae Basilica, that is, a copy from the famous ancient miraculous icon. In the Legend of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, she is likened to the Ark of the Covenant, like the Virgin Mary herself, as well as her Robe, kept in the Agia Soros rotode in Blachernae. The Legend also speaks of healings that are performed mainly thanks to the water from the ablutions of the Vladimir icon: they drink this water, wash the sick with it, send them in sealed vessels to heal the sick to other cities. This miracle-working of the waters from the washing of the Vladimir icon, emphasized in the Legend, could also be rooted in the rituals of the Blachernae sanctuary, the most important part of which was the chapel of the source dedicated to the Mother of God. Constantine Porphyrogenitus described the custom of ablution in the font in front of the marble relief of the Mother of God, from whose hands water was flowing.

In addition, this opinion is supported by the fact that under Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, in his Vladimir principality, the cult of the Mother of God, associated with the Vlaherna shrines, received a special development. For example, on the Golden Gate of the city of Vladimir, the prince erected the Church of the Position of the Robe of the Mother of God, directly dedicating it to the relics of the Blakherna Church.

Style

The time of the painting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the XII century, refers to the so-called Komnenos revival (1057-1185). This period in Byzantine art is characterized by the extreme dematerialization of painting, carried out by drawing faces, clothes with numerous lines, bleaching engines, sometimes whimsically, ornamental overlapping the image.

In the icon we are considering, the most ancient painting of the 12th century includes the faces of the Mother and the Baby, part of the blue cap and the maforia border with a gold assist, as well as part of the ocher one, with the golden assist of the Baby's tunic with a sleeve to the elbow and a transparent edge of the shirt visible from under it, the left hand and part of the right hand of the Child, as well as the remains of the golden background. These few surviving fragments represent a tall example of the Constantinople school of painting from the Comnenian period. There is no deliberate graphicity characteristic of the time, on the contrary, the line in this image is nowhere opposed to volume. The main means of artistic expressiveness is built on "the combination of insensible melts, giving the surface the impression of not being made by hands, with a geometrically clean, visibly built line." “The letter of the personal is one of the most perfect examples of the Comnenian floats, combining multilayer sequential sculpting with the absolute indistinguishability of the stroke. Painting layers - loose, very transparent; the main thing is in their relationship to each other, in the transmission of the lower ones through the upper ones.<…> The complex and transparent system of the ratio of tones - greenish sankira, ocher, shadows and highlights - leads to a specific effect of diffused, flickering light. "

Among the Byzantine icons of the Komnenian period, the Vladimir Mother of God also highlights the deep penetration into the region characteristic of the best works of this time human soul, her hidden secret suffering. The heads of the Mother and the Son were pressed together. The Mother of God knows that Her Son is doomed to suffer for the sake of people, and sorrow lurks in Her dark, pensive eyes.

The skill with which the painter was able to convey the subtle spiritual statemost likely, and served as the origin of the legend about the writing of the image by the Evangelist Luke. It should be recalled that the painting of the early Christian period - the time when the famous Evangelist-icon painter lived - was flesh and blood of the art of the late antique period, with its sensual, "life-like" nature. But compared to icons early period, the image of the Vladimir Mother of God bears the stamp of the highest "spiritual culture", which could only be the fruit of age-old Christian reflections on the coming of the Lord to earth, the humility of His Most Pure Mother and the path of self-denial and sacrificial love they traveled.

Honored miraculous lists from the iconVladimir Mother of God

From the Vladimir icon Holy Mother of God many lists have been written over the centuries. Some of them became famous for miracles and received special names depending on the place of origin. It:

Vladimirskaya - Volokolamsk icon (commemorated by Mr 3/16), which was the contribution of Malyuta Skuratov to the Joseph-Volokolamsk monastery. Now it is in the collection of the Andrei Rublev Central Museum of Old Russian Culture and Art.

Vladimirskaya - Seligerskaya (memory D. 7/20), brought to Seliger by Nil Stolbensky in the 16th century.

Vladimirskaya - Zaonikievskaya (memory of M. 21./ In. 3; In. 23 / Ill. 6, from the Zaonikievsky monastery) 1588.

Vladimirskaya - Oranskaya (commemorated by M. 21 / John 3) 1634.

Vladimirskaya - Krasnogorskaya (Montenegrin) (commemorated by M. 21 / In. 3). 1603.

Vladimirskaya - Rostov (commemorated Av. 15/28) 12th century.

Troparion to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, Tone 4

Today the most glorious city of Moscow flaunts brightly, / as if the sun will dawn, accept, Lady, your miraculous icon, / to her now, flowing and praying to you, we call out to the lady: / \u200b\u200boh, wonderful Lady of the Theotokos, / pray from you to our incarnate God, / may the city deliver this and all the cities and countries of Christianity are safe from all the slander of the enemy, // and will save our souls, like the Merciful.

Kontakion, voice 8

To the victorious Voevoda, / as if they got rid of the wicked by the coming of Your honest image, / to the Lady of the Theotokos, / we lightly create the celebration of Your meeting and usually call Ty: // rejoice, Bride Unmarried.

Prayer icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir

O All-merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, All-powerful Intercessor, our shameful Hope! Thanks to Thee for all the great good deeds, in the generations of the Russian people from Thee, before Thy most pure image we pray to Thee: save this city (or: all this, or: this holy abode) and your forthcoming servants and all the Russian land from gladness, destruction , lands of tremors, floods, fire, sword, invasions of aliens and internecine warfare. Save and save, Madame, our Great Lord and Father Kirill, Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and our Lord (name of rivers), Most Reverend Bishop (or: Archbishop, or: Metropolitan) (title), and all the Most Reverend Archbishops and Metropolitan Orthodox bishops. Grant them the Russian Church with good governance, the faithful sheep of Christ are infallible to keep. Remember, Lady, and the entire priestly and monastic rite, warm their hearts with zeal for Boz and walk worthy of your title and strengthen someone. Save, Lady, and have mercy on all Thy servants and grant us the path of the earthly race without blemish. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for the Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, give us patience in adversity, self-control in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for the enemy, prosperity in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensibility, on the terrible day of the Judgment, grant us with Thy intercession to be at the right hand of Thy Son, Christ our God. All glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever, befits Him. Amen.

______________________________________________________________________

These long and numerous movements of the icon in space are poetically interpreted in the text of the Legend of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which was first found by V.O. Klyuchevsky in Milyutin's Chetyah-Minei, and published according to the list of the collection of the Synodal Library No. 556 (Klyuchevsky V.O. Legends about the miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. - St. Petersburg, 1878). In that ancient description they are likened to the path that the sun's star traverses: “When God created the sun, he did not set it to shine in one place, but, bypassing the entire Universe, illuminates with rays, so this image of the Most Holy Lady of our Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is not in one place ... but bypassing all countries and the whole world, enlightens ... ”.

Etingof O.E. TO early history icons "Vladimirskaya Mother of God" and the traditions of the Blachernae Mother of God cult in Russia in the XI-XIII centuries. // Image of the Mother of God. Essays on Byzantine iconography of the XI-XIII centuries. - M .: "Progress-Tradition", 2000, p. 139.

Ibid, p. 137. Besides N.The. Kvilidze unveiled the painting of the deaconer of the Trinity Church in Vyazemy at the end of the 16th century, where the liturgy in the church with an altar is depicted on the southern wall, behind which the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir is presented (N.V. Kvilidze Newly discovered frescoes of the altar of the Trinity Church in Vyazemakh. State Institute of Art History. April 1997.

Etingof O.E. To the early history of the icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" ...

Throughout its history, it was recorded at least four times: in the first half of the XIII century, at the beginning of the XV century, in 1521, during alterations in the Assumption Cathedral The Moscow Kremlin, and before the coronation of Nicholas II in 1895-1896 by the restorers O.S. Chirikov and M.D. Dikarev. In addition, minor repairs were carried out in 1567 (in the Chudov Monastery by Metropolitan Athanasius), in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Kolpakova G.S. Art of Byzantium. Early and middle periods. - SPb: Publishing house "Azbuka-Classic", 2004, p. 407.

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table, at which the Savior ate with the Most Pure Mother and righteous Joseph. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: "From now on, all generations will bless Me. Let the grace of the One born of Me and Mine be with this icon."

Until 450, this image of the Lady stayed in Jerusalem, and then was transferred to Constantinople. In the first half of the 12th century, the patriarch of Constantinople, Luka Chrysoverkh, sent the icon as a gift to Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky, who placed the icon in the Vyshgorod maiden monastery near Kiev, in the area that once belonged to the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles the grand duchess Olga. In 1155 Vyshgorod became the inheritance of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky.

Having decided to move to his native Suzdal land, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky took the icon with him. On the way, he constantly served prayers before her. The inhabitants of Vladimir-on-Klyazma greeted their prince with joy; from there the prince went further, to the city of Rostov. However, having driven away from Vladimir no more than ten miles, the horses stood on the bank of the Klyazma and, despite the urging, did not want to go further. Struck, Prince Andrew fell before the icon and began to pray tearfully. And then the Mother of God appeared to him with a scroll in her hand and ordered to leave her image in the city of Vladimir, and in the place of this appearance of hers to build a monastery in honor of Her Nativity.

The prince erected the icon in Vladimir, and from that time - from 1160 - it received the name Vladimirskaya.

In 1395, Khan Tamerlane reached the Ryazan limits, took the city of Yelets and, heading for Moscow, approached the banks of the Don. Grand Duke Vasily Dimitrievich went out with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka. He prayed to the saints of Moscow and to the Monk Sergius about the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, Saint Cyprian, that the coming Dormition Fast would be dedicated to fervent prayers for mercy and repentance. The clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the glorified miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the clergy received the icon and carried it to Moscow with a procession of the cross. Countless people on both sides of the road, kneeling, prayed: "Mother of God, save the Russian land!" At the very hour when the inhabitants of Moscow met the icon on the Kuchkov field, Tamerlane dozed in his tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which the saints with golden rods were walking towards him, and above them in a radiant radiance appeared the Majestic Wife. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. Those in the know answered that the radiant Wife is the Mother of God, the great Protector of Christians. Then Tamerlane ordered the regiments to go back. In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, the Sretensky Monastery was built on the Kuchkov field, where the icon was met, and on August 26, an All-Russian celebration was established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

The icon of the Virgin of Vladimir passed to Moscow and was installed in the Kremlin cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Most Pure. Moscow owes its blessed power to the deliverance from the raids of Khan Edigei in 1408, the Nogai prince Mazovsha in 1451, and Khan Sedi-Akhmet in 1459.
In 1480, the Horde Khan Akhmat moved to Moscow and reached the Ugra River in the Kaluga limits. The Grand Duke of Moscow John III was waiting on the other side of the river. Suddenly, such a strong and causeless fear attacked the Tatars that Akhmat did not dare to go to the Russian army and turned back into the steppe. In memory of this event, a procession of the cross from the Assumption Cathedral to the Sretensky Monastery began annually in Moscow. And since then the Ugra River has been known as the Belt of the Virgin.

In 1521, Kazan Khan Makhmet-Girey led the Kazan and Nogai Tatars to Moscow. Metropolitan Barlaam and all the people prayed fervently before the face of Vladimir. Grand Duke Vasily Ivanovich barely had time to gather an army to meet the Tatars at a distant line, on the Oka River. Restraining their onslaught, he slowly retreated to Moscow. On the very night of the siege, a nun of the Kremlin Ascension Monastery saw the saints emerge through the locked doors of the Assumption Cathedral, carrying the miraculous Vladimirskaya in their hands. These were the holy metropolitans of Moscow Peter and Alexy, who lived two centuries earlier. And the nun also saw how the monks Varlaam of Khutynsky and Sergius of Radonezh met the procession of the saints at the Spasskaya Tower - and fell prostrate before the image, begging the Most Pure One not to leave the Cathedral of the Assumption and the people of Moscow. And then the Intercessor returned through the locked doors. The nun hastened to tell the townspeople about the vision. Muscovites gathered in the church and began to pray fervently. And the Tatars again dreamed of "a great army, shining in armor," and they fled from the walls of the city.

So more than once our Fatherland was saved by the people's prayer before the miraculous image of Vladimir. In memory of these deliverances, the celebration of the Vladimir Icon was established:
May 21 - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Makhmet-Girey in 1521;
June 23 - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Akhmat in 1480;
August 26 - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Tamerlane in 1395.

Before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the most important events of Russian church history took place: the election and installation of Saint Jonah - Primate of the Autocephalous Russian Church in 1448, Saint Job - the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in 1589, His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon in 1917. On the day of the celebration in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Russia took place - May 21 / June 3, 1971.

In 1918, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was removed from the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin Cathedral for restoration, and in 1926 it was transferred to the State Historical Museum. In 1930 she was transferred to the State Tretyakov Gallery.

In September 1999, the image of the Most Pure One was transferred to the Church-Museum of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi at the State Tretyakov Gallery, where it is still located.

The Feast of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated annually on June 3, 2019. According to legend, this image was painted by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Holy Family was eating.

As the legend says, the Mother of God, seeing this icon, said: “From now on, all generations will bless Me. The grace of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with this icon. "

How does the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God help, what are the traditions of celebration in honor of this icon and what is its meaning? This is what our story will be about.

History and significance of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

The history of this image in Russia goes back several centuries. In the middle of the 12th century, the icon was sent by the Patriarch of Constantinople to the Grand Duke Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky, after which it was kept in the Maiden Monastery in Vyshgorod.

In 1155, the prince of Vyshgorod, Andrei Yurievich, going north, took this icon with him. When the procession approached the Klyazma, the horses suddenly stopped and could not move a single step. The prince received in a dream the command of the Mother of God to leave Her icon in Vladimir.

In 1395, the Vladimir Icon was transferred to Moscow, where it is today.

In 2019, the Feast of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated by the Orthodox Church three times:

• September 8 (August 26, old style) - in memory of the deliverance of Moscow from the hordes of Tamerlane;
• July 6 (June 23) - in honor of the deliverance of Russia from the troops of Khan Akhmat;
• June 3 (May 21) - in memory of the salvation of the Moscow lands from the troops of Makhmet-Girey.

The last event took place in 1521, when the icon protected Moscow from the invasion of the Tatar troops. The enemies fled in fear, and the capital of the Russian state was saved.

The value of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God can hardly be overestimated. Before her, many important state acts were performed: an oath of allegiance to the Motherland, prayers before military campaigns, the election of Russian Patriarchs.

How does the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God help?

Back in the XII century, the priests of the Assumption Cathedral created the legend "On the Miracles of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Vladimir Icon".

They described ten miracles she had created: salvation from drowning, from a raging horse, about healing a withered hand, about saving the wife of Prince Andrew during difficult childbirth, saving an infant from witchcraft, healing people from heart disease and blindness, as well as saving 12 people from death under The golden gates that collapsed on people in Kiev.

This icon strengthens in faith, promotes spiritual enlightenment and eliminates delusions, helps to choose the right decision in a difficult life situation... They turn to her with requests to strengthen marriage, improve family relations, and restore health.

One of the most ancient and revered sacred images in Russia has always been the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. It is believed that it was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board that once served as a table at which Jesus, the son of God, dined with his parents, the Virgin Mary and Elder Joseph.

The image is written in the lyrical iconographic type "Tenderness". This style of depicting the Mother of God with the Child personifies the tenderness, love and affection that the Immaculate Virgin shows to her Son. Baby Jesus sits on the right hand of the Mother of God, clinging to the face of the Queen of Heaven. Son Blessed mary reaches for her right hand, another gently hugging the neck. Vladimirskaya is the only image in which the heel of the Infant Jesus is turned outward so that it is clearly visible.

On the image, you can also see two inscriptions - monograms, which mean those depicted on the icon - Jesus Christ and the Mother of God.

A journey through the centuries

The icon of Our Lady of Vladimir is more than 2000 years old. Throughout its existence, this image has saved the Russian people more than once. Until the 5th century AD. e. the icon was in Jerusalem, then transported to Byzantium. And only in the 12th century she came to the Russian land, being donated Patriarch of Constantinople In turn, the prince placed the icon in one of the monasteries, located not far from Kiev. It is believed that since that time the icon has performed real miracles - at night the icon changed its location, and even flew through the air. Andrey Bogolyubsky, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, soon learned about this. It was then that the young prince decided that this needed its own, separate place.

Andrey takes the image of the Mother of God and goes to the Suzdal land. On the way, the prince serves in front of the icon of prayer. In response, the image of the Blessed Virgin manifests many miracles: the servant of Andrei Bogolyubsky, falling into the abyss, remains unharmed, and the priest who went with him on the road survives after being trampled by a horse.

The prince's path lay through the Vladimir land, passing which he could not travel further. The horses, as if rooted to the spot, stood up and did not move. When the prince and his travelers tried to harness other blacks, the same thing happened. Andrei Bogolyubsky took this as a sign from above. The prince began to pray fervently to the Mother of God, who descended to him with a scroll in her hand, commanding him to leave the icon in Vladimir, and to establish a temple at the place of Her appearance.

Thus, the Queen of Heaven herself chose the place of stay of her image - not far from the city of Vladimir, since then the icon began to be called Vladimirskaya in honor of the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God.

Assumption Cathedral

The construction of the temple in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos was completed in just 2 years. The erected cathedral amazed everyone with its splendor and surpassed even St. Sophia in its beauty.

During the erection of the Golden Gate in Vladimir, a misfortune happened: during the laying, a stone wall fell on the workers. The prince, learning about this, began to pray fervently in front of the Vladimir icon, which saved him more than once. And then the Mother of God did not leave Andrei Bogolyubsky: when all the rubble was dismantled, the people under them were safe and sound.

This accident turned out to be a harbinger of future events that awaited the Assumption Cathedral - the temple burned to the ground 25 years later.

Andrey Bogolyubsky's hike

The further history of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God is very interesting and filled with miracles. She protected the prince until his death. So, one day Andrei Bogolyubsky went on a campaign against the Volga Bulgars, taking with him a holy image. Before the battle, the prince and the soldiers performed a prayer service. Spiritualized, they went into battle, where they were able to win. After the battle, the prince and the soldiers read it - and a miracle happened: from the icon and the Cross of the Lord, light came down, illuminating everyone. On the same day in Constantinople, the emperor Manuel beheld the same divine phenomenon. After a miraculous vision, he was able to defeat the Saracen army. In honor of this manifestation heavenly forces a holiday was established in honor of Of the Life-giving Cross Of the Lord, celebrated on 14 August.

When Andrei Bogolyubsky was killed in 1175, a rebellion broke out in Moscow. It was possible to stop it only by the grace of the Most High Forces: the abbot of one of the temples took the image of the Vladimir Mother of God and carried it around the city, after which the unrest subsided.

Patronal feast - September 8

Memory this image celebrated 3 times a year. The first date is September 8, new style. On this day, the foundation of the monastery began to be erected in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir icon by Russian troops. At that time, Russia was subjected to Tatar raids. Tamerlane, who led them, was a strong enemy. The Russian troops could only hope for a miracle. Grand Duke Vasily asked the Metropolitan of Russia to transfer the sacred image from Vladimir to Moscow. While the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir was on the road, Tamerlane, confident of his victory, had a dream: as if a shining maiden was walking towards him with 12 angels piercing him with a sword. In fear, waking up from what he saw, the warrior told about his dream to the sages who were with him on the campaign. They explained to Tamerlane that the dreaming Virgin is the Mother of the Christian God and the Intercessor of the Russian land. At that moment, the Tatar commander realized with horror that his campaign was doomed to failure. He ordered to leave Russia and left with his troops.

"Silent" victory

The next holiday dedicated to the Vladimir Icon is celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church on July 6. On this day, an event took place that had been awaited for a long time - hordes of Tatars fled after 9 months of standing on the river. Eel. As you know, before the battle, Russian troops came ashore with the Vladimir Icon. On the opposite side were the Tatars, who did not dare to budge. For a long time, both sides were inactive. As a result, the Tatars fled. The Russian people ascribed this "quiet" victory not to themselves, but to the Queen of Heaven, thanks to which the last battle with the Tatar hordes went without casualties.

The amazing dream of a nun

But the enemies did not calm down for long. 40 years later, in 1521, the Tatars again rushed to Moscow. Tsar Vasily went with his army to the Oka River. In an unequal battle, the Russians began to retreat. The Tatars laid siege to Moscow. On the same night, one of the nuns of the Resurrection monastery had an amazing dream - as if Saints Peter and Alexei rushed through the closed door of the Assumption Cathedral, taking an icon with them. Having overcome the Kremlin gates, the metropolitans met Sergius of Radonezh and Varlaam Khutynsky on their way. The saints asked where Alexei and Peter were heading. They answered that they needed to leave the city together with the Vladimir Icon, as the inhabitants of Moscow had forgotten the commandments of the Lord. Hearing this, the monks fell at the feet of the saints, tearfully praying not to leave the city. As a result, Alexei and Peter returned to the Assumption Church through a closed door.

In the morning the nun hastened to tell everyone about the dream she had seen. People, having learned about the prophetic vision, gathered in the temple and began to pray incessantly, after which the Tatar troops retreated. The great day of the salvation of Moscow is now captured for centuries - Orthodox Church celebrates this day on June 3rd in a new style.

What to pray for in front of the Vladimir icon?

It is believed that this image should be in every home. Praying before the Vladimir icon, we ask for the reconciliation of enemies, the strengthening of faith, protection from the split of the country and the invasion of aliens.

Akathist before the image

In prayer in front of the Vladimir icon, we ask for the granting of peace in our country and in all cities, for the strengthening of Orthodoxy and deliverance from wars, hunger and disease. “Be our Intercessor and intercede for us before the Lord,” we say, reading the akathist. In prayer we acknowledge that Blessed virgin - our only Hope and Salvation, whose requests are always heard by Her son. Before the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, we ask you to soften our evil hearts and deliver us from sin. At the end of the prayer we praise our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal God.

Lists from image

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has come a long way in time. At the moment she is in the Tretyakov Gallery and only on holidays she is taken out for the procession. Nevertheless, during its existence, the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, a photo of which you can see in this article, was used to create miraculous lists, each of which has received an additional name. For example, the Vladimir-Volokolamsk icon was donated to the monastery of this city by Malyuta Skuratov. Now the image is in the Andrei Rublev Museum. Also, among the miraculous lists, one can note the Vladimirskaya-Seligerskaya, transferred to Seliger by Nil Stolbensky.

Temple in honor of the Vladimir icon

This cathedral is located in Moscow, in the village of Vinogradovo. This structure is unique as the temple has a triangular shape. Many people attribute the creation of the cathedral to the famous Russian architect Bazhenov.

The Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was erected in 1777. An interesting fact is that even during the years of persecution, the cathedral was never closed.

During the Great Patriotic War, the temple of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God shore within its walls a true shrine - the head of St. Sergius of Radonezh. After the victory, she was returned to the monastery of the saint, where she is still. For the preservation of the relics, a particle of the saint's relics was donated to the Temple of the Vladimir Mother of God.

Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon in St. Petersburg

This temple was built in the 18th century on the site of the former wooden church... The main shrines of her decoration today are the image of Our Lady of Vladimir, the icon of Seraphim of Sarov with a particle of his relics and the image of our Lord " Savior Not Made by Hands". The Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God functions to this day. Several centuries earlier, FM Dostoevsky was its regular parishioner.

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, whose history goes back centuries, has always defended Russia, and now Russia, from enemies and troubles. Indeed, this is precisely why our country is sacred and chosen by God.