Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir. The history of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God: the great defender of the Russian lands
In 1480, under Grand Duke John III Vasilievich (1462-1505), Khan of the Golden Horde Akhmat with huge hordes approached the Ugra River, which is called the "belt of Our Lady", guarding Moscow possessions.
The whole day the troops of the khan and the prince of Moscow stood against each other, not embarking on decisive actions - “standing on the Ugra”. All of Moscow prayed to its Intercessor, the Most Holy Theotokos, for the salvation of the Orthodox capital.
Metropolitan Geronty (1473-1489) and the prince's confessor, Archbishop Vassian of Rostov, supported the Russian troops with prayer, blessing and advice. The Metropolitan wrote a conciliar message to the prince, in which he urged him to courageously stand against the enemy, trusting in the help of the Mother of God.
The Most Holy Theotokos stood up for the Russian Land. The prince ordered his troops to retreat from the Ugra, wanting to wait for the Tatars to cross, but the enemies decided that the Russians were luring them into an ambush, and they also began to retreat, slowly at first, and at night they ran, driven by fear. In gratitude for the liberation of Russia from the Tatars, a holiday was established in honor of the Mother of God.
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted 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. The Grace of the One Born of Me and Mine will be with this icon.”
In 1131, the icon was sent to Rus' from Constantinople to the holy Prince Mstislav (+ 1132, Comm. 15 April) and was placed in the Maiden Monastery of Vyshgorod, the ancient appanage city of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga.
The son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Saint Andrei Bogolyubsky, brought the icon to Vladimir in 1155 and placed it in the famous Cathedral of the Dormition he had erected. Since that time, the icon has received the name of Vladimirskaya. In 1395 the icon was first brought to Moscow. Thus, with the blessing of the Mother of God, the spiritual bonds of Byzantium and Rus' were fastened - through Kyiv, Vladimir and Moscow.
Vladimir icon Holy Mother of God the celebration happens several times a year (May 21, June 23, August 26). The most solemn celebration takes place on August 26, established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon when it was transferred from Vladimir to Moscow.
In 1395, the terrible conqueror Khan Tamerlane (Temir-Aksak) reached the limits of Ryazan, took the city of Yelets and, heading towards 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 hierarchs of Moscow and St. Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Cyprian (Comm. 16 September), so that the coming Dormition Fast would be dedicated to fervent prayers for mercy and repentance.
Clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the glorified miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Assumption 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, on their knees, 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 was dozing in his tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which saints with golden wands were walking towards him, and above them in a radiant radiance the Majestic Wife appeared. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. Those who knew 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, on the Kuchkov field, where the icon was met, the Sretensky Monastery was built, and on August 26, an all-Russian celebration was established in honor of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the most important events of Russian church history took place: the election and installation of St. Jonah - Primate of the Autocephalous Russian Church (1448), St. Job - the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' (1589), His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon (1917 ). On the day of the celebration in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Rus' was enthroned on May 21/June 3, 1971.
The historical days of May 21, June 23 and August 26, associated with this holy icon, have become memorable days of the Russian Orthodox Church.
For a long time, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has been considered the patroness of Rus'.
Its history dates back to the 1st century, when, according to legend, the Evangelist Luke wrote it on a board from the table at which the Holy Family ate when Jesus was still a child.
The history of the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir
The original place of residence of the icon was Jerusalem, in the 5th century it was transferred to Constantinople. It is known how the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir came to Rus': the Patriarch of Constantinople presented it to Prince Mstislav at the beginning of the 12th century. It was placed in the Vyshgorod Monastery near Kyiv and soon became famous as miraculous.
Having heard about this, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky decided to transport it to the north, but a real miracle happened on the way: not far from Vladimir, the horses with the cart on which the icon was being transported suddenly stopped, and they could not be moved by any means. Deciding that this was a sign of God, they spent the night there, and at night, during the prayer, the prince had a vision: the Mother of God herself ordered to leave her icon in Vladimir, and to build a monastery with a temple in honor of Her Nativity in the parking lot. So the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos got its name.
Presentation of the Vladimir Icon
In 1395, the hordes of Tamerlane attacked Rus', advancing towards Moscow, taking one city after another. At the request of Grand Duke Vasily I Dimitrievich, who was expecting an attack by the Tatars, they sent to Vladimir for the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, and in 10 days it was brought to Moscow in a procession. Along the way, and in Moscow itself, hundreds and thousands of kneeling people met the icon, offering her a prayer for the salvation of the Russian land from enemies. The solemn meeting (candlemas) of the Vladimir Icon took place on September 8.
On the same day, Tamerlane, who stopped with an army on the banks of the Don, had a vision: he saw a Majestic Wife, hovering over the saints, who ordered him to leave Rus'. The courtiers interpreted this vision as the appearance of the Mother of God, the great protector of the Orthodox. The superstitious Tamerlane carried out her order.
In memory of how the Russian land was miraculously delivered from the enemy invasion, the Sretensky Monastery was built and on September 8 the celebration of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was established.
The meaning of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
The significance of this icon for Rus' and all its Orthodox cannot be overestimated - it is our national shrine. In front of her, in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, the anointing of sovereigns to the kingdom and the election of the primates took place. More than once, the Queen of Heaven, the patroness of Rus', saved her: in 1480 she delivered from the Horde Khan Akhmat (June 23 celebration), and in 1521 from the Crimean Khan Makhmet Giray (May 21 celebration).
The Mother of God saved not only the state, but also many people with her power.
The fact that the Vladimir icon was miraculous was widely known, and people flocked to it with their prayers from all over Rus'.
There are many stories of miraculous healings and other help in troubles and misfortunes. Moreover, not only the icon itself, which was in Moscow, had miraculous power, but also its numerous copies, such as the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God of Orange, which saved Nizhny Novgorod from the plague in 1771, or the Vladimir Zaonikievskaya Icon of the Mother of God, famous for numerous healings, etc.
Currently, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is in the Tretyakov Gallery, namely in the church-museum of St. Nicholas at the Tretyakov Gallery.
Description of the icon
Before characterizing the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, it should be noted that from the point of view of iconography, it belongs to the type of "Eleus", which developed in Byzantine icon painting in the 11th century. This is translated from Greek as “merciful”, but in Ancient Rus' it was called “Tenderness”, which conveys the essence of the image much more accurately.
And indeed, the image of the Mother with the Child would only express Her tenderness, if it were not for the eyes filled with incredible tragedy in anticipation of the torment to which Her Child is doomed. The Infant, in His innocent ignorance, embraces the Mother, leaning her cheek against Her cheek. Very touching detail - naked left leg, peeking out from under His robe, so that the sole is visible, which is typical for all lists from the Vladimir icon.
What helps the Vladimir icon
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God saved Holy Rus' more than once. In difficult times, religious processions and public prayers with this icon brought deliverance from enemy invasions, unrest, schism, epidemics; before this image, the wedding of Russian monarchs to the kingdom took place, they took an oath of allegiance.
Prayer to the Mother of God in front of Her Vladimir icon will strengthen the spirit and faith, give determination and help choose the right path, drive away bad thoughts, calm anger and bad passions, bring healing from physical ailments, especially the heart and eyes. She is also prayed for the strengthening of family ties and the well-being of the family.
Prayer icon
To whom shall we cry, Lady? To whom shall we resort in our sorrow, if not to Thee, Queen of Heaven? Who will receive our weeping and sighing, if not You, Immaculate One, the hope of Christians and our refuge sinful? Who is more to You, in mercy? Incline Your ear to us, Lady, Mother of our God, and do not despise those who demand Your help: hear our groaning, strengthen us sinners, enlighten and teach us, Queen of Heaven, and do not depart from us, Your servant, Lady, for our murmuring, but wake us Mother and Intercessor, and entrust us to the merciful cover of Your Son. Arrange for us, whatever your holy will will, and bring us sinners to a quiet and serene life, let us cry over our sins, let us rejoice with you always, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
The image of the Mother of God is especially revered by all Orthodox Christians. The Vladimir icon is notable for its special power: prayers before it more than once saved entire cities from inevitable death.
History of the icon
According to legend, the Vladimir icon was painted during the life of the Mother of God by the apostle and evangelist Luke. During the meal, the apostle had a wonderful vision of the future of the Christian people, and he, taking a board from the table, began to write the image of the Mother of God with the Infant Jesus in her arms. The Virgin Mary did not interfere with the apostle, for she saw that he was moved by the Will of the Lord.
Where is the holy image
For a long time, the Vladimir Icon was located in the holy city of Jerusalem. In the middle of the 12th century, the image was donated to Kievan Rus and kept in the Bogorodichny Monastery in the city of Vyshgorod. A little later, Andrei Bogolyubsky moved the icon to Vladimir, where it remained for a long time. At the moment, the miraculous image of the Vladimir Mother of God is located in Moscow, in the church of St. Nicholas.
Description of the icon
The Vladimir icon depicts the Mother of God with the baby Jesus in her arms. The look of the Mother of God is directed directly at the person praying standing in front of the icon, the face is serious and full of sorrow for the sins of this world.
The Mother of God firmly presses the Infant Jesus to her, and His gaze is directed upwards, at the Mother of God. Thus, the image shows the great love of the Lord for His Mother, which all believers should be equal to.
What helps the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
The Vladimir image of the Mother of God saved Russia from invaders more than once. That is why the image is prayed for the well-being of the country, for salvation in difficult and dangerous life situations as well as the preservation of the world.
There are known cases of miraculous healings that occurred during a common prayer in front of the icon. Therefore, the Vladimir image of the Virgin Mary is prayed for healing from bodily and mental illnesses.
Prayers before the Vladimir Icon
“All-merciful Intercessor, Protector and Protector! We humbly pray to You, bowing before You in tears: expel, Mistress, death, trampling the souls of the faithful servants of the Lord, turn the enemies and deliver our land from all evil! O Lady, we hope in You, and our prayer flies to You, for we trust only in You and pray to save our lives and souls. Amen".
“Queen of Heaven, merciful Intercessor, I humbly pray to You: do not leave my cry unanswered, hear me, a sinful and unworthy servant of God, take trouble, sickness and infirmity away from me. May my soul not turn away from the Lord, and prayer to the Most High will send grace on my forehead. Be merciful, Mother of God, and send miraculous healing to my soul and body. Amen".
Days of veneration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God - June 3, July 6 and September 8, according to the new style. At this time, any prayers to the Mother of God can completely change your life and destiny. We wish you peace of mind and strong faith in God. Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and
06.07.2017 05:36
The icon "Protection of the Virgin" is one of the most significant shrines among all Orthodox images. This icon...
On July 6 (June 23, O.S.), the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of the miracle of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God about the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Akhmat in 1480.
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has long been one of the most revered in Rus'. According to legend, it was written in the 1st century by the apostle and evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which Jesus Christ and the Virgin once sat. This is the only icon in Russia that has survived to this day in its original state. This is not a list, not a copy, but a genuine shrine that has passed through two millennia.
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 as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverha. The icon was placed in a maiden monastery in the city of Vyshgorod, not far from Kyiv, where it immediately became famous for many miracles.
In 1155, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, St. Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky, setting out in 1155 to rule the Vladimir-Suzdal land, took the icon with him to Vladimir and placed it in the famous Assumption Cathedral erected by him. Since that time, the icon has become known as Vladimirskaya.
The icon, according to legend, performed its miracles many times: it left its place and remained in the air, remained intact during fires, protected cities and troops.
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 destruction of the city of Vladimir by Batu on February 17, 1237.
In 1380, when Demetrius Donskoy won a significant victory over Mamai, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was the divine inspirer of this victory. From this event begins a new period in the life of the shrine.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources
