It was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Savior dined with the Most Pure Mother and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed.
The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: “From now on, all my people will please Me. May the grace of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with this image.”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 Rus' as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverkh. The icon was placed in a nunnery in the city of Vyshgorod, not far from Kyiv, where it immediately became famous for its many miracles. In 1155, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, St. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, wanting to have a famous shrine, transported the icon to the north, to Vladimir, and placed it in the famous Assumption Cathedral, which he erected. From that time on, the icon received the name Vladimir.
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 defeat the enemy. The icon survived the terrible fire on April 13, 1185, when the Vladimir Cathedral burned down, and remained unharmed during the destruction of Vladimir by Batu on February 17, 1237.
The further history of the image is entirely connected with the capital city of Moscow, where it was first brought in 1395 during the invasion of Khan Tamerlane. The conqueror with an army invaded the borders of Ryazan, captured and ruined it and headed 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. On mutual advice, Vasily Dmitrievich and Cyprian decided to resort to spiritual weapons and transfer the miraculous icon of the Most Pure Mother of God from Vladimir to Moscow.
The icon was brought into the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The chronicle reports that Tamerlane, having stood in one place for two weeks, suddenly became afraid, turned south and left the Moscow borders. A great miracle happened: during a procession with a miraculous icon, heading from Vladimir to Moscow, when countless people were kneeling on both sides of the road and praying: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!”, Tamerlane had a vision. A high mountain appeared before his mental gaze, from the top of which saints with golden staffs were descending, and above them the Majestic Woman appeared in a radiant radiance. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. They answered him that the radiant Woman is the Mother of God, the great Defender of Christians. Then Tamerlane gave the order to the regiments to go back.
In memory of the miraculous deliverance of Rus' from the invasion of Tamerlane on the day of the meeting in Moscow of the Vladimir Icon Mother of God On August 26/September 8 a solemn ceremony was established church holiday The meeting of this icon, and at the meeting place itself a temple was erected, around which it was later located Sretensky Monastery.
For the second time, the Mother of God saved Rus' from ruin in 1480 (commemorated on 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 were waiting for a reason to attack. In the front ranks of the Russian army they held an icon Our Lady of Vladimir, which miraculously put the Horde regiments to flight.
The third celebration of the Vladimir Mother of God (May 21 / June 3), remembers the deliverance of Moscow from the defeat of Makhmet-Girey, Khan of Kazan, who in 1521 reached the borders of Moscow and began to burn its suburbs, but suddenly retreated from the capital without causing harm to it.
Many of the most important events of Russian history took place before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. church history: 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), as well as oaths were taken before her in all centuries for loyalty to the Motherland, prayers were held before military campaigns.
Iconography Vladimir Mother of God
The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God belongs to the “Caressing” type, 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 Virgin Mary’s communication with Her Son. The image of the Mother of God caressing the Child, his deep humanity turned out to be especially close to Russian painting.
The iconographic scheme includes two figures - the Mother of God and the Child Christ, clinging to each other's faces. Mary's head is bowed towards the Son, and He puts his hand around the Mother's neck. Distinctive feature The Vladimir icon differs from other icons of the Tenderness type: 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 embrace of Mary and the Son suggests the future sufferings of the Savior on the cross; in the Mother’s caressing of the Child, 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 Child 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 15th century. they painted an image of the throne (etimasia - “prepared throne”), covered with an altar cloth, the Gospel with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, nails, a crown of thorns, behind the throne there is a Calvary cross, a spear and a cane with a sponge, below is the floor of the altar flooring. The theological interpretation of etymasia is based on Holy Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers. Etymasia symbolizes Christ's resurrection and His judgment over the living and the dead, and the instruments of His torment are the sacrifice made to atone for the sins of mankind. The juxtaposition of Mary caressing the Child and the turnover with the throne clearly expressed sacrificial symbolism.
Arguments have been put forward in favor of the fact that the icon was double-sided from the very beginning: this is evidenced by the identical shapes of the ark and the husks of both sides. In the Byzantine tradition, there were often images of a cross on the back of Mother of God icons. Starting from the 12th century, the time of the creation of the “Vladimir Mother of God,” in Byzantine murals, the etymasia was often placed in the altar as an altar image, visually revealing the sacrificial meaning of the Eucharist, which takes place here on the throne. This suggests the 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 altar icon. The text of the Legend contains information about the use of the Vladimir icon as an altar icon and as an outside icon that was moved in the church.
The luxurious attire of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which she had according to the news of the chronicles, also does not testify in favor of the possibility of its location in the altar barrier in the 12th century: “And there were more than thirty hryvnias of gold on it, in addition to silver and in addition to expensive stones and pearls, and Having decorated it, put it in your church in Volodymeri.” But many of the external icons were later strengthened precisely in iconostases, like the Vladimir Icon in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow, originally placed to the right of the royal doors: “And having brought in<икону>to the supreme temple of her glorious Assumption, which is the great Cathedral and Apostolic Church of the Russian Metropolis, and put it in an icon case on the right side, where to this day it stands visible and worshiped by all" (See: Degree Book. M., 1775. Part 1 . P. 552).
There is an opinion that the “Vladimir 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 of the famous ancient miraculous icon. In the Tale of the Miracles of the Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, she is likened to the Ark of the Covenant, like the Virgin Mary herself, as well as her Robe, which was kept in the rotode of Agia Soros in Blachernae. The Legend also speaks of healings that are accomplished mainly thanks to the water from the ablutions of the Vladimir Icon: they drink this water, wash the sick with it, and send it to other cities in sealed vessels to heal the sick. This miracle-working of 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 spring dedicated to the Mother of God. Constantine Porphyrogenitus described the custom of washing in a font in front of a marble relief of the Mother of God, from whose hands water flowed.
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 Blachernae shrines, received special development. For example, on the Golden Gate of the city of Vladimir, the prince erected the Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God, directly dedicating it to the relics of the Blachernae Temple.
Style
The time of painting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the 12th century, refers to the so-called Komninian revival (1057-1185). This period in Byzantine art is characterized by the extreme dematerialization of painting, carried out by drawing faces and clothes with numerous lines, whitening slides, sometimes whimsically, ornamentally placed on the image.
In the icon we are considering, the most ancient painting of the 12th century includes the faces of the Mother and the Child, part of the blue cap and maforium border with a gold assist, as well as part of the ocher chiton of the Child with a gold assist with sleeves up to the elbow and the transparent edge of the shirt visible from under it, brush left and part right hand The baby, as well as the remains of the golden background. These few surviving fragments represent a high example of the Constantinople school of painting of the Komnenian period. There is no deliberate graphic quality characteristic of the time; on the contrary, the line in this image is nowhere opposed to volume. The main means of artistic expression is built on “the combination of insensible flows, giving the surface the impression of not being made by hands, with a geometrically pure, visibly built line.” “The personal letter is one of the most perfect examples of “Comnenian floating”, combining multi-layered sequential modeling with the absolute indistinguishability of the stroke. The layers of painting are loose, very transparent; the main thing is in their relationship with each other, in the transmission of the lower ones through the upper ones.<…>A complex and transparent system of tones – greenish sankira, ocher, shadows and highlights – leads to a specific effect of diffused, flickering light.”
Among the Byzantine icons of the Comnenian period, the Vladimir Mother of God also stands out as characteristic of the best works of this time deep penetration into the realm of the human soul, its hidden secret sufferings. The heads of Mother and Son pressed against each other. The Mother of God knows that Her Son is doomed to suffer for the sake of people, and sorrow lurks in Her dark, thoughtful eyes.
The skill with which the painter was able to convey a subtle spiritual state most likely served as the origin of the legend about the painting 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 late antiquity, with its sensual, “life-like” nature. But in comparison with the icons of the 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 centuries-old Christian thoughts about the coming of the Lord to earth, the humility of His Most Pure Mother and the path they traversed of self-denial and sacrificial love.
Revered miracle-working lists from icons Vladimir 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 their miracles and received special names depending on their place of origin. This:
Vladimir - Volokolamsk icon (memory of Mr. 3/16), which was the contribution of Malyuta Skuratov to the Joseph-Volokolamsk monastery. Nowadays it is in the collection of the Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art named after Andrei Rublev.
Vladimirskaya - Seligerskaya (memory D. 7/20), brought to Seliger by Nil Stolbensky in the 16th century.
Vladimir - Zaonikievskaya (memory M. 21. / John 3; John 23 / Ill. 6, from the Zaonikievsky monastery) 1588.
Vladimirskaya - Oranskaya (memory M. 21 / John 3) 1634.
Vladimir - Krasnogorsk (Montenegorsk) (memory M. 21 / John 3). 1603.
Vladimir - Rostov (memory Av. 15/28) 12th century.
Troparion to the Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir, tone 4
Today the most glorious city of Moscow is brightly adorned, / as if we have received the dawn of the sun, O Lady, Your miraculous icon, / to which we now flow and pray to You we cry out: / O, most wonderful Lady Theotokos, / pray to You, our incarnate God, / may He deliver the city this and all Christian cities and countries are unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, // and our souls will be saved by the Merciful.
Kontakion, tone 8
To the chosen victorious Voivode, / as those who were delivered from the evil ones by the coming of Your honorable image, / Lady Theotokos, / we brightly celebrate the celebration of Your meeting and usually call You: // Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.
Prayer Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir
O All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, Almighty Intercessor, our shameless Hope! Thanking Thee for all the great blessings that the Russian people have received from Thee throughout the generations, before Thy most pure image we pray to Thee: save this city (or: this whole, or: this holy monastery) and Thy coming servants and the whole Russian land from famine, destruction , land of shaking, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. Save and save, Lady, our Great Lord and Father Kirill, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and our Lord (name of the rivers), His Eminence Bishop (or: Archbishop, or: Metropolitan) (title), and all the Eminence metropolitans, archbishops and Orthodox bishops. May they govern the Russian Church well, and may the faithful sheep of Christ be preserved indestructibly. Remember, Lady, the entire priestly and monastic order, warm their hearts with zeal for God and strengthen them to walk worthy of their calling. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on all Your servants and grant us the path of the earthly journey 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, abstinence in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for our enemies, success in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensibility, and on the terrible day of Judgment, grant us through Your intercession to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God. To Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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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 Chetya-Minea, and published according to the list of the collection of the Synodal Library No. 556 (Klyuchevsky V.O. Tales of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. - St. Petersburg, 1878). In this ancient description, they are likened to the path that the sun's luminary takes: “When God created the sun, he did not make it shine in one place, but, going around the entire Universe, illuminates with its rays, so this image of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is not on one place... but, going around all countries and the whole world, it enlightens...".
Etingof O.E. On the early history of the icon “Our Lady of Vladimir” and the tradition of the Blachernae cult of the Mother of God in Rus' in the 11th-13th centuries. // Image of the Mother of God. Essays on Byzantine iconography of the 11th-13th centuries. – M.: “Progress-Tradition”, 2000, p. 139.
There, p. 137. In addition, N.V. Kvilidze unveiled the painting of the deacon of the Trinity Church in Vyazemy of the late 16th century, where on the southern wall the liturgy in the church with an altar is depicted, behind which is the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God (N.V. Kvilidze Newly discovered frescoes of the altar of the Trinity Church in Vyazemy. Report in the Department of Ancient Russian Art in State Institute 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 13th century, at the beginning of the 15th century, in 1521, during alterations in the Assumption Cathedral Moscow Kremlin, and before the coronation of Nicholas II in 1895-1896 by restorers O. S. Chirikov and M. D. Dikarev. In addition, minor repairs were carried out in 1567 (at the Chudov Monastery by Metropolitan Athanasius), in the 18th and 19th centuries..
Kolpakova G.S. Art of Byzantium. Early and average periods. – St. Petersburg: Publishing house “Azbuka-Classics”, 2004, p. 407.
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God (icon of the Theotokos) is considered miraculous and, according to legend, was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Holy Family ate: the Savior, the Mother of God and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: “ From now on all generations will bless Me. May the grace of the One born of Me and Mine be with this icon».
The icon was brought to Russia from Byzantium at the beginning of the 12th century as a gift to the holy prince Mstislav (†1132) from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverkh. The icon was placed in the convent of Vyshgorod (an ancient appanage city of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga), not far from Kyiv. The rumor about her miracles reached the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who decided to transport the icon to the north.
While passing Vladimir, the horses carrying the miraculous icon stood up and could not move. Replacing the horses with new ones also did not help.
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vladimir
During fervent prayer, the Queen of Heaven Herself appeared to the prince and commanded that the Vladimir miraculous icon of the Mother of God be left in Vladimir, and in this place be built a temple and a monastery in honor of Her Nativity. To the general joy of the residents of Vladimir, Prince Andrei returned to the city along with the miraculous icon. Since then, the icon of the Mother of God began to be called Vladimir.
In 1395 terrible conqueror Khan Tamerlan(Temir-Aksak) reached the borders of Ryazan, took the city of Yelets and, heading towards Moscow, approached the banks of the Don. Grand Duke Vasily Dimitrievich went with his army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka. He prayed to the saints of Moscow and St. Sergius about the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, Saint Cyprian, so that the upcoming Dormition Fast would be devoted to fervent prayers for pardon and repentance. To Vladimir, where the famous miraculous icon, the clergy were sent. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the clergy accepted 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 that very hour when Moscow residents greeted the icon on Kuchkovo Pole (now Sretenka Street), Tamerlane dozed in his camp tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which saints with golden rods were coming towards him, and above them the Majestic Woman appeared in a radiant radiance. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. They answered him that the radiant Woman is the Mother of God, the great Defender of Christians. Then Tamerlane gave the order to the regiments to go back.
In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, the Sretensky Monastery was built on Kuchkovo Field, where the icon was met, and on August 26 (in the new style - September 8) an all-Russian celebration was established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane on Kuchkovo Field (meeting the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
For the second time, the Mother of God saved our country from ruin in 1451, when the army of the Nogai Khan with Tsarevich Mazovsha approached Moscow. The Tatars set fire to the Moscow suburbs, but Moscow was never captured. During the fire, Saint Jonah performed religious processions along the walls of the city. Warriors and militia fought with the enemy until nightfall. The small army of the Grand Duke at this time was too far away to help the besieged. The chronicles say that the next morning there were no enemies near the walls of Moscow. They heard an extraordinary noise, decided that it was the Grand Duke with a huge army and retreated. The prince himself cried in front of the Vladimir Icon after the Tatars left.
The third intercession of the Mother of God for Rus' was in 1480(celebrated on July 6). After the resounding victory on the Kulikovo Field in 1380, the Russian principalities remained under Horde dependence for another century, and only the events of the autumn of 1480 decisively changed the situation. Ivan III refused to pay tribute to the horde, and regiments were sent to Rus' Khan Akhmat. Two armies converged on the Ugra River: the armies stood on different banks - the so-called "standing on the Ugra"– and were waiting for a reason to attack. In the front ranks of the Russian army they held the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir. There were skirmishes, even small battles, but the troops never moved in front of each other. The Russian army moved away from the river, giving the Horde regiments the opportunity to begin crossing. But the Horde regiments also retreated. The Russian soldiers stopped, but the Tatar soldiers continued to retreat and suddenly rushed away without looking back.
Standing on the Ugra River on November 11, 1480
“Standing on the Ugra” put an end to the Mongol-Tatar yoke. Russia was finally freed from paying tribute. From this time on, we can talk about the final elimination of any form of political dependence of Moscow on the Horde.
Standing on the Ugra
In 1472, the Horde Khan Akhmat large army moved towards the Russian borders. But at Tarusa the invaders met a large Russian army. All attempts of the Horde to cross the Oka were repulsed. The Horde army burned the city of Aleksin (in Tula region) and destroyed its population, but the campaign ended in failure. In 1476, Grand Duke Ivan III stopped paying tribute to the Khan of the Golden Horde, and in 1480 he refused to recognize Rus'’s dependence on it.
Khan Akhmat, busy fighting the Crimean Khanate, began active action only in 1480. He managed to negotiate with the Polish-Lithuanian king Casimir IV on military assistance. The western borders of the Russian state (Pskov lands) at the beginning of 1480 were attacked by the Livonian Order. The Livonian chronicler reported that: “... Master Bernd von der Borch was involved in a war with the Russians, took up arms against them and gathered 100 thousand troops from foreign and native soldiers and peasants; with these people he attacked Russia and burned the outskirts of Pskov, without doing anything else».
In January 1480, his brothers Boris Volotsky and Andrei Bolshoi rebelled against Ivan III, dissatisfied with the strengthening of the power of the Grand Duke. Taking advantage of the current situation, Akhmat set out with the main forces in the summer of 1480.
The boyar elite of the Russian state split into two groups: one (“rich and potbellied money lovers”) advised Ivan III flee; the other defended the need to fight the Horde. Perhaps the behavior of Ivan III was influenced by the position of the Muscovites, who demanded decisive action from the Grand Duke.
Grand Duke Ivan III arrived on June 23 at Kolomna, where he stayed awaiting further developments. On the same day, she was brought from Vladimir to Moscow miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God- intercessor and savior of Rus' from the troops of Tamerlane in 1395.
Akhmat's troops moved freely across Lithuanian territory, expecting help from Casimir IV, but they never received it. The Crimean Tatars, allies of Ivan III, distracted the Lithuanian troops by attacking Podolia (in the southwest of modern Ukraine).
Akhmat decided, after passing through Lithuanian lands, to invade Russian territory across the Ugra River.
Having learned about these intentions, Ivan III sent troops to the banks of the Ugra River.
8 October 1480 years, the troops met on the banks of the Ugra. Akhmat tried to cross the Ugra, but his attack was successfully repulsed. This historical event took place in the area of a 5-kilometer section of the Ugra River. It was impossible for the Tatar cavalry to cross the border of the Grand Duchy of Moscow here - the Oka was 400 m wide with a depth of 10-14 m. There were no other fords in the area between Kaluga and Tarusa. The Horde's attempts to cross continued for several days, thwarted by Russian artillery fire. On October 12, 1480, the Horde retreated two miles from the river. The Ugrians settled in Luza. Ivan III's troops took up defensive positions on the opposite bank of the river.
The famous began "standing on the Ugra". Skirmishes broke out periodically, but neither side dared to launch a serious attack. In this situation, negotiations began. Demands for tribute were rejected, gifts were not accepted, and negotiations broke down. It is quite possible that Ivan III entered into negotiations in an effort to gain time, since the situation was slowly changing in his favor.
All of Moscow prayed to its Intercessor for the salvation of the Orthodox capital. Metropolitan Gerontius and the prince's confessor, Archbishop Vassian of Rostov, supported the Russian troops with prayer, blessings and advice, trusting in the help of the Mother of God. The Grand Duke received a fiery message from his confessor, in which he called on Ivan III to follow the example of the former princes: “... who not only defended the Russian land from the filthy (that is, not Christians), but also subjugated other countries... Just take courage and be strong, my spiritual son, as a good warrior of Christ, according to the great word of our Lord in the Gospel: “You are the good shepherd.” The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."…»
Having learned that Akhmat, in an effort to achieve a numerical advantage, mobilized the Great Horde as much as possible, so that there were no significant reserves of troops left on its territory, Ivan III allocated a small but very combat-ready detachment, under the command of the Zvenigorod governor, Prince Vasily Nozdrevaty, who was supposed to go down the Oka, then along the Volga to its lower reaches and commit devastating sabotage in the possessions of Akhmat. The Crimean prince Nur-Devlet and his nukers (combatants) also took part in this expedition. As a result, Prince Vasily Nozdrovaty and his army defeated and plundered the capital of the Great Horde, Sarai, and other Tatar uluses and returned with great booty.
On October 28, 1480, Prince Ivan III 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. Akhmat, having learned that a sabotage detachment of Prince Nozdrevaty and the Crimean prince Nur-Devlet was operating in his deep rear, and deciding that the Russians were luring them into an ambush, did not pursue the Russian troops and at the end of October - early November also began to withdraw his troops. And on November 11, Akhmat decided to go back to the Horde.
For those who watched from the sidelines as both armies almost simultaneously turned back without bringing the matter to battle, this event seemed either strange, mystical, or received an overly simple explanation: the opponents were afraid of each other, they were afraid to take the battle.
On January 6, 1481, Akhmat was killed as a result of a surprise attack by the Tyumen Khan Ibak, and in 1502 herself The Horde ceased to exist.
Since then, the river Ugra near Moscow began to be called "belt of the Virgin Mary".
The “Standing” put an end to the Mongol-Tatar yoke. The Moscow state became completely independent. The diplomatic efforts of Ivan III prevented Poland and Lithuania from entering the war. The Pskovites also made their contribution to the salvation of Rus', stopping the German offensive by the fall.
The acquisition of political independence from the Horde, along with the spread of Moscow's influence over the Kazan Khanate (1487), played a role in the subsequent transition of part of the lands under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the rule of Moscow.
The Russian Orthodox Church established a threefold celebration Vladimir icon Mother of God. Each of the days of celebration is associated with the deliverance of the Russian people from enslavement by foreigners through prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos:
September 8 according to the new style (August 26th to church calendar) – in memory of the rescue of Moscow from the invasion of Tamerlane in 1395.
July 6(June 23) – in memory of the deliverance of Russia from the Horde king Akhmat in 1480.
June 3(May 21) – in memory of the rescue of Moscow from the Crimean Khan Makhmet-Girey in 1521.
The most solemn celebration takes place September 8(new style), established in honor the meeting of the Vladimir Icon during its transfer from Vladimir to Moscow.
The celebration on June 3 was established in memory of the salvation of Moscow in 1521 from the invasion of the Tatars led by Khan Makhmet-Girey.
Invasion of the Crimean Tatars
The Tatar hordes were approaching Moscow, setting Russian cities and villages to fire and destruction, exterminating their inhabitants. Grand Duke Vasily gathered an army against the Tatars, and Moscow Metropolitan Varlaam, together with the residents of Moscow, fervently prayed for deliverance from death. During this terrible time, one pious blind nun had a vision: Moscow saints were emerging from the Spassky Gate of the Kremlin, leaving the city and taking with them the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God - the main saint of Moscow - as God's punishment for the sins of its inhabitants. The saints were met at the Spassky Gate by Saints Sergius of Radonezh and Varlaam of Khutyn, tearfully begging them not to leave Moscow. All of them together brought a fiery prayer to the Lord for the forgiveness of those who had sinned and the deliverance of Moscow from its enemies. After this prayer, the saints returned to the Kremlin and brought back the Vladimir holy icon. The Moscow saint, Blessed Basil, had a similar vision, to whom it was revealed that through the intercession of the Mother of God and the prayers of the saints, Moscow would be saved. The Tatar Khan had a vision of the Mother of God, surrounded by a formidable army rushing towards their regiments. The Tatars fled in fear, the capital of the Russian state was saved.
In 1480, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was transferred for permanent storage to Moscow in the Assumption Cathedral. In Vladimir, an exact, so-called “spare” copy of the icon, written Rev. Andrew Rublev. In 1918, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was closed, and the miraculous image was moved to the State Tretyakov Gallery.
Now the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is in the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi (metro station "Tretyakovskaya", M. Tolmachevsky lane, 9).
Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi at the State Tretyakov Gallery
Museum-Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi
Iconography
Iconographically, the Vladimir Icon belongs to the Eleus (Tenderness) type. The Baby pressed his cheek to the Mother's cheek. The icon conveys the tender communication between Mother and Child. Mary foresees the suffering of the Son in His earthly journey.
A distinctive feature of the Vladimir Icon from other icons of the Tenderness type: the left leg of the Infant Christ is bent in such a way that the sole of the foot, the “heel,” is visible.
On the reverse are depicted the Etymasia (Prepared Throne) and the instruments of the passions, dating very roughly to the beginning of the 15th century.
The throne has been prepared. Back of the “Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God”
The throne is prepared th (Greek etimasia) - the theological concept of the throne prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ, coming to judge the living and the dead. Consists of the following elements:
- the church throne, usually dressed in red robes (symbol of Christ’s scarlet robe);
- closed Gospel (as a symbol of the book from the Revelation of John the Theologian - Rev. 5:1);
- instruments of passions lying on the throne or standing nearby;
- a dove (symbol of the Holy Spirit) or a crown crowning the Gospel (not always depicted).
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is an all-Russian shrine, the main and most revered of all Russian icons. There are also many copies of the Vladimir Icon, a significant number of which are also revered as miraculous.
Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Vladimir” they pray for deliverance from the invasion of foreigners, for guidance in Orthodox faith, about preservation from heresies and schisms, about the pacification of warring parties, about the preservation of Russia.
God's Law. Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
Queen of Heaven. Our Lady of Vladimir (2010)
About the film:
According to church tradition, the icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke on the board of a table that was located in the house of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. The icon was transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople, and then to convent near Kyiv, in Vyshgorod. Having fled from Vyshgorod to the north, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky brought the icon to Vladimir, after which it was named.
During the invasion of Tamerlane, under Vasily I, the revered icon was transferred to Moscow as a defender of the city. And an example of the intercession of the Mother of God of Vladimir is that Tamerlane’s troops left without any particular reason before reaching Moscow.
Troparion, tone 4
Today the most glorious city of Moscow brightly flaunts, as if we have received the dawn of the sun, the Lady, Your miraculous icon, to which we now flow and pray, we cry out to You: O, most wonderful Lady Theotokos, pray from You to the incarnate Christ our God, that He may deliver this city and all Christian cities and countries are unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, and He will save our souls, like the Merciful.
Kontakion, tone 8
To the chosen victorious Voivode, having been delivered from the evil ones by the coming of Your venerable image, to the Lady Theotokos we brightly celebrate the celebration of Your meeting and usually call You: Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.
Since ancient times, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has worked miracles and is rightfully considered one of the most revered and famous in the Orthodox world. Several major holidays are celebrated in her honor: May 21, June 23, August 25. In memory of the salvation of Moscow from: Muhammad-Girey, Akhmat and Tamerlane, respectively. These days it is customary to read the troparion to the Vladimir Icon.
The meaning of the Vladimir Icon
Prayers in front of this icon can protect people from misfortunes; people turn to it for help in a variety of situations. There are very difficult periods in a person’s life and then they resort to prayer. Every believer who sincerely asks for help from higher powers receives it. Our Lady of Vladimir is a protector and protects houses from misfortunes, helps in various everyday situations.
Every Orthodox man, I simply must have this image in my home. Many different stories have been written about the meaning and miraculousness of the icon; miracles happened hundreds of years ago, and they also happen today.
Miraculousness of the icon
Throughout this time, miracles associated with the Vladimir Icon occurred.
- Three times people’s prayers for the salvation of their own land were heard. Foreigners left Russian soil for various reasons.
- When the icon was in Vyshgorod, unauthorized movements of the icon were noticed. Three times the image ended up in different parts monastery
- The water that washed the shrine had medicinal properties, parishioners were repeatedly healed from various bodily ailments.
- The wife of one of the clergy was expecting a child, she often prayed in front of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, and once, miraculously, her life was saved from a mad horse.
- The abbess of the monastery was healed of blindness. The girl simply drank water from the holy face and said a prayer.
- One day, in the city of Vladimir, the Golden Gate collapsed on twelve people, all these people suddenly found themselves under the rubble. One of them read a prayer in front of the image of the Mother of God, then all these people managed to escape. None of them were seriously injured.
- The baby was washed with holy water, and he was saved from evil spells.
- The woman had been suffering from a serious heart disease for many years, she gave the priest all her gold jewelry and sent the priest with them to the temple where the icon was located. He brought holy water to the woman, she drank it and prayed, and after a while the woman turned out to be completely healthy.
It's not far yet full list miracles that are associated with the Vladimir icon. Moreover, miracles happened not only associated with the original icon, but also with its numerous copies.
How does the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God help?
This shrine witnessed almost all important events in the history of Russia. She saw military campaigns, how the coronation of monarchs took place, as well as the appointment of many patriarchs. Prayer addressed to the icon helps to calm hostility and reduce the level of anger and passions.
A large number of parishioners turned to the monk for help in order to make a fateful decision, strengthen their own spirit and gain vitality during illness. To the question of how the Vladimir Icon helps, you can answer this way:
- comes to the rescue when making an important decision, shows the true path;
- strengthens faith and gives strength that is almost running out;
- helps in healing diseases, especially people with blindness and various heart ailments are often healed;
- delivers from evil intentions and sinful thoughts.
Our Lady also helps in establishing a happy marriage, since a happy and strong family is the key to a strong and successful country.
What does the Vladimir Icon look like?
This icon belongs to the “Caressing” type. This image is considered the most lyrical of all images of the Virgin Mary.
Every person can see the face of the Virgin Mary; with her left hand she holds her little son.
They tenderly clung to each other, thereby revealing the other side of the Virgo’s communication with her son. The original icon was written in wooden lid from the table.
Throughout the entire canvas, only two figures are depicted: the Virgin Mary and her son. Her head is bowed to the Infant Christ, and he hugs his Mother’s neck with his left hand.
A distinctive feature of this icon from all others is that the leg of Christ is curved so that his foot is visible.
Miracle Lists
Throughout time, a very large number of diverse lists of the Vladimir Icon were created. Some of them also acquired miraculous properties and received special names:
- Vladimirskaya-Volokolamskaya, which was created in 1572;
- Vladimirskaya-Seligerskaya, created in 1528;
- Vladimirskaya-Oranskaya, dated 1634.
All these images also have miraculous properties, and all Orthodox Christians often come to them to read the akathist to the Vladimir Icon of God.
History of the Vladimir Icon
The legend says that this icon was painted by the Evangelist Luke, the lid was used as the basis dining table. The Most Pure Mother and Joseph the Betrothed took food behind him. And when the Mother of God saw the image, she became very joyful and said the following words: “From now on, all the people will bless Me.”
Initially, the icon was in Jerusalem, later it moved from this city to Constantinople, long time she was there. Then, Yuri Dolgoruky received this icon as a gift from one influential patriarch.
In the city of Vyshgorod (not far from Kyiv), a monastery was recently built, and the image was placed there. Almost immediately, the icon began to become glorified various kinds miraculous deeds. The son of Yuri Dolgoruky very much desired to have such an icon and brought it to the city of Vladimir, where it found new home. It was from then that it received the name - Vladimirskaya.
This icon very often saved soldiers who went to war. In the battle against the Volga Bulgarians, the icon of the Mother of God helped the prince win a difficult victory in battle.
Thirty years later there was a terrible fire, then the cathedral in which the icon was located burned down, but it remained completely unharmed. In 1237, Batu attacked the city of Vladimir and completely destroyed it, but this time the icon managed to survive.
The further history of the icon is completely connected with Moscow, where it came only in 1395, when Khan Tamerlane attacked Rus'. The conqueror completely plundered Ryazan and sent his army to Moscow, they destroyed everything in their path. The prince, without wasting a minute, gathered a large army and ordered them to go on the attack to meet the invaders. The Metropolitan at that time called higher powers help them. Then the prince and metropolitan decided to move the icon to Moscow.
When the shrine arrived in Moscow and was brought into the cathedral, incredible things began to happen. As the chronicle says, the conqueror simply stayed in one place for several weeks; he did not go on the offensive, but he did not retreat either. But suddenly he was overcome with fear, he turned back and left Moscow.
A little later, when Moscow did not even expect an invasion, suddenly a huge army of invaders appeared in front of the city walls. The then prince realized that he did not have enough time and skills to assemble a worthy army to resist the foreigners and simply left the capital with his family. Vladimir the Brave, who suddenly had to rule Moscow, was an experienced commander and collected big army, and such that the horde did not dare to storm Moscow. However, they began to plunder neighboring cities.
At this time, all Orthodox people prayed in front of the Vladimir icon, calling on the Mother of God to help her people. And again the prayers were heard, Edigei (leader of the Horde) received news of the coup and was forced to leave Russian soil. Thus, the Mother of God once again saved her people from their enemies.
Prayer to the Vladimir Icon
O All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, All-Powerful Intercessor, our shameless Hope! Thanking Thee for all the great blessings that the Russian people have received from Thee throughout the generations, before Thy most pure image we pray to Thee: save this city (this whole; this holy monastery) and Thy coming servants and the whole Russian Land from famine, destruction, earth shaking, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare! Save and save, Madam, our Great Lord and Father (name), His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' and our Lord (name), His Eminence bishop (archbishop, metropolitan) (title), and all the Eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops of the Orthodox. May they govern the Russian Church well, and may the faithful sheep of Christ be preserved indestructibly. Remember, Lady, the entire priestly and monastic order, warm their hearts with zeal for God and strengthen them to walk worthy of their calling. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on all Your servants and grant us the path of the earthly journey 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, abstinence in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for our enemies, success in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensibility; on the terrible day of Judgment, grant us, through Your intercession, to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Conclusion
This is a very ancient and powerful icon, it is one of the most revered faces of the Virgin Mary. Three times, with the help of the icon, it was possible to stop foreign invaders. A huge number of people received spiritual and physical strength by praying before her.
The holy image more than once helped the Russian army to win decisive battles - this is one of the most revered shrines of the Russian Orthodox Church, which established a threefold celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
How the Holy Image ended up in Rus'
According to legend, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Mother of God on the board of the table at which the Savior, the Most Pure Mother and Righteous Joseph dined.
The Virgin Mary, seeing Her image, said: “From now on, all generations will bless Me. May the grace of the One born of Me and Mine be with this image.”
© photo: Sputnik / Yuri Kaplun
The icon of the Mother of God remained in Jerusalem until 450, then it was transferred to Constantinople. At the beginning of the 12th century Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverg sent a special list (copy) of it to Kyiv as a gift to the Holy Prince Mstislav.
After arriving in Rus', the icon was in the Mother of God Monastery from 1131, which was located in one of the northern suburbs of Kyiv - Vyshgorod. Rumors about her wonderful creations circulated throughout Rus'.
How the icon got its name
Vyshgorod became the inheritance of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, son of Yuri Dolgoruky, in 1155. Having decided to move to his native land of Suzdal, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky took the icon with him and prayed earnestly in front of it on the way.
After resting in Vladimir, the prince was about to continue moving, but having driven quite a bit from the city, his horses stopped. All attempts to force them to move on were unsuccessful. Even after changing horses, nothing changed.
The surprised prince began to fervently pray to the Mother of God, and during prayer the Mother of God appeared to him, who commanded him to leave the miraculous icon in Vladimir and build a cathedral that would become its home. The prince placed the icon in Vladimir and since then the image has received the name - the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
Patroness of the Russian people
The icon was first brought to Moscow in 1395, when the conqueror Khan Tamerlane (Temir-Aksak) and his hordes invaded Russian lands, took the city of Yelets and headed towards Moscow.
Moscow Prince Vasily Dmitrievich, who ruled from 1389 to 1425, went with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka.
The Grand Duke prayed to the saints of Moscow and St. Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Cyprian, so that the upcoming Dormition Fast would be devoted to fervent prayers for pardon and repentance.
© photo: Sputnik / Ivan Shagin
The clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the famous miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the clergy accepted 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!”
According to legend, at the very hour when the residents of Moscow met the icon on Kuchkovo Field, Tamerlane was dozing in his tent - in a dream he saw a great mountain, from the top of which saints with golden staffs were walking towards him, and above them the Majestic Woman appeared in a radiant radiance , who ordered him to leave the borders of Russia.
Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision, to which those who knew answered that the radiant Woman is the Mother of God, the great Protector of Christians. Then Tamerlane gave the order to the regiments to turn back.
In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, the Sretensky Monastery was built on Kuchkovo Field, where the icon was met, and on September 8 a celebration was established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
One of the greatest shrines in Russia
The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God has always taken part in important events Russian state and is considered one of the greatest shrines in Russia.
Thus, during the Tatar attack on Moscow in 1451, Metropolitan Jonah carried the icon in a procession along the city walls. At night, the attackers heard a loud noise and decided that Prince Vasily Dmitrievich was coming with his army to help the besieged; in the morning they lifted the siege and retreated from the city walls.
And in 1480, a battle between Russian troops and the Tatar-Mongols was supposed to take place - the opponents stood on different banks of the river and prepared for battle, but it never took place.
This “great stand on the Ugra River” ended with the flight of the Tatar-Mongols, to which the Mother of God turned them through her Vladimir Icon, which was in front of the Russian army.
Once again, enemy hordes approached Moscow in 1521, began to burn the towns, but unexpectedly withdrew from the city without causing significant harm to the capital. This event is also associated with the protection of the miraculous icon, in honor of which its third holiday was established, which is celebrated on June 3.
© photo: Sputnik / Yuri Kaver
With the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, the people went to the Novodevichy Convent to Boris Godunov to install him as king. This icon was met by the troops of Minin and Pozharsky, who in 1613 expelled the Polish invaders and so on.
The most important events in Russian church history also took place before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Including 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), and His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon (1917).
On the day of celebration in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Rus' was enthroned - June 3, 1971.
Moving to a new home
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was transferred for permanent storage to the Moscow Assumption Cathedral in 1480. In Vladimir, an exact copy of the icon remained, written by the Monk Andrei Rublev.
© photo: Sputnik / Alexey Bushkin
artist Andrei Rublev's horse "Our Lady of Vladimir" (1408)
In 1918, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was closed, and the miraculous image was moved to the State Tretyakov Gallery. On September 8, 1999, the miraculous icon was transferred from the Tretyakov Gallery to the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, connected to the museum by a small corridor.
Description of the Holy Image
According to art historians, the icon was painted in the 12th century, presumably in Constantinople. The icon belongs to the ancient type of images of the Mother of God, which is called “Eleusa”, that is, “Merciful, Tender.”
These are the most tender icons of the Mother of God, on them the Most Holy One clung to her Son, and He to Her. They seem to be conducting some kind of internal dialogue among themselves, and the one praying becomes, as it were, a participant in this conversation between the Mother and the Infant God.
The icon is double-sided: on the front side is the image of the Mother of God with the Child, on the back is the throne and instruments of the Passion of Christ. The background is light ocher, the soil is lilac, with brown “marbled” stains, the fields are dark ocher, the inscriptions (IC XC. NI KA) are red.
Copies were often written from the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, some of which received special names and are miraculous.
An exact copy of the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also located in Cathedral"Sameba" (Holy Trinity). The gift of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' was delivered to Georgia in September 2009.
What does it help with?
The Mother of God of Vladimir helps every believer who turns to Her with sincere prayer - She is an intercessor and protector, protects the home and helps in many everyday needs.
The Blessed Virgin Mary helps to find true path, accept right decision, gives strength to overcome a difficult period of life, strengthens faith, protects against hostility, and delivers from sinful thoughts and turmoil.
The Mother of God also heals from physical ailments; people especially often pray to Her for the healing of diseases of the heart and eyes, which symbolizes insight not only physical, but also spiritual.
Our Lady also promotes a happy marriage, for strong family ties, without quarrels and discord, are the key to a strong country.
Prayers
First prayer
Oh, All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, All-Powerful Intercessor, our shameless Hope!
We thank You for all the good deeds that the Russian people have received from You, from ancient times to this day from Your miraculous icon that perishes. And now, Blessing the Lady, look upon us, Thy sinful and unworthy servants, show us Thy mercy and pray to Thy Son, Christ our God, that we may be delivered from all evil and that every city and village, and our entire country, will be saved from famine and destruction. , coward, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. Ask Orthodox Christian prosperity and peaceful life, health, long life, good haste and salvation in everything. Preserve and make wise the shepherds of the Church, who are worthy to shepherd the flock of Christ and the right to rule the word of truth; Strengthen the Christ-loving All-Russian army, give the spirit of advice and reason to the military commander, the mayor and everyone who is in power; send down Thy holy blessing upon all Orthodox Christians who worship Thy and pray before Thy celibate icon. Be our Intercessor and Intercessor before the Throne of the Most High, where you stand. To whom shall we resort if not to You, Lady? To whom shall we bring tears and sighs, if not to You, Most Holy Theotokos? There are no imams of any other help, no imams of any other hope, except for You, Heavenly Queen. We flow under Your protection, through Your prayers send us peace, health, fruitful lands, good dissolution of the air, deliver us from all troubles and sorrows, from all ailments and illnesses, from sudden deaths and from all the bitterness of enemies, visible and invisible.
Enlighten and teach us, O All-Merciful Intercessor, how to sinlessly pass the path of this earthly life; You weigh all our weaknesses and our sins, but you also weigh our faith and see our hope; grant us correction of sinful lives and soften evil heart our.
Strengthen the right faith in us, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, patience and love, in good deeds prosperity; Deliver us from temptations, from destructive, soul-harming teachings, from unbelief, corruption and eternal destruction. We therefore ask You, Most Pure Lady, and falling before Your holy icon, we pray, have mercy on us and have mercy on us, on the terrible day of judgment, through Your intercession and intercession, we are worthy to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God, to Him belongs all glory and honor. and worship, with His Originless Father, and His Most Holy and Good and Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Second prayer
To whom shall we cry, Lady? To whom shall we resort in our sorrow, if not to You, Queen of Heaven? Who will accept our crying and sighing, if not You, most immaculate, the hope of Christians and refuge for us sinners? Who is more in Your favor? Incline Your ear to us, Lady, Mother of our God, and do not despise those who require Your help: hear our groaning, strengthen us sinners, enlighten and teach us, Queen of Heaven, and do not depart from us, Thy servant, Lady, for our grumbling, but be our Mother and Intercessor, and entrust us to the merciful protection of Your Son: arrange for us whatever Your holy will pleases, and lead us, sinners, to a quiet and serene life, may we cry for our sins, may we always rejoice with You , now and ever and forever. Amen.
The material was prepared based on open sources
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.
History of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God
The original location of the icon was Jerusalem; in the 5th century it was transported to Constantinople. It is known how the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir came to Rus': the Patriarch of Constantinople gave 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 on the way a real miracle happened: not far from Vladimir, the horses with the cart on which the icon was being transported suddenly stopped, and no force could move them. Deciding that this was a sign of God, they spent the night there, and at night during prayer the prince had a vision: the Mother of God herself ordered to leave her icon in Vladimir, and at the site of the parking lot to build a monastery with a temple in honor of Her Nativity. This is how the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary got its name.
Meeting of the Vladimir Icon
In 1395, the hordes of Tamerlane descended on 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 within 10 days it was brought to Moscow in a religious procession. Along the way and in Moscow itself, the icon was met by hundreds and thousands of kneeling people, offering it a prayer to save the Russian land from its enemies. The solemn meeting (presentation) 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 Woman hovering over the saints, who commanded 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 Blessed Virgin Mary was established.
The meaning of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
The significance of this icon for Rus' and all its Orthodox Christians cannot be overestimated - it is our national shrine. Before her, in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, the anointing of sovereigns to the kingdom and the election of high priests took place. More than once, the Queen of Heaven, the patroness of Rus', saved her: in 1480 she delivered her from the Horde Khan Akhmat (celebration on June 23), and in 1521 - from the Crimean Khan Makhmet-Girey (celebration on May 21).
Our Lady 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 from all over Rus' flocked to it with their prayers.
There are many stories of miraculous healings and other help in troubles and misfortunes. Moreover, not only the icon itself, located in Moscow, had miraculous power, but also its numerous copies, such as the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God of Oran, which saved Nizhny Novgorod from a plague epidemic in 1771, or the Vladimir Zaonikiev Icon of the Mother of God, famous for its numerous healings, etc.
Currently, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is located 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 “Eleus” type, 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 not for the eyes, filled with incredible tragedy in anticipation of the torment to which Her Child is doomed. The baby, in His innocent ignorance, hugs the Mother, pressing his cheek to Her cheek. A very touching detail is the bare left leg peeking out from under His robe, so that the sole is visible, which is typical for all copies from the Vladimir Icon.
What does the Vladimir Icon help with?
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God saved Holy Rus' more than once. In difficult times, religious processions and national prayer services with this icon brought deliverance from enemy invasions, unrest, schism, and epidemics; Before this image, the Russian monarchs were crowned kings and took the 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, and bring healing from physical ailments, especially the heart and eyes. They also pray to her for strengthening family ties and family well-being.
Prayer to the icon
To whom shall we cry, Lady? To whom shall we resort in our sorrow, if not to You, Queen of Heaven? Who will accept our tears and sighs, if not You, Most Immaculate, the hope of Christians and our refuge? sinful? Who is in mercy more than You? Incline Your ear to us, Lady, Mother of our God, and do not despise those who require Your help: hear our groaning, strengthen us sinners, enlighten and teach us, O Queen of Heaven, and do not depart from us, Thy servant, Lady, for our grumbling, but Be our Mother and Intercessor, and entrust us to the merciful protection of Your Son. Arrange for us whatever Your holy will pleases, and lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life, may we weep for our sins, may we rejoice with You always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
