Every person, with his appearance in the world, is called to glorify his God, the one who created him, the world, the earth, animals, people and everything else. But have you ever wondered how much you know about your faith, its traditions and saints, and the significance of the Orthodox Church in the world today? Orthodoxy is the name given to true, real knowledge of God.
Traditionally, all Orthodox believe in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But, besides this, in any Orthodox Church you can find icons of saints. When faced with various life difficulties, believers turn for help not only to the Almighty, but also to the saints, through their and certain prayers. Everyone has their own guardian angel and saint, in whom a person believes more than in others. But in order for the life situation to be resolved in better side, and the person asking was heard, it is necessary to know all the icons and their meaning.
Icons of all saints photos and their meaning.
To begin with, let's look at the question of what icons are. Icon - a sacred image of the faces of saints, as well as events church history presented in the bible. In other words, an icon is a path and a way of communication and unification with God. Different icons help in different situations.
Nicholas the Wonderworker will help you in any need. They say that his icon, located in your home, will protect you and your loved ones from poverty and want. You can ask the saint for prosperity and prosperity in your home. Nicholas the Pleasant is worshiped by everyone: travelers, pilots, drivers, sailors, and everyone who simply believes in him.
Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker twice a year - on May 22 and December 19. These two dates are fixed, unlike some other church holidays.
2. Mother of God
The Mother of God is one of the most revered iconographic images among Orthodox believers. The image of the Mother of God has always been and is still considered a symbol of the guardian and intercessor of the Russian people. One of the proofs is the victory of the Russian people in the Great Patriotic War under the protection of the Mother of God. It was from that time that it became customary in Rus' that the image of the Mother of God helps and protects the Russian land.
Despite the general meaning, there are different icons of the Virgin Mary in Orthodoxy. Each type has its own special meaning for believers. We will give, for example, five types of images of the Virgin Mary:
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Guidebook -
According to biblical data, it was she who was first written by the Evangelist Luke. The Virgin Mary is depicted here from the waist up, less often to the shoulders. There is also a slight tilt of the head towards Jesus Christ, and right hand points to him. This type means a mutual relationship between mother and son.
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Tenderness - Eleusa
IN in this case The Mother of God presses her baby to her cheek, there is no distance between them, and this is a symbol of boundless love and tenderness between son and mother. Tenderness conveys the boundless love of God for all people; the image reminds us of his great sacrifice for the salvation of the entire human people.
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Praying - Oranta, Panagia, Sign
The Mother of God is depicted from the waist up or at full height with her hands raised up, her son Jesus is depicted in the center, at the level of his mother’s chest. The meaning here is the foreshadowing of the Nativity of Christ.
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All-Merciful - Panahranta,
The Virgin Mary sitting on the throne and Jesus sitting on her lap, this all just shows her greatness as an earthly intercessor.
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Intercessor - Agiosoritissa
Here the Virgin is depicted alone, without the son of God. Her hands are directed towards God, which means a prayer for the protection of humanity by the Blessed Virgin Mary before Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist is the last prophet of the Old Testament who introduced Jesus Christ as a savior to the people of Israel. He is also called by another name - John the Baptist - emphasizing his specific role as the forerunner and predecessor of Jesus. It was John who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. People turn to the icon for help in soil fertility and a rich harvest.
The feast of John the Baptist is celebrated several times and is associated with various episodes from his life and veneration. July 7 - Nativity of John the Baptist; September 11 - Beheading of John the Baptist; January 20 - Synapsis of John the Baptist.
4. St. George the Victorious
- Orthodox saint. He is depicted sitting on a horse and holding a dragon sword in his hands. It is he who will help you in dealing with your children, as well as in protecting your pets. The Feast of St. George the Victorious is celebrated on May 6th.
5. John of Kronstadt
Father John of Kronstadt, one of the most famous saints of recent history, had evangelical zeal and, above all, was Orthodox tradition and the faith and life of the Orthodox Church. Father John, one might say the family saint, was an expressive and impressive preacher, a man who moved the hearts of rejected sinners to repentance, a man of great depth of love and a spiritual healer. Huge crowds flocked to him from all parts of Orthodox Russia to hear him and be healed by him (in body and soul). Until now, people turn to his icon with requests for healing from serious illnesses. January 2 is considered the day of remembrance of St. John of Kronstadt.
6. Holy Martyr Boniface
If the problem of alcoholism has settled in your home, your advice would be to turn to Boniface for help. In addition, it will help you cope with gluttony.
7. Blessed Matrona of Moscow
Matrona was endowed with a special feeling, spiritual insight, miraculous and healing powers. Back in early age her family, as well as neighbors, noticed that she knew absolutely everything not only about human sins, but also about their thoughts. In addition to everything, she could easily see approaching dangers and social disasters.
The icon of the Blessed Matrona is one of those to which you can come to worship and ask for absolutely everything, especially healing. It is also worth remembering that believers should know the icons and prayers to them. The holiday in honor of Matrona of Moscow is considered to be November 22 of each year.
8. Ksenia Petersburgskaya
Everyone should know which icons are needed for what, for example, the icon of Xenia of St. Petersburg will help everyone with family problems. You can turn to her icon not only with requests for a happy marriage, but also in times of grief. The day of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg is considered to be February 6.
Saint Seraphim of Sarov is one of the most beloved and famous Orthodox saints of recent times. He spent 1000 days and nights on the stone, praying to God for forgiveness. He was a hermit, spiritual guide and priest. He led many Christian souls on the path of apostolic Christianity in Russia during the 19th century.
There are different icons, for example, family icons, including . Pray to Seraphim of Sarov for healing from pain in the joints, arms, legs and spine. The holiday of the discovery of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov in Orthodoxy is celebrated on August 1.
10. Saints Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia.
The martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia believed in God and proved that people, strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, have no obstacles to the manifestation of strength of spirit and courage. You, too, can ask for the intercession of the saints on the day of their prayer service - September 17 - and on any other day.
A few words about how to pray
Regardless of whether you are a woman or a man, before going to the Temple you need to cleanse yourself both physically and mentally. Only then will he go to the temple with good intentions. A woman must wear a skirt, preferably one that covers her knees. Men come in ordinary clothes, but without a headdress. All women must cover their heads with a scarf.
Before entering the temple and praying, you must cross yourself before entering the church. After which, you can approach the icon. Our list will help you choose an icon. In front of the icon you need to be baptized, read a prayer and be baptized again three times. Each icon requires its own prayer, usually prayer can be found near the icon. After finishing your prayer in the temple, you need to cross yourself three times on the way out, and only then go about your business with a pure soul.
Orthodox icons, their names and meaning - important aspect Christian Science studies. It is very difficult to imagine any Christian home without a variety of icons, each of which has its own meaning. As the history of religion says, many of them became known to believers many centuries ago. People's religious beliefs have been formed for a very long time, but this does not make icons lose their special cultural and historical significance for parishioners of many churches and temples. Orthodox icons, photos and their names play an important role in bringing people closer to the Lord.
It is believed that every saint can invisibly provide help even in the most seemingly hopeless situation. It is worth turning to some of the saints for help in any serious life situation. The names of Orthodox icons and their meanings will be presented in this article. In addition to descriptions and stories about the wonderful properties of each image, photos of the most revered of them will also be given.
IN this material It will be narrated about the significance of each icon presented, as well as the rules of prayer and the miracles that a particular holy face can perform. It also happens that the names of icons from photos already contain information about what troubles this image can protect from. Each icon described in the section will be highlighted special place. The greatest authority among believers both in Russia and throughout the world is the icon of the Mother of God, painted and for a long time kept within the walls of churches in the city of Kazan. This majestic and large-scale icon is considered the main protector of the inhabitants of our country. Any significant holiday in the life of a Russian person cannot do without a ritual of worship of this image, be it baptism or the sacred ceremony of wedding of loving hearts.
Below we will describe the revered icons of the Mother of God. The photo and name, and their meaning will also be revealed.
It is known that the icon of Our Lady of Kazan helps single believers soon find family happiness, and long-established couples overcome discord in their relationships and begin to live happier lives. Since it protects families, it is customary to hang it near the crib in any home so that the baby is under the protection and protection of the Lord.
In order to quickly figure out which image of the Mother of God to pray to in a given situation, it is better to learn the icons of the Mother of God with their names in advance. Speaking about the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, it is worth noting that it is considered no less revered among many believing citizens. There is information that this icon was awarded to the most influential kings in the Russian Empire during their coronation. You can pray to this icon to become kinder, to find a family and to be healed from serious illnesses, as well as to make peace with those with whom there was a serious conflict. Also, this image invisibly protects mothers and young children who are in difficult life situations from misfortunes and sorrows. On top of that, this icon helps with infertility and other disorders of the reproductive organs, as well as pregnant women and nursing mothers. These are the most popular icons of the Virgin Mary. Photos and names of other images will also be presented in this article.
As has already become clear even from the description of these two icons, the power of the Mother of God is almost omnipotent, however, like many other icons Orthodox Church. That is why it is so important for every believer to know icons Holy Mother of God with names. Every Christian needs to know at least some facts about the meaning of certain images, as well as some information about the life of one or another Orthodox saint.
As you know, the Lord hears those people who follow Him, observing all church and spiritual laws. Believe in God and be happy. Below are the most revered icons of the Mother of God, the names and meaning of each of them.
Icon of the Mother of God “Blessed Sky”
This miraculous icon They offer prayers to take the right path, and also to ensure that the dead people in the next world have peace and well-being. They praise this icon in the old way, and on March 19 in the new style.Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Desperate One Hope”
Some names of icons can rarely be heard in church use, but this does not deprive them of their power. Despite the fact that this image is little known, there is even an akathist for it in the Orthodox Church. Prayers in front of this icon can heal despondency, spiritual decline and sorrow. Those believers who are disappointed and have lost their divine spirit pray to the Almighty to perk up, forgive their offenders and reconcile with their enemies. In addition, they pray to the icon for deliverance from envy and reconciliation of warring people, including neighbors.
Modern addictions (gambling addiction, drug addiction, alcoholism, smoking, computer addiction) are subject to healing when turning to this image of the Mother of God.
Bogolyubskaya Icon of the Mother of God
This icon helps in healing plague, cholera, pestilence and other serious diseases. Worshiped in this image either on June 18 or June 1.
Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost”
They pray to this famous icon for cures for toothache and headaches, vision problems, fever and epilepsy, for well-being in marriage, for the return of faith in the Lord to the heart, as well as for very serious, almost incurable childhood illnesses. In addition, people turn to the same icon with a request to cure addiction to alcohol. The date of the day of praise is February 18 or 5.
Icon of Our Lady of Vladimir
This icon is known primarily for the fact that during the times of ancient Rus' the most noble gentlemen and kings were crowned with it. It is also known that with the participation of this image the elections of high priests were held. People pray to this icon to become kinder, to be healed from serious illnesses, to cast out demons from the body. Mothers and their little children can fully rely on the patronage of the Mother of God in this image, and for those who are just waiting for the baby to appear, this image will grant an easy birth and health to the newborn baby. Infertile women can turn to the icon with a request to grant long-awaited children.
The Vladimir and Kazan Mother of God are the most beloved icons of the Mother of God. Photos and names of these shrines can be found in the homes of even not very devout people.
Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”
Sometimes the names of icons speak for themselves. This icon is popular among people who have suffered severe resentment, suffering, severe seizures and respiratory diseases, and tuberculosis patients. In addition, here you can pray for the healing of the hands of a sick person. The icon's name day is celebrated on October 6 or 24.
Icon "The Queen of All"
There are quite rare, but very powerful icons of the Mother of God, photos with names of which will be presented below.
The icon of the Mother of God “The Queen of All” helps those people who suffer from cancer and undergo a series of courses of chemotherapy and radiation.
They offer their prayers to this icon during epidemics of plague, fever, ulcers, blindness, and hearing impairment. The name day of the holy image is celebrated on August 6 or 22.
They pray to this icon for the normalization of relations in the country, for justice, for finding joy in the heart, for the absence of hypocrisy in love. The day of this icon is celebrated on March 15 or 2.
This image of the holy Mother of God is prayed to in the presence of severe defects of the soul and body, as well as after any important work has ended. The name day of this icon is celebrated on June 11 or 23.
Those who are currently suffering from serious illnesses of soul and body, as well as those who are overcome by infirmity, offer their prayers to this image. True believers, when turning to this wonderful icon, receive complete healing for an indefinite period. The name day of the Life-Giving Spring icon is celebrated on the day of Bright Week.
Prayers are addressed to this holy image against cholera, visual impairment and other similar ailments. The name day of this icon is usually celebrated on September 8 or 21.
Name days are celebrated on Tuesday of Bright Week, and it helps with severe fires, as well as with various problems and when there is a need for consolation in spiritual adversity. Memorial Day is February 12 or 25.
It is customary for Orthodox citizens to direct their prayers to this icon when mass death livestock, plague, cholera, as well as in the presence of blindness and problems of the musculoskeletal system. Treatment in a huge number of cases guarantees complete recovery.
This icon, endowed with miraculous properties, is prayed to in case of pronounced paralysis, in case of infection with smallpox, in case of diseases of the legs, in case of suspected attacks “ evil spirits", as well as protecting against sudden death. The days of memory of the icon are celebrated on March 16 or 29.
in cases where there is a danger of invasion by foreigners, as well as about the return of sight to blind people and successful entry into God's union loving friend friend to people. In addition, such prayer helps to survive cataclysms. The icon celebrates its name day on June 8th and 21st and in October on the 4th and 22nd.
Those who suffer from significant hearing impairments, as well as other similar ailments, bow and pray to this image. This icon celebrates its name day on September 2 and 15.
"Kozelshchanskaya" Icon of the Mother of God
Prayerful appeal to this wonderful, life-giving icon is useful for any injuries to the limbs, serious injuries and upcoming serious surgical interventions. This icon of the Mother of God celebrates the name day on February 6 and 21.
Icon of the Mother of God "Mammal"
This divine face is worshiped as usual by women in labor, pregnant and nursing mothers. This icon celebrates Memorial Day on January 12 and 25.
Before this majestic icon they pray in the name of piety, the triumph of truth, for the revival of mercy and compassion in human hearts, for the acquisition of healthy physical body and reason, about preserving the Christian faith throughout the country. The praise of this icon and its name day takes place on April 12 and 25.
This icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is called upon to deliver people who sincerely pray to Her from fires, floods and other damage to property. Remembrance Day is celebrated on September 4 and 17 each year.
The icon helps not to go astray from the right path in life, to preserve a righteous way of life, and helps lonely believers find true love. By sincerely praying before this image and asking for help and advice, you can solve any, even the most difficult problems in family life and relationships between spouses. In addition, the icon helps seriously ill believers to heal as quickly as possible. Remembrance Day is celebrated on April 3 and 16.
There are usually queues of deaf and hard of hearing people waiting for this icon. The icon's name day is December 9 and 22.
All sinful people pray to this icon, and the relatives of gambling addicts, drug addicts and alcoholics also turn with hope. This icon calls for the cultivation of mercy and kindness, as well as for a feeling of joy from every day. The saying on the image reads: “To all who ask by faith it will be given!”
Those who want to be healed of the most serious illnesses offer their prayers to this icon. Name days are celebrated on January 21 or 3.
Since time immemorial, in the mi-well-you-are-a-hundred-of-the-great-sufferings at the birth of children, when death is so close, women... The cabbage soup comes with a special-ben-but-hot prayer to the Savior and His Most Pure Ma-te-ri. In good families and in our time you can see the icon of God-ma-te-ri, na-zy-va-e- I think “Help in childbirth.” and all pregnant women who want to give birth to healthy children without problems pray to the unusually grace-filled icon of the Mother of God.
They pray to this truly miraculous icon for the prevention of wars and schisms, for protection from various heresies, for protection from the invasion of foreigners and strangers, for protection from spiritual and physical blindness. Days of respect are July 23 and 5.
This image of the Mother of God is intended to protect believers from cholera and complete loss of vision. The name day of this wonderful image of the Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 16 or 29.
This icon, better than any other, can protect against the evil eye, damage and unkind thoughts of passing people. It is customary to place this icon in the left corner of the hallway so that every person passing into the house is clearly visible. This icon feels envy and curses like no other, which is why they do not take root where this image exists. The best location for such an icon is opposite front door.
Sailors who have suffered a shipwreck pray before this image, as well as those who have blindness, weak legs, deafness, problems with their hands, as well as those who have unwittingly become hostages of terrorists. The day of veneration of the icon is celebrated on November 9 or 22.
This icon is prayed to in case of suspected fetal pathology so that the birth is successful and the child is born healthy. The icon's name day is celebrated on March 9 and 22.
This icon is prayed to by those who work in professions that involve immersion in water. Name days are celebrated on December 20 or 2.
It is customary to offer prayers to this icon in the name of deliverance from drought, disease and general hunger. The name day of this Holy Image is celebrated on October 15 and 28.
This uplifting icon is prayed to in cases of terrible despondency, sorrow and powerlessness. Also, the reason for praying to this icon will be a darkened state of spirit. The name day of this icon is celebrated on March 7 and 20.
"Passionate" icon of the Mother of God
This icon can give a miracle of healing from cholera, vision problems, muscle weakness, and protect from the impending “big fire”. Name days are celebrated on August 13 and 26.
This icon is worshiped when healing the blind and those possessed by demons, with epilepsy, with muscle weakness, when healing small children, with paralysis of the lower and upper limbs. You can also pray to this icon when attacking foreigners. This icon celebrates its name day on June 26 and 9.
Believing parishioners pray to this image to eliminate drought and cravings for vices, including atheism. The memorial day is celebrated on August 8 and 21.
They pray to this icon for the return of lost or stolen valuables, for the acquittal of the obviously innocent and for the release of hostages from captivity. The day of this icon is celebrated on December 26 or 8.
This icon belongs to Saint Seraphim of Sarov and gives seriously ill people quick relief from suffering and strengthening their faith in the Lord. The name day of this masterpiece of icon painting is celebrated on July 28 and 10, as well as on July 19 and 1.
They pray to this icon to moderate the ardor of sinful passions, to interrupt the series of harmful addictions. Orthodox believers celebrate a memorable day for the icon on January 25 and 7.
Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God
This icon has been held in high regard by believers for a very long time because it protects happy families and the health of young children. On top of that, this icon can help with long and difficult childbirth. This image of the Mother of God is kept in the Epiphany Cathedral in the city of Kostroma, and it appeared in 1613 and came into the possession of the Tsar of the Russian State, Mikhail Fedorovich.
Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary “Healer”
This icon speaks for itself. Usually seriously ill Christians turn to her for help. The icon celebrates its birthday on September 18 or 1.
Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God
Those possessed by demons, as well as blind or visually impaired people come to pray to this icon. Name days are celebrated on September 1 and 14.
Icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”
This icon can very easily heal diseases of the hands and feet, as well as severe mental and spiritual suffering. The date for celebrating the name day of the icon is June 28 or 11.
Above were the most revered icons of the Mother of God. Photos with names will help you quickly find this or that image and find out its meaning.
Icon "Holy Trinity"
The most famous version of the image of the Holy Trinity icon belongs to the brush of the famous master of icon painting Andrei Rublev. There are also images painted by the hands of other equally famous icon painters. The icon shows the faces of the members of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) floating in the heavens. This icon must be present in every home, since its effect is universal. At the moment, the main copy is located within the walls of the Trinity Church in the city of Kaluga.
Other holy icons are also venerated. Their name and meaning should certainly be known.
Icon of the name of the Holy Great Martyr Pantileimon
The image of the Great Martyr is known for its miraculous healing properties. Parishioners who place candles next to this icon and ask for healing receive real Grace from the Lord. At the moment, the most important copy of the Pantileimon icon is in the Church of John the Baptist.
Holy Blessed Matrona of Moscow
This saint is one of the most revered in the world of religion. The main monastery, where her relics remain to this day, is located in the capital of our homeland on Taganskoye Highway. The monastery in which the relics of Matrona rest is purely female. Every day, crowds of believers come to the monastery to turn to Matronushka with a prayer for help or with gratitude. In the vicinity of Moscow, namely in Kaluga, there is also an icon of Matrona, and it is located in the Church of the Myrrh-Bearing Women.
Peter and Fevronia
In the same temple there is an icon of the Holy couple Peter and Fevronia, to whom people turn for help in love and family life.
Unfortunately, all the icons are Orthodox; their photos and names cannot be described in one article, because there are a huge number of them. But nevertheless, the main shrines were still consecrated.
Everyone has their own cross, their own icons,
your own poems, your own silence.
In front of the mirror, we often bow,
not noticing that there is still the same emptiness in them..
Everyone has their own guardian angel and their own intercessor icon, which is given from birth.
Pray to your icon, ask the Lord through it for healing and it will definitely come.
Every profession, every direction has its own unspoken heavenly patron. According to tradition, in ancient times all believers had an icon of their saint at home. All icons are sacred.
Many of them emanated a radiant light, others streamed myrrh or smelled fragrant.
Icons have more than once saved cities from fires, capture and destruction. There are countless icons in the temples, and they are all revered.
First of all, icons give people help - they heal, they deliver from death and destruction.
All icons somehow manifest miracles, with their help we find peace and strength.
For each person, the word “faith” means something different.
Some people go to church and pray, others simply believe in their souls and believe that going to church every week is not at all necessary.
And everyone is right in their own way.
After all, faith is in our soul, in our heart. Almost every believer has a orthodox icons, and if someone doesn’t, then these people go to church and pray there. Although an icon is not at all necessary for prayer. In the history of Christianity, icons play a huge role.
In essence, an icon is a certain form of Divine revelation.
And its purpose is to cleanse the souls of people who contemplate it and pray in front of it. They pray in front of the icons. And prayer can be different. Sometimes people ask for help, sometimes they thank you for it. At the same time, the icon is revered, but not worshiped, since only God can be worshiped.
The past is an endless distance, and the more we look into it, the better we see how deep the roots of human history go back centuries.
But there are events that unite all centuries, all peoples, and then time, which, at first glance, mercilessly measures out the earthly human path, seems to cease to exist.
Those who were born from December 22 to January 20, will be protected by the icon of the Mother of God “Sovereign”, and their guardian angels are Saint Sylvester and Venerable Seraphim Sarovsky.
Before Your Sovereign Icon
I stand, embraced in prayerful trepidation,
And Your royal face, crowned,
Draws my tender gaze towards Him.
In a time of unrest and inglorious cowardice,
Treason, lies, unbelief and evil,
You showed us Your Sovereign Image,
You came to us and meekly prophesied:
"I myself took the scepter and the orb,
I myself will hand them over to the King again,
I will give the Russian kingdom greatness and glory,
I will nourish, console, and reconcile everyone."
Repent, Rus', you unfortunate harlot...
Wash away your desecrated shame in tears,
Your Intercessor, Heavenly Queen,
He pities you and protects you, the sinner.
S. Bekhteev
Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Sovereign” they pray for truth, heartfelt joy, unfeigned love for each other, for peace in the country, for the salvation and preservation of Russia, for the protection of the throne and the state, for deliverance from foreigners and for the granting of healings of body and soul.
Born from January 21 to February 20 are protected by Saints Athanasius and Cyril, and will be protected by the icons of the Mother of God “Vladimir” and “Burning Bush”. The “Vladimir” icon of the Mother of God has been revered as miraculous for several centuries. Before her, they prayerfully ask the Mother of God for healing from bodily ailments, in particular, diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system. People turn to her for help during disasters, when they need protection from enemies. In all centuries, before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, people prayed for the preservation of Russia. Every home should have this icon, because it reconciles those at war, softens people’s hearts, and helps strengthen faith.
Vladimir icon The Mother of God was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Savior dined with the Most Pure Mother and Righteous Joseph. 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.” In 1131, the icon was sent to Rus' from Constantinople to the holy prince Mstislav († 1132, commemorated April 15) and was placed in the Maiden Monastery of Vyshgorod - the ancient appanage city of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga.
Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “The Burning Bush” they pray for deliverance from fire and lightning, from severe troubles, and for the healing of ailments. The icon of the Mother of God “The Burning Bush” is depicted in the form of an octagonal star, consisting of two sharp quadrangles with concave ends. One of them is red, reminiscent of the fire that surrounded the bush that Moses saw; another - green, indicating the natural color of the bush, which it retained when embraced fiery flame. In the middle of the octagonal star, as if in a bush, the Most Pure Virgin with the Eternal Child is depicted. At the corners of the red quadrangle there are depicted a man, a lion, a calf and an eagle, symbolizing the four evangelists. In the hands of the Most Pure Virgin is a ladder, leaning its upper end against Her shoulder. The ladder means that through the Mother of God the Son of God descended to earth, raising to Heaven all who believe in Him.
It used to be: the gray-haired church
Burning Bush,
Crouching in a white snowstorm,
Flashes at me from the silence;
In front of the thoughtful icon case -
Unquenchable lantern;
And falls lightly
Under the light there is a pink snowball.
Neopalimov Lane
The blizzard is boiling with pearl barley;
And Our Lady in the alley
He looks thoughtful with tears.
A. Bely
The icon of the Iveron Mother of God is the intercessor of those born with February 21 to March 20. Their guardian angels are Saints Alexius and Milentius of Antioch. The history of the Iveron Icon can be traced back to the first century, when, out of indescribable love for people, the Mother of God blessed the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke to paint its image during the days of Her earthly life. The Monk John of Damascus wrote: “The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, at the time when Holy Mother God still lived in Jerusalem and lived in Zion, painted Her Divine and honest image on a board with picturesque means, so that subsequent generations and generations could contemplate her, as in a mirror. When Luke presented this image to Her, She said: “From now on all generations will bless Me. May the grace and power of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with you.” Tradition attributes to the brushes of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke from three to seventy icons of the Mother of God, including the Iveron icon.
Before the Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos they pray for deliverance from various misfortunes and for consolation in troubles, from fire, for increasing the fertility of the earth, for deliverance from grief and sadness, for the healing of physical and mental ailments, in difficult circumstances, for help to farmers.
Born with March 21 to April 20 one must ask for protection from the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, and they are protected by saints Sophrony and Innocent of Irkutsk, as well as George the Confessor. We do not know by whom and when the icon of the Russian Mother of God Hodegetria was painted, which translated from Greek means “Guide”. The image of the Kazan Mother of God belongs to this type of icon. An ancient Russian monk-icon painter, inspired by the image of the Byzantine Hodegetria, which is believed to have been painted by the Evangelist Luke during the life of the Mother of God, paints his own version of this icon. Its iconography, compared to the Byzantine one, is slightly changed. The Russian version can always be recognized by its barely noticeable warmth, softening the regal severity of the Byzantine originals.
Our Lady of Kazan and her holy, miraculous, saving icon(she returns sight to the blind, gives strength to the weak) are considered practically official intercessors, defenders of Russia from external and internal enemies. It is also popularly believed that prayer before the Orthodox icon of the Mother of God protects and frees the praying person from his visible and invisible enemies, i.e. from evil people and from evil spirits...
The icons “Supportress of Sinners” and the Iveron Mother of God will protect those born with April 21 to May 20. Saints Stephen and Tamara, Apostle John the Theologian are their guardian angels. The icon received its name from the inscription preserved on it: “I am the Helper of sinners to My Son...”. Many miraculous healings occurred from the miraculous image. Surety of sinners means Surety for sinners before the Lord Jesus Christ. Before the miraculous image of the Mother of God, “Helper of Sinners,” they pray for the granting of repentance, in despondency, despair and spiritual sorrow, for the healing of various ailments, for the salvation of sinners.
This image first became famous for miracles in the Nikolaev Odrina monastery in the Oryol province in the middle of the last century. The ancient icon of the Mother of God “Helper of Sinners”, due to its dilapidation, did not enjoy proper veneration and stood in the old chapel at the monastery gates. But in 1843, many residents discovered in their dreams that this icon was endowed, by God’s Providence, with miraculous power. The icon was solemnly transferred to the church. Believers began to flock to her and ask for healing of their sorrows and illnesses. The first to receive healing was a relaxed boy, whose mother fervently prayed in front of this shrine. The icon became especially famous during the cholera epidemic, when it brought back to life many terminally ill people who flocked to it with faith.
If your birthday falls between May 21 to June 21, one must ask for protection from the icons of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost,” “Burning Bush” and “Vladimirskaya.” Protected by saints Alexei of Moscow and Constantine. According to legend, the icon of the Mother of God “SEEKING THE LORD” became famous back in the 6th century in the Asia Minor city of Adana, saving the repentant monk Theophilus from eternal death, who subsequently achieved the highest spiritual perfection and was glorified by the Church as a saint. The name of the icon arose under the influence of the story “On the repentance of Theophilus, the steward of the church in the city of Adana” (7th century): praying before the image of the Mother of God, Theophilus called it “Recovery of the Lost.”
Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Seeking the Lost” they pray for the blessing of marriage; people come to her with a prayer for liberation from vices, Mothers come with petitions for perishing children, for the health and well-being of children, for the healing of eye diseases and blindness, for toothache, for fever, for the disease of drunkenness, for headaches, for the admonition of those who have fallen away from the Orthodox faith and the return of the lost to the Church.
Icons of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” and the Kazan Mother of God - intercessors of those born with June 22 to July 22. Saint Cyril is their guardian angel. “The Joy of All Who Sorrow” is one of the most popular and widely revered miraculous icons of the Mother of God in Imperial Russia, having a number of significantly different iconographic options. Many sick and mourning people, prayerfully turning to the Mother of God through Her miraculous image, began to receive healing and deliverance from troubles.
According to custom, the Mother of God is depicted according to the words of the prayer addressed to her. “Helper of the offended, hopeless hope, intercessor of the poor, consolation of the sad, nurse of the hungry, clothing of the naked, healing of the sick, salvation of sinners, help and intercession of Christians for all,” - this is what we call the image embodied in the icons “Joy of All Who Sorrow.”
Queen of heaven and earth, consolation to those who mourn,
Heed the prayer of sinners: in You are hope and salvation.
We are mired in the evil of passions, we wander in the darkness of vice,
But... our Motherland... Oh, incline your all-seeing eye to it.
Holy Rus' - your bright home is almost dying,
We call to You, Intercessor: no one else knows about us.
Oh, do not leave Your children who grieve Hope,
Do not turn Your eyes away from our sorrow and suffering.
Saint Nicholas the Pleasant and Elijah the Prophet protect those born with July 23 to August 23 , and the icon “Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos” protects them. In Orthodox Rus', the word “pokrov” means both veil and protection. On the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary Orthodox people they ask the Queen of Heaven for protection and help. In Rus', this holiday was established in the 12th century by Holy Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. Having learned that Saint Andrew, the Fool for Christ's sake, saw the Mother of God holding Her veil over the Orthodox, he exclaimed: “Such a great event cannot remain without celebration.” The holiday was established and immediately accepted by all the people in the joyful conviction that the Mother of God tirelessly keeps Her cover over the Russian land. All his life, Grand Duke Andrei fought against the discord and disunity of his land. He firmly believed that the cover of the Mother of God would protect Rus' “from arrows flying in the darkness of our division.”
The Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a great Orthodox holiday in memory of the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God in the Blachernae Church in 910 during the siege of Constantinople. The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos is a sign of the grace of God covering us, strengthening us, and preserving us. The icon depicts a procession to heaven through the clouds, to the Savior. The procession is led by the Mother of God, holding a small veil in her hands, and behind Her are a host of saints. The icon symbolizes the prayer of the entire Heavenly Church for the human race.
Those who were born with August 24 to September 23. Their guardian angels are Saints Alexander, John and Paul. The “Passionate” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos received its name because near the face of the Mother of God two Angels are depicted with the instruments of the Lord’s passion - a cross, a sponge, a spear. The holy image was glorified during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich.
“When you pray before that image with faith, you and many others will receive healing.”
Those who were born with September 24 to October 23. They are protected by Saint Sergius of Radonezh. The honest and life-giving Cross of the Lord was found in 326 in Jerusalem not far from the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In memory of this event, the Church established a holiday on September 14/27. The legend of the discovery of the Cross of Christ is closely connected with the life of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Helen and Constantine. The Savior showed the life-giving power of His Cross through the revival of the deceased, to whom the Cross was attached. When the Cross was found, in order to give everyone gathered for the celebration the opportunity to see the shrine, the patriarch erected (raised) the Cross, turning it to all cardinal directions.
Now for us the cross is a sacred, most important and most expensive symbol. More than two billion people on earth (more precisely, 2 billion 100 million - that’s how many Christians there are on the planet) wear it on their chests as a sign of their involvement in the true God. Two thousand years ago in Palestine, and in many other places, the cross was just an instrument of execution - just like the electric chair is now in America. And Mount Golgotha near the city walls of Jerusalem was usual place carrying out death sentences.
About three hundred years have passed since the death on the cross and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity, despite severe persecution, spread more and more throughout the entire earth, attracting both the poor and the rich, the powerful and the weak. Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, his father was a pagan, his mother, Queen Helena, a Christian. After the death of his father, Constantine had a war with the ruler of the city of Rome. On the eve of the decisive battle, when the sun began to set, Constantine and his entire army saw a cross in the sky, with the inscription “This way you will win.” In a dream, at night, Constantine also saw Christ with a cross. The Lord ordered him to make crosses on the banners of his troops and said that he would defeat the enemy. Constantine fulfilled God’s command, and having won the victory and entered Rome, he ordered a statue with a cross in his hand to be erected in the city square. With the accession of Constantine, the persecution of Christians ceased, and the emperor himself was baptized shortly before his death, because he considered himself unworthy to accept this sacrament earlier.
Saint Paul is the guardian angel of those born with October 24 to November 22. The icons of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” and “Jerusalem” protect them. The history of the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” goes back more than a millennium. According to legend, it is contemporary with the founding of the Athonite Dochiar monastery and was written in the 10th century with the blessing of the founder of the monastery, the Monk Neophytos. It is believed that the icon is a copy of the revered image of the Mother of God, located in the city of Alexandria. The icon received its name, now known throughout the Orthodox world, later - in the 17th century, when a miracle occurred from it. In Rus', the miraculous Athonite icon “Quick to Hear” has always enjoyed great love and veneration, because it became famous for its miracles. Particularly noted were cases of healing from epilepsy and demonic possession, which are ambulance and consolation to all who flow to Her with faith.
In front of this icon they pray for spiritual insight, for various infirmities, for cancer, for help in childbirth and for feeding with milk, for children. And first of all, they pray to the Quick to Hear when they do not know how best to act, what to ask for, in confusion and bewilderment.
According to the pious Tradition of the Church, some of the ancient miraculous images of the Mother of God were painted by the first icon painter, the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, even during the earthly life of the Ever-Virgin. These include Vladimir, Smolensk and other icons. It is believed that the image of the Jerusalem icon was also painted by the Apostle Luke, and this happened in the Holy Land, in Gethsemane, in the fifteenth year after the Savior’s ascension to heaven. In 453, the image was transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople by the Greek king Leo the Great. In 988, Tsar Leo VI presented the icon as a gift to Grand Duke Vladimir when he was baptized in the city of Korsun (present-day Kherson). Saint Vladimir bestowed Jerusalem icon Mother of God to the Novgorodians, but in 1571 Tsar Ivan the Terrible moved her to Moscow to the Assumption Cathedral. During Napoleon's invasion in 1812, this icon of the Mother of God was stolen and taken to France, where it remains to this day.
Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Jerusalem they pray in grief, sadness and despondency, for healing from blindness, eye diseases and paralysis, during a cholera epidemic, for deliverance from the death of livestock, from fire, during relaxation, as well as during an attack by enemies.
Born with November 23 to December 21 should ask for intercession from the icons of the Mother of God “Tikhvin” and “The Sign”. Saint Nicholas the Pleasant and Saint Barbara are their guardian angels. The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is considered the patroness of infants; it is called the children's icon. She helps children in illness, calms the restless and disobedient, helps them choose friends, and protects them from the bad influence of the street. It is believed to strengthen the bond between parents and children. Helps women during childbirth and pregnancy. Also, people turn to the Mother of God in front of Her Tikhvin icon with prayer when there are problems with conception.
One of the most revered shrines in Rus'. It is believed that this image was created by the holy evangelist Luke during the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Until the 14th century, the icon was in Constantinople, until in 1383 it unexpectedly disappeared from the Blachernae Church. According to the chronicle, in the same year in Rus' the icon appeared before fishermen on Lake Ladoga near the city of Tikhvin. The miraculous Tikhvin Icon from the Tikhvin Monastery is currently kept in Chicago in the USA.
The Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” became famous in the 12th century, at a time when the Russian land was groaning from civil strife. The Vladimir-Suzdal prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, in alliance with the princes of Smolensk, Polotsk, Ryazan, Murom and others (72 princes in total), sent his son Mstislav to conquer Veliky Novgorod. In the winter of 1170, a huge militia laid siege to Novgorod, demanding its surrender. After fruitless negotiations, the Novgorodians refused to surrender, and the battle began. The defenders of Novgorod, seeing the terrible strength of the enemy and exhausted in the unequal struggle, placed all their hope in the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos, since they felt the truth was on their side.
Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “The Sign” of Novgorod they pray for an end to disasters, for protection from enemy attacks, from fires, for protection from thieves and criminals and for the return of what was lost, for deliverance from the plague, for the pacification of the warring and deliverance from internecine warfare..
In every home it is desirable to have the Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (Goalkeeper), which protects the house from enemies and ill-wishers. The Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the most famous and revered in the Orthodox world. According to legend, Iverskaya was written by the Evangelist Luke, for a long time it was located in Nicaea in Asia Minor, and from the beginning of the 11th century. permanently resides in the Iveron Monastery on Holy Mount Athos (in honor of which it received its name).
Not far from the Iveron monastery on the seashore, a miraculous spring has been preserved to this day, flowing at the moment when the Mother of God set foot on Athos soil; this place is called Klimentova pier. And it was to this place that the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, now known to the whole world, miraculously, in a pillar of fire, appeared across the sea. The veneration of this image is evidenced by the fact that the Monk Nicodemus the Holy Mountain alone wrote four canons to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
Here is what the famous Russian pilgrim-pedestrian of the 18th century Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky writes about the “Goalkeeper”: “In this beautiful, built temple at the inner gates of the monastery, in the iconostasis, instead of the local ordinary Mother of God, there is a certain holy and miraculous icon, named after the ancient monks Portaitissa, i.e., the Goalkeeper, extremely terribly transparent, with great feathers, holding Christ the Savior on her left hand, her face blackened by many years, both showing the entire image, and everything except her face is covered with silver-plated gilded clothing, and in addition, dotted with valuable stones and gold coins, from various tsars, princes and noble boyars given for many of her miracles, where I saw with my own eyes the Russian tsars, queens and princesses, emperors and empresses, princes and princesses, gold coins and other gifts were hung up.”
A family icon is an icon depicting the namesake saints of all family members. A family icon is a shrine that connects all family members and unites their spirit. A family icon is part of a family heritage that is passed down from generation to generation. The presence of a family icon in the house brings the family together, strengthens their faith, and helps in various family matters. The spiritual power of such an icon lies in its conciliarity; when offering their prayers, each family member prays not only for themselves, but also for their parents, children and loved ones.
Recently, the tradition of the family icon has been revived everywhere. On a family icon, the patron saints of family members are depicted all together. Here, as if outside of time, saints gather who pray for this clan, for this family. Among them may be the patron saints of parents who have already passed away - the founders of the clan. To paint such an image, the names of each saint are selected, and rare saints are also found.
Faith is just that: it doesn’t need proof. Nevertheless, over the past two thousand years, so much evidence has been collected for each episode of the gospel history that only a not very informed person can doubt that all this actually happened.
Performing a miracle, that is, fulfilling a prayer, first of all depends on the faith of the person praying.
If the one who pronounces a prayer with his lips does not have a conscious and heartfelt appeal to God, then even in front of the miraculous icon itself, the prayer will remain fruitless...
In different life situations, many believers turn with prayers not only to God, but also to various saints. If you choose one specific icon with the image of a saint and pray to it, then the saint will definitely hear the prayers and take the side of the person, helping him. However, there are many saints, so you need to know the icons of all the saints and their meaning (photo) so that prayers in one case or another are heard and help comes. About which icon to contact with different requests, as well as about the Icons of all saints and their meaning by date of birth (photo) will be discussed further.
How icons of all Saints can help
If you turn to the Saints with prayers, they will certainly help a person, protect him and protect him. So, for example, when moving to a new home, if you feel need or trouble is coming, then you need to turn your prayers to Archangel Michael who presides over all angels.
To the icon John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus Christ, the savior of mankind, in the Jordan River, have been converted since the time Ancient Rus' in order to ask for soil fertility and a rich harvest.
In situations where injustice prevails, you should pray to the icon Miracle Worker. This is one of the most revered saints in the world, the protector of the deprived and oppressed. He also patronizes women, children and travelers, fishermen and pilots.
To protect yourself from natural elements, and the consequences that they can cause, one should pray to the icon Alexander Nevsky. This saint also helps to ensure that the authorities are more lenient towards people. It was Alexander Nevsky who once led the Russian army to defend the state.
Icon Mother of God "Quiet my sorrows" helps a person cope with melancholy, treats physical illnesses and emotional distress. The icon first showed its miracles at the end of the 17th century in the current capital of Russia, when people prayed to it, it healed a noble person.
Holy Martyr Boniface helps to recover from alcoholism, and also helps all gluttons who like to overeat.
The Holy Great Martyr will help protect pets, as well as achieve family harmony and take children under your wing. St. George the Victorious.
If a person is overtaken by illness and misfortune, then he needs to contact to the icon “Iveron Mother of God”. The original icon is kept on the Greek Mount Athos, where it is closed monastery. Their magical properties The icon appeared back in the 9th century, when the Byzantine emperor ordered the destruction of all icons. A warrior burst into the house where the icon was kept and struck the Virgin Mary on the cheek with a sword, blood flowed from the wound, the warrior was stupefied and, repenting, knelt before the holy icon of the Ivesrian Mother of God.
To the prophet Elijah of God applies during times of persistent heavy rainfall or persistent drought.
A person must turn his prayers to the icon of John of Kronstadt, if his child is not doing well in school. And also, if a disease has entered the house that is difficult to cure.
Treatment will also help you cope with illnesses. to the icon “Theotokos of Tenderness”. This icon was kept in the cell of Seraphim of Sarov, who gave it the second name “Joy of all joys.” Seraphim anointed the sick people with oil from the lamp that burned at the knees of the icons, and they received their healing.
Icons of all saints, their meaning differs from each other, as does the image of the saints, as evidenced by photos of the icons. There is probably not a single everyday trouble in which prayers addressed to Icon B would not help well-established Matrona of Moscow. Matronushka helps in the search new job, you can pray to her to guide the child on the right path if some kind of misfortune has simply come to the house.
Helps you cope with family problems icon of Xenia of St. Petersburg. You can pray to the icon both during grief and with requests for a happy marriage.
In order to be healed from a disease that does not go away, attention must be given to reading prayers icon Venerable Sergius and Herman.
It is important to turn to the icons of all saints and know the meaning (with photos) in order to get what you want. For example, for a successful catch while fishing and healing from ailments, you need to turn to the icon of the Holy Supreme Ones Apostles Peter and Paul.
Icon "Virgin Mother of God" patronizes those who are struggling with such a serious disease as cancer. Those whose loved one struck by the disease.
Icon of the Mother of God of the Intercession can help if war comes to the country or political conflict, you can also pray to her when you are sick.
There are a lot of icons of saints, from all of them, according to their meaning (with photo), you need to choose the right one, and regularly pray to him in the morning and evening. You can buy icons in the temple; only saints will help convey a person’s prayers to God.
Icons of all saints: photos and their meaning by date of birth
In Orthodoxy, it is very important to have your own guardian angel who will walk next to a person, instruct him and protect him. You can choose an icon of all saints and find out its meaning by date of birth. Of all the saints, you can pray to the one who bears the same name. You can also select a guardian angel by date of birth, if it is close to the day of remembrance of a particular saint.
To make choosing a guardian angel easier, if you refer not to the name, but to the dates of birth, the distribution of icons by zodiac sign will help.
Anyone born under the sign of Aries can pray to the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, which will help solve difficult life situations.
Taurus should direct his prayers to the face of the Iveron Mother of God and Helper of sinners.
Twins
For Gemini, the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God will become a guardian angel. People with this zodiac sign should definitely have this icon at home.
People born under the sign of Cancer can turn their prayers to the icon of St. Cyril and the Kazan Mother of God. The meaning of the icons of all saints and photos can be found out and viewed in this article.
Lion
Leos are not at a crossroads and should pray to the icon of St. Nicholas the Pleasant and Elijah the Prophet, they are the ones who will be able to help the lions in difficult situations.
Burning bush, Passionate icons will help virgins cure terrible illnesses and solve other problems.
Libra should pray to the icon of the Burning Bush and the Pochaev Mother of God.
Scorpion
People with this zodiac sign make prayers to the icon of the Quick to Hear and the Mother of God of Jerusalem.
Sagittarius must have icons of the Tikhvin Mother of God and St. Nicholas the Pleasant in their home.
Capricorn
In difficult moments, Capricorn will be patronized by the “Sovereign” icon, which must be prayed to morning and evening.
Aquarius
The Burning Bush and the Vladimir Mother of God will protect all people who were born under the sign of Aquarius.
The Iveron Mother of God will wash the fish in any life situation. You should ask for help and protection from this icon. It is useful to read about.
Icons of all the saints, their meaning and photos can be found in this article; they help overcome difficult situations and can become real defenders in the fight against failures, illnesses and other misfortunes. According to religion, every person, from the moment of his birth, has a guardian angel, whom God gives him. Prayers to the icons of all saints help not only solve complex problems, but also help to gain mental balance, humility and tranquility.
Ancient icons - history of icon painting in Rus'
The icon is a relief pictorial image of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God or Saints. It cannot be called a painting, since it does not reproduce what the artist has before his eyes, but a fantasy or prototype that must be taken into account.
The history of icon painting goes back to ancient times and originates in early Christianity in Rus'. This art is multifaceted and unique. And it is not surprising, since it fully reflects the glorious traditions and spirituality of the Russian people. This is both a cult object for the Orthodox and a cultural national treasure.
There is no strict chronology here, however, it is generally accepted that the first icons in Rus' began to be used in the 10th century, when Christianity was adopted. Icon painting remained the center of ancient Russian culture until the 17th century, when in the era of Peter the Great it began to be supplanted by secular types of fine art. Despite the fact that Christian churches were present in Kyiv before, it was only after 988 that the first stone church was built. The painting work was carried out by specially invited masters from Byzantium. Sometimes the most important parts of her painting were carried out using the mosaic technique.
Prince Vladimir I from Chersonese brought many shrines and icons to Kyiv. Unfortunately, over the years they were lost. In addition, not a single icon of that time has survived from Chernigov, Kyiv, Smolensk and other southern cities. However, we can talk about icon painting, given the numerous wall paintings. The most ancient icons in Rus' were able to survive in Veliky Novgorod (on the territory of the St. Sophia Cathedral).
By the beginning of the 13th century, the maximum flowering of Russian icon painting was observed in the artistic center of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. However, the invasion of Rus' by Batu had a negative impact on further development iconography. The harmony characteristic of Byzantium disappeared from the icons, numerous writing techniques began to be simplified and conserved. But artistic life was not completely interrupted. Russian craftsmen continued to work in Rostov, the Russian North and Vologda. Rostov icons were characterized by significant expression, activity of images and sharpness of execution. This icon painting has always stood out for its artistry, subtlety, and refined combination of colors.
But from the end of the 14th century, the entire artistic life of Rus' was concentrated in Moscow. It was here that numerous craftsmen worked: Serbs, Russians, Greeks. Feofan the Greek himself worked in Moscow. The icons of that time were able to prepare a serious basis for the flourishing of Russian icon painting at the beginning of the 15th century, in particular the brilliant icons of Andrei Rublev. The masters paid increased attention to paints and color scheme. It is not surprising that ancient Russian icon painting is a complex and great art.
In the icons of those times, the most important place was occupied by various purple tones, shades of the sky, blue vault (they were used to depict glow, thunderstorms). Novgorod icon painting of the 15th century was able to preserve the usual love for light and bright colors. An intense and provocative sense of color was characteristic of the Pskov school. In comparison with the ringing color of Novgorod, famous tones dominate in it, with enormous moral tension in the faces of the saints. As for Rublev's era, it main task there was a revival of faith in man, in his kindness and moral strength. Artists of that period by all possible ways they tried to convey that icon painting is an art where every detail has great meaning.
Today, Orthodox believers consider the following icons to be among the most significant:
❶ "Vladimir Mother of God". When turning to this icon, believers pray for deliverance from the invasions of enemies, for strengthening faith, for preserving the integrity of the country and for the reconciliation of warring parties. The history of this icon has its own roots in the distant past. It is considered to be the greatest shrine of the Russian land, which testifies to the special patronage of the Mother of God over the Russian Empire in the XIV-XVI centuries during the raids of the Tatar hordes. There is a legend that this icon was created during the life of the Mother of God herself. The modern Orthodox Church associates any of the days of the triple celebration of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God with the deliverance of the people from enslavement through prayers that were addressed specifically to this icon.
❷ "Savior Almighty". This icon is often called “Savior” or “Savior”. In the iconography of Christ, this is the central image representing Him as the Heavenly King. It is for this reason that it is customary to place it at the head of the iconostasis.
❸ "Virgin Mary of Kazan". While turning to this icon, believers pray for healing of the disease of blindness and ask for deliverance from enemy invasions. The Kazan Mother of God is considered an intercessor in difficult times. It is used to bless young people who have decided to get married. The presented icon is also asked for happiness and family well-being. That is why it is often hung near the crib. Today, the icon of the Kazan Mother of God can be found in almost any church. The image of the Virgin Mary can also be found in most believing families. During the reign of the Romanov dynasty, such an icon was one of the most revered and important shrines, which allowed it to be considered the patroness of the royal family.
❹ "Savior Not Made by Hands". In accordance with church tradition, the image of the Savior was considered the first icon. There is a legend that this happened during the earthly existence of the Savior. Prince Avgar, who was the ruler of the city of Edessa, was seriously ill. Having heard about the healings that Jesus Christ performed, he wanted to look at the Savior. He sent messengers for the painter to make a portrait of Christ. But the artist failed to fulfill the assignment, because the radiance coming from the face of the Lord was so strong that the creator’s brush could not convey His Light. However, the Lord wiped His pure face with a towel, after which His Image was displayed on it. Only after receiving the image was Abgar able to be healed of his own illness. Today, people turn to the image of the savior with prayers, as well as requests for guidance on the true path, for deliverance from bad thoughts and the salvation of the soul.
❺ Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Nicholas the Wonderworker is known as the patron saint of all who are constantly on the move - pilots, fishermen, travelers and sailors, and is the most revered saint throughout the world. In addition, he is the intercessor of those who have been unjustly offended. He patronizes children, women, innocent prisoners and the poor. Icons with his image are the most common in modern Orthodox churches.
The history of the discovery of this icon goes back far into the past. It is believed that about four hundred years ago it was found on one of the bell towers of the Church of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian in the Vologda region. Then, a peasant who had long suffered from lameness saw a dream in which he had a long-awaited cure for his illness. A divine voice in a dream told him that if he prayed near the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, the illness would leave him; the location of this shrine was also revealed to him.
Twice the peasant came to the bell tower at the local church and told about his dream, but no one then believed his stories. Only the third time, after much persuasion, the sufferer was finally allowed into the belfry. Imagine the surprise of the local residents, the ministers of the Church, when on the stairs, instead of one of the steps, an icon was discovered, which everyone took for an ordinary perch. It looked like a canvas pasted onto an ordinary wooden board. It was washed from dust and dirt, restored as much as possible, and then a prayer service was held to the Seven Shore Mother of God. After this, the peasant was healed of a painful illness, and the icon began to be revered by the clergy along with the rest. Thus, in 1830, cholera raged in the Vologda province, claiming the lives of many thousands of people. Believing local residents held a religious procession around the settlement, together with the icon, performing a prayer service to the Most Holy Theotokos. After some time, the number of cases began to decline, and then the scourge completely left this city forever.
After this incident, the icon commemorated many more truly miraculous healings. However, after the revolution of the seventeenth year, the Church of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian, where the icon was located, was destroyed, and the icon itself disappeared. Currently, the myrrh-streaming Icon of the Seven-Shot Mother of God is located in Moscow at the Church of the Archangel Michael.
The image of the Mother of God itself is quite interesting. Usually on all icons She appears with the Savior in her arms, or with angels and saints, but here the Mother of God is depicted completely alone, with seven swords stuck into Her heart. This image symbolizes Her severe suffering, indescribable grief and deep sadness for her Son during her time on earth. And this icon was written based on the prophecy of the holy righteous Simeon, given in Scripture.
There is an opinion of some clergy that the seven arrows piercing the chest of the Virgin Mary personify the seven most important human passions, sinful vices. There is also an opinion that the seven arrows are the seven holy Sacraments.
It is customary to pray in front of this icon to appease evil hearts, in times of disease epidemics; they also pray for the military, paying their debt to the Motherland, so that the enemy’s weapon will bypass them. The person praying seems to forgive the insults of his enemies and asks for the softening of their hearts.
The day of veneration of the Icon of the Seven-Shot Mother of God is considered to be August 13 according to the new style or August 26 according to the old one. During prayer, it is desirable that at least seven candles be lit, but this is not necessary. At the same time, the prayer of the Long-Suffering Mother of God and the Troparion are read.
At home, a specific location of the icon is not prescribed, so it can be located either on the iconostasis or in any other place, for example on the wall at the entrance to main room. However, there are several tips for its location: it should not hang or stand near the TV, there should not be any photographs or images or posters around it.
The seven-shot image is a reflection of the gospel story of the arrival of the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple on the 40th day after His birth. The holy elder Simeon, who served in the temple, saw in the Baby the Messiah expected by all and predicted trials and suffering for Mary that would pierce her heart like a weapon.
The Seven Shot Icon depicts the Mother of God alone, without the Child Jesus. Seven swords or arrows piercing her heart (four swords on the left, three on the right) are a symbol of the sorrows that the Mother of God endured in her earthly life. The weapon itself, symbolically depicted with seven swords, means the unbearable mental anguish and sorrow that the Virgin Mary experienced during the hours of torment on the cross, crucifixion and death on the cross of Her son.
According to Holy Scripture, the number seven symbolizes the completeness of something: seven deadly sins, seven cardinal virtues, seven church sacraments. The image of seven swords is not accidental: the image of a sword is associated with the shedding of blood.
This icon of the Mother of God has another version of the iconography - “Simeon’s Prophecy” or “Tenderness of Evil Hearts”, where seven swords are located on both sides, three in number and one in the center.
The miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Seven Arrows is of North Russian origin, associated with her miraculous appearance. Until 1917, she stayed in the Church of St. John the Evangelist near Vologda.
There is a legend about her miraculous acquisition. A certain peasant, who had been seriously suffering from an incurable lameness for many years and was praying for healing, received a Divine voice. He ordered him to find the image of the Mother of God among the old icons that were kept in the bell tower of the Theological Church and to pray to him for healing. The icon was found on the stairs of the bell tower, where it served as a step like a simple board covered with dirt and debris. The clergy cleaned the image and served a prayer service in front of it, and the peasant was healed.
Before the image of the Seven-Shot Mother of God, they pray for the pacification of those at war, for acquiring the gift of patience in the face of embitterment of the heart, in the face of enmity and persecution.
Icon of St. Archangel Michael
Michael is considered a very important person in the heavenly hierarchy; the word Archangel means “leader of the angels.” He is the main leader among the angels. The name Michael means "one who is like God."
Archangels have always been considered warriors and protectors of Heaven. Of course, the main patron and defender of the Christian faith is the great Archangel Michael. It is worth noting that the Holy Archangel Michael is one of the most famous angels, he is also called the Archangel, which means that he is the most important of all ethereal forces.
According to Holy Scripture and according to tradition, he always stood up for humanity and will always continue to serve as one of the main defenders of the faith. In front of the icons with the Archangel Michael, people ask for protection from the invasion of enemies, civil war, and to defeat opponents on the battlefield.
The Council of Michael and all the ethereal powers of heaven is celebrated on November 21, and on September 19 the miracle of the Archangel in Colossae is celebrated. Mention of Michael can first be seen in the Old Testament, although Michael is not mentioned by name in the text, but it was said that Joshua “looked up and saw a man standing before him with a sword drawn in his hand.”
In the book of Daniel, Michael appears alongside the Archangel Gabriel to help defeat the Persians. In a later vision, she told Danil that “at that time (the end of time) Michael, the Great Prince, will protect the people. A difficult time will come, such as has not been seen since the beginning of time...” Thus, it can be understood that Michael plays a key role as the defender of Israel, her chosen people, and the Church.
The Church Fathers also attribute the following event to Michael: During the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, he walked ahead of them, in the form of a pillar of cloud during the day, and at night in the form of a pillar of fire. The power of the great commander-in-chief was manifested in the destruction of 185 thousand soldiers of the Assyrian emperor Sennacherib, also the wicked leader Heliodorus.
It is worth mentioning that there are many miraculous cases associated with Archangel Michael, the protection of three young men: Ananias, Azariah and Misail, who were thrown into a hot furnace for refusing to bow to the idol. By the will of God, the commander-in-chief Archangel Michael transports the prophet Habakkuk from Judea to Babylon to give food to Daniel in the lions' den. Archangel Michael argued with the devil over the body of the holy prophet Moses.
In New Testament times, Saint Archangel Michael showed his power when he miraculously saved young man, who was thrown into the sea by robbers with a stone around his neck, on the banks of Athos. This story is found in the Athos Patericon, from the life of St. Neophytos.
Perhaps the most famous miracle associated with the great Saint Michael the Archangel is the salvation of the church at Colosse. A number of pagans tried to destroy this church by directing the flow of two rivers directly towards it. The Archangel appeared among the waters, and, carrying the cross, directed the rivers underground, so that the church remained standing on the earth and was not destroyed thanks to Michael. In the spring, the water of these rivers after this miracle event is said to have healing powers.
Russian people revere Archangel Michael along with the Mother of God. The Most Pure Mother of God and Michael are always mentioned in church hymns. Many monasteries, cathedrals, churches are dedicated to the commander-in-chief of the heavenly forces, St. Archangel Michael. There was no city in Rus' where there was no church or chapel dedicated to Archangel Michael.
On icons, Michael is often depicted holding a sword in his hand, and in the other he holds a shield, spear, or white banner. Some icons of Archangel Michael (or Archangel Gabriel) show angels holding an orb in one hand and a staff in the other.
Icon of the Kazan Mother of God
The most widespread and revered Orthodox icons in Rus' are the icons of the Mother of God. Tradition says that the first image of the Mother of God was created by the Evangelist Luke during the life of the Mother of God; she approved of the icon and imparted her strength and grace to it. In the Russian Orthodox Church there are about 260 images of the Mother of God, glorified by miracles. One of these images is the icon of the Kazan Mother of God.
According to iconography, this image belongs to one of the main six iconographic types, which is called “Hodegetria” or “Guide”. The Old Russian version of this icon, painted by an icon painter monk in the image of the Byzantine Hodegetria, is distinguished by its warmth, softening the regal bearing of the original from Byzantium. The Russian Hodegetria has not a waist-length, but a shoulder-length image of Mary and the Infant Jesus, thanks to which their faces seem to come close to those praying.
In Russia there were three main miraculous icons Our Lady of Kazan. The first icon is a prototype miraculously revealed in 1579 in Kazan, which was kept in the Kazan Mother of God Monastery until 1904 and was lost. The second icon is a copy of the Kazan image and was presented to Ivan the Terrible. Later, this icon of the Mother of God was transported to St. Petersburg and transferred to the Kazan Cathedral during its illumination on September 15, 1811. The third icon of the Kazan Mother of God is a copy of the Kazan prototype, was transferred to the militia of Minin and Pozharsky and is now kept in Moscow in the Epiphany Cathedral.
In addition to these main icons of the Kazan Mother of God, a large number of her miraculous lists were made. Prayer in front of this image helps in all human sorrows, sorrows and adversities. Russian people always prayed to her to protect their native land from foreign enemies. The presence of this icon in the house protects its household from all troubles; it indicates, like a Guide, the right path in accepting difficult decisions. In front of this image of the Mother of God they pray at eye diseases. According to legend, during the miraculous discovery of the prototype in Kazan, a miracle of sight occurred from the blindness of the beggar Joseph, who had been blind for three years. This icon is used to bless the newlyweds for marriage so that it will be strong and long.
The celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God takes place twice a year: in honor of the acquisition of the image on July 21 and in honor of the liberation of Rus' from the Polish intervention on November 4.
Iveron Icon of the Mother of God
The Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, revered in Rus' as miraculous, is a copy of the oldest image, which is kept in the Iveron Monastery in Greece on Mount Athos and dates back to the 11-12th century. According to the iconographic type, she is Hodegetria. According to the legend, the icon of the Mother of God, saved from the iconoclasts during the reign of Emperor Theophilus (9th century), miraculously appeared to the Iberian monks. They placed her in the gate church and named her Portaitissa or Goalkeeper.
In this version of the Hodegetria, the face of the Virgin Mary is turned and inclined towards the Child Jesus, who is presented in a slight turn towards the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary has a bleeding wound on her chin, which, according to legend, was inflicted on the image by opponents of the icons.
The miraculous image was well known in Rus'. During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, the monks of the Iversky Monastery made a copy of the prototype and delivered it to Moscow on October 13, 1648. In the 17th century. The Iveron Mother of God was especially revered in Rus'.
The Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos helps repentant sinners find the path and strength to repentance; relatives and friends pray for the unrepentant. The image protects the house from attacks by enemies and natural disasters, from fire, and heals from physical and mental illnesses.
The celebration of the Iveron Icon is held on February 25 and October 26 (the arrival of the icon from Athos in 1648).
Icon of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary
The icon of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary is dedicated to the great church holiday in Russian Orthodoxy - the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. In Rus', the word “pokrov” means veil and protection. On the day of celebration, October 14, Orthodox people pray to the Heavenly Intercessor for protection and help.
The Intercession Icon depicts the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God, which occurred in the 10th century in the Blachernae Church of Constantinople, besieged by enemies. During the all-night prayer, Blessed Andrei saw the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God surrounded by angels, apostles and prophets. The Mother of God took off the veil from her head and spread it over those praying.
Two centuries later, in the 14th century. in honor of this holy event in Rus' a divine service was compiled, main idea which was the unity of the Russian people under the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, for whom the Russian land is Her earthly inheritance.
There were two main types of icons of the Intercession: Central Russian and Novgorod. In Central Russian iconography, which corresponds to the vision of Blessed Andrew, the Mother of God herself bears the veil. On Novgorod icons, the Mother of God appears in the image of Oranta, and the veil is held and extended over her by angels.
Prayer before the image of the Intercession of the Mother of God helps in everything, if the thoughts of the person praying are good and pure. The image helps to overcome our external and internal enemies; it is a spiritual shield not only over our heads, but also over our souls.
Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Among the numerous icons of saints in Orthodoxy, one of the most beloved and revered by believers is the image of St. Nicholas the Pleasant. In Rus', after the Mother of God, this is the most revered saint. Almost every Russian city There is a St. Nicholas Church, and the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is in every Orthodox church in the same area as the images of the Mother of God.
In Rus', the veneration of the saint begins with the adoption of Christianity; he is the patron saint of the Russian people. Often in icon painting he was depicted from Christ according to left hand, and on the right is the Mother of God.
Saint Nicholas the Pleasant lived in the 4th century. From a young age he served God, later became a priest, and then archbishop of the Lycian city of Myra. During his lifetime, he was a great shepherd who gave consolation to all those who mourned and led the lost to the truth.
Prayer in front of the icon of St. Nicholas the Pleasant protects from all misfortunes and helps in solving all sorts of problems. The image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker protects those traveling by land and sea, protects the innocently convicted, those who are threatened with a needless death.
Prayer to St. Nicholas heals from illnesses, helps in enlightening the mind, in the successful marriage of daughters, in ending civil strife in the family, between neighbors, and military conflicts. Saint Nicholas of Myra helps in the fulfillment of wishes: it is not for nothing that he was the prototype of Father Frost, who fulfills Christmas wishes.
The Day of Remembrance of St. Nicholas the Pleasant is celebrated three times a year: on May 22, spring St. Nicholas (the transfer of the saint’s relics to Bari in Italy to avoid their desecration by the Turks), on August 11 and December 19 – winter St. Nicholas.
"Russian icons in high resolution." Creation of the album: Andrey (zvjaginchev) and Konstantin (koschey).
