Icon Mother of God“Smolenskaya”, according to legend, written by the holy evangelist Luke, was crowned with royal glory from the very beginning. Being a revered icon in the house of the Byzantine emperors, in the same status it came to Rus' and became the family icon of the Russian princes. However, with Her honest Smolensk image, the Mother of God provided assistance not only to the sovereigns, but also to the entire Russian people.
They pray to the Smolensk icon for the preservation of Russia from foreigners; from heresies and schisms; about the return of those who have gone astray, about the healing of physical and spiritual blindness; for help in grief and sadness; about release from captivity.
Unlike images Holy Mother of God, which were revealed miraculously, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God has a completely earthly history of origin. However, this image also became famous for many miracles and helping people. As Church tradition says, the holy Apostle Luke painted several images of the Most Holy Theotokos, including the one that later received the name “Smolensk”. It is believed that it originally resided in Jerusalem, but was later moved to Constantinople. Initially, it was called Hodegetria, that is, “Guide” (later it received this name a whole series Mother of God icons). According to one version, the icon acquired its name when the Most Holy Theotokos appeared in Constantinople to two blind men and commanded them to go to Her temple; Arriving there, they were immediately healed. According to another version, the icon was named Hodegetria because it accompanied the Byzantine emperors on their military campaigns.
There are other versions of the origin of this name. In 1046, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomakh the Porphyrogenitus blessed his daughter Anna with this icon, whom he married to the Chernigov prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich. From this moment on, the icon of the Most Pure Mother of God becomes the ancestral image of the Russian princes. In the 12th century, the son of Prince Vsevolod and Princess Anna, Vladimir Monomakh, moved the icon to Smolensk, where he placed it in the cathedral church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in May 1101. Actually, from this moment on, the icon received the name Smolensk.
In 1237, when hordes of Tatar-Mongols led by Khan Batu came to Rus', the icon revealed itself as miraculous. So, when in 1239 the troops of Khan Batu approached Smolensk, through the prayers of the inhabitants, a miracle happened to the image of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God - the Tatar-Mongol troops, overwhelmed by horror from the appearance of the Mother of God Herself, retreated from the city. It is known that he greatly revered the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God Venerable Sergius Radonezh, and in his cell there was a copy of this icon. In the 14th century, for the first time since the day it was brought to Smolensk, the icon left the city - it was transferred to Moscow. Who and for what reason moved the icon to Moscow is not known for certain - there are several versions on this matter. Thus, according to one of them, the last prince of Smolensk, expelled from the city in 1404 by the Lithuanian prince Vitovt, arrived in Moscow, where he brought the icon along with other relics. In a new place, the miraculous image was placed “in the Kremlin Church of the Annunciation,” that is, in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, to the right of the royal gates.
However, the icon did not stay in Moscow for long: already in the next, 15th century, the townspeople decided to turn to Grand Duke Vasily the Dark with a request to return the image to Smolensk. For this purpose, Smolensk Bishop Misail arrived in Moscow in 1456. The prince gave his permission for the return of the miraculous image, and another one is connected with this important point. The fact is that the icon was taken out of Moscow with a religious procession and was accompanied for two miles. In honor of the return of Smolensk to the rule of the Russian princes, Grand Duke Vasily III founded the Novodevichy Convent in 1524 at the site where the Muscovites parted with the icon. In the newly built monastery, a copy of the miraculous image of the Mother of God “Smolenskaya” was placed and a holiday and religious procession were established in his honor.
There is information that the miraculous Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God visited Moscow one more time. In 1666, Archbishop Barsanuphius of Smolensk brought it with the aim of renewing the image, which had become blackened by time.
The following significant events associated with the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God occurred already in early XIX century. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the icon was taken from Smolensk by Bishop Irenei (Falkovsky), who delivered it to Moscow. Initially, it was placed in the Church of St. Basil of Neocaesarea on Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street, and later moved to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin (this transfer was led by His Eminence Bishop Augustine). According to information that has reached us, on the very day of the Battle of Borodino - August 26 (September 7) - Bishop Augustine, together with the Georgian bishops Jonah and Paphnutius, carried the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God around in a religious procession White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin.
When Napoleon's troops were expelled from Russia, the icon was returned to Smolensk, where it remained until 1941. With the onset of the Great Patriotic War, traces of the ancient miraculous image, unfortunately, are lost. It is possible that the miraculous image shared the fate of many Orthodox shrines, which were exported en masse by the Germans from Russia in those years. Some of them disappeared without a trace, and some ended up in various private collections. One way or another, the memory of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, as well as miraculous lists they remained with the Orthodox Christians of our country forever.
Iconography of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
The theological intention of this image was to depict the Mother of God as our Intercessor before Christ and the Guide to Him.
- The image of the Mother of God is half-length, the Infant Christ is full-length.
- On a number of copies of the Smolensk icon, to the right and left of the image of the Virgin Mary with Christ, or at the top, the figures of the archangels Michael and Gabriel are depicted. Their heads are bowed towards the central image of the image - this is a symbol of humility, love, service, to which the entire angelic world is called.
- The center of the icon - the views of the Mother of God and Jesus Christ - are turned to the person praying, which, combined with a minimum of dynamics in the image, helps a person concentrate on the main action - prayer.
- The Infant Jesus Christ holds a rolled scroll in his left hand - a symbol of the good news, the Gospel that He brought to the world. The right hand of the Christ Child is directed towards His Mother. Thus, the icon depicts an unfinished movement - the Mother of God stretches out Her hand to Christ, and the Lord - to Her. All this symbolizes man’s constant desire for God and the counter movement, which is characterized by the main Christian feeling - love. At the same time, the movement of the right hand of the Divine Infant is also a blessing gesture.
- With her left hand the Mother of God supports the Divine Infant Christ, and with her right hand she points those praying to Him as the Savior promised to the world.
Revered and miraculous lists of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
Despite the fact that the ancient miraculous image of the Mother of God “Smolensk” is lost, there are many revered copies of it in Russia. Let's talk about where some of them are now.
HOLY ASSUMPTION CATHEDRAL OF SMOLENSK
This cathedral contains one of the revered copies of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, and previously the ancient image itself was kept here, which was lost during the Great Patriotic War. The cathedral has two altars. The main one is consecrated in the name of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the second, the side chapel, in the name of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.
TEMPLE OF THE SMOLENSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD AT THE SMOLENSKY CEMETERY OF ST. PETERSBURG
This temple also has a revered image of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, in whose honor the main chapel was consecrated. According to legend, during the construction of this temple, bricks were carried to it by Saint Blessed Xenia of Petersburg, in whose honor the southern aisle was consecrated. The northern one was consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “It is Worthy to Eat.”
TEMPLE OF THE SMOLENSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN OREL
The temple, which houses the revered copy of the Hodegetria icon of the Mother of God, was founded by residents of Streletskaya Sloboda in 1767. Bishop Tikhon (Yakubovsky) of Sevsky and Bryansk blessed the people for the construction of the temple.
TEMPLE OF THE REVEREND THEODOR THE STUDITE (SMOLENSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD) AT NIKITSKY GATE IN MOSCOW
The main chapel is consecrated in honor of the Smolensk icon, the second - in honor of the Monk Theodore the Studite. Distinctive feature The temple is that it was the parish church of A.V. Suvorov.
Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the Antioch ruler Theophilus. From Antioch the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there Empress Eudokia, wife of Arcadius, transferred it to Constantinople to Pulcheria, the emperor’s sister, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae Church.
The Greek Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh (1042–1054), marrying his daughter Anna to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise, in 1046, blessed her on her journey with this icon. After the death of Prince Vsevolod, the icon passed to his son Vladimir Monomakh, who transferred it at the beginning of the 12th century to the Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From that time on, the icon received the name Hodegetria of Smolensk.
In 1238, following a voice from the icon, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury entered Batu’s camp at night and killed many enemies, including their strongest warrior. Having suffered a martyr's death in battle, he was canonized by the Church (November 24).
In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vytautas Sophia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398–1425). In 1398, she brought the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God with her to Moscow. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the royal gates. In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was erected in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - “measure in moderation” - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was built on the Maiden Field, where “with many tears” Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk. In 1602 with miraculous icon an exact list was written (in 1666, along with ancient icon a new list was taken to Moscow for updating), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 - a stone one.
The new copy took on the beneficial power of the ancient image, and when Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them for protection from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers for a great feat. An ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, taken temporarily to the Assumption Cathedral, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, together with Iverskaya and Vladimir icons The Mother of God was carried around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was taken to Yaroslavl.
Our ancestors so reverently guarded these sister icons, and the Mother of God protected our Motherland through Her images. After the victory over the enemy, the icon of Hodegetria, along with the illustrious list, was returned to Smolensk.
A celebration in honor of this miraculous image was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.
There are many revered lists from the Smolensk Hodegetria, which are celebrated on the same day. There is also a day of celebration of the Smolensk Icon, which became famous in the 19th century - November 5, when this image, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army M.I. Kutuzov was returned to Smolensk. In memory of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland, it was established in Smolensk to celebrate this day annually.
The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church. Believers have received and are receiving abundant gracious help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: “You are the All-Blessed Hodegetria to the faithful people, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands are the affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation for Christians!”
On July 28 (August 10) a celebration takes place in honor of the revered icon of the Smolensk Mother of God.
Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. Dionysius, 1482
Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God - revered in Orthodox Church icon of the Mother of God. Belongs to the Hodegetria icon painting type. The Mother of God appears in this image as the Guide of a person going to God. She is presented frontally, looking straight at the worshipers. On her left hand the Mother of God holds the Infant Christ, and with her right hand she points to him as the Savior. The Baby Himself stretches out one hand to the Mother, and in the other holds a rolled up scroll - His teaching. TO characteristic features Hodegetria is attributed to a very slight turn of the Mother of God towards the Son.
The prototype of the Smolensk Mother of God is very ancient and, according to legend, was written by the Apostle Luke himself for the Antioch ruler Theophilus. After the death of Theophilus, this image of Hodegetria the Guide returned to Jerusalem; in the 5th century, Queen Eudokia, the wife of Emperor Theodosius, moved him to Constantinople, to the Blachernae temple. From there, the future Smolensk icon came to Rus' in the 11th century. Perhaps the icon became in 1046 a parental blessing for the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Ninth Monomakh Anna, who was married to the Chernigov prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise.
However, there is historical evidence that the Constantinople icon was destroyed by the Turks, who divided its precious frame, during the siege of Constantinople in 1453. Therefore, most researchers are inclined to believe that the icon brought to Rus' in the 11th century is a copy of an ancient Constantinople image.
After the death of Prince Vsevolod, Hodegetria found a new guardian in the person of his son, the Grand Duke Kyiv Vladimir II Monomakh - commander, writer (author of the famous “Instruction”) and temple builder. In 1095, he moved the icon from Chernigov (his first inheritance) to Smolensk, and in 1101 he founded the cathedral church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary here. Ten years later, Hodegetria was installed in this cathedral and from that time began to be called Smolensk - after the name of the city, whose guardian remained for almost nine centuries.
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Smolensk.
In the 13th century, the hordes of Batu fell upon Rus', rapidly moving westward. Crying and praying, the people of Smolensk turned to the intercession of their Guardian. And a miracle happened: the Mother of God, through the image of Hodegetria of Smolensk, granted the city miraculous salvation. The Tatars were already standing several miles from Smolensk when a warrior named Mercury heard a voice coming from the holy icon: “I am sending you to protect My house. The ruler of the Horde secretly wants to attack My city this night with his army, but I prayed to My Son and My God for My house, so that he would not give it over to the work of the enemy. I myself will be with you, helping my servant.” Obeying the Most Pure One, Mercury raised up the townspeople, and he himself rushed into the enemy camp, where he died in an unequal battle. He was buried in the cathedral church of Smolensk and was soon canonized. In memory of Mercury, on the day of his death, a special thanksgiving service was performed in front of the miraculous image of Hodegetria.
In 1395, the Smolensk Principality lost its independence, becoming dependent on Lithuania. But just three years later, the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Vytautas Sophia was married to the prince of Moscow Vasily Dmitrievich (son of Prince Dimitri Donskoy), and Hodegetria became her dowry. In 1398, the newly found shrine was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin on the right side of the royal gates. Muscovites reverently worshiped it for half a century, but in 1456, a representative of the Smolensk people - Bishop Mikhail of Smolensk - arrived in Moscow and demanded the return of the shrine. Grand Duke Vasily the Dark (1415-1462), after consulting with bishops and boyars, ordered to “release” the miraculous to Smolensk, leaving her exact list in Moscow. On July 28, in the presence of almost all Muscovites, the icon was solemnly carried through the Devichye Pole to the ford at the steep bend of the Moscow River, beyond which the road to Smolensk began. Here a prayer service was served to the Guide, after which the prototype of the miraculous woman went to Smolensk, and the mourners took the list from Smolensk to the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. On this day, July 28 (August 10), the Smolensk Hodegetria is celebrated. In Moscow, it was customary to make a religious procession from the Kremlin, along Prechistenka and Devichye Pole to the Novodevichy Convent, which was founded in 1525Grand Duke Vasily III in the very place where in 1456 Muscovites saw off the miraculous icon.
Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.
In 1609, Smolensk was besieged by the Polish army, and after twenty months of siege, in 1611, the city fell. The miraculous Smolensk Icon was again sent to Moscow, and when the Poles captured Moscow, then to Yaroslavl, where it remained until the expulsion of the Poles and the return of Smolensk to the Russian state in 1654, during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich. On September 26, 1655, the miraculous icon of Hodegetria returned to Smolensk.
Back in Moscow Smolensk Hodegetria appeared during the Patriotic War of 1812. On August 26, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, the Smolensk, Iverskaya and Vladimir icons were carried around Moscow in a procession, and on August 31, the Iverskaya and Smolenskaya icons visited the wounded in the battle who were lying in the Lefortovo hospital. When Russian troops left Moscow, the Smolensk icon was transported to Yaroslavl. However, already on December 24, 1812, Hodegetria returned to the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk.
Before the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Smolensk Icon of Hodegetria remained in its historical place - in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk, which was not destroyed even after its closure in 1929. The latest reliable news about the icon of the Smolensk Mother of God dates back to 1941, when the city was occupied by the Nazis. Two years later, Smolensk was liberated by Soviet troops, but the icon was not in the cathedral.
Now in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk, in a place of honor there is a copy of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.
The revered list of the Hodegetria of Smolensk in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk.
One of the most revered lists of icons in Moscow is located in the Moscow Novospassky Stauropegial Monastery.
Moscow Novospassky Monastery.
This icon was donated to the monastery by nun Martha, the mother of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich (16th century). In front of the icon they pray for continued help on the way.
A revered copy of the Hodegetria of Smolensk in the Moscow Novospassky Monastery. Gift of the nun Martha.
Troparion, tone 4
Let us now diligently approach the Mother of God, sinners and humility, and let us fall down in repentance calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, help us, having had mercy on us, struggling, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away your slaves, for you are the only hope of the imams.
Kontakion, tone 6
The intercession of Christians is not shameful, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but advance, as if good, to help us, who faithfully call Thee: hasten to prayer and strive to supplicate, ever interceding, the Mother of God, those who honor Thee.
Lists of Hodegetria of Smolensk.
Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. Moscow, 1456.
Icon "Our Lady of Smolensk". Tikhon Filatiev. 1668
Icon from the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.
Icon “Our Lady Hodegetria of Smolensk” (from the local row of the iconostasis of the Smolensk Cathedral).
Our Lady Hodegetria of Smolensk with saints. Novgorod school. 1565
Hodegetria of Smolensk with stamps. 16th century. Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art named after. Andrey Rublev, Moscow
Hodegetria of Smolensk. XVIII century Veliky Ustyug Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve
Hodegetria of Smolensk.XV century State Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve
Hodegetria of Smolensk. XVI century Kirillo-Belozersky Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve
Hodegetria of Smolensk. XVII century Perm State Art Gallery
Hodegetria of Smolensk. XVI century Perm State Art Gallery
Hodegetria of Smolensk. XVI century Solvychegodsk Historical and Art Museum
Materials used from Wikipedia and sites:
The miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, called “Hodegetria” of Smolensk, has been known in Rus' since ancient times. "Hodegetria", translated from Greek language, means “Guide”. There are several versions of the origin of this name, but the fact that the Most Holy Theotokos is a guide to eternal salvation for all Orthodox Christians is an undeniable truth.
According to Church tradition, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called “Hodegetria,” was painted during the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos at the request of the ruler of Antioch, Theophilos, for whom he wrote an essay about the earthly life of Christ, known as the Gospel of Luke. When Theophilus died, the image was returned to Jerusalem, and in the 5th century, the blessed Empress Eudokia, wife of Arkady, transferred Hodegetria to Constantinople to the emperor’s sister Queen Pulcheria, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae Church.
The image came to Rus' in 1046. The Greek Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh (1042-1054), marrying his daughter Anna to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise, blessed her on her journey with this icon. After the death of Prince Vsevolod, the icon passed to his son Vladimir Monomakh, who transferred it at the beginning of the 12th century to Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From that time on, the icon received the name Hodegetria of Smolensk.
Assumption Cathedral (Smolensk)
HISTORY OF THE SMOLENSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
In 1238 The army of Khan Batu approached Smolensk. In that army there was a giant warrior who, according to legend, alone was worth almost an entire army. All Smolensk residents came out to pray in front of the image of the Smolensk Hodegetria Guide. The Tatars had already come almost close to the city, no more than 30 kilometers remained by today’s standards, when a certain sexton in the Pechersky Monastery outside the city saw in a vision the Mother of God, who ordered him to bring a warrior named Mercury to Her. Entering the Pechersk Church, Mercury saw with his own eyes the Mother of God sitting on a golden throne with the Child in her arms and surrounded by angels. The Mother of God said that Mercury must save Her own destiny from desecration, which once again indicated Her special protection over the Smolensk land. She also told him about his imminent martyrdom, and that She Herself would not leave him, but would be with him to the end.
Following the command of the Mother of God, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury raised all the townspeople, preparing them for the siege, and at night he entered Batu’s camp and killed many enemies, including their strongest warrior. Then, in an unequal battle with the invaders, he laid down his head on the battlefield. His remains were buried in the Smolensk Cathedral. Soon Mercury was canonized as a locally revered saint (November 24), the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was also declared locally revered, and the legend “The Tale of Mercury of Smolensk,” which dates back approximately to the 15th – 16th centuries, was written about his feat. Moreover, the legend says that after the burial, Mercury appeared to the same sexton and ordered the shield and spear that belonged to him during his life to be hung at his resting place.
Sandals of the Holy Martyr Mercury - one of the shrines cathedral Smolensk
In 1395 The Principality of Smolensk came under the protectorate of Lithuania. In 1398, in order to avoid bloodshed in Moscow and soften the bitter relations between the Polish-Lithuanian rulers and Moscow, the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Vytautas Sophia was married to the son of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398-1425). The Smolensk Hodegetria became her dowry and was now transferred to Moscow and installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin on the right side of the altar.
Annunciation Cathedral (Moscow Kremlin)
In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a procession of the cross. On June 28, according to the old style, at the Monastery of St. Savva the Consecrated on the Maiden Field in Moscow, with a large crowd of people, the icon was solemnly escorted to the bend of the Moscow River, from where the path to Smolensk began. A prayer service was served. Half a century later, in 1514, Smolensk was returned to Rus' (the assault on the city by Russian troops began on July 29, the day after the celebration of the Smolensk Icon).
In 1524, in memory of this event Grand Duke Vasily III founded the Monastery of the Mother of God of Smolensk, which we know better as Novodevichy Convent. The monastery was consecrated and began operating in 1525. From this period, the all-Russian glorification of the icon began, officially established by the Church.
Novodevichy Mother of God-Smolensky Monastery on the Maiden Field in Moscow
However, Muscovites were not left without a shrine - two copies of the miraculous icon remained in Moscow. One was erected in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - “measure in moderation” - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. In 1602, an exact copy was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon, a new copy was taken to Moscow for renewal), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 - a stone one.
The Smolensk miraculous image again showed its intercession during the Patriotic War of 1812. On August 5, 1812, when Russian troops abandoned Smolensk, the icon was taken to Moscow, and on the eve of the Battle of Borodino this image was carried around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers for a great feat.
Prayer service before the Battle of Borodino
On August 26, the day of the battle in Borodino, three images of the Mother of God - the ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, together with the Iveron and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, were carried around the capital in a procession of the cross, and then sent to the sick and wounded soldiers in the Lefortovo Palace, so that they could venerate the shrines and thank before them the Mother of God for intercession and ask for recovery. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was transported to Yaroslavl.
After the victory over the enemy, on November 5, 1812, by order of Kutuzov, the Hodegetria icon, along with the illustrious list, was returned to Smolensk to its native Assumption Cathedral.
In 1929, the Assumption Cathedral was closed, but was not subject to desecration and destruction, like many other temples and churches during that period. Intelligence, which can be considered reliable, about the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God– prototype of other, subsequent lists ends in 1941, after the capture of Smolensk by German troops. Then, at the beginning of August 1941, the headquarters of the German command received a message that the list of the icon, attributed according to historical information to the brush of the Evangelist Luke, is in the same place, in good condition, the icon is considered miraculous and its location is a place of worship and pilgrimage. Nothing more is known about that icon.
Now in the place of the missing icon there is a list from the middle of the 16th century, which is not inferior to its predecessor in the number of miracles and in popular veneration, but Hodegetria of the apostolic letter is still awaited in Smolensk, they still believe that the time will come and she will reveal herself from some a hiding place, where it was miraculously preserved all these years, as it once was.
Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria of Smolensk Gateway, copy from the famous Smolensk Icon. Once it hung above the gates of the Smolensk Kremlin; now it is kept in the cathedral on the site of the Smolensk icon lost in 1941.
LISTS FROM ICONS
There are many revered copies of the miraculous Smolensk Hodegetria. Many copies of that original but lost icon became miraculous (more than 30 in total) - Igretskaya Pesochinskaya, Yugskaya, Sergievskaya in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Kostroma, Kirillo-Belozerskaya, Svyatogorsk, Solovetskaya, etc.. All these images in different times and demonstrated their miraculous properties to varying degrees.
ICONOGRAPHY
There is little information left about the iconographic features of the image, since the icon, as is known, was lost in 1941, and therefore no one studied it. It was only known that the icon board was very heavy, the ground was made of chalk with glue, as was done in ancient times, and covered with canvas.
The Virgin Mary holds the Child in her left hand, right hand The Lord is raised in a blessing gesture, in His left hand is the “scroll of teaching.” On the reverse side were written a view of Jerusalem, the Crucifixion and an inscription in Greek - “The King is Crucified”. In 1666, the icon was renewed, and later images of the Most Pure Mother and John the Evangelist appeared at the Crucifixion.
The iconographic image of the Smolensk icon is very similar to, but differs in the strictness of the arrangement of the figures and the expressions of the faces of the Mother of God and the Infant.
MEANING OF THE ICON
The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church (along with Vladimir and Kazan).
Amazing historical material is associated with the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, which, through the paths of her wanderings across Western Russian lands, marks all the most important events in the history of Russia up to the last century. It can be said that not a single event where the intercession of the One depicted on it was required was accomplished without Her intervention. Hodegetria the Guide pointed out and defended our west from the aggressive interests of neighboring states that sought to establish their influence in Russian state both military and political means. But even retreats that were accompanied by a transfer miraculous shrine from its main destiny - the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk, were only a strategic necessity, and in no way an agreement with the presence and rule of foreigners and the prevailing Latin faith on our land. The cathedral prayers of Smolensk and Muscovites before her brought their wonderful fruits - sooner or later the enemy was expelled, and the Smolensk Hodegetria returned home to Smolensk.
Believers have received and are receiving abundant gracious help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: “You are the All-Blessed Hodegetria to the faithful people, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands are the affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation for Christians!”
CELEBRATION
The celebration of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God takes place three times a year - July 28/August 10, established in 1525, when the miraculous image was transferred from the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin to the Mother of God of Smolensk (Novodevichy) Monastery, founded by Vasily III in gratitude to the Mother of God for the return of Smolensk to Rus' during the Russo-Lithuanian War. The festival was established in memory of the arrival of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God to Rus' in 1046.
The celebration takes place for the second time November 5/18 in honor of Russia's victory in Patriotic War 1812.
November 24/December 7 We celebrate the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, remembering the victory of the inhabitants of Smolensk over the troops of the Golden Horde through the common prayer of the people before Her icon - the Smolensk Hodegetria.
The Smolensk Mother of God helps everyone who turns to her with prayers for healing from incurable diseases, in search of family peace and in other difficult and insoluble situations, as the first intercessor for us before God.
Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov). Word on the day of celebration of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.
The word was pronounced on July 28/08/10, 1963 in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!
There are no imams of other help, no imams of other hope, except for You, the Lady. Help us, we rely on You and boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! When a person goes to some distant country or city and the path there is unknown and dangerous to him, then he takes an experienced guide as a companion, to whom he entrusts himself. And, despite the dangerous road, thanks to this guide, he safely reaches his destination. This happens in everyday life, but it also happens in spiritual life, when pious Christians entrust their lives to experienced guides - heavenly patrons.
The path of the spiritual life of a Christian striving to save his soul is thorny and dangerous, and therefore needs guidance. Pious Christians turn to many holy saints of God in their heartfelt needs, but especially to the Sovereign Queen of Heaven, the Most Pure Virgin Mary, to whose protection they entrust their lives - from youth to its last minute.
It would seem that the time of childhood and youth is the most innocent and safe years, but who can deny that at this age there are thousands of dangers: temptations, temptations, improper upbringing, loss of parents, illnesses can ruin it at the very beginning of life, and the flower of life will fade forever. This is the most crucial period, and those pious parents who, from a very young age, entrust their children to the protection of the Mother of God act wisely; history knows many examples when the Mother of God saved children from countless dangers and dried up streams of children's tears.
The period of life when a person comes of age and reaches adulthood is no easier: there are so many works, sorrows, illnesses, dangers that suppress the soul and body and with their heaviness would be ready to crush the weak human creation, if not for the protection of the Mother of God and Her help !
Years pass. And so, with reverent reflection on eternity, the soul, burdened with sins, comes to repentance, and a feeling of fear and trembling takes possession of it so much that it burns in fire, not finding peace for itself. And only the tears shed with a feeling of living faith in front of the image of the Diligent Intercessor will be able to dispel the darkness that has enveloped her and return to her a gracious mood, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Orthodox Christians, due to the greatest bounty of the Mother of God, called Her different names. They called Her “Quick to Hear,” “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” “Seeker of the Lost,” “Unexpected Joy”; They also called Her “Guide”. We are celebrating a holiday in honor of the icon bearing this name today.
The icon of the Mother of God, called the “Guide” (in Greek “Hodegetria”), according to legend, was painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist and was in Jerusalem before the triumph of Christianity in the Greco-Roman state. When the Christian faith triumphed, the “Guide” was transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople, where the Greek emperors very often took it with them on campaigns against their enemies and won victories with it. In the 11th century (1046), the Greek Emperor Constantine Monomakh blessed his daughter Anna with a copy of it, marrying her to Prince Vsevolod of Chernigov.
In the 12th century, Vsevolod’s son Vladimir Monomakh moved this icon from Chernigov to Smolensk, which is why the icon received the name Smolensk. There it was placed in the cathedral church in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God, and there later, when the hordes of the Horde Khan Batu approached Smolensk and intended to suddenly take possession of the city and destroy it, it revealed its miraculous, blessed power.
Finding themselves on the brink of death, the residents of Smolensk gathered in the Cathedral and, in front of the Hodegetria icon, prayed with tears to the Mother of God for help and intercession. Bitterly regretting, they imposed a strict fast on themselves and repented, confessing their sins and asking for forgiveness. And so, at midnight, a voice came from the icon to the church sexton: “Go, tell My servant Mercury to come to the temple in military clothing.”
When the warrior Mercury appeared (and he was a very pious man), the icon said: “My saint Mercury! The ruler of the Horde wants to attack My city this night with all his army, but I begged My Son and My God for My house, so that He would not betray it into the slavery of the enemy. Go out secretly from everyone to meet the enemy, and by the power of Christ you will overcome. I myself will be with you, helping you. But along with victory, a martyr’s crown also awaits you.”
Mercury did just that - he killed the giant warrior, on whom the Tatars relied more than on their entire detachment, and defeated Batu’s army with the help of lightning-fast men and in the presence of the Bright Woman, whose majestic face terrified the enemies, but he himself fell killed .
In the 14th century, the Hodegetria was moved to Moscow, but a century later, in the 15th century, the residents of Smolensk asked for the icon to be returned to their city. Solemnly, with a procession of the cross, they escorted the icon from Moscow and, having performed the last farewell prayer before it on the Maiden Field, released it to Smolensk. And later, not far from the place of farewell to the icon, the still existing Novodevichy Convent was built.
Now, my dears, glorifying the Mother of God, it is necessary for our edification to remember Her moral virtues, with which She pleased God. After all, the Blessed Virgin is the only one who was awarded the highest honor of being the Mother of the Most High God.
From the very birth of Her, the Virgin Mary was distinguished by unparalleled piety, she was chaste in both body and spirit, combining with such wondrous, equal-angelic chastity the greatest modesty in everything - the first sign of true innocence. She was very modest in her attire, in her manner, in her looks, and in her speech. She dressed decently, with modesty, adorning herself not with braided hair or golden garments, but with good deeds, in order to please the Lord.
Wives need to take the example of the Mother of God in this regard and imitate Her, because we often see that even believing wives, when they come to church, dress indecently, half-exposing themselves and thus serving as a temptation for others. Wives need to worry not about good clothing, but about good deeds How befitting this is for people who have devoted themselves to piety.
The Blessed Virgin Mary was also distinguished by her extraordinary humility. She, Who had communion with God and the Angels, and was awarded such a high honor, tries to be last everywhere, does not demand signs of veneration and praise for Herself, but, on the contrary, lives in obscurity, earning Herself food through the labors of Her hands.
She was also distinguished by her complete devotion to the will of the Heavenly Father, accepting with unshakable generosity everything that the will of God pleased to send Her in Her life. She endured all sorrows and misfortunes with uncomplaining submission, placing all her trust in the Lord. Even in those hours when She saw Her Beloved Son on the Cross - when the weapon passed through Her soul, when She experienced such unimaginable sorrows that no earthly creature had ever endured - even then She did not fall under the weight of Her cross, but courageously, firmly endured the test sent down to Her.
But as much as the Most Holy Virgin was devoted to the will of God and as courageous as Her soul was, She was just as compassionate and tender towards the people whom she loved with all her heart, which is how she gained the love of the people. And in this we need to imitate Her.
Beloved brothers and sisters, let us now pray with all our hearts to the Queen of Heaven, that She may guide us from earth to the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, teaching us to sincerely love God and fulfill His holy commandments, and with Her prayers protecting us from all evil, so that having lived prosperously in this century, Let us move to eternal abodes and there glorify Her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom together with the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory and praise forever and ever.
