The Orthodox world knows many icons of the Mother of God, many of which have miraculous power and are capable of healing parishioners from illnesses and protecting them from all sorts of troubles. The Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God is no exception.
Since ancient times, Orthodox Christians have prayed to the Mother of God, who listened to every word. They asked for protection not only for themselves, but also for all living people. The icon painted by the Monk Alypius of Pechora showed miracles of healing and also endowed Orthodox Christians with God's Grace.
This icon is also known as “Svenskaya-Pecherskaya”. To this day it is miraculous. Copies of the icon are found in many cities and show the world evidence of the power of the Higher Powers.
History of the icon
According to sources that have survived to this day, the icon was painted around 1114, in August. Until 1925, she stayed in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. There, the image repeatedly showed miracles, healing parishioners from illnesses, helping in sorrows and protecting from negativity. Then the icon was transferred to the Bryansk Svensky Monastery. Orthodox sources They report that the icon showed miraculous power and healed the blind Prince of Chernigov Roman Mikhailovich. On the way to Bryansk, the icon was accompanied by a priest and travelers. In the morning after waking up, they did not find the icon in the boat. She found herself on the shore, standing in the crown of an oak tree between the branches. The news reached the prince, and he arrived on foot to the icon, where he fervently prayed to the Mother of God, asking for healing from his illness. Over time, a monastery was built on the site of the oak tree, and the tree was cut down, making blanks for other icons from the wood.
Where is the miraculous image of the Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God located?
It is known that the icon was in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. Then it was moved, and now we can assume that the shrine is located in the Nizhny Novgorod State Historical and Architectural Museum Reserve. Lists of the icon can be found in many cities of Russia. So, you can admire the shrine and offer prayers to it in the following cities: in Nizhny Novgorod, in Nerekhta in the Kostroma region, in Pechory in the Pskov region, in the Lodeynopolsky district Leningrad region, in Moscow, in Toropets, Tver region, in Kozelsk, Kaluga region, in Kirillov, Vologda region.
Description of the Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God
The miraculous image depicts the Mother of God holding the baby Jesus in her arms. She sits on a throne and holds her son with both hands. The Divine Infant holds his hands in a blessing gesture. To the right and left side Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk were discharged from the Mother of God. In their hands we see scrolls with writing. A superbly painted icon evokes spiritual trepidation among parishioners and seems to reveal to them the source of God’s Grace, protecting each person praying from adversity.
How does a miraculous image help?
The shrine has been revered in the Orthodox world since ancient times. More than once the icon showed miracles of healing, including freeing the Prince of Chernigov from blindness. They also pray to her for mental illnesses, for various ailments associated with diseases nervous system. Anyone who wishes to receive help from the Mother of God can offer prayers and repent of their sins. It is not for nothing that parishioners took this icon into their homes in ancient times. It was believed that she brings Grace into every home, protecting everyone living from any negativity and evil.
Prayer before the miraculous image
“Most Holy Mother of God! We cry to You for help. Do not refuse the servants of God their sincere requests. We repent before Your face of all our ungodly deeds and ask for Your mercy. Pray to our Almighty Lord for His Grace and grant us healing from bodily ailments. Keep our shelter and household members healthy and do not allow the devil’s machinations. Amen".
Celebration date
The date of the celebration was timed to coincide with the appearance of the icon on the Sven River, when it was transferred from a boat into the branches of an oak tree. The Orthodox world on May 16 (May 3, old style) attends the solemn liturgy and, together with the clergy, prays before the face of the Mother of God for protection and patronage, asking to heal physical and spiritual wounds. The second date is August 30 (September 17, old style), in memory of the liberation of Bryansk from Napoleon’s army.
Each believer can purchase a list from the shrine for his home iconostasis, which will protect the house and those living in it from any evil and negativity. You can pray to Our Lady at any time. The main thing is that your words come from the heart, and in your soul there is a sincere desire to take the path of correction and follow the commandments of God. We wish you happiness and good luck, and do not forget to press the buttons and
15.10.2017 05:15
Miraculous icons Holy Mother of God are especially revered by Orthodox Christians. The Balykinsky image of the Mother of God has the ability to heal...
Descriptions of the icon
About the confusion between the Pechersk and Pechersk-Svensk icons and their placement on this site.
Source: website
There are two main varieties of the Pechersk icon - Pechersk-Svenskaya and Pecherskaya, and, apparently, there is a noticeable confusion of names for different iconographic images: 1) With St. Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk with Scrolls. 2) With Kneeling Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk and Angels. Also, at the request of the icon painter, angels can be either present or absent in both iconographic types. I cannot assure with certainty which specific icon is Pechersk and which Pechersk-Svenskaya, but for ease of searching, these icon painting types are still divided in this catalog as: 1) Pechersk-Svenskaya - saints stand with scrolls. 2) Pecherskaya - kneeling saints. This division is consistent with the descriptions of these icons by the Villager: ======= Svenskaya-Pechersk Icon: On a golden elevated throne, placed on a special pulpit, the Queen of Heaven sits majestically; Her right foot rests on a small stone, and Her left foot stands on the pulpit. On k[...]
Description of the Pechersk-Svenskaya icon
Source: Disc "Orthodox church calendar 2011" publishing house of the Moscow Patriarchate
The Svensk-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Monk Alypius of Pechersk († around 1114, commemorated August 17). The icon depicts the Mother of God sitting on a throne, with the Divine Infant on Her lap. To the right of the throne stands the Monk Theodosius, and to the left is the Monk Anthony of Pechersk. Until 1288, it was in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, where it became famous for its miracles, and then was transferred to the Bryansk Svensky Monastery in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It happened as follows. Prince Roman Mikhailovich of Chernigov, while in Bryansk, became blind. Having heard about miracles from the icon painted by the Monk Alypius himself, the prince sent a messenger to the monastery with a request to send an icon to him in Bryansk for healing. The icon was sent along with the priest along the Desna River. During the voyage, the boat landed on the right bank of the Svenya River. After spending the night, the travelers went to the boat in the morning to pray to the icon, but did not find it there, but saw it on a mountain opposite the Svenya River. The icon stood on an oak tree between the branches. The news about this[...]
Icon of Pechersk-Svensk (With St. Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk with Scrolls) - description
Source: Website "Miracle-Working Icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary", author - Valery Melnikov
The history of the glorification of this image is connected with the Chernigov prince Roman Mikhailovich, who, while in Bryansk, lost his sight. Having heard about the miracles and healings that took place from the miraculous PECHERSK Icon of the Mother of God and from the great wonderworkers Anthony and Theodosius of the Kiev-Pechersk, the prince sent alms to the Pechersky Monastery along with a request to release the miraculous icon to him in Bryansk. On the advice of the brethren, Archimandrite Pechersk sent the icon on a boat along the Desna River with a priest. During the voyage, those who accompanied the holy icon had to spend the night on the banks of the Svenya River. Getting up in the morning, they went into the boat to pray in front of the icon of the Mother of God, but did not find it in the boat, but saw the image on the mountain, standing on an oak tree between the branches. This miraculous phenomenon on the banks of the Sven River (from which the icon received the name Svenskaya) was announced to Prince Roman Mikhailovich. The prince hastened to go on foot to where the icon stood, and, having prayed with faith in front of the image, received healing and began to see again. After the blessings[...]
In Orthodoxy, there are many miraculous icons of the Mother of God that heal illnesses and help in trouble. These include the famous Svensky-Pechersk image of the Mother of God.
The Svenskaya-Pecherskaya shrine is endowed with special healing powers and is one of the most revered icons. Her miraculous deeds are known throughout the Christian world, so it is not surprising that she earned the respect and love of believers.
History of the Svensk-Pechersk icon
This icon was painted by the famous Venerable Alypius of Pechersk. The holy image has been working unimaginable miracles from ancient times to this day. Many Orthodox believers received help through prayers in front of this image of the Mother of God.
Many ancient sources describe the miracle that the Svenskaya-Pechersk Icon performed, restoring the sight of the blind Prince Roman Mikhailovich. The shrine performed many more miracles, thereby earning the trust and love of all Orthodox Christians.
Where is the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary located?
There are a large number of holy places in Russia where you can find the glorified image of the Virgin Mary. The most famous images are located:
- V State Museum History and Architecture in Nizhny Novgorod;
- in many churches in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kostroma and Tver.
Many Christians from all over the world come to the holy monasteries, where the divine icon is kept, to indulge in prayers before the holy face of the Mother of God and touch it.
Description of the icon
The icon contains the sacred image of the Mother of God sitting on the throne, holding the Divine Infant in her arms. To her right is Saint Anthony of Pechersk, and to her left is Theodosius. In their hands they have unfolded scrolls with Holy Scripture. Angels are depicted below.
People whose gaze is directed to the icon receive peace of mind, balance and harmony.
What do they pray for in front of the shrine?
The miraculous image became famous primarily for its healing of both physical and mental illnesses. It especially helps to get rid of diseases associated with the eyes and nervous system.
They pray in front of the shrine for forgiveness of sins. Orthodox believers also offer prayers for well-being in the family, for deliverance from quarrels and for maintaining peace in the home.
Celebration day
Every year May 16 Orthodoxy celebrates a holiday dedicated to the Svensk-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God. On this day, solemn services are held in many churches.
Prayer of the Mother of God before the miraculous icon
“Oh great Mother of God! Our words for help are addressed to You! Do not leave us, Mother of God, without Your mighty support. I pray, forgive all our sins and give Your blessing! We are all servants of God, so hear us and give us healing from ailments. Help in troubles and misfortunes, guide them on the right path. Don't let your enemies bring evil and chaos into our homes. Let God's will be done for everything. May I praise Your name, Holy Virgin! Forever and ever. Amen".
It must be remembered that everyone who sincerely prays and believes in the Lord will definitely receive the support of the Mother of God by praying in front of her miraculous image. We wish you peace in your soul, happiness, love and health. Take care of yourself and don't forget to press the buttons and
O Most Wonderful, Most Holy Lady, Mother of God, Mother of Christ our God! Hear the voice of my prayer and grant me, Lady, to see with my eyes and see the light and Your miraculous image. All that I see from this place in all four directions, I will give to Your house. I will build a temple and a monastery in this place that You have loved.
Prayer of the Chernigov Prince
Roman Mikhailovich
The son of the holy martyr Prince Michael of Chernigov, who was brutally tortured in the Horde for refusing to betray the Orthodox faith, Roman prayed before the wondrous ancient image of the Svenskaya (Pechersk) Mother of God. According to legend, this miraculous work was painted by the Monk Alypius himself, who studied icon painting from the Byzantine masters who decorated the Great Church in Kyiv - now the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The Pechersk monk, whom the Lord destined to become the first ancient Russian icon painter, died around 1114.
The Svensky (Pechersk) image is of amazing beauty. The Most Pure One sits on a golden throne with a foot in the form of arches; Her right foot rests on a small stone, and Her left foot stands on the pulpit. On the lap of the Mother of God is the Eternal Child with blessing hands. On the sides of the throne stand the venerable fathers - the founders of Russian monasticism: to the right of the Most Pure One is Theodosius of Pechersk, and to the left is Anthony of Pechersk; They both have scrolls with writing in their hands. The Venerable Theodosius is depicted on this icon without a hood, with his head uncovered, in a mantle and stole, and the Venerable Anthony is depicted in full schematic vestments.
Theodosius of Pechersk is the third of the saints canonized by the Metropolis of Kyiv and All Rus' (the first were the passion-bearing princes Boris and Gleb), and the first venerable (that is, a saint of the monastic rank) in this wondrous host. It was Theodosius and his teacher the Monk Anthony (canonized a little later) who became the founders of Russian monasticism as a new and fruitful branch of that Eastern Christian monastic tree, which blossomed in Holy Rus' with a wondrous fragrant flower. From the depths of centuries the unquenchable light of these two ascetics and prayer books of Holy Rus' shines.
On the Svenskaya (Pechersk) icon on the scroll of the Venerable Theodosius it is inscribed: “O Lord God Almighty, Creator of all creation, visible and invisible, with Your gaze reward the house of Your Most Pure Mother by me, Your servant Theodosius, establish it immovably until the day of Your Last Judgment for praise and praise to You." On the scroll of St. Anthony of Pechersk there is the following inscription: “I pray you, children, to maintain abstinence and not be lazy. Imams are the Lord’s Helper in this.”
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The size of the Svenskaya (Pechersk) icon is 67 by 42 cm, the oldest paint layer is not very well preserved, it has many abrasions with later writings. But this image is notable not only for its antiquity and grace-filled power. The very image of the Most Pure One in the image of the Queen of Heaven seated on a throne was and remains very widespread throughout the Christian world. We meet it in Sophia of Constantinople and in the mosaics of Ravenna, on Georgian chased icons of the 11th century and on crosses from Chersonese.
For many centuries, the miraculous one stayed in the Dormition Svensky Monastery near Bryansk (now the village of Suponevo, which has already entered the city limits). The buildings of this monastery, closed in 1924, were then severely destroyed. The theomachists demolished the majestic Assumption Cathedral of the 18th century with the famous carved panel on the choir depicting a whale spewing out the prophet Jonah from its belly. Through the care of the Most Pure One, monastic life in the Svensky Monastery was revived in 1992, and eight years later the number of brethren was already twenty-five people.
The miraculous Svenskaya (Pechersk) icon has been within the walls of this monastery since 1288, and before that it was in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, where it became famous for many miracles. Prince Roman Mikhailovich, while in Bryansk, suddenly lost his sight. Knowing about the miracles and healings that took place in the Pechersky Monastery, he sent a messenger there with alms and a request to send a miraculous icon to Bryansk to ask for healing. After consulting with the brethren, the Pechersk archimandrite “released” the icon. While sailing along the Desna River, the boat suddenly stopped near the place where the Sven River flows into the Desna. Those accompanying the icon decided to spend the night at this place and moored to the shore. But when they returned to their boat in the morning, the miraculous image was not there. After a long search, the missing icon was found on the mountain opposite the mouth of the Sven, between the branches of a large oak tree. When Prince Roman was informed about this miracle, he, accompanied by the clergy, set off on foot to the icon.
The prince prayed fervently, his vision began to return to him, and he saw a path, on which he immediately ordered a memorial cross to be erected. However, the prince's eyes could only discern objects that were actually close range. And when the procession reached the oak itself, the prince fell to the ground and again cried out to the Mother of God with heartfelt contrition: “Most Holy Lady! Hear my prayer and give insight to my eyes!” And immediately his vision became even better. The bishop took the icon from the tree and presented it to the prince; he reverently kissed her, and his vision returned completely.
Immediately after serving a prayer service before the icon, the prince and all those gathered began to cut down trees and with common efforts began to build a church in the name of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary - the temple holiday of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery.
After some time, Prince Roman erected a monastery on the site of his miraculous epiphany and generously endowed it with money, and “overlaid the miraculous work with gold and silver.” The tree on which the icon was found was cut down and sawn into planks that served to furnish the monastery. At the same time, in 1288, the celebration of the Svenskaya (Pechersk) Icon of the Mother of God was established - May 3. In the iconostasis of the monastery Assumption Cathedral, on the right side of the royal doors, the miraculous remained for almost seven centuries.
The Russian sovereigns showed many favors to the shrine and the monastery that guarded it: Ivan the Terrible donated a lot of gold, silver and precious stones to make a new setting for the miraculous one. Sovereigns Fyodor Ioannovich, Boris Godunov, Mikhail Fedorovich, Alexey Mikhailovich, Fyodor, John and Peter Alekseevich, Elizaveta Petrovna also benefactored the monastery. The pious patriarchs Filaret and Joseph, the Yuryev-Romanov boyars, nobles and merchants who revered the Svenskaya (Pechersk) Icon of the Mother of God made contributions here. The flow of pilgrims who heard about more and more new miracles of Svenskaya (Pecherskaya) never dried up.
Through the intercession of the Most Pure One, Bryansk was saved more than once from the invasion of enemies. When the French approached the city in 1812, its residents carried the Svenskaya (Pechersk) icon around Bryansk in their arms, and through their fervent prayer to the Intercessor of the Christian family, the enemy passed by, and soon fled from Russia altogether. Since then, a religious procession has been held in Bryansk in memory of this miracle every year on August 17th. The day before, the icon was brought from the monastery to the city cathedral, where an all-night vigil was served, and in the morning after the liturgy, a religious procession was held around the city with the miraculous icon, crosses, icons and banners from all the churches of Bryansk with the participation of all the city clergy. In the evening, the people returned to the cathedral and “with honor and glory” escorted the icon to the Assumption Monastery. In memory of the deliverance from the French in 1815, a new golden robe was “arranged” for the Svensk (Pechersk) icon.
In 1846, Bryansk landowner V.R. Demidov donated a precious crown with a “shine” of large diamonds and diamond stars on the shoulders of the Virgin Mary, as well as a crown and armlets for the Eternal Child for the miraculous golden robe.
Solemnly and beautifully, to the ringing of bells and prayerful singing, the Svenskaya (Pechersk) icon was carried out into the homes of pious residents of Bryansk. Descriptions of such spiritual festivals have been preserved:
“The participants in the proposed celebration come to the monastery. In the monastery, the cathedral bell starts ringing the big bell with all the bells ringing. The abbot of the monastery and the brethren go to church, and at the same time residents of neighboring villages flock here. The rector with the clergy in vestments leaves the altar, stands before the miraculous image of the Mother of God and blesses the beginning of the prayer service. The brothers sing: “Heavenly King.” Then the “Trisagion”, “Our Father”, “Lord have mercy” are read twelve times and Psalm 142 “Lord! Hear my prayer...” After reading the psalm, the deacon says: “God is the Lord and appears to us,” and the troparia of the Theotokos are sung: “Be diligent towards the Mother of God,” etc. At this time, two hieromonks take the holy icon and, while singing, take it out of the church. The rector, the clergy and all the people follow her. When the procession, ringing bells and singing sacred songs, leaves the monastery gates, then both hieromonks with the holy icon stop in the square and turn to face the monastery. The rector, standing before the miraculous icon with a cross in his hand, after the hierodeacon has read the litany, makes a release, venerates the icon, asking in prayer the Queen of Heaven not to leave the monastery, and allows the people to kiss the Cross of the Lord. Having received the blessing, those who lift the miraculous icon into their home receive it from the hieromonks, and the solemn procession moves on while singing stichera in honor of the Mother of God and bell ringing. The abbot, having handed over the Holy Cross to the hieromonk accompanying the holy icon, returns with the brethren to the monastery. The holy icon is also solemnly escorted to the monastery. The abbot with the brethren in vestments, deacons with censers and sextons with candles leave the monastery to meet the shrine. When all the bells ring, the abbot censes the miraculous icon and accepts the Holy Cross from the hieromonk, and the hieromonks take the holy icon from the pilgrims and then go to the monastery. Upon entering the temple, the icon is placed in its original place, the hierodeacon pronounces the litany, then the dismissal follows and the kissing of the Holy Cross and the miraculous image of the Mother of God takes place. When a solemn procession with a miraculous icon passes by city or rural churches, all the bells in them ring. Pious pilgrims meet and see off the icon with the same joy and honor as the Queen of Heaven herself. They fall to their knees before it, lie down on the ground, bring the youths so that the holy icon will be carried over them, and place infants under it. The courtyards, streets and squares through which this procession moves are swept clean, and the huts are cleaned, if possible and according to condition. In the entire village that takes on the image of the Mother of God, there is a holiday.”
History of the image of the Svensk (Pechersk) Icon of the Mother of God
The Svenskaya (Pechersk) icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Monk Alypius, an icon painter who studied icon painting from the Byzantine masters who decorated the Great Pechersk Church in Kyiv.
The image of the Mother of God belongs to the Panachranta (All-Merciful) type, possibly coming from one of the versions of the Cyprus icon of the Mother of God. The Mother of God is depicted sitting upright on a high throne and holding the Child directly in front of her. This type is more typical for monumental painting - frescoes and mosaics because of its solemn severity.
Savior Emmanuel, sitting on the knees of the Mother of God, with outstretched hands and two fingers blesses Theodosius and Anthony of Pechersk (Antony in a pointed schematic doll) standing before the throne. The monks hold unfolded scrolls with texts of teachings.
The text on the scroll of Anthony: “I pray to you that our children maintain abstinence and are not lazy, having the Lord as our helper in this regard.” The inscription on the scroll of Theodosius is poorly visible, almost unreadable, the shape of the scroll has been changed, now the scroll goes down to the ground and at the same time covers part of the throne, the text on the scroll was rewritten in antiquity. There are practically no steps visible at the throne.
The Svensk icon is the oldest known image of St. Antonia and Theodosius. Until 1288, the icon was in the Kiev Pechersk Monastery, where it became famous for its miracles. In 1288, the icon was transferred to the Bryansk Svensky Monastery.
Chernigov Prince Roman Mikhailovich lost his sight while in Bryansk. Having heard about the miracles and healings that occurred from the miraculous image of the Pechersk Mother of God, the prince sent a messenger to the Pechersk monastery with alms and a request to send a miraculous icon to him in Bryansk to ask for healing.
After consulting with the brethren, Archimandrite Pechersk released the icon with the priest along the Desna River. During the voyage, the boat landed on the right bank of the Svenya River. The travelers spent the night at that place. In the morning they went to the boat to pray in front of the icon, but did not find it. They saw the icon on the mountain opposite the river. The image stood on an oak tree between the branches.
The news of this reached Prince Roman. Accompanied by priests, he walked on foot to the place where the Svensky Monastery now stands and there he prayed for the granting of his sight. “Everything that I see from this place in all four directions I will give to Your house and will build a temple and a monastery in the place that You have loved.”
His vision returned to him the very minute he finished his prayer. he saw a path on which, by his command, a cross was then placed. But his eyes saw only objects standing at a very close distance. When they approached the icon, the prince fell to the ground again and cried out with heartfelt contrition to the Mother of God: “Most Holy Lady! Hear my prayer and give insight to my eyes!” Having said this, he began to see better than before. 
By his order, the icon was removed from the tree and presented to the prince, who reverently kissed it. Everyone present followed the prince’s example. After listening to a prayer service in front of the icon, the prince and all those gathered began to cut down trees and after some time, with their joint efforts, they built a temple in the name of the Dormition of the Mother of God. Later, Prince Roman erected a monastery on the site of his miraculous epiphany, which he named Svensky after the name of the river and generously endowed it with money, and made a frame of gold and silver for the miraculous icon.
The name of the monastery passed on to the icon, which remained here and became the main monastery shrine; the tree on which the icon was located was cut down and used for boards for other icons and for temple accessories. Later, at the site of the appearance of the icon, a stone pillar was erected, decorated with a copy of this icon. At the same time, the celebration of the icon was established on May 3/16.
The founder of the monastery, Prince Roman of Chernigov, died in the Horde at the end of the 13th century. Documentary information about the first centuries of the monastery’s existence has not been preserved.
The monastery and its shrine were always revered by Russian tsars. Ivan the Terrible repeatedly donated money to the monastery with a request to pray on important occasions in his life. He also exempted the monastery from taxes.
In 1578, in the monastery, instead of a dilapidated wooden church, a five-domed stone church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected. They were built by Tver master Gavriil Dmitrievich Makov.
The original decoration of the cathedral was a wonderful and rare work iron doors, donated back in 1565 by Ivan Fedorovich Mstislavsky to commemorate his parents - Prince Fyodor and Princess Anastasia. The western doors, sloping at the top, were decorated with marvelous openwork patterns. The northern ones, rectangular in shape, were divided by stripes into 20 unequal parts, decorated in the middle with a square plate on which a bird sitting on a branch was carved. The southern, straight door was delimited by thin strips into several rectangular parts. One of these doors is now kept in the Moscow Kolomenskoye Museum, the other two in the Bryansk Museum of Local Lore.
The cathedral had a majestic seven-tier carved iconostasis, 33 meters high. It was covered with silver and gold leaf. The upper four tiers of icons were human height. Many icons were framed with silver frames, crowns and precious stones. The carved columns were also impressive, seemingly completely through.
The pediments of the church were also decorated with iconography. Among the various church utensils, the abbot's place stood out, being one of the best examples of ancient Russian carving. The abbots stood in this place, located near the pulpit, in those cases when they did not conduct church services themselves. The oldest was a large shroud, about which in the inventory of 1681 it was reported: “The images in the faces are embroidered on azure damask in gold and silver,” and on the same damask the words are embroidered all around: “Do not cry for me, mother.”
On May 19, 1566, construction began on the church in the name of the Pechersk wonderworkers Anthony and Theodosius.
But a year later, when construction was almost completed, the stone vault collapsed. The legend about the construction of this temple that has survived to this day tells the following about what happened: “Tikhon broke off on that bridge. an old man, the former abbot of that monastery, and with him sixteen people broke off - church stonemasons and workers who carried stone and brick up, and small children who carried water and lime to church work... all of them have heads of trouble, and some of them have skunks devastation and exile, and broke the arms and legs of others.” By order of Abbot Sergius, the rubble was cleared and construction continued.
In subsequent years, the Svensky Monastery was destroyed several times. In 1583, during an attack on Bryansk by a detachment of the Vitebsk governor Pats, all the monasteries burned down wooden buildings, icons, books and letters of grant. Hiding in the forest, the abbot and the monks managed to take with them only the miraculous icon.
This year was also memorable for the fact that Ivan the Terrible requested the Svensk Icon, for which a golden crown decorated with precious stones and pearls was made in Moscow. He returned the icon to the monastery with rich gifts: various “junk items” worth 105 rubles, 70 frame samples, four gold cloaks with yachts, two satin robes and two silver ones, and a gold tsatu with stones and pearls for the “Icon of the Savior”, and to the wonderworker Anthony and To Theodosius two gold tsats with stones and pearls.”
Before the monastery had time to recover from the attack of the Lithuanians, a new disaster befell it... Time of Troubles turned out to be the most difficult period in the history of this holy monastery. During the long siege of the city in 1607, the monks and residents experienced terrible hunger. Along with others, at the head of the patriotic movement of the townspeople were the Svensky abbot Cornelius and the archpriest of the Intercession Cathedral Alexy, who called on residents to selfless defense of the city and its shrines, patience in enduring disasters and courageous struggle on the fortress walls. These two elders and the builder of the Svensk monastery Barsanuphius decorated with their signatures the famous act of election of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov as Tsar in 1613.
The 1660s entered the chronicles of the Svensky Monastery as a black line. On January 9, 1664, it was devastated and plundered by the Crimean Tatars. “Crimean military men came near Bryansk,” it was reported in the monastery records, “and stood in the House of the Most Pure Mother of God, and in the end they destroyed the monastery and burned the churches.” Even from a distance one could see the skeletons of churches sticking out from the lifeless mob of the fires. There was a strange silence in the ashes, interrupted only by the sound of crows and the sad creaking of doors swinging in the wind. Near the churches lay the bodies of fallen defenders and enemies. Due to the complete ruin of the monastery, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich freed it from previous arrears and Yam taxes.
During the struggle of the Muscovite state with the Polish-Lithuanian Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, complaining to the Russian sovereigns about the insults and devastation caused to it and its possessions from the endless raids of its western neighbors, it repeatedly asked for some kind of refuge in the Moscow aisles. In 1680, sending a delegation to the Tsar with a petition, she indicated “to have a refuge in her Great Russian Great Power until a time of peace, such as at Bryansk or Trubchevsk,” in a request referring to the letter of Grand Duke Andrei Bogolyubsky, according to which “the monasteries of Bryansk, Novgorod (Seversky ), Chernigov, Yeletsky were subject to the area of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery. Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich on March 28, 1681, with his obedient letter, assigned him to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
The final transfer of the monastery to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was legalized by the royal grant of 1682, according to which the monastery became known as the Novopechersky (Svensky) Monastery.
Peter I visited the Svensky Monastery more than once, where a special stone house was built for him. He also visited the monastery after the Battle of Poltava to serve a prayer service.
IN different times Many devotees of Christian piety lived in the Svensk monastery, whose life was a source of spiritual light for many thousands of believers. First of all, it is worth mentioning St. John of Tobolsk, who was the abbot of the Svensky Monastery from 1681 to 1695.
Many students and followers of St. Paisius Velichkovsky were associated with the Svensky Monastery. Among them were Hieromonk Afanasy (Stepanov), schemamonks Afanasy (Okhlopkov) and Afanasy (Zakharov), Hierodeacon Anastasy and others, who later became famous for their desert life and senile activity. Among these followers, Schema-Archimandrite Moses, who was a novice of the Svensky Monastery in 1809–1811, and later the governor of the Kozelsk Optina Monastery, stood out especially.
The miraculous image always attracted many pilgrims, and many miracles were performed.
In 1673, Potapiy, a possessed farmer from Trubchevsk, was brought to the miraculous image. He was so furious that they could hardly restrain him. After the prayer service before the Svensk Icon, the sick man came out, fearfully shaking him. Those present were amazed, and Potapius, having given praise to God and His Most Pure Mother, made a vow to take monastic vows, which he soon fulfilled.
More than once hordes of enemies approached the monastery, trying to destroy it, but each time the Queen of Heaven did not allow this. The city of Bryansk itself was repeatedly saved from the invasion of enemies by Her intercession. This assistance was especially evident in 1812, during the French invasion of Russia.
Whole hordes of enemies then approached the city, threatening to ruin it. Residents of Bryansk, seeking salvation, turned with fervent prayer to the Intercessor of the Christian race, and taking the Svenskaya icon they walked around the city with it. It soon became known that the enemy had retreated. In gratitude for the deliverance, the residents and the clergy raised the miraculous icon a second time and walked around the entire city with a procession of the cross. After some time, it became known that the French had finally left the aisles of Moscow. In memory of this event, the celebration of the Svensk Icon of the Mother of God began to take place on August 17/30.
After this miracle in 1815, the city residents arranged a new golden chasuble for the icon of the Mother of God.
In 1830, the peasant Ivan Vasiliev from the village of Reven petitioned His Grace Nicodemus, Bishop of Orlovsky, for permission to bring the miraculous icon to his house. The bishop allowed the icon to be moved to the village for a while. “For four years I suffered from darkness of mind, severe melancholy and despondency,” wrote this peasant, “but as soon as I made a vow to bring the miraculous icon of the Mother of God to my home, I immediately received healing and joy.”
In 1832, a woman who had suffered from demonic possession for 11 years was healed by the miraculous icon. Relatives brought her to the Svensk monastery to pray at the holy icon of the Mother of God for her recovery. During Vespers at the Svensk monastery, the patient calmed down. Then a prayer service was served, the sick woman venerated the icon and received healing.
There were many other miracles and healings from miraculous icon. In the past, she occupied the first place in the iconostasis, on the right side of the royal doors in the cathedral church of the Assumption of Our Lady.
Four times a year a procession of the cross was held at the monastery: May 3 - inside the monastery, on All Saints Sunday 7 Ecumenical Council, August 11 - in memory of the liberation of the city of Bryansk from the French invasion in 1812; from St. with the icon, the religious procession went into the city, walked around it and returned to the monastery. Finally, on August 15, a religious procession was organized from the city to the monastery.
In 1917, the monastery was closed, a labor commune was formed from the monks, and soldiers were stationed on the territory of the monastery. In 1920, a children's colony was organized in the monastery. In the first years after the godless revolution, services were still held, but in 1924 all church buildings were closed and valuables were confiscated. In 1926, the Svensk Icon was sent for restoration, and from there for eternal storage in the Tretyakov Gallery.
In 1930, the Assumption Cathedral was blown up by a demolition team led by Ya.P. Rykhlova. A terrible sight appeared before the eyes of eyewitnesses: domes that flew into the sky, mountains of building debris, and tombstones from the monastery cemetery wiped off the face of the earth what was the main beauty of the Svensk monastery. The explosion damaged the church in the name of the Pechersk miracle workers Anthony and Theodosius and the bell tower. And even earlier, the house of Peter I was dismantled into bricks.
Later, a decision was made to transfer the monastery to the Bryansk Provincial Museum, but it did not come into force. Half a century later, previous decisions about the Svensky Monastery were revised and in the 1970s, restoration of the monastery fence, Sretenskaya and Transfiguration churches began. In 1988, the former monastery, which became a branch of the Bryansk Regional Museum of Local Lore, opened its gates to visitors for the first time.
In 1992, the monastery was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Archbishop Melchizedek (Lebedev), appointed to the Bryansk See in 1994, lived and organized diocesan work in the Svensky Monastery for the first weeks - a building had not yet been allocated for the establishment of the Diocesan Administration.
Although many of the buildings have not survived, the monastery still makes an indelible impression. In 2005, clearing of the ruins began, developed architectural plan buildings and the foundation has been prepared for the construction of the fifth Assumption Cathedral. 
The Svensk icon is in the Tretyakov Gallery, inv. No. 12723, They are not going to return her.
In the Svensky Monastery and churches of Bryansk there are copies of the miraculous icon; in the monastery on Sunday evenings, akathists of the Mother of God are read in front of her icon called Svenskaya, to St. John, Metropolitan of Tobolsk and Bryansk saints.
Thus, through the Svenskaya (Pechersk) icon, Holy Rus', bypassing the intermediary links, clung directly to the Holy Land - the homeland of the incarnate Christ and Christianity.
“Most Holy Lady! Hear my prayer and give insight to my eyes!” - how this prayer of Prince Roman Mikhailovich is needed today by all of us who have eyes but cannot see.
Troparion, tone 4
Today the Svensk monastery triumphs brightly, and the immeasurable face of the Pechersk fathers rejoices at the appearance of the image of the Mother of God, and with them we unceasingly cry out: Rejoice, O Blessed One, Svenskaya Praise.
Bryansk Svensky Monastery
« O Most Wonderful, Most Holy Lady, Mother of God, Mother of Christ our God! Hear the voice of my prayer and grant me, Lady, to see with my eyes and see the light and Your miraculous image. All that I see from this place in all four directions, I will give to Your house. I will build a temple and a monastery in this place that You loved"(Prayer of Chernigov Prince Roman Mikhailovich)
Troparion of the Svensk Icon of the Mother of God, tone 4 :
Today the Svensk monastery triumphs brightly, and the immeasurable face of the Pechersk fathers rejoices at the appearance of the image of the Mother of God, and with them we unceasingly cry out: Rejoice, O Blessed One, Svenskaya Praise.
Pechersk-Svensk Icon of the Mother of God.
67 x 42.
Tretyakov Gallery, inv. No. 12723.
The icon is painted on a solid linden board with a shallow ark and a round husk.
Preservation: the oldest paint layer is not very well preserved; there are many abrasions on it with later writings.
Pechersk-Svensk Icon of the Mother of God ( see illustration.) iconographically goes back to the type of Panahranta (All-Merciful) and, perhaps, is one of the versions of the Cyprus icon of the Mother of God. This iconographic type of the Mother of God sitting upright on the throne is more typical for monumental painting - frescoes and mosaics because of its solemn severity. Savior Emmanuel, sitting on the knees of the Mother of God, with outstretched hands with two fingers blesses Theodosius (left) and Anthony (right), the founders of Kiev, standing before the throne Pechersky Monastery. The icon brought to our time the oldest surviving icon images of Anthony and Theodosius. Anthony rested in the Lord on May 7, 1073, and Theodosius in 1074. The godly fathers were awarded early canonization: we know from the “Kievo-Pechersk Patericon” that already in the 12th century. there were their icons in the monastery, which were shown to the Greek builders of the stone cathedral. But, as tradition says, even before arriving in Kyiv, in the Blachernae temple, the stone makers of Constantinople had a vision of the Mother of God with the upcoming Pechersk abbots. Perhaps this vision, about which there were oral legends in the monastery, influenced the composition of the icon. Venerable Anthony ( see illustration.) is depicted on the icon in a monastic robe with gold clasps, armbands, a lectern, a pointed schematic doll with crosses, left hand in prayer, on the right - an unfolded scroll with the text: “ I pray to God that you hold on […] self-restraint and don’t be lazy and [...] and for this G[...]gd of help" This iconography became widespread in the 16th century. (for example, an icon of the 16th century (GMMK); an icon of the mid-17th century of northern letters (GTG); the centerpiece of the prophetic row of the iconostasis of the Assumption Cathedral in Tula, the 18th century; an icon of the 18th century (CMiAR)). A separate version of this iconography is represented by the icon of Ser. XIX century (CMiAR), in which the hands of the Mother of God are laid on the shoulders of Anthony and Theodosius. The scroll in the hands of Theodosius was poorly preserved, the shape of the scroll was changed, now the scroll goes down to the ground and at the same time covers part of the throne, the text on the scroll was rewritten in antiquity: “ Master Lord God Almighty, Creator of all creation, visible and invisible, with Your gaze reward the house of Your Most Pure Mother by me, Your servant Theodosius, and establish it motionless until the day of Your Terrible Judgment for praise and glorification of You».
According to the hypothesis of N.P. Kondakova, Pechersk-Svenskaya icon of the Mother of God is a copy from the altar image - a mosaic image of the Mother of God (1083-1089) in the altar of the Pechersk Assumption Cathedral. This image became famous soon after its creation (Kondakov N.P. Iconography of the Mother of God. T. 2. Pg., 1915. P. 327). The Pechersk image itself (mosaic or executed on a board) may have repeated the icon that was in Sophia of Constantinople. In published by L.N. Maykov’s “Conversation on the Shrines of Constantinople,” dating from the end of the 13th - beginning of the 14th century, provides an interesting detail: in the cathedral “on the left side there is a tower built wonderfully; in it is an icon of the Most Pure Queen Theotokos; That icon sent craftsmen to Kiev to build a church in Pechera for St. Anthony and Theodosius” (Collection. Department of Russian Language and Literature. 1890. T. 51. Issue 1. P. 14). At the same time, as V.I. Antonova suggested, the icon “is a copy executed in Kyiv from one of the ancient Pechersk icons that has not reached us” (Antonova V.I., Mneva N.E. State Tretyakov Gallery. Catalog of Old Russian Painting. Experience of historical and artistic classification. T.1. M., 1963. P. 77). This version was shared by V.N. Lazarev (Lazarev V.N. Russian icon painting from the origins to the beginning of the 16th century. M., 1983. P. 45, 169).
The dating of the icon is controversial. If V.I. Antonova timed its writing to coincide with the founding of the Svensky Monastery (1288), then A.N. Ovchinnikov - to the era of Alimpia, i.e. by the end of the 11th century (Ovchinnikov A.N. Icons “St. Panteleimon” and “Our Lady of Svenskaya-Pechersk” // Symbolism of Christian Art. M., Rodnik, 1999. P. 428.), which repeats the attribution of I.E. Grabar (Grabar I.E. About ancient Russian art. M., 1966. P. 157). To justify the dating, Ovchinnikov gave the following arguments: “The palette is more than modest: gold leaf, white lead - coarse and fine depending on the purpose, orpiment and realgar, cinnabar, iron oxide earth paint, glauconite (green earth), lapis lazuli, niello, umber. .. In painting you can find many points of contact with the painting of Sinai(editor's note:http://rublev-museum.livejournal.com/14637.html )».
According to legend, the icon of the Mother of God was revered as a shrine of the Assumption Cathedral of the Pechersk Monastery, located 3 kilometers from Bryansk, on the Svina River (now the village of Suponevo, already included within the city), and was painted at the beginning of the 12th century. the legendary Alimpius of Pechersk (Uspensky M.I. and V.I. Notes on ancient Russian icon painting. Famous icon painters and their works: 1. St. Alimpius and 2. Andrei Rublev. St. Petersburg, 1901. pp. 18-23, 28, 29 .). About St. Alimpia, who studied icon painting from the Byzantine masters who decorated the Great Church in Kyiv - now the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, some information has been preserved in the “Kievo-Pechersk Patericon”. The Pechersk monk, whom the Lord destined to become the first Russian icon painter, died ca. 1114 After the destruction of Kyiv by the Mongol-Tatars, the icon was moved to Bryansk. This miraculous image cured him of blindness in 1288. local prince Roman, the son of Mikhail Vsevolodovich - the Chernigov prince, who suffered martyrdom in the Golden Horde.
Roman Mikhailovich founded a monastery in the name of the Dormition of the Mother of God on the spot where the miracle took place. At the same time, in 1288, the celebration of the Svenskaya (Pechersk) Icon of the Mother of God was established - May 3. Subsequently, the icon became famous for its many healings of the blind and demon-possessed, and also defended the monastery and the city from enemies. When the French approached the city in 1812, its residents carried the Svenskaya (Pechersk) icon around Bryansk in their arms, and through their fervent prayer to the Intercessor of the Christian family, the enemy passed by, and soon fled from Russia altogether. In memory of the deliverance from the French in 1815, a new golden robe was “arranged” for the Svensk (Pechersk) icon. Since then, a religious procession has been held in Bryansk in memory of this miracle every year on August 17th. In the iconostasis of the monastery Assumption Cathedral, on the right side of the royal doors, the miraculous remained for almost seven centuries. After the closure of the Svensky Monastery in 1924, the icon was taken out in 1925 from the Assumption Cathedral by N.N. Pomerantsev to the Central State Restoration Workshop (Central State Restoration Workshops), from where it ended up in the Tretyakov Gallery in 1930. In 1927, employees of the Central State Russian Museum G.O. Chirikov and V.O. Kirikov carried out a complex restoration of the shrine:
Through the care of the Most Pure Mother, monastic life in the Holy Dormition Svenskoe monastery was revived in 1992, and eight years later the number of brethren was already 25 people. Archimandrite Nikodim (Aniskin, † 10/27/2010) was appointed the first governor. Under him, in 2008, a solemn celebration of the 720th anniversary of the monastery took place, in which bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church from Russia and neighboring Ukraine and Belarus took part. June 26, 2011, on the 2nd week after Pentecost, All Saints who shone forth in the Russian land, His Holiness in the Svensky Monastery of Bryansk on the ruins of the altar of the Assumption Cathedral blown up in 1930 ( see illustration.) committed Divine Liturgy, at the end of which he addressed those gathered with the Primate’s word, expressing the firm hope that “ as soon as possible, a magnificent temple with miraculous Svensk Icon of the Mother of God . Then, undoubtedly, the special grace and Protection of the Queen of Heaven will remain over the Bryansk land.” In his response, Bishop Theophylact of Bryansk, who is the holy archimandrite of the Svensky Monastery, expressed the hope that the patriarchal service will become the starting point for the restoration of the cathedral. The main relic of this temple, said Bishop. Theophylact, before its closure there was the Svensk Icon of the Mother of God with the upcoming Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk. " Nowadays, like many shrines, it is still in bondage., but we believe that your prayer and your active participation will lead to the fact that the time of the revival of the cathedral and the return of the shrine will coincide“- Vladyka told Patriarch Kirill on behalf of the entire Bryansk clergy. These words of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and one of its ruling bishops about the miraculous Svensk icon were quoted not only on the official patriarchal websites, but also in many diocesan publications.
And suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, in a number of media, including , suddenly the pearls of the head of the Synodal Information Department of the Moscow Patriarchate jumped out , who made a refutation(?!) words about the Church’s intention to return the Bryansk shrine. According to , who has already discovered his , "Russian Orthodox Church will not make a request to transfer the icon to the temple without preliminary serious consultations with the staff of the Tretyakov Gallery.” Let us remember that not so long ago after his visit to the Tretyakov Gallery, he announced full agreement on all positions with the new director of the Tretyakov Gallery: His words were quoted on June 27 by Alexandra Sopova in the Izvestia newspaper, which recently changed its owner once again and is trying to save itself from bankruptcy at any cost. Surprisingly, far from a diplomatic demarche against the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church recalled the speeches of the liberal media, which after the patriarchal our Museum named after Andrei Rublev hastened to change the wordsin the sense that “the Russian Orthodox Church will not lay claim to Andrei Rublev’s Trinity.”
The same Izvestia article contains another portion of the shameless lies of the famous provocateur , who stated that de "z The law is today on the side of the museum and allows it to respond to requests for the release of the monument with a polite refusal. If the laws are respected, the Svenska icon will not leave the Tretyakov Gallery.” At the same timecited as an example an extremely disgusting case with one of the masterpieces of our museum collection, which until recently was kept silent. We are talking about extradition at the request of the Volokolamsk Church Vladimir icon Mother of God from the collection of the Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art named after Andrei Rublev. How I spilled the beans, "case was taken into account by museum workers, and the resolution of the expanded restoration council noted that Until the return of the Toropetsk Icon to the Russian Museum, there can be no talk of exhibiting other monuments in churches " As we see, such “thimble-holders” as, the concept of legality is very vague and easy to misinterpret complete lawlessness !
It turns out to be miraculous, safety of which quite satisfactory for temporary offering for worship in
