One of the most revered images of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. Not only Orthodox believers, but also representatives of other Christian denominations offer prayers before her. For more than four hundred years it has been kept in the Pochaev Lavra - this indestructible citadel of Orthodoxy. Numerous testimonies of miracles revealed through prayers before this icon remain in the monastery books. To start talking about her, we have to go back to six hundred extra years back to the distant XIV century.

Appearance of the Mother of God to the Pochaev hermits

Tradition tells us that in 1340, two pious monks, wanting to indulge in prayers and ascetic deeds in solitude, settled in a mountain cave - where the famous Pochaev Lavra is now located. The monks spent days and nights serving the Lord, and as a reward for this they were awarded Divine revelation. One day, on the top of a mountain, a woman appeared to them in a pillar of fire. Holy Mother of God standing on a stone. In addition to the monks, a shepherd who was tending a flock nearby was also honored to see the Mother of God. When the vision dissipated, in the place where the Blessed Virgin stood, a trace of her foot remained on the stone. It was full of clean and clear water.

From then on, Pochaevskaya Mountain was filled with Divine glory, and the mark left on the stone became an eternal source of miracles. Six centuries have passed, but clean and fresh water does not dry out in it. It never gets smaller, although many pilgrims fill their vessels with it, and it never overflows. She brings healing to the afflicted and peace to the homes she sprinkles.

A wonderful gift to a hospitable landowner

The history of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God begins with the fact that two hundred years later, Metropolitan Neophytos of Constantinople, passing through these places, was invited to visit the estate of the wealthy landowner Anna Goyskaya. After staying with the hospitable hostess for some time, he continued on his way, blessing her and leaving her an image of the Most Holy Theotokos in memory of his visit.

Even at first glance, the icon was remarkable. Very ancient, painted on a linden board with oil paints in the Old Byzantine style, it was reinforced on the reverse side with two oak bars. On the front side there was a thin silver covering, made in the form of a chasuble, but very dilapidated over time.

The Most Holy Theotokos, shown in this icon, holds right hand the Eternal Child, and with his left hand he covers His legs and back with a cloth. The God-Infant gives a blessing with his right hand, and holds his left hand on the Mother’s shoulder. The Mother of God, bending towards Him, presses Her face to the face of the Child. This gesture is full of endless maternal love and tenderness.

Pochaev icon Mother of God has one remarkable feature. In addition to the Most Holy Theotokos and Her Eternal Son, there are also seven images of holy saints. It is obvious that this icon, brought from Constantinople, once belonged to a pious Orthodox family, whose members bore the names of the saints depicted on it. So, all the inscriptions on it are made in Slavic. This can only mean one thing - the icon was painted by the hand of a Russian master.

Miracles performed by the icon in the house of Anna Goiskaya

For a long time, the icon of the Pochaev Mother of God, a photo of which can be seen at the beginning of the article, was in the house of Mrs. Goyskaya. The hostess herself, for all her cordiality and hospitality, was not particularly religious. Therefore, when the maids told her that they had seen a wonderful radiance around the icon, she was skeptical about it. Even when the Most Pure Virgin Herself appeared to her in a dream, this did not convince Mrs. Anna. And only after a miraculous phenomenon, which was not in a dream, but in reality, she finally realized what a treasure she possessed.

Soon the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God irrefutably testified to its miraculous power by healing the mistress’s brother, who was blind from birth. This made an indelible impression on her, completely changing her attitude towards religion. When a church in the name of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built on the slope of Pochaevskaya Mountain, Mrs. Anna made rich donations to it. And from that time on Pochaevskaya miraculous icon The Mother of God was in it, illuminating its arches with its radiance.

Formation of the monastery and the beginning of the Lutheran period

Gradually, the number of monks living in the caves of the mountain increased, and a monastery was formed, which later became known as the Pochaev Lavra. His life flowed quietly and measuredly. The vast lands donated by Anna Goyskaya brought good income, and the miraculous icon attracted crowds of pilgrims to the monastery, so the donation cup was never empty. But the Lord called a generous benefactress into His Kingdom, and her heir, Andrei Ferelei, took possession of the estate. He was a Lutheran by faith, and from the first days he hated the Orthodox monastery on Pochaevskaya Mountain.

He caused a lot of harm to the monastery monks, even taking away the lands donated by Panna Goyskaya. To top it all off, he sent his butler with a gang of thugs to rob the holy monastery and kidnap from it miraculous image. The villains carried out the order exactly, plundering the monastery. Among other things, they stole the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God.

The significance of this atrocity was that, according to Ferel’s plan, having lost the icon, the monks would disperse, and the monastery he hated would cease to exist. But everything turned out completely differently. For the blasphemy committed and for the subsequent mockery of the icon, his wicked wife was struck by a terrible illness, which left her only after the shrine was returned to the monastery.

Resurrection of the Village Chief's Son

From the monastic chronicle of those years it is clear that the return of the holy image was marked by numerous miracles revealed through it by the Most Holy Theotokos. Among the most striking and memorable, one can recall the resurrection in 1664 of a youth - the son of a village elder. This child died as a result of illness. The boy's parents and relatives were inconsolable.

And so the grandmother of the deceased went to the monastery church, where the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God was kept. What do they pray for in such cases? About the repose of the soul of the deceased. But old woman offered a prayer to the Queen of Heaven for the return of life to her grandson. According to church traditions, this is unheard of audacity, since a believer is obliged to bow before what happened according to the will of God. But her prayer was miraculously heard - on the same day the boy was resurrected. In the monastery book, the description of this miracle is accompanied by numerous signatures of witnesses.

Healing of landowner Chojnacka's valet

Another striking incident occurred in the same year at the estate of the landowner Chojnacka. A serious illness struck down her valet. Day and night the unfortunate man was in the heat, in addition, he was completely blind, which, of course, aggravated his suffering. The compassionate landowner, wanting to help him, sent a letter to the abbot of the monastery asking him to pray for the health of her valet. A servant named Semyon Livanitsa went to the monastery and conveyed the message of the mistress to its destination.

The abbot complied with her request. Having prayed before the holy image, he also sent her water from the healing foot of the Most Holy Theotokos. To everyone’s joy, the illness went away, and after his eyes were washed with water brought from the monastery, his sight returned. What happened indicates that the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God helps not only those who pray, standing directly in front of it, but also those who are far from it, and for whom others are praying.

The miraculous resurrection of the peasant Vasily Shkarpitka

The next year, 1665, dates back to another miraculous resurrection. This time, local peasant Vasily Shkarpitka from the village of Pelchi died. As the previous time, his prayer to the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God resurrected him. However, in this case there is an amazing detail - the resurrected one remembered what happened to him after death. Subsequently, he told how two young men, taking him by the arms, led him up a mountain, at the top of which a palace shone with an unearthly light.

His heart was filled with joy and readiness to enter this palace, but two elders who appeared from it commanded him to return to his former world, since his hour had not yet struck. Turning around, the peasant began to go down the mountainside, supported by the same young men. And at the very bottom a moat opened before him, stinking of sewage, on the other side of which stood a church. According to the resurrected one, he had to pass the ditch, enter and pray in the church. After the prayer, consciousness returned to him, and he felt alive again.

Miraculous deliverance from captivity

The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God performed many more healings and resurrections through prayers to the Queen of Heaven. Miracles did not dry out even during periods of invasion by the Tatars, who periodically carried out their devastating raids. One of them is truly unique. One day, having attacked the monastery, the Tatars took a young monk captive. After long ordeals, sold into slavery, he found himself in difficult conditions. earthworks. And the young man no longer hoped to find freedom, when suddenly one day, on the day of the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a miracle happened.

Contemplating with his mind's eye the Pochaev Icon, which remained in the monastery, he offered a prayer to the Most Pure Virgin. In it, bemoaning his fate, the monk asked to return him back to the walls of his native monastery. He stood for a long time, kneeling down, and did not notice how he fell asleep. Imagine his amazement and joy when, waking up, he saw that he was again in front of the gates of his monastery, and his chains lay on the ground near his feet.

Intercession of the Mother of God before the Polish invasion

The intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, revealed in 1675, is also widely known, when, during the war with the Poles, the Turks approached the walls of the monastery and tried to storm the monastery. The monks and surrounding residents, taking refuge within the walls of the monastery, offered fierce resistance to the enemies and held back their onslaught for several days. However, the forces were unequal. Then the abbot of the monastery called on everyone who was in the fortress to kneel down and pray. The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God was specially taken out of the temple.

How does the shrine help those who turn to it with faith and hope? First of all, in getting rid of trouble. This time too, as soon as the akathist was sung, suddenly the figure of the Queen of Heaven herself appeared in the clouds with many angels dressed in military robes. The sight of the heavenly army plunged the Turks into confusion, and they fled, abandoning their weapons and carts as they went. In memory of this miracle, the day of celebration of the icon was set - August 5 (NS). A troparion was also written for the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God.

Help of the icon during the Uniate period

It is impossible to list all the miracles revealed by the Mother of God through Her grace-filled image. No matter what needs the pilgrims addressed, no matter what they asked for, the Heavenly Intercessor always immediately came to the rescue. Among the testimonies recorded in the monastery books, there are references to the fact that help was shown even without words, but through just one prayerful sigh. And it is also very important that the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God helps not only the Orthodox, but also people of any faith who turn to it for help.

The period from 1721 to 1832 was difficult for the Lavra. For more than a hundred years it was in the hands of the Uniates. But, nevertheless, the miracles performed through prayers in front of the icon did not stop, and did not dry out. healing water in the Virgin Mary's foot on the stone. Only officially registered and recorded in monastic books, 539 different miracles occurred, and how many of them still remain in people’s memory!

Healing the Non-Commissioned Officer's Wife

Among such actions, I would like to note the miraculous healing of the wife of the non-commissioned officer of the 52nd Jaeger Regiment, Elizaveta Miropolskaya. Being a Lutheran as a girl, before marriage she converted to Orthodoxy and became a pious parishioner of one of the churches in her city. After some time, she began to experience unbearable pain in her left leg. The torment intensified so much that the unfortunate woman could not walk, and spent all nights without sleep.

The doctors were powerless to help her. Finally, the relatives advised me to turn in prayer to the miraculous Pochaev Icon and through it to ask the Blessed Virgin for mercy. The non-commissioned officer listened to their advice, but since she was far from the monastery where the shrine was kept and could not come there, she offered a prayer to the Most Pure Virgin, contemplating in her mind’s eye her miraculous image. Soon the sick woman was healed, and the grateful husband brought a silver pendant to the monastery, which adorned the frame of the icon.

Modern churches in honor of the miraculous icon

Since ancient times, Orthodoxy has developed a tradition of building and consecrating churches in honor of the most revered icons, such as the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. With the beginning of Perestroika, the difficult years of fighting against God became a thing of the past, and the revival of the Church began. A wave of restoration of old churches and construction of new ones took place throughout the country. Among the new ones, there are those built in honor of the Holy Pochaev Icon.

In 2012, the Church of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God received its first pilgrims in Belgorod. This is its official name, since it was in honor of the Pochaev shrine that its main altar was consecrated. The side altar in it is dedicated to Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous. This is a fairly spacious and capacious temple, designed for 450 worshipers. The height of the central dome reaches 35 meters. Around it, in the corners of the building, there are four more small towers topped with domes.

The first time the akathist to the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God sounded in it in January, when, with the blessing of the diocesan Bishop, the first All-Night Vigil was celebrated in it and the next day Divine Liturgy. Residents of Belgorod consider this temple a spiritual symbol of their city. The fact is that in 1943, units of the Soviet Army completely liberated the city from the Nazis on August 5 - precisely on the day of the feast of this icon. As in ancient times, the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God helped to defeat enemies. The significance of this event is filled with deep meaning.

It is also impossible not to recall the temple built in honor of this shrine in Rostov-on-Don. In June 2012, residents of the Pervomaisky district of the city turned to the Don Metropolis with a request to create a temple. It is no coincidence that one of the most revered by them was the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. What do they pray to her for? About the most pressing needs. About health, about the well-being of family and friends, about intercession from “enemies visible and invisible.” The city residents heard the story of this holy image and knew that it did not leave the prayers of believers unanswered. That is why they asked Vladyka to bless them to build a temple in honor of this particular miraculous icon.

A gratifying phenomenon of our days is the continuation and further development of the traditions of Russian wooden architecture. One of the architects who dedicated his work to him is A. Obolensky. According to his design, in 2004 in Moscow, on Mitinskaya Street, the Church of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God was built. The building is of extraordinary beauty, looking like a fairy-tale tower, as if it takes us back to hoary antiquity.

History of the Assumption Pochaev Lavra

We often hear the question: “Where is the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God, brought from Constantinople, kept these days? Where is this great shrine located? In the same place where she was six centuries ago - in the Assumption Pochaev Lavra, in western Ukraine. The history of this holy monastery is full of dramatic events. She remembers both the Tatar raids and the invasion of Turkish invaders. She lived through the Greek Catholic and Lutheran periods. But the Lord sent her the most difficult trials in the 20th century.

When in 1939, after the annexation of Eastern Poland, Pochaev found itself on the territory Soviet Union, the authorities began the systematic and ruthless destruction of the monastery. Old monks, witnesses of those events, recalled that in the very first days all agricultural machines and all equipment were taken away from them. Livestock was stolen and the entire food supply was requisitioned.

The new authorities closed the orphanage, hospital and Sunday school. In the monastery church, the prayer to the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God for deliverance from the misfortune did not cease, but, apparently, it was so pleasing to the Creator. Of the three hundred monks who made up the brethren of the monastery, only thirty remained, the oldest and weakest. The rest were forced to leave the monastery.

This period dates back to the reunification of the dioceses located in Western Ukraine and Belarus with the Russian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Nicholas (Yarushevich) was appointed ruling archbishop and holy archimandrite of the Lavra. Even during the years of occupation, when this territory was captured by the Germans, the brethren of the monastery did not stop communicating in prayer with their Orthodox brethren from Russia.

During the period of Khrushchev's persecution of the church, the situation of the monastery worsened significantly. For fear of causing outrage among the local population, and not daring to close the monastery by force, the authorities created unbearable living conditions for the monks. In addition to economic oppression, the practice of gross administrative interference in the life of the monastery was widely used.

Consequences of Perestroika in the life of the Lavra

Only with the advent of Perestroika did the active revival of the monastery begin. Large-scale restoration work was carried out, as a result of which the monastery shone in its original beauty. Again, through the prayers of pilgrims, the icon of the Pochaev Mother of God generously reveals its miracles. The photos of the monastery attached to the article give an idea of ​​its real appearance. Take a closer look at it.

Just as in previous years, the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God shows miracles. What does she help with? First of all, in the fight against our own sins and vices. Because of them, human discord, prompted by worldly vanity and passions, boils around Her holy icon. Troubled life surrounds the monastery, and a lot of evil is happening in the world, but people bow before this miraculous image with even greater faith and hope.

Miracle-working icons are one of the main assets of the Christian world. Many believers were given help through prayers before the shrines, and news of miracles shown by icons continues to appear to this day.

The Pochaev Icon is one of the most revered miraculous shrines by believers. She is known not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders. An important historical episode is connected with the miraculous divine intervention that occurred through prayer in front of the icon - the liberation of the Assumption Pochaev Lavra from the invaders.

History of the icon

The phenomenon of the miraculous power of the icon is inextricably linked with the history of the Pochaev Monastery. On the hill where the monastery is located to this day, two monks settled back in the fourteenth century. They lived there for some time, observing prayer rule and strict fasting, and one day one of the monks decided to ascend a little higher than the place where they stopped. Approaching the top of the mountain, he saw the Mother of God surrounded by a fiery radiance. Not believing his eyes, he called his comrade - and he also froze in amazement. News of the miraculous phenomenon quickly spread throughout many surrounding cities. In the place where the Virgin Mary stood, an imprint of her foot appeared, filled with healing water.

The miniature spring does not dry up, despite a large number of pilgrims collecting water. According to numerous statements, the spring is still filled with water. The Pochaev monastery was built near the source.

The icon itself was originally brought from Constantinople and presented as a gift to a noblewoman who lived on an estate near the Pochaev Monastery, Anna Goiskaya. This happened in the middle of the sixteenth century. Soon the household discovered that sometimes divine light emanated from the icon, and after some time, thanks to the icon, the hostess’s brother received healing. The woman decided to donate the holy image to the monastery, and it became its beautiful pearl.

The Pochaev Lavra had to endure many disasters over the several centuries of its existence. But through prayers to the Most Pure Virgin in front of the Pochaev icon, the monastery overcame adversity and bad weather.

One of the most striking episodes and examples of the miraculous power of the icon is the liberation from Turkish invaders that occurred in the 17th century. According to legend, after the abbot and the brethren read a prayer to the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary herself appeared above the monastery with the Heavenly Host. The horrified opponents began to throw arrows into the sky, but the weapons came back and mortally wounded them. The siege was lifted.

Description of the icon

The waist-deep icon depicts the Blessed Virgin, holding the Divine Child in her right hand, and in her left hand clutching a cloth that partially covers the Savior. The Mother of God's robe symbolizes divine protection, which every believer can hope for even in the most difficult moment of his life. The Savior raises his right hand in a blessing gesture. Along the edges of the icon, saints are depicted in miniatures. The original icon is encased in an elegant gilded frame.

Where is the icon

The oldest icon is kept in the Assumption Cathedral of the Pochaev Lavra, in the Ukrainian city of Pochaev. Lists of icons, made with extreme precision, can be found in many Russian churches and temples. You can venerate the shrine in the Moscow Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Lefrtovo, as well as in the Trinity Cathedral of the St. Daniel Monastery. The latter contains a copy of the icon, which is considered miraculous.

How does the Pochaev Icon help?

The Pochaev icon is asked for protection, for the restoration of justice and an end to the war. Before the holy image of the Mother of God they pray for healing from illnesses, for the health of relatives, for the restoration of mutual understanding and an end to discord in the family, for the protection of the house from thieves and fires.

Prayer before the Pochaev Icon

“We resort to the inexhaustible source of spiritual healing and faith, to Your miraculous icon, Queen of Heaven, begging You: save us from troubles and temptations, preserve peace in the whole world, save us from sin. May Your mercy serve us as a protection from evil, invaders and sorrows. We glorify You and give glory and worship to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Days of veneration of the icon

The celebration of the icon takes place annually on August 5 and September 21 according to the new style. These days are marked by a special divine service, and many pilgrims from all over the world flock to the Pochaev Monastery, wanting to venerate the miraculous shrine.

The miraculous Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God will be an excellent protection for your home and family happiness. Pray sincerely, and your requests will definitely be heard. We wish you peace in your soul and strong faith. Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and

05.08.2017 04:10

Among the many miraculous icons, one can highlight the face of the Mother of God “Before Christmas and after Christmas the Virgin.” TO...

Many miraculous icons of the Mother of God were revealed to the Russian people, but not all of them survived to this day. It is difficult to say whether they are lost forever or hidden until time. But there are those who even today remain a spark of hope that the Lord has not abandoned his people. The Pochaev Icon has been such a lamp of faith for several centuries. Having become famous more than five hundred years ago, today it attracts thousands of pilgrims.

History of the holy image

In the 16th century Metropolitan Neophytos passed through Pochaev, where he was very warmly greeted by the Goysky nobles. In memory of his visit, he gave them an icon. Soon the metropolitan became patriarch, and the icon became famous for its great miracles. She was destined to become a shrine of an entire people.

The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God spent several decades in the house of pious Christians until the first healing occurred. Then the owner decided that it was unworthy to have such a shrine alone. The image was transferred to the monastery, where it became the property of the entire Orthodox people. True, this did not last long. After the death of Anna Goyskaya, the relatives decided to return the icon to themselves.

The ridicule of the holy image was not in vain - the heir’s wife became possessed. On the advice of the pious monk, the image was given back to the monastery. The quiet life of the monastery was again disrupted in 1721, when it was transferred to Catholics. They were very respectful of the image - Pope Clement even sent a golden chasuble decorated with crowns.

Almost a century later, the monastery was returned to the fold of the Orthodox Church. Today it has the status of a lavra and belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate. Every Saturday an akathist is sung before the Pochaev Icon. This is done in memory of the miraculous healing of a blind girl.

The meaning of the Pochaev Icon

A characteristic difference of the icon is that under the faces of the Savior and the Mother of God there is a footprint. This is the trace of the Mother of God herself. Why did they begin to depict him in the image? This was done in memory of the visit of the Queen of Heaven herself.

Pochaev Lavra is located on the mountain of the same name. But once it was empty, and one night two monks were awarded a miraculous vision. The Virgin Mary stood in the pillar of fire - her head was crowned, and the Virgin held a scepter in her hand. The flame did not burn her - it was similar to the one that Moses saw on Sinai. When the vision stopped, a mark remained on the rock. The print filled with clean water.

From this place the monks began to build up the mountain, on which today there are 16 temples. First, the Assumption Church appeared here, then the Cathedral was erected over the footprint of the Virgin Mary. The source and the foot are covered with an ark and fenced with a lattice.

This is precisely what the image of the imprint on the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God reminds of.

The original image was made on a linden board, like many icons. Oil paints were used. The thin strip of silver that was applied on top was lost. It was replaced with a pearl robe. The frame is also unusual, resembling a star, the rays of which are richly decorated with stones.

Where does the image reside?

The miraculous icon is placed above the royal doors. In the church where the Pochaev Icon is kept early in the morning (the monks get up while it is still dark), the brethren of the monastery serve the Midnight Office. Then, with the singing of troparions, the miraculous icon is lowered to its normal level. It hangs on silk ribbons, and a monk is always on duty nearby. One by one, everyone who came to the service approaches the icon.

In the same temple you can get water from a wonderful spring discovered by the Mother of God. The spring itself is located behind a fence where unquenchable lamps glow. You can attach to the image of the foot. The water itself is distributed by the novice (“stack”). But the Pochaev Lavra is rich not only in these shrines.

The monastery has been a stronghold of the Orthodox faith throughout western Ukraine for several centuries. The famous prayer book St. Job reposed here, having lived for more than a hundred years. Now his holy relics are also kept here.

Neither the first nor the second world wars prevented the monks from carrying out their obediences - the monastery did not close. The German occupation, Khrushchev's persecutions - during all these difficult moments for the country, prayer sounded within the ancient walls, services continued. They say that the world will stand as long as the Liturgy is celebrated. Therefore, monasteries are the spiritual stronghold of the entire earth.

Russian churches of the Pochaevskaya Icon of the Mother of God are being built in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, operating temples There are also in other cities.

The meaning of the holy image

Most icons of the Mother of God fit into several basic types. In this case, it is “eleusa” (“merciful”) - although the name is not entirely accurate and is one of the epithets that was awarded to St. Mary, it switched to an iconographic scheme. You can recognize it by its main features:

• The Baby and His Mother touch each other's faces. This opens up a very personal communication between them.
• Mary's head bows towards her Son.
• Christ hugs the Virgin Mary with his left hand.
• The image is half-length.

The Pochaev version is also distinguished by the fact that the Mother of God in her right hand holds a cloth with which the Child is entwined. The miraculous icon is also known for its precious frame, which is comparable in size to the image itself. The faces seem to be surrounded by a golden glow.

The faces of saints are present on the icon:

• Martyr Stephen - it is believed that he was the first to be killed for Christian faith;
• Reverend Abraham - in history there were a lot of ascetics with this name, perhaps this is Abraham of Rostov, who crushed idols and converted several pagan tribes to Christianity;
• Prophet Elijah is the most famous Old Testament prophet, the patron saint of paratroopers and pilots, also revered in Islam and Judaism. Known for being taken to heaven alive;
• martyr Mina - the first Florentine martyr;
• Great Martyr Catherine - lived in the first centuries of Christianity, was executed after refusing to marry the Roman emperor, having decided to devote herself to Christ;
• St. Irina - put to death along with two Christian sisters in the 4th century;
• St. Paraskeva is one of the first martyrs who died with her entire family during the reign of Nero.

The meaning of the composition of the Pochaev Icon is deeper than it might seem at first glance. Of course, an affectionate Mother and a loving Son are shown here. Any person can “try on” one of the roles - everyone was a child, even if they themselves did not become parents. But also depicted here ideal relationship God and human soul.

What do they pray for and what does the Pochaev Icon help with?

Over the centuries, a very extensive list of miracles (more than 500) has been collected, which the Lord honored believers who prayed in front of the image. How did the Pochaev Icon help people?

• The very first known miracle occurred in the home church of a noble family, where the image was located. A man, blind from birth, prayed in front of the icon, after which he began to see. After this incident, it was decided to transfer the image to the monastery.

• One monk was captured by the Tatars. While in shackles, he bitterly lamented the fact that he would no longer be able to see the walls of his native monastery. And suddenly he found himself in the midst of festively dressed people - the Mother of God took him to the Pochaev Lavra.

• Among the Turks, a legend has been preserved about the appearance of the Mother of God during the siege of Pochaev. In a host of angels she appeared before the attackers, who lost their heads out of fear and began to kill each other.

• In 1664, a landowner’s son died. His grandmother prayed all night in front of the Pochaev Icon, begging for the return of her beloved grandson. By morning he woke up and asked for food.

• Among modern miracles- healing of a little boy who lost his hearing. This became a complication after the illness. Doctors said that recovery would take a long time. Grandmother brought Yura an icon, which they left in the ward overnight. And in the morning the child was discharged - he turned out to be healthy.

Educating the Soul

When encountering inexplicable phenomena, a person may become confused, since the mind is accustomed to giving its own interpretation to everything. But not everything can be explained - even scientists admit this. In this case, prayer will help you gather your thoughts. Countless numbers of them sounded at the Pochaev Icon, many received a wonderful response.

The concept of "miracle" has many meanings, especially in the area of ​​faith. The main miracle that God can create is the healing of the human soul, a change of heart. It becomes softer, sensitive to the voice of conscience, open to the pain of others. Then a person understands that he can create miracles himself - by showing concern for his neighbors, sacrificing something for them, and becoming an example. We must constantly ask the Lord for this.

What else do Orthodox Christians pray for at the Pochaev Icon?

• About healing from body ailments, including problems with hearing and vision.
• About protection from enemies in any situation.
• About ending hostility.
• About strengthening faith, healing the soul from the demons of despondency.

Prayer to the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God

To You, O Mother of God, we prayerfully flow, sinners, Your miracles, revealed in the Holy Lavra of the Most Holy Lavra, in remembrance of our own contrite sins. We, Lady, we know, as it is not fitting for us sinners to ask anything, except for the Righteous Judge to leave our iniquities to us. All that we have endured in life, sorrows, needs, and illnesses, like the fruits of our falls, have languished us, I allow this to God for our correction. Moreover, the Lord brought all this truth and judgment to His sinful servants, who in their sorrows came to Your intercession, the Most Pure One, and in the tenderness of their hearts they cry out to You: Our sins and iniquities, O Good One, do not remember, but rather lift up Your all-honorable hand , stand before Your Son and God, so that the evil we have done may be forgiven us, and for our many unfulfilled promises, He will not turn His face away from His servants, and may not take His grace, which contributes to our salvation, from our souls. To her, Lady, be the Intercessor for our salvation and, not disdaining our cowardice, look upon our groans, even in our troubles and sorrows we lift up before Your miraculous image. Enlighten our minds with tender thoughts, strengthen our faith, confirm our hope, grant us the sweetest gift of love to accept us. By these gifts, Most Pure One, and not by illnesses and sorrows, may our belly be elevated to salvation, but by protecting our souls from despondency and despair, deliver us, the weak, from the troubles and needs that come upon us, and human slander, and unbearable diseases . Grant peace and prosperity to the Christian life through Your intercession, O Lady, establish Orthodox faith in our country and throughout the world. Do not betray the Apostolic and Catholic Church to disparagement, preserve the statutes of the saints forever, unshakable, and save all who come to You from the perishing pit. Also, bring the heresy of our deceived brethren or the saving faith in sinful passions who destroyed them again to true faith and repentance, and together with us, who worship Your miraculous image, they will confess Your intercession. Vouchsafe us, O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, to see in this belly the victory of truth through Your intercession, vouchsafe us grace-filled joy before the end of our perception, just as the inhabitants of Pochaev of old, by Your appearance, showed the victors and enlighteners of the Hagarians, so that we may all have a grateful heart, together with the Angels, and prophets, and apostles, and with all the saints, glorifying Your mercy, let us give glory, honor and worship in the Trinity to the sung God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

POCHAEV ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is widely revered both in the Orthodox and Catholic Church. Her history is inextricably linked with the Pochaev Monastery in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Ukraine), where she has been staying for about 400 years. But long before that, Pochaevskaya Mountain was marked by the grace of the Mother of God. Over 500 years ago, when the mountain was completely uninhabited, two monks came and settled in a small cave. It was they who witnessed the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God.

One day in 1340, one of them, after the usual prayer, wished to climb to the top of the mountain. And suddenly he saw the Mother of God, surrounded by flames and standing on a stone. He immediately called another hermit, who was also honored to contemplate the wonderful vision. A shepherd named John Bosoy saw all this. He ran up the mountain, where he found both monks, and all three of them glorified God. On the stone where the Mother of God stood, the imprint of the Most Pure One’s right foot remained forever imprinted. There is still water in this foot of the Mother of God, it never decreases and never overflows.

Pochaevsk itselfI'm ikShe appeared at the monastery in the following way. In 1559, the Greek Metropolitan Neophytos went from Constantinople to Moscow for help. Driving through Volyn, he visited the noblewoman Anna Goyskaya, who lived on the Orlya estate, not far from Pochaev. “God-slaughtering” Goyskaya cordially received the distinguished guest and, according to custom, showed him the deepest respect. In gratitude for her hospitality, Metropolitan Neophytos blessed her at parting with the ancient icon of the Mother of God with the Eternal Child, which he brought with him from Constantinople and kept with him as a family shrine.

For thirty years the icon received by Goyskaya stood in her castle chapel. But gradually Goyskaya’s family began to notice that some unusual light was emanating from the icon. The servants informed the landowner about this, but for a long time she did not want to believe their stories, until, finally, she herself saw the icon “in the great light” in a dream. Goyskaya then lit an unquenchable lamp in front of her. When her lame brother Philip was healed from the icon, she gave the icon to the monks who settled on Pochaevskaya Mountain in 1597. A church was erected on the rock in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God, and a monastery was created with it, for the maintenance of which Goyskaya provided funds. Since then, the icon began to be called Pochaevskaya.

After Goyskaya’s death, Pochaevskaya Mountain went to her nephew, a Lutheran and hater of Orthodoxy, Andrei Firlei. He robbed the monastery and seized the icon, which he kept in his home for twenty years. One day he decided to mock an Orthodox shrine. Having called the guests, he dressed his wife in the vestments of an Orthodox priest, gave her a chalice, and she began loudly shouting blasphemy against the Mother of God and Her icons. But she was immediately punished. He began to torment her evil spirit, and she was freed from a terrible illness only after her husband returned the Pochaev Icon to the monastery.
Once a monk of the Pochaev monastery was captured by the Tatars. While in captivity, he remembered the Pochaev monastery, its shrines, services, and chants. The monk was especially sad at the approach of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos and tearfully prayed to the Mother of God for deliverance from captivity. And so, through prayers Holy Virgin, one day the walls of the prison disappeared, and the monk found himself at the walls of the Pochaev monastery.

In the summer of 1675, during the Zbarazh War with the Turks, during the reign of the Polish king John Sobieski (1674-1696), regiments consisting of Tatars, led by Khan Nurredin, approached the Pochaev monastery through Vishnevets, surrounding it on three sides. The weak monastery fence, like several stone buildings of the monastery, did not provide any protection for the besieged. Hegumen Joseph of Dobromir convinced the brethren and laity to turn to heavenly intercessors: the Most Holy Theotokos and St. Job of Pochaev (October 28).

The monks and laity prayed fervently, falling before the miraculous image of the Mother of God and the shrine containing the relics of St. Job. On the morning of July 23, at sunrise, the Tatars began to storm the monastery, and the abbot ordered to sing an akathist to the Mother of God. With the first words " Chosen Voivode"The Most Pure Mother of God herself suddenly appeared above the temple with heavenly angels holding drawn swords. The Monk Job was near the Mother of God, bowing to Her and praying for the protection of the monastery. The Tatars mistook the heavenly army for a ghost, and in confusion began to shoot at the Most Holy Theotokos and the Monk Job, but the arrows returned and wounded those who fired them. Horror gripped the enemy. In a panicked flight, without distinguishing their own, they killed each other. The defenders of the monastery gave chase and captured many. Some prisoners subsequently accepted the Christian faith and remained in the monastery forever. In memory of the deliverance of the Dormition Pochaev Lavra from the Turkish siege, a celebration was established in honor of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God July 23 (August 5).

In 1721, Pochaev was occupied by the Uniates. However, even during this difficult time for the Lavra, the monastery chronicle recorded 539 miracles from the famous Orthodox shrine. During the reign of the Uniates, in the second half of the 18th century, for example, the Uniate count Nikolai Pototsky became a benefactor of the Pochaev Lavra due to the following miraculous circumstance. Blaming his coachman for the mad horses overturning the carriage, the count took out a pistol to kill him. The coachman, turning to Pochaevskaya Mountain, raised his hands up and exclaimed: “Mother of God, revealed in the Pochaev icon, save me!” Pototsky tried several times to fire the pistol, which never failed him, but the weapon misfired. The coachman remained alive. Pototsky immediately went to the miraculous icon and decided to devote himself and all his property to building the monastery. The Assumption Cathedral and the fraternal building were built with his funds.

In 1773, the faces of the infant Christ and the Virgin Mary were crowned with two crowns of pure gold sent by Pope Clement XIV.
In 1831, when the union was destroyed, Pochaev passed to the Orthodox and was named the Pochaev Lavra. Catholics spread rumors that the miraculous icon, having left Pochaev, was transported to the neighboring Dominican monastery in Austria. But more and more healings refuted these rumors. So, in 1832, a blind girl Anna Akimchukova came to Pochaev with her 70-year-old grandmother 200 miles away - from Kamenets-Podolsk. After praying at the icon and washing her eyes with water from the feet of the Mother of God, she suddenly began to see. Her grandmother, who adhered to the Uniate faith, was amazed by the miracle and immediately converted to Orthodoxy. In memory of this event, a weekly reading of the cathedral akathist before the miraculous icon was established on Saturdays.

In 1869, the icon was decorated with a golden chasuble, studded with precious stones, and inserted into a star-shaped icon case, the rays of which were lined with pearls and emeralds. The dimensions of the icon are small - 30x23 cm. It is written in ancient Byzantine script and belongs to the “Tenderness” iconographic type. The image of the Mother of God is half-length. On Her right hand is the Eternal Child, in the left is a cloth covering the Child. In addition, there are Greek inscriptions on the icon, and in the margins there are miniature images of saints: the prophet Elijah, St. Mina, the first martyr Stephen, the venerable martyr Abraham, the great martyrs Catherine, Paraskeva and Irina.

In the Assumption Cathedral of the Lavra there is a large icon, also called Pochaevskaya. It was organized by the people of Kiev in memory of the deliverance of Kyiv from cholera in 1848 and is considered miraculous. It depicts the foot of the Mother of God at the bottom. Icons of this type are called “stacked”, in contrast to those with the faces of saints - “with those coming.”

About 300 miraculous icons with the image of the Mother of God “Pochaevskaya” are known.

During the Great Patriotic War When Pochaev was occupied by the Nazis, the icon was hidden at home and preserved by Protodeacon Stratonik (†1985), who served in the Pochaev Lavra for sixty years.

More than half a century ago, on June 17, 1950, in the Pochaev Lavra there was a miraculous healing of the nun Varvara, who had had both legs paralyzed for 48 years. She came from the city of Chkalov (now Orenburg), moving with difficulty on crutches with the help of her companion nun Maria. Having attached herself to the list of the miraculous image of the Mother of God, the nun immediately stood up. The crutches she left at the monastery still stand near the icon of the Holy Mother of God, testifying to the miracle that took place.

HOLY ASSUMPTION POCHAYEV LAVRA

Dome of the main temple

In 1991, the Uniates tried to seize the Pochaev Lavra. Buses with the raiders have already left Lviv. Monks and laity, who came to the monastery at the call of the monastery bell, began to read akathists to the Mother of God and St. Job of Pochaev before the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. The prayer continued all night. The buses never reached the monastery.

In Moscow, in the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Lefrtovo there is the miraculous Pochaev Icon. It was brought to the temple in the 1930s.

The miraculous copy of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God (the Pochaev Icon was in Moscow in 2001) is also located in the Trinity Cathedral of the St. Daniel Monastery.

The celebration of the icon takes place July 23/August 5 And September 8/21 .

Material prepared by Sergey SHULYAK

for the Temple Life-Giving Trinity on Vorobyovy Gory

Troparion, tone 5:
Before Your holy icon, Lady, those who pray are honored with healing, accept the knowledge of true faith and repel the Hagarian invasions. Likewise, for us who fall before You, ask for remission of sins, enlighten the thoughts of piety in our hearts, and offer up a prayer to Your Son for the salvation of our souls.

Kontakion, voice 1:
The source of healings and faith of the Orthodox affirmation of the Pochaevskaya Icon of Yours, the Mother of God, appeared, also us, who flow to her, from troubles and temptations of freedom, preserve Your Lavra unharmed, Orthodoxy in the surrounding standing countries confirm and resolve the sins of Your prayer book: for as you will, you can.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her Pochaevskaya Icon:
To You, O Mother of God, we, sinners, prayerfully flow to Your miracles, revealed in the Holy Lavra of the Most Repentant, in remembrance of our own contrite sins. We, Lady, we know, as it is not fitting for us sinners to ask anything, except for the Righteous Judge to leave our iniquities to us. All that we have endured in life, sorrows, needs, and illnesses, like the fruits of our falls, have languished us, I allow this to God for our correction. Moreover, the Lord brought all this truth and judgment to His sinful servants, who in their sorrows came to Your intercession, the Most Pure One, and in the tenderness of their hearts they cry out to You: Our sins and iniquities, O Good One, do not remember, but rather lift up Your all-honorable hand , stand before Your Son and God, so that the evil we have done may be forgiven us, and for our many unfulfilled promises, He will not turn His face away from His servants, and may not take His grace, which contributes to our salvation, from our souls. To her, Lady, be the Intercessor for our salvation and, not disdaining our cowardice, look upon our groans, even in our troubles and sorrows we lift up before Your miraculous image. Enlighten our minds with tender thoughts, strengthen our faith, confirm our hope, grant us the sweetest gift of love to accept us. By these gifts, Most Pure One, and not by illnesses and sorrows, may our belly be elevated to salvation, but by protecting our souls from despondency and despair, deliver us, the weak, from the troubles and needs that come upon us, and human slander, and unbearable diseases . Grant peace and prosperity to the Christian life through Your intercession, O Lady, establish the Orthodox faith in our country and throughout the world. Do not betray the Apostolic and Catholic Church to disparagement, preserve the statutes of the saints forever, unshakable, and save all who come to You from the perishing pit. Also, bring the heresy of our deceived brethren or the saving faith in sinful passions who destroyed them again to true faith and repentance, and together with us, who worship Your miraculous image, they will confess Your intercession. Vouchsafe us, O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, to see in this belly the victory of truth through Your intercession, vouchsafe us grace-filled joy before the end of our perception, just as the inhabitants of Pochaev of old, by Your appearance, showed the victors and enlighteners of the Hagarians, so that we may all have a grateful heart, together with the Angels, and prophets, and apostles, and with all the saints, glorifying Your mercy, let us give glory, honor and worship in the Trinity to the sung God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. A min.

A special place is occupied by the miraculous icon located in the Pochaev Holy Dormition monastery(lavra) in Volyn (Ukraine). She is revered not only by Orthodox Christians, but also by adherents of other religions.

For about four centuries this miraculous image has been located within the walls of the Holy Assumption Cathedral, which laid the foundation for the monastery complex. And all these years, miracles shown to believers through their prayers before the icon of the Mother of God have not stopped.

History and significance

The story of the icon itself begins in a miraculous way: It’s as if the Mother of God herself chose the place where her holy image will be located. Therefore, it is worth starting with some background.

In 1340, two monks settled near the mountain on which the Lavra later grew. One day, one of them, having performed prayers, went to the top, but suddenly he was struck by an extraordinary vision: on the stone, as if shrouded in flame, stood the Mother of God herself. The monk called to his comrade, and he, too, was honored to see the appearance of the Intercessor of the human race.

Seeing a wonderful radiance emanating from the mountain, John Bosoy, a village shepherd who was grazing cattle nearby, ran there. The three eyewitnesses of God's miracle began to pray and glorify the Lord God and His Most Holy Mother.

As evidence of the appearance of the Mother of God, the foot of her right foot was imprinted on the stone where she stood. Today, the stone with a “stack,” as believers lovingly call this imprint, is located in the same Assumption Church and is constantly filled with water, mysteriously exuded from the stone.

The water, believing in its miraculous power, is constantly collected by pilgrims, of whom a great many come to the Lavra, and used for healing from various diseases, but the source foot does not become scarce.

Often, copies of the icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev also include an image of a foot.

According to existing legend, to these places the Mother of God, who was later called Pochaevskaya, came as a gift-blessing for noblewoman Anna Goiskaya from the Greek Metropolitan Neophytos.

Traveling to Moscow from Constantinople, the future Patriarch of Constantinople passed through the lands of Volyn and stopped for several days to rest in Urla, Goyskaya’s estate. Touched by the warm and hospitable welcome, the distinguished guest blessed the hostess with an ancient image of the Virgin Mary, which I had never parted with before.

The sacred gift was placed in the home chapel of Anna Goiskaya and was kept there for a long time. But somehow someone from the family noticed that the icon was emitting a wondrous light. They reported to the owner. She didn’t believe it at first, but then she saw this image in a dream - “in the great light.” After this, an unquenchable lamp was lit in front of the icon and prayers were performed.

The first miracle from the icon occurred in Anna’s family: the landowner’s brother, Philip, was healed before her. Different sources indicate different ailments from which he got rid of. Some say he was blind, others say he was lame. But the fact remains that this healing, which occurred in 1597, is attested by history.

After this, the pious Anna Goyskaya decided to hand over the miraculous image for eternal storage to the monks who settled on Pochaevskaya Mountain. And when the Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built here, the icon with honors was placed in it. And now her story has forever merged with the history of the monastery, whose protector and intercessor she was and is.

The four centuries of the Lavra's existence are eventful. There are many disasters among them. The monastery was oppressed by Lutherans, besieged by the Turks, captured by the Uniates, but through the intercession of the Queen of Heaven, all troubles passed.

And descriptions of many truly legendary miracles have reached our time.

In July 1675, the monastery was besieged by hordes of Tatars. The monastery was not yet fortified, and it was unrealistic to hide behind its walls for a long time. The then abbot called on the brethren and laymen who had taken refuge here to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos and the Monk Job, the deceased abbot of Pochaev.

The morning on the eve of the decisive Tatar assault began with prayers. And literally with their first words over the church The Mother of God herself appeared, surrounded by angels with drawn swords. And next to her he prayed for the protection of the Orthodox monastery of St. Job.

Seeing the heavenly warriors and mistaking them for ghosts, the Tatars began to randomly shoot at them, but the arrows flew back, hitting those who fired them. The enemy was seized with horror and panic, in which they began to kill their own.

The defenders of the monastery, pursuing the fleeing Tatars, captured many prisoners. Some of them became Christians over time and remained in the Lavra forever.

After the death of Anna Goyskaya, the icon was removed from the monastery by her heir Andrei Firlei, a Calvinist, and owned it for almost 20 years.

Once, in front of the guests, Firleya’s wife mockingly began to pretend to pray in front of the icon and was immediately struck by mental illness - demonic possession. She was healed only when the icon was returned to the Lavra.

In 1721, Pochaev was captured by the Uniates. Difficult times came for the Lavra, but even then, the monastery chronicle described more than 500 miracles performed by the Orthodox shrine.

Among them is deliverance from the imminent death of the count's coachman. Count Pototsky, who professed Uniatism, almost shot him, accusing him of causing the horses to bolt and the carriage with the rider to overturn.

The poor coachman fell to his knees and, turning his face to the Pochaevskaya Mountain, he fervently prayed to the Mother of God for salvation. Several attempts by the count to fire from the always fail-safe pistol ended in misfires - the coachman’s life was saved.

Potocki himself was so shocked by this that he believed in the power of the icon and donated a lot of money for the construction of the monastery, in particular for the construction of the Holy Assumption Cathedral.

Only in early XIX century the monastery was returned Orthodox Church. And this was marked by the healing of Annushka Akimchukova, a girl from Kamenets-Podolsky who was blind from birth.

She prayed at the icon, washed her eyes with water from the holy foot and gained the ability to see. The Uniate grandmother who accompanied her, amazed by the miracle revealed, converted to Orthodoxy.

Healings occur in our days. A case of recovery of a paralyzed nun is described, who, on crutches, with an accompanying person, came to Pochaev from Orenburg, and left on her own.

The crutches she left in the monastery, as evidence of a miracle, are located next to the icon.

This is only a small fraction of the episodes testifying to the miraculous nature of the image of the Pochaev Mother of God and recorded in the monastic volumes.

What do they pray to her for?

Every year, numerous pilgrims travel and travel from various parts of the world to venerate the great shrine and ask for its help. All believers turn to the Icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev with prayer: after all, in life, no matter what a person is, there is a problem.

People asking for help with incurable diseases, including those that cannot be cured by any type of treatment. They pray for the captives and for their liberation, to enlighten lost and inveterate sinners, and to strengthen those who waver in the faith.

Prayer

Oh, Most Holy Virgin, Lady Theotokos! I thank You with all my heart, for You have vouchsafed me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, to appear here and worship on Your holy mountain. Oh, how many blessings have I, such a great sinner, been rewarded with Your mercy. I see, O Most Pure One, and I am horrified and my spirit melts away, in vain with my own eyes this multi-healing source of Thy grace, which Thou hast ineffably revealed since ancient times in the footsteps of Thy holy foot, and we all reverently bow down in the place where Thy virginal nose stands, I pray to Thee, blessed Hope and Salvation souls and bodies of ours: wash me with Thy wholesome water from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, quench with Thy blessed streams all the passions of my heart, heal with drops from Thy ever-flowing source all my bodily ailments, and being taught, healed and delivered by You, I sing to You with all diligence: Rejoice , source of unceasing joy, rejoice, even of unspeakable kindness. Rejoice, drowning of unclean lusts, Rejoice, washing away of all kinds of defilements. Rejoice, the most luminous stream for the health of the faithful from the mountain-shaded thicket, bestowing the grace of healing; Rejoice, heavenly dew, sending down currents of wisdom from above to those who thirst for true knowledge. Rejoice, praise of Pochaevskaya, save us who pray to You, our hope and consolation. Amen.

Where is the Pochaevskaya Blessed Virgin Mary located?

The Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Pochaev Lavra, in the third tier of the luxurious iconostasis, which was presented to the monastery by Emperor Alexander II. Every morning the icon on silk ribbons is lowered to the level of human height - for worship and. The original icon has small sizes. It is set in a frame in the shape of a star with many rays emanating from it.

But in the same cathedral there is a large list of it, which also bears the name “Pochaevskaya” and is also revered as miraculous. This icon appeared in Kyiv after the city was freed from a cholera epidemic. At the bottom of this list the foot of the Virgin Mary is already depicted.

The miraculous copy of the icon of the Pochaev Mother of God, glorified by its deliverance from misfortune in the same cholera year of 1848, is located in the Siberian Ioanno-Vvedensky convent, near Tobolsk.

The Pochaev Icon, also miraculous, is also in Moscow. It is preserved in St. Demetrius of Thessalonica - at the Tver Gate. A miraculous list of it is also in the St. Daniel Monastery - in its Trinity Cathedral.

How do the icons “The Burning Bush” and “The Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord” help?

In the Orthodox Church, many icons are revered as miraculous, and people traditionally turn to them with their troubles.

Yes, Mother of God The icon “Burning Bush” is considered a protector from fire- for this purpose it is placed at home.

In front of her they pray for those who themselves guard security - for the military, firefighters, doctors, pilots. People of these professions also consider the “Burning Bush” their patroness.

In military conflicts, this image of the Mother of God protects soldiers and military leaders through prayer. Those who have sinned greatly believe that thanks to sincere repentance before the icon, its miraculous fire will incinerate everything they have done. It also relieves those suffering from mental illnesses.

Concerning Icons "Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord", then the prayers before her also concern all human worries and hardships, starting from getting rid of toothache and ending with a prayer to grant God’s mercy in all difficult situations.

Infertile they ask for the gift of children and receive what they ask for.

Those suffering from migraines and joint pain pray for healing.

The terminally ill turn to the icon with faith.

Those who pray to the “Exaltation of the Holy Cross” are filled with fortitude, which helps them to humble themselves and endure, to hope and wait.

The prayer to the icon of the “Exaltation of the Holy Cross” is very short and sincere: “I ask the incomprehensible and invincible Divine Power of the Honest and Life-giving cross do not abandon us sinners."