The icon of the Mother of God called “Smolensk” is a copy of the “Hodegetria-Blachernae”, written according to legend by the holy evangelist and apostle Luke. According to church tradition, one day the Mother of God, appearing to two blind men, led them to the Blachernae Church, and placing them in front of Her icon, she gave them sight. Since then, the icon began to be called “Hodegetria”, which translated from Greek means “Guide”. There is also another explanation for the name of this icon. According to one of the legends, which reports that the Greek emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (1042-1054) blessed his daughter Anna with this icon, marrying her in 1046 to the Chernigov prince Vsevolod, the son of Yaroslav the Wise. Since this icon accompanied Princess Anna on her journey from Constantinople to Chernigov, the icon itself received the name “Hodegetria” (“Guide”).
After the death of Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavovich and his wife Anna, the icon passed to their son Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh. Prince Vladimir Monomakh moved the family icon from Chernigov to Smolensk and placed it in the cathedral church in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. From that time on, the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Hodegetria” began to be called “Smolensk” after the place where it was placed.
Of the many miracles performed by this icon, the deliverance of Smolensk from the Tatars is especially remarkable. In 1239, during the invasion of Batu’s hordes on Russian soil, one of the enemy detachments went to Smolensk. Residents of the city, seeing imminent death and not being able to repel the formidable enemy, turned to the Mother of God with fervent prayer. The Mother of God heard their prayers and granted salvation to the city for the sake of Her Hodegetria icon.
At the beginning of the 15th century, the Hodegetria icon was brought from Smolensk to Moscow and placed as a great shrine in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the Royal Doors. It is extremely difficult to determine exactly by whom and on what occasion this icon was brought to Moscow. Some sources claim that the icon was presented as a gift to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Vasilyevich, who was plundered by a certain Yurg in Smolensk. Other sources suggest that Prince Vytautas gave this icon (1398) as a parental blessing to his daughter Sophia upon his marriage to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dmitrievich (1398-1425). Other sources claim that the last Smolensk prince, expelled from the city in 1404 by Vitovt, arrived in Moscow and brought the icon of the “Smolensk” Mother of God along with other shrines.
In 1456, Bishop Misail of Smolensk arrived in Moscow with the governor and noble residents and asked Grand Duke Vasily Vasilyevich the Dark to release the holy icon of the Mother of God to Smolensk. With the blessing of Metropolitan St. Jonah, Vasily Vasilyevich decided to fulfill the request of the Smolensk ambassadors and release the icon. On January 18, after the solemn service in the Annunciation Cathedral, the icon of the “Smolensk” Mother of God was escorted with procession to the Monastery of St. Savva the Consecrated, which is on the Maiden Field. Having performed the last prayer service here, the icon was released “with many tears” to Smolensk. A list of “measure in moderation” was made from the miraculous image and placed in the place where the miraculous icon stood.
In 1525 Grand Duke Vasily Ioannovich, in memory of the return of Smolensk to the Russian cities, founded the Novodevichy Convent not far from the place where the last prayer service was held before the “Smolensk” icon of the Mother of God. The list of icons from the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin was also transferred to this monastery.
In 1666, the icon of the “Smolensk” Mother of God was brought to Moscow for the second time by Archbishop Barsanuphius of Smolensk to renew the darkened painting. The renovation of the ancient image was also carried out in 1669 and 1812.
In 1812, during the French invasion, this icon was taken from Smolensk by Bishop Irenei (Falkovsky) and delivered to Moscow. The icon was placed in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin for the worship of the people. On the day of the Battle of Borodino on August 26, when the meeting of the icon of the “Vladimir” Mother of God was celebrated, the Reverend Augustine with a host of Moscow clergy made a religious procession with the icons of the “Vladimir”, “Smolensk” and “Iveron” Mother of God around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls .
Before the occupation of Moscow by the French, the icon of the “Smolensk” Mother of God was sent to Yaroslavl. Here she remained until the very end of the Patriotic War of 1812. After the end of hostilities, the icon was solemnly transferred to Smolensk where it was reinstalled in the cathedral.
The icon of the “Smolensk” Mother of God is one of the oldest Byzantine iconographic versions. The Mother of God is depicted at half height. Her right hand lies on her chest, and her left supports the Infant God, who holds a scroll in His left hand and blesses the human race with His right hand. The image of the Mother of God is almost devoid of movement, only with her right hand she points to Jesus as the path of salvation (according to one version, because of this, the icon is called the “Guide”). On back side The icon depicts the Crucifixion and a view of the city of Jerusalem. During the renovation of the icon in 1666, the following ones were added to this image: the Most Holy Theotokos and John the Theologian.
Pre-1941 ancient miraculous image The “Smolensk” Mother of God was located in the Smolensk Cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, built in 1667 -1679. Further fate ancient image is unknown. In the catalog of ancient Russian painting, published by the State Tretyakov Gallery in 1963 it was only said that “the icon suffered from the war.”
The “Smolensk” icon of the Most Holy Theotokos has had great veneration among the Orthodox people in Rus' since ancient times. Lists from this image are distributed in huge quantities. Only at least 30 miraculous and especially revered copies from this icon are known. Among the most famous miraculous copies from this icon are: the “Hodegetria - Smolensk” icon over the Dnieper Gate in Smolensk, the “Hodegetria - Ustyug” icon from Veliky Ustyug, the “Smolensk” icon in Belgorod, the “Smolensk” icon from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the “Smolensk-Sedmiozernaya” icon from the Sedmiozernaya Hermitage near Kazan, etc.
Currently, another icon of the “Smolensk” Most Holy Theotokos has become famous in Smolensk for many miracles. The history of this miraculous image is briefly as follows. Icon of the "Smolensk" Mother of God several bigger size, written in 1602. Until 1727, this icon stood on the fortress tower above the Dnieper Gate of Smolensk, in a special icon case. This year, through the efforts of the governor of the provincial chancellery, Dlotovsky, the icon was transferred to a wooden church in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, as especially revered. In 1802, a stone church was built over the Dnieper Gate into which the miraculous icon was transferred. At the same time, with the blessing of His Grace Seraphim, the icon’s hanging frame was again repaired and decorated precious stones and pearls.
In 1812, during the Patriotic War, this icon was transferred by the artillery company of Colonel Glukhov to the camp of the Russian troops and was always in the 3rd marching division of A.P. Ermolova. Prayers of thanks were served before her after each victory over the enemy, and in front of her was Commander-in-Chief M.I. Kutuzov and his entire army prayed to the Mother of God for help and salvation of Russia. On the eve of the famous Battle of Borodino, the icon was carried throughout the camp to strengthen and support the courage of Russian soldiers. After liberation from the enemy, the icon was returned to Smolensk.
Currently, this miraculous icon is in a specially constructed ark in the Smolensk Cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The icon is decorated with a chasuble with many colored stones.
The Holy Icon of the Mother of God called “Smolensk” is one of the most important shrines of the Russian land. Believers have received and are receiving abundant gracious help from her. The Mother of God, through Her image, intercedes and strengthens us, showing us the path to salvation.
The celebration in honor of the “Smolensk” icon of the Mother of God is established: July 28 (August 10) in memory of the arrival of the icon in Rus' in 1046, November 24 (December 7) in memory of the intercession of the Mother of God during the battle with Batu and November 5 in honor of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland in war of 1812.
The celebration in honor of the icon of Hodegetria of Smolensk takes place on August 10. E That date was set to commemorate the return of Smolensk from Lithuanian rule in the mid-15th century.
Hodegetria (translated from Greek as “guidebook”) is one of the five main types of images of the Mother of God in Orthodoxy. The Smolensk Icon is one of the most revered icons of this type. For some time the image was kept in Jerusalem, and then it was transported to Constantinople, where the icon became the defender of the city; it was more than once taken to the city walls during enemy attacks.
On the eve of the Day of the Smolensk Icon website talks about her amazing fate and no less amazing achievements.
Monomakh icon
Vladimir Monomakh brought the icon to Smolensk. Photo: wikipedia.org
According to legend, the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk was painted by the Evangelist Luke himself during the earthly life of the Mother of God. In 1046, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus blessed his daughter Princess Anna with this icon for her marriage to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich of Chernigov, the son of Yaroslav the Wise. After the death of Prince Vsevolod, the icon was inherited by his son Vladimir Monomakh, the future ruler of Rus'. At the beginning of the 12th century, Vladimir Monomakh transferred the icon to the Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From that time on, the icon received the name Smolensk.
Order to Mercury
One of the first miracles performed by the icon in Smolensk was the deliverance of the city from the Tatars. In 1239 they approached Smolensk, the fate of the city hung in the balance. Residents of the city turned to their intercessor with fervent prayer. On the night of November 24, the sexton serving in the Assumption Cathedral received orders from her to convey the following to one of the pious warriors named Mercury: “Mercury! Come out soon in military armor, for the Lady is calling you.”These words were immediately conveyed to Mercury, he put on armor, came to the icon and heard a voice from it:
"Mercury! I am sending you to protect My house... Go out to meet the enemy secretly from the people, the saint and the prince, who are not aware of the military attack; I myself will be with you, helping my servant. But there, along with victory, a martyr’s crown awaits you, which you receive from Christ.”
With the help of the Mother of God, Mercury defeated the Tatars and did not allow them to destroy Smolensk, as happened with almost all Russian cities.
Monastery in honor of the icon
Novodevichy Convent. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
At the beginning of the 15th century, the icon of Hodegetria was transferred from Smolensk to Moscow to the Novodevichy Convent. This happened on August 7, 1525, 489 years ago. It is interesting that the Novodevichy Convent was built by order of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III Ivanovich in honor of the capture of Smolensk in the war with the Lithuanians. Initially it was called “Theotokos-Smolensky”.
However, at this time Smolensk was often subjected to attacks by enemies and the townspeople demanded that its patron saint, the icon, be returned to the city. In 1456, a whole delegation of townspeople headed by Bishop Misail of Smolensk came to Moscow. They asked Moscow Prince Vasily the Dark to return the icon to them. On the advice of Metropolitan Jonah, the Grand Duke fulfilled the request of the Smolensk ambassadors.
Patroness of Borodin
Prayer service on the Borodino field. Reproduction of a painting by Yegor Zaitsev. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
In 1812, during the Patriotic War against Napoleon, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God became the mainstay of the entire Russian army. The icon from Smolensk was first transported to Moscow so that residents of the capital could pray in front of it. On August 26, 1812, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, it was encircled around the White City, Kitay-Gorod, and the Kremlin walls. Shortly before this, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army prayed in front of the icon. legendary commander Mikhail Kutuzov.
Secret disappearance
Assumption Cathedral. Photo: AiF / Irina Romanova
The traditional place for storing the icon has always been the Smolensk Assumption Cathedral. Despite the fact that an anti-religious museum was opened in the Assumption Cathedral in 1930, the icon continued to be there. Between 1939 and 1941, the original icon of Odgetria disappeared without a trace. To this day, her fate is unknown. Its locum tenens, the so-called Gate Icon of the Smolensk Mother of God, which was painted for Smolensk during the time of Ivan the Terrible, is kept in the Assumption Cathedral.
The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God belongs to the Hodegetria iconographic type. The name can be translated from Greek as “Guide”.
This is one of the most common images in Byzantine and Russian art.
Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God: compositional features
The composition of the Hodegetria iconography is as follows: the Mother of God and the Infant Christ are depicted almost frontally, their faces facing the praying person do not touch. The head of the Mother of God may be slightly inclined towards the Son, the hand raised in a prayer gesture at chest level. The Divine Infant sits in the arms of the Mother; He blesses with his right hand, holds a scroll with his left, and less often, a book. The Mother of God is most often represented in a half-length image, but there are also full-length and shoulder-length versions, for example, the Kazan Icon. The Baby can be located either to the right or to the left of the Virgin Mary; more often He is depicted sitting on the left hand of the Blessed Virgin.
Mosaic icon. 1st half of the 13th century National Gallery, Palermo, Italy
The idea of the image of Hodegetria
The defining theological idea of this image is the coming into the world of the Son of God, the incarnation of God for the sake of the salvation of mankind. The Fragile Baby is the Heavenly King and the Coming Judge. The gesture of the Mother of God’s right hand can be interpreted not only as a prayer gesture, expressing Her personal prayer to God. With this gesture, the Mother of God seems to point believers to the One to whom their thoughts and prayers should be directed.
N.P. Kondakov, who studied the iconography of the Mother of God, believed that the image of Hodegetria is one of the most ancient. It developed in Palestine or Egypt before the 6th century. Starting from the 6th century, it spread widely throughout the Orthodox East and Byzantium.
Mosaic icon. Byzantium. XIII century Monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai, Egypt
According to Church Tradition, the first such icon of the Virgin and Child was painted by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke. In the middle of the 5th century, this image, along with other shrines, was brought from the Holy Land to Constantinople by Empress Eudokia, wife of Emperor Theodosius the Younger. Some sources report that the icon was placed in the church of the Odigon convent, but Holy Week the icon was transferred from the monastery to the imperial palace. Near the monastery there was a spring that healed the blind. The nuns took care of those who came to the source. The area was called “place of guides” or “place of leaders”, and the monastery began to be called Odigon - “Guide”, “Guide”. Based on the name of the monastery, the main shrine - the icon of the Mother of God - began to be called Hodegetria. Initially given as a topographical name, it was also endowed with a deep meaning: the Mother of God is a guide to believers, instructing them in the true, even if protecting them from the enemy. The icon was one of the most revered shrines of Constantinople and was considered the palladium of the city. During enemy attacks, the image was raised to the city walls.
Empress Evdokia. Marble icon with inlay. From the church of Lipsa Monastery. X century Archaeological Museum, Istanbul
Researchers believe that it was with the icon of the Odigon monastery that a procession of the cross took place throughout Constantinople on Tuesdays. During this prayer procession, a miracle regularly occurred, which was described by the Russian pilgrim Stefan Novgorod, who visited the capital of Byzantium in 1348 or 1349. The heavy, large icon was carried across the square by only one person. “That icon is taken out every Tuesday. This is an amazing sight: then all the people come together, and they come from other cities. This icon is very large, skillfully bound, and the singers walking in front of it sing beautifully, and all the people cry with tears: “Lord, have mercy!” ... A wondrous sight: seven or eight people will place the icon on the shoulders of one person, and he, by the will of God, walks as if unburdened by anything,” reports Stefan. Numerous miracles and healings took place in front of the icon.
Our Lady Hodegetria. Byzantium. 1st quarter of the 15th century
According to one version of the legend, the icon written by the Apostle Luke and brought from the Holy Land ended up in the Blachernae Church, where there was also a healing spring and where other shrines were kept: a robe and part of the belt of the Virgin Mary. Perhaps one of the copies made from the original icon by the apostle was placed in the Blachernae church. It is known that with original image Several lists were made that became famous for their miracles. In any case, in the Blachernae Church there was a particularly revered icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria.
Blachernae icon. Wax mastic. XIII – XIV centuries Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin
Numerous copies of the miraculous image of the Mother of God Hodegetria were sent to all parts of the empire and beyond. From Byzantium, the iconographic type of Hodegetria came to Rus', where, based on the place of creation, stay or miraculous discovery, similar icons received names: Toropetskaya, Smolenskaya, Tikhvinskaya, Iverskaya, Sedmiezernaya, Kazanskaya.
Our Lady Hodegetria. Pskov. The end of the XIII - the beginning of the XIV century. Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
History of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria”
The icon of Our Lady Hodegetria, called “Smolensk”, arrived in Rus' in the middle of the 11th century. In 1046, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh blessed his daughter Anna with this icon for her marriage to Prince Vsevolod, the son of Yaroslav the Wise. After the death of Vsevolod, his son, Vladimir Monomakh, moved the icon to Smolensk, where the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was founded, in which the shrine was subsequently placed.
According to legend, when the hordes of Khan Batu approached Smolensk in 1239, the city was saved from ruin through the intercession of the Mother of God. A warrior named Mercury, praying in front of the icon, received instructions from the Mother of God to fight the enemy standing near the walls. The Mongols saw that Mercury was helped in battle by lightning-fast men and a radiant Wife. Seized with horror, throwing down their weapons, the enemies fled, driven by an unknown force. Mercury suffered a martyr's death in battle and was canonized by the Church.
Our Lady Hodegetria. Byzantium. Mid-15th century Private collection.
At the end of the 14th or beginning of the 15th century, the icon of Our Lady Hodegetria was brought from Smolensk, captured by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, to Moscow, where it was placed as a particularly revered shrine in the Annunciation Cathedral, according to right side from the royal gates. There are three versions of the circumstances under which the icon ended up in Moscow. One of possible options transferring icons is associated with dynastic marriage. Perhaps the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas gave this icon to his daughter Sophia, the wife of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dmitrievich, when she was in Smolensk in 1398 to meet with her father and received from him many icons in Greek writing. According to another version, the last of the Smolensk princes, Yuri Svyatoslavovich, expelled in 1404 by Vitovt, arrived in Moscow and brought with him the icon of Hodegetria along with other icons. The third version, set out in the Russian Vremennik, says that a certain Yurga, Pan Svilkoldovich, when he left Svidrigail, the Lithuanian prince, for the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Vasilyevich, plundered Smolensk on the way, took the icon of Hodegetria along with other things and brought it as a gift to the Moscow to the Grand Duke.
In 1456, Bishop Misail of Smolensk arrived in Moscow, accompanied by the governor of the city and noble citizens. The people of Smolensk asked the Moscow Grand Duke Vasily Vasilyevich the Dark to return the icon to Smolensk. The prince, seeing in this step a guarantee of the future reunification of Smolensk with Moscow, decided to return the shrine. An accurate, “measure in measure” list was made of the icon, which remained in Moscow, in the Annunciation Cathedral. In a religious procession, the icon was taken out of the Kremlin, walked to the Maiden Field, which is at the entrance to the Old Smolensk Road, and after the prayer service, the icon was released to Smolensk. On the list icon, the scroll in the Child’s hand is depicted in a vertical position. Researchers suggest that this feature was also on the sample - the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria, sent from Constantinople.
List of the Smolensk Icon of Hodegetria. Moscow. 1456 Recorded in the 19th century. Armory Chamber, Moscow Kremlin museums
In 1514, Smolensk was recaptured from Lithuania by the troops of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III Ivanovich. In memory of this event, in 1523, the prince founded the Novodevichy Convent not far from the place where Muscovites said goodbye to the icon. On July 28, 1525, the copy of the icon that was kept in the Annunciation Cathedral was solemnly transferred from the Kremlin to the monastery church, consecrated in the name of the Smolensk Icon of Hodegetria. In 1927, this icon, thanks to its rich gold frame from the time of Boris Godunov and the pearl robe, was transferred to the Armory Chamber.
In 1602 in Smolensk with miraculous icon An exact list was written, which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a church was built there. In 1666, the ancient Smolensk icon was in Moscow for the second time: it was brought here by Archbishop Barsanuphius of Smolensk to renew the painting, which had darkened over time.
In 1812, during the French invasion, the icon was taken from Smolensk by Bishop Irinei (Falkovsky) and taken to Moscow, where residents could pray before it in the Assumption Cathedral. On the day of the Battle of Borodino, August 26, Muscovites held a religious procession from Smolensk, Iverskaya and Vladimir icons walked around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls. Before the occupation of Moscow by the French, the Smolensk icon was sent to Yaroslavl, where it remained until the very end of World War II, and then returned to Smolensk. The icon, which was located in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk until 1941, was revered as the original one, brought from Constantinople. IN During the Great Patriotic War, the ancient icon disappeared without a trace.
Icon of the Mother of God “SMOLENSKAYA”ODIGETRIA
_____________________________________________________
Description of the icon of the Mother of God of SMOLENSKAYA:
According to legend, the Smolensk icon was painted by the holy evangelist Luke. There are two versions of the appearance of this miraculous icon in Russia. According to one of them, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Porphyrogenitus blessed his daughter Princess Anna with this icon, marrying her to the Chernigov prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich. The holy image accompanied the princess on the difficult journey from Constantinople to distant Rus', hence the name of the icon - “ODIGETRIA”, that is, “Guide”.
According to another version, the Hodegetria icon was a blessing on the way to Russia for Princess Anna - future wife Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir.
In addition to the above explanation of the origin of the name of the icon, there is another. It is assumed that the Smolensk icon is a copy of the Blachernae icon, which received its name “Hodegetria” (“Guide”) after the Mother of God led two blind men to Her image in the Blachernae temple, where they were healed. One way or another, the Most Holy Theotokos is a Guide to eternal salvation for all Orthodox Christians.
After Prince Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh moved the Hodegetria icon to Smolensk and placed it in the cathedral church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the icon also began to be called Smolensk. For the first time, the Smolensk miraculous icon of the Mother of God showed intercession to the inhabitants of the city of Smolensk during its siege by the hordes of Batu in 1238.
In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vytautas Sophia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398-1425). In 1398, she brought the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God with her to Moscow. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the royal gates. In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was erected in the Annunciation Cathedral, the other in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. A year later, in 1525, in memory of the return of Smolensk, a celebration was established on July 28 in honor of the Smolensk miraculous image.
In 1602, an exact copy was written from the Smolensk miraculous icon of the Mother of God, which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. The new copy took on the beneficial power of the ancient image, and when Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them for protection from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers for a great feat. On the day of the Battle of Borodino, the ancient image of the Smolensk “Hodegetria”, together with the Iverskaya and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, was carried around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was taken to Yaroslavl. After the victory over the French, the icon of Hodegetria, along with the illustrious copy, was returned to Smolensk, where it remained in the Assumption Cathedral until 1941. The further fate of the ancient image is unknown.
The Icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk “Hodegetria” is one of the most revered icons of this type in Rus'. There are more than thirty miraculous, especially revered lists from it. The iconographic image of the Smolensk Icon is very similar to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, but is distinguished by the severity of the arrangement of the figures and the expression of the faces of the Mother of God and the Infant. In the Smolensk Icon, the Mother of God looks straight; there is no turning of the Mother of God’s head towards the Infant God, characteristic of the Iveron Icon.
___________________________________________________
Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her icon called “Smolensk”
First prayer before the Smolensk icon
O Most Wonderful and Above All Creatures Queen Theotokos, Mother of the Heavenly King Christ our God, Most Pure Hodegetria Mary! Hear us sinners and unworthy at this hour, praying and falling before Your Most Pure Image with tears and tenderly saying: lead us out of the ditch of passions, Most Blessed Lady, deliver us from all sorrow and sorrow, protect us from all misfortune and evil slander, and from the unrighteous and cruel slander of the enemy. You may, O Our Blessed Mother, save Your people from all evil and provide and save You with every good deed; Do You need other Representatives in troubles and circumstances, and warm Intercessors for us sinners, not imams? Pray, O Most Holy Lady, Thy Son Christ our God, that He will make us worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven; For this reason, we always glorify Thee, as the Author of our salvation, and extol the holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, glorified and worshiped God in the Trinity, forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer before the Smolensk icon
To whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to You, Lady Lady Theotokos, Queen of Heaven? Who will accept my cry and my sighing, if not You, O Most Immaculate One, the Hope of Christians and the Refuge for sinners? Incline, O Most Pure Lady, Thy ear to my prayer, Mother of my God, do not despise me, requiring Thy help, hear my groaning and inspire the cry of my heart, O Lady Theotokos Queen. And give me spiritual joy, strengthen me, who is impatient, sad and careless towards Your praise. Enlighten and teach me how You should pray, and do not leave me, the Mother of my God, for my grumbling and impatience, but be my protection and intercession in my life and lead me to the quiet haven of blessed peace, and count me to your face Thy chosen flock and there deign me to sing and glorify Thee forever. Amen.
Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her icon called “Hodegetria”
Troparion, tone 4
Let us now diligently approach the Mother of God, sinners and humility, and let us fall down in repentance calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, help us, having had mercy on us, struggling, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away your slaves, for you are the only hope of the imams.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God
Let us never be silent, O Mother of God, to speak Your strength unworthy. If You weren’t there to pray, who would save us from so many Vedas? Who would have kept them free until now? We will not retreat, O Lady, from You: for Your servants always save you from all evil ones.
Kontakion, tone 6
The intercession of Christians is not shameful, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but advance as good help to us who faithfully call Thee: hasten to prayer and strive to entreat, interceding ever since, the Mother of God, who honor Thee.
Kontakion, tone 6
There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope, except You, the Lady: Help us, we hope in You and we boast in You: We are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.
______________________________________
Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her icon called “Smolensk”
Kontakion 1
Chosen from all generations, Heaven and earth, to the Queen, the Most Holy Theotokos Hodegetria, for you were delivered from eternal death by the grace of You, who was born Christ our God and by Your Mother's intercession before Him, we offer thanksgiving singing to You, your servants. You, our All-Merciful Intercessor, free us from all troubles and sorrowful circumstances and guide us to the kingdom on high, so we call You: Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Ikos 1
The Archangel's voice cries out to Ti, Pure One: Rejoice, Blessed Hodegetria Mary, and fill us with spiritual joys, so that with a reverent soul and a pure heart we will bring to Ti, who gave birth to the world the Savior Christ our God, these verbs: Rejoice, blessed by God the Father; Rejoice, Mother of the Son of God, unfathomable. Rejoice, sacred abode of God the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, manifestation of the Trinity mysteries. Rejoice, wonder of angelic minds; Rejoice, ornament of the human race. Rejoice, thou who art united above with those below; Rejoice, thou who hast opened the gates of heaven to earthly beings. Rejoice, heavenly ladder; Rejoice, ever-receiving God. Rejoice, unburnt Kupino; Rejoice, Most Holy Table. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 2
Having seen the icon of Your Most Holy Face, the Virgin Mary, the all-praised Evangelist Luke wrote about it, and spoke about it with Your most pure lips: “With this icon is My grace and strength.” Having seen such Your promise, we reverently venerate Your Most Holy Image, O Lady, and sing to Your Son and God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Having understood Your favor, O Mother of God, to this icon of Yours, glorious Apostle Luke was given as a blessing and sanctification of the Church of Christ in Antioch, in which she was called a Guide and glorified by divine miracles. For this, thanking Thee, the All-Blessed Lady, for Thou hast left us the likeness of Thy Most Pure Face as a consolation, we earnestly cry out to Thee: Rejoice, Queen of the high and low; Rejoice, Lady of angels and men. Rejoice, peace of peace; Rejoice, destruction of ancient enmity. Rejoice, pillar of virginity; Rejoice, humility is deep. Rejoice, clothed in the sun; Rejoice, shining with Divine glory. Rejoice, Mother of the Never-Evening Light; Rejoice, heavenly sweets in paradise. Rejoice, fragrant heirloom of Christ; Rejoice, bed of the Great King. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 3
By the power of God, wondrous miracles were performed by Your icon, the Lady of God, when it was brought to Constantinople and placed in the glorious Blachernae Church; You enlightened the blind, you healed every ailment in people by Your grace, O Theotokos, and let us all call to the God who glorified You: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Constantinople had the sovereign Intercessor, the Virgin Mother of God, and in the days of attack on it by strong and skillful enemies, Hodegetria received Your miraculous help from Your holy icon. We also pray to You, All-Blessed One, just as You saved this ancient city from destruction many times, so save us humble ones from eternal destruction by Your maternal intercession to Christ God, so we gratefully call You: Rejoice, strong fence of Constantinople; Rejoice, blessed treasure of the Blachernae Temple. Rejoice, victory over the unclean armies; Rejoice, the enemies of Orthodoxy are put to shame. Rejoice, children of Christ, Leader of victories; Rejoice, speedy Helper in the troubles that flow to You. Rejoice, zealous Intercessor of those who call upon You in prayer; Rejoice, companion of the God-wise saints in the gospel of Christ. Rejoice, glory to the praise of women and virgins; Rejoice, pillar of fire, tempering the heat of passions. Rejoice, pillar of cloud, dispelling the darkness of sins. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 4
Stormy sea ships Pregordago Kagan, your hail of the captivity of the resurrection, crushed thou, the mistress, and the victory over him Lyudema Christ gave from the holy icon odely, the rays of the heavenly light and the war of the Orthodox of them enlightened, but they will see, as you are truly a Voevodo, the sovereign of Tsargrad and glorify Thy mercies and miracles, singing to the Savior God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard about Your glorious miracles, O Virgin Mother of God, which You showed from Your icon in Constantinople, we are perplexed as to how that icon, carried along the hills of the city, was controlled by the Divine power of those who carried it and directed their feet according to Your will; direct our Lady and our feet on the path of fulfilling the commandments of Christ, and teach us to faithfully fulfill the holy will of Your Son and God, so that we cry to You: Rejoice, unquenchable light; Rejoice, never-setting star. Rejoice, shining with the Divine light; Rejoice, you who enlighten the souls of the faithful with grace. Rejoice, fragrance of the peace of Christ; Rejoice, sanctification of the earth. Rejoice, cup that draws joy to the whole world; Rejoice, fountain, pouring out eternal sweetness. Rejoice, well-adorned palace of the King of Kings; Rejoice, reddest paradise. Rejoice, brightest morning. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 5
For as the God-God Star, Thy icon, O Lady of God, was brought by Thy favor from Constantinople to the Russian country, and was given to the city of Smolensk as a gracious inheritance, we also thank Thee, O All-Merciful Lady, for Thou hast given such a holy gift to our Fatherland, and we sing in Trinity to the glorified God : Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen Your glorious intercession of the city of Smolensk, Most Pure Lady, we glorify Your great mercy, by which You miraculously saved this city from the destruction of Batu, by sending the saint of Christ Mercury with the voice of the Divine from Your icon to single combat with the leader of Batu’s army; He struck him with his sword and delivered Your city from the burning of fire. You crowned him with the crown of martyrdom, and with heavenly prayers grant us on earth to cry out to You without condemnation: Rejoice, you who strengthened the martyr of Christ Mercury for his feat of war; Rejoice, who inspired him with the voice of Your holy icon. Rejoice, for you who crowned David with victory against Goliath; Rejoice, strong defense of the city of Smolensk. Rejoice, Thou who delivered Thy city from destruction; Rejoice, Deliverer from captivity and defeat. Rejoice, Russian countries, blessed consolation; Rejoice, Church of Christ, God-splendid decoration. Rejoice, everlasting joy to those who love You; Rejoice, Soothestress of sorrows. Rejoice, healing of the sick; Rejoice, encouragement to the discouraged. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 6
The Russian country preaches Thy mercy and miracles, O Most Pure Virgin, Mother of God, and the city of Smolensk brightly flaunts, having Thy miraculous icon, healing all kinds of illnesses and giving health to the sick. For this reason, we reverently venerate Your multi-healing image, O All-Blessed Lady, and worshiping it, as a guarantee of Your favor towards us, we cry out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Thou hast shone in the land of Russia with the rays of Divine miracles emanating from Thy holy icon, O Most Pure Lady, to whom our fathers came from ancient years in sorrow and illness and departed in vain. Following them, we come to You and reverently kiss Your miraculous image with love, we pray to You: quench our sorrows, heal our ailments, and we call You: Rejoice, rod of old age; Rejoice, widower Intercession. Rejoice, charity for orphans; Rejoice, raising children. Rejoice, supply for the poor; Rejoice, liberation of the captives. Rejoice, consolation for those who mourn; Rejoice, pillar and affirmation of virginity. Rejoice, Patroness of monks; Rejoice, nun Mentor. Rejoice, strengthening the fasters. Rejoice, admonishing the ascetics. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 7
Although you have deigned to bestow upon the city of Moscow the communion of grace from Thy holy icon, the All-Merciful Lady, Thou hast deigned to bring Thy icon from Smolensk to Moscow, and staying there, miracles will be glorified by many. When, at the request of the inhabitants of Smolensk, Your holy image returned to their city, at the place where Your icon Hodegetria passed, the abode of virgins in your name was built quickly; here, under the shadow of Your miraculous icon, with faith and love we sing a silent song to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The newly created monastery of nuns in the city of Moscow reverently honors the holy likeness of Your miraculous icon Hodegetria, exuding ineffable mercy to the faithful, with its overshadowing Orthodox people are gratefully comforted and affirmed in the feats of fasting and prayer, urging them to silently chant the Maternity of Your generosity and gratefully cry out to You : Rejoice in God beloved of the Queen; Rejoice, O Lady who loved God. Rejoice, one blessed among women; Rejoice, heavenly joy. Rejoice, earthly intercession; Rejoice, demons have been put to shame. Rejoice, hell trampled underfoot; Rejoice, strengthened by the power of the Lord of Hosts. Rejoice, invested with the power of the Queen of Heaven and earth; Rejoice, good Helper who wages war on the flesh with chastity. Rejoice, O merciful Comforter of those who strive in fasting and silence. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 8
You delight us in the many-sorrowful and many-rebellious earthly journey with Your maternal care for us, Mother of God, and in days of sorrowful circumstances you show us holy help for salvation. We remember and confess, Lady, Your intercession, when the Gauls devastated the Russian country and captivated the city of Moscow, You deigned to bring Your icon of the Holy Hodegetria from Smolensk to the troops of the Russian army, and thus You inspired the warriors of the Orthodox, glorious victory given to them by Thy intercession to Thy Son and God. Let us sing to him: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Filled with all mercy and generosity, the All-Blessed Mother of God, you gloriously bestowed help and victory over the enemies of the Orthodox Russian army. You drove the Gauls with dishonor from our Fatherland, and when we no longer had hope of salvation, our city was captured and destroyed; You crowned us with a wondrous victory. Always remembering Your intercession, we cry out in praise to You: Rejoice, Thou who wonderfully delivered our Russian country from the invasion of foreigners; Rejoice, Thou who by Thy power brought back the proud with shame. Rejoice, Omnipotent Victorious of the armies of other faiths; Rejoice, Sovereign Helper of the Orthodox army. Rejoice, Thou who mercifully abided with Thy holy icon with the Russian soldiers; Rejoice, who consecrated their shelves with Your miraculous image. Rejoice, strengthening those who are weak with power from above; Rejoice, you who give Your holy help to the helpless. Rejoice, O just intercessor of the offended; Rejoice, unreliable Hope. Rejoice, consolation of the sad; Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 9
All the faithful see Your holy image with joy and consolation, and on it you look with tenderness at the Divine Infant Christ, for this sake we pray to You, All-Good One, as the Mother of all who contains in the right hand of Your Master: look at us with mercy, and beg the Lord to have mercy on us unworthy . Teach us, Lady, to pray favorably to Him, and without condemnation to sing to Him with undefiled lips and a pure heart the Angelic song: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Our song oratory is not sufficient to glorify Your many miracles, Mother of God Hodegetria, which You have shown from Your holy icon and have always appeared to the faithful: but You, as truly the Good Mother, accept our faith and zeal; weigh our love for You, with which our hearts burn, and graciously hear this in the simplicity of the composed praise: Rejoice, O ever-Virgin joyful; Rejoice, Unbrided Bride. Rejoice, village of God the Word; Rejoice, monastery of the Most Holy of Holies. Rejoice, forever reigning with the Son, the King of heaven; Rejoice, you who have motherly boldness towards Him. Rejoice, mercifully heeding the prayers of the faithful; Rejoice, repaying those who love You with Your Divine love. Rejoice, Zion's mountain adornment; Rejoice, protection of the world for a long time. Rejoice, city of our influx of salvation; Rejoice, holy city, glorified by the descent of God. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 10
Save us, O Lady, from eternal destruction by Your maternal intercession to Christ God, and grant us the privilege of seeing You at the hour of our death, from the hand of the fierce ruler of the world, guarding our soul: that with Your Holy help we may escape his snares and be worthy to receive the Kingdom of Heaven in joy sing eternally to the Lover of Mankind: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
You are a wall to the virgins, the Virgin Mary, and to all the zealous zealots of virginity and purity, the Helper. We pray to Thee, Most Pure One, cleanse our hearts from all sinful filth, and adorn our souls with chastity and purity; May we remain unharmed from all the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and may we be honored to worthily proclaim to You the following song: Rejoice, good Nurse of the Virgins; Rejoice, merciful Guardian of orphans. Rejoice, quiet refuge for those overwhelmed by passions; Rejoice, safe haven for those troubled by temptations. Rejoice, Rewarder of the ascetics of chastity; Rejoice, Supporter of those fighting invisible enemies. Rejoice, merciful Visitor of the innocently convicted; Rejoice, O good Comforter of those falsely slandered. Rejoice, Divine Liberator of those in captivity and exile; Rejoice, all-powerful Protectress of the toiling and burdened. Rejoice, supplication of the Righteous Judge; Rejoice, reconciliation of sinners with God. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 11
Hearing the all-contrite singing from Your faithful servants, You, Most Pure Mother of the Virgin, as having unspeakable mercy, satisfy us with the incorruptible food of the Word of God and teach us to always fulfill the life-giving commandments of our Lord; Pray to Him, our All-Blessed Representative, to bestow His mercy on us unworthy and make us worthy to inherit His all-bright and all-blessed Kingdom, where all the saints sing a song of praise to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
With the bright rays of Your miracles, O Virgin Mother of God, you gracefully enlighten us, and from Your holy Hodegetria icon you send spiritual consolation to the saints of God. To us, sinners, grant us healing gifts from Her abundantly, and let us call upon You with gratitude and praise: Rejoice, O Thou who gave birth to the Lamb and the Imperishable Shepherd; Rejoice, you who combined virginity and the glory of the Mother in Yourself. Rejoice, thou of virginity, leading to a pure and virginal life; Rejoice, you who show Your holy love to God’s chosen ones. Rejoice, you who reveal the commands of Heaven to the saints of the Lord; Rejoice, you who honored St. Sergius of Radonezh with Your visit. Rejoice, you who guided St. Cyril of Beloozero with a voice from Your icon to Beloozero; Rejoice, you who strengthened the Venerable Savvaty of Solovetsky in his desert exploits. Rejoice, thou who blessed St. Mitrophan of Voronezh with Thy icon. Rejoice, protection and supply of the abodes of Christ; Rejoice, servants of God in the midst of the world, secret admonition. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 12
The grace of God acts in miracles, gloriously revealed from Your holy image, O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, enlighten our souls with it, dispelling the darkness of sin with the radiance of the Sun of Christ’s Truth, so that in the light of His commandments, we may live this temporary life pleasing to God in all piety and purity and be worthy receive eternal bliss and sing to God with the elect: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing Your miracles, Mother of God, we preach Your mercies, glorify Your innumerable bounties and, falling before Your miraculous icon, we pray to You with faith and love: be for us a Good Guide to the bright city of Heavenly Jerusalem, so that we may see You from the height of Your Divine glory upon us looking mercifully and, together with the saints, let us sing to thee: Rejoice, our Most Holy Joy; Rejoice, Our Blessed Queen. Rejoice, Thou who adopted us as sons at the cross of Thy Son and God; Rejoice, you who show motherly love for us. Rejoice, you who wonderfully fulfill our good desires; Rejoice, quick to listen to humble prayers. Rejoice, thou who covert us with the veil of Thy saints; Rejoice, who reliably protects us with Your honest robe. Rejoice, at the hour of our death, Omnipotent Helper to us; Rejoice, O sovereign Intercessor for us in the ordeals of the air. Rejoice, free healing of our bodies; Rejoice, salvation of our souls. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 13
O All-Singing Mother, Queen, All-Merciful Virgin Mother of God Hodegetria! Accept this little prayer of ours and bring it to Your Son, Mother, begging His goodness to have mercy on us sinners and unworthy; and through Your omnipotent intercession, He will deliver us from eternal torment; will be worthy to receive the Kingdom of Heaven and there with the Angels sing to God: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
____________________________________________
Also read on our website:
The first Orthodox radio in the FM range!
You can listen in the car, at the dacha, wherever you do not have access to Orthodox literature or other materials.
SMOLENSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD, CALLED “HODEGETRIA”
The miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, called the Hodegetria of Smolensk, has been known in Rus' since ancient times. "Hodegetria" translated from Greek means "Guide". There are several versions of the origin of this name, but the fact that the Most Holy Theotokos is a guide to eternal salvation for all Orthodox Christians is an undeniable truth.
According to Church tradition, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called “Hodegetria,” was painted by the holy evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the request of the ruler of Antioch, Theophilos, for whom he wrote an essay about the earthly life of Christ, known as the Gospel of Luke. When Theophilus died, the image was returned to Jerusalem, and in the 5th century, the blessed Empress Eudokia, wife of Arkady, transferred Hodegetria to Constantinople to the emperor’s sister Queen Pulcheria, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae Church.
The image came to Rus' in 1046. The Greek Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh (1042-1054), marrying his daughter Anna to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise, blessed her on her journey with this icon. After the death of Prince Vsevolod, the icon passed to his son Vladimir Monomakh, who transferred it at the beginning of the 12th century to Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary . From that time on, the icon received the name Hodegetria of Smolensk .
.JPG)
Assumption Cathedral (Smolensk)
History of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
In 1238 The army of Khan Batu approached Smolensk. In that army there was a giant warrior who, according to legend, alone was worth almost an entire army. All Smolensk residents came out to pray in front of the image of the Smolensk Hodegetria Guide. The Tatars had already approached the city, no more than 30 kilometers away by today’s standards, when a certain sexton in the Pechersky Monastery outside the city saw in a vision the Mother of God, who ordered him to bring a warrior named Mercury to Her. Entering the Pechersk Church, Mercury saw with his own eyes the Mother of God sitting on a golden throne with the Child in her arms and surrounded by angels. The Mother of God said that Mercury must save Her own destiny from desecration, which once again indicated Her special protection over the Smolensk land. She also told him about the emergency martyrdom him, and that She Herself will not leave him, but will be with him to the end.
Following the command of the Mother of God, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury raised all the townspeople, preparing them for the siege, and at night he entered Batu’s camp and killed many enemies, including their strongest warrior. Then, in an unequal battle with the invaders, he laid down his head on the battlefield. His remains were buried in the Smolensk Cathedral. Soon, Mercury was canonized as a locally revered saint (November 24), the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was also declared locally revered, and the legend “The Tale of Mercury of Smolensk,” which dates back approximately to the 15th - 16th centuries, was written about his feat. Moreover, the legend says that after the burial, Mercury appeared to the same sexton and ordered the shield and spear that belonged to him during his life to be hung at his resting place.
.jpg)
Sandals of the Holy Martyr Mercury - one of the shrines cathedral Smolensk
In 1395 The Principality of Smolensk came under the protectorate of Lithuania. In 1398, in order to avoid bloodshed in Moscow and soften the bitter relations between the Polish-Lithuanian rulers and Moscow, the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Vytautas Sophia was married to the son of Dmitry Donskoy, Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398-1425). The Smolensk Hodegetria became her dowry and was now transferred to Moscow and installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin on the right side of the altar.
Annunciation Cathedral (Moscow Kremlin)
In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession. On June 28, according to the old style, at the Monastery of St. Savva the Consecrated on the Maiden Field in Moscow, with a large crowd of people, the icon was solemnly escorted to the bend of the Moscow River, from where the path to Smolensk began. A prayer service was served. Half a century later, in 1514, Smolensk was returned to Rus' (the assault on the city by Russian troops began on July 29, the day after the celebration of the Smolensk Icon).
In 1524, in memory of this event, Grand Duke Vasily III founded the Mother of God of Smolensk Monastery, which we know better as Novodevichy Convent . The monastery was consecrated and began operating in 1525. From this period, the all-Russian glorification of the icon began, officially established by the Church.
Novodevichy Mother of God-Smolensky Monastery on the Maiden Field in Moscow
However, Muscovites were not left without a shrine - two copies of the miraculous icon remained in Moscow. One was erected in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - “measure in moderation” - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. In 1602, an exact copy was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon new list taken to Moscow for renovation), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 - a stone one.
The Smolensk miraculous image again showed its intercession during the Patriotic War of 1812 . On August 5, 1812, when Russian troops abandoned Smolensk, the icon was taken to Moscow, and on the eve of the Battle of Borodino this image was carried around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers for a great feat.
Prayer service before the Battle of Borodino
On August 26, the day of the battle in Borodino, three images of the Mother of God - the ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, together with the Iveron and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, were carried around the capital in a procession of the cross, and then sent to the sick and wounded soldiers in the Lefortovo Palace, so that they could venerate the shrines and thank before them the Mother of God for intercession and ask for recovery.Before leaving Moscow, the icon was transported to Yaroslavl.
After the victory over the enemy, on November 5, 1812, by order of Kutuzov, the Hodegetria icon, along with the illustrious list, was returned to Smolensk to its native Assumption Cathedral.
In 1929, the Assumption Cathedral was closed, but was not subject to desecration and destruction, like many other temples and churches during that period. Intelligence, which can be considered reliable, about the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God - prototype of other, subsequent lists ends in 1941, after the capture of Smolensk by German troops. Then, at the beginning of August 1941, the headquarters of the German command received a message that the list of the icon, attributed according to historical information to the brush of the Evangelist Luke, is in the same place, in good condition, the icon is considered miraculous and its location is a place of worship and pilgrimage. Nothing more is known about that icon.
Now in the place of the missing icon there is a list from the middle of the 16th century, which is not inferior to its predecessor in the number of miracles and in popular veneration, but Hodegetria of the apostolic letter is still awaited in Smolensk, they still believe that the time will come and she will reveal herself from some a hiding place, where it was miraculously preserved all these years, as it once was.
.jpg)
Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria of Smolensk Gateway, copy from the famous Smolensk Icon. Once it hung above the gates of the Smolensk Kremlin; now it is kept in the cathedral on the site of the Smolensk icon lost in 1941.
Lists with icons
There are many revered copies of the miraculous Smolensk Hodegetria. Many copies of that original but lost icon became miraculous (more than 30 in total) - Igretskaya Pesochinskaya, Yugskaya, Sergievskaya in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Kostroma, Kirillo-Belozerskaya, Svyatogorsk, Solovetskaya, etc.. All these images in different time and demonstrated their miraculous properties to varying degrees.
Iconography
There is little information left about the iconographic features of the image, since the icon, as is known, was lost in 1941, and therefore no one studied it. It was only known that the icon board was very heavy, the ground was made of chalk with glue, as was done in ancient times, and covered with canvas.
The Virgin Mary holds the Child in her left hand, right hand The Lord is raised in a blessing gesture, in His left hand is the “scroll of teaching.” On the reverse side were written a view of Jerusalem, the Crucifixion and an inscription in Greek - “The King is crucified.” In 1666, the icon was renewed, and later images of the Most Pure Mother and John the Evangelist appeared at the Crucifixion.
The iconographic image of the Smolensk Icon is very similar to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, but differs in the severity of the arrangement of the figures and the expression of the faces of the Mother of God and the Infant.
Meaning of the icon
The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church (along with Vladimir and Kazan).
Amazing historical material is associated with the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, which, through the paths of her wanderings across Western Russian lands, marks all the most important events in the history of Russia up to the last century. It can be said that not a single event where the intercession of the One depicted on it was required was accomplished without Her intervention. Hodegetria the Guide pointed out and defended our west from the aggressive interests of neighboring states that sought to establish their influence in Russian state both military and political means. But even the retreats, which were accompanied by the transfer of the miraculous shrine from its main inheritance - the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk, were only a strategic necessity, and in no way an agreement with the presence and rule of foreigners and the prevailing Latin faith on our land. Cathedral prayers before her, the Smolensk and Muscovites bore their wonderful fruits - sooner or later the enemy was expelled, and the Smolensk Hodegetria returned home to Smolensk.
Believers have received and are receiving abundant gracious help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: “You are the All-Blessed Hodegetria to the faithful people, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands are the affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation for Christians!”
Celebration
The celebration of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God takes place three times a year - July 28/August 10 , established in 1525, when the miraculous image was transferred from the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin to the Mother of God-Smolensk (Novodevichy) Monastery, founded Vasily III in gratitude to the Mother of God for the return of Smolensk to Rus' during the Russian-Lithuanian War. The festival was established in memory of the arrival of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God to Rus' in 1046.
The celebration takes place for the second time November 5/18 in honor of Russia's victory in Patriotic War 1812.
November 24/December 7 We celebrate the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, remembering the victory of the inhabitants of Smolensk over the troops of the Golden Horde common prayer people in front of Her icon - the Smolensk Hodegetria.
The Smolensk Mother of God helps everyone who turns to her with prayers for healing from incurable diseases, in search of family peace and in other difficult and insoluble situations, as the first intercessor for us before God.
Troparion, tone 4
Let us now diligently approach the Mother of God, sinners and humility, and let us fall down in repentance calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, help us, having had mercy on us, struggling, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away your slaves, for you are the only hope of the imams.
Kontakion, tone 6
The intercession of Christians is not shameful, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but advance as good help to us who faithfully call Thee: hasten to prayer and strive to entreat, interceding ever since, the Mother of God, who honor Thee.
In Kontakion, tone 6
There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope, except You, the Lady: Help us, we hope in You and we boast in You: We are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.
Prayer
O Most Wonderful and Above All Creatures Queen Theotokos, Mother of the Heavenly King Christ our God, Most Pure Hodegetria Mary! Hear us sinners and unworthy at this hour, praying and falling before Your Most Pure Image with tears and tenderly saying: lead us from the pit of passions, Most Blessed Lady, deliver us from all sorrow and sorrow, protect us from all adversity and evil. slander, and from the unrighteous and cruel slander of the enemy. You may, O Our Blessed Mother, save Your people from all evil and provide and save You with every good deed; Do You need other Representatives in troubles and circumstances, and warm Intercessors for us sinners, not imams? Pray, O Most Holy Lady, to Thy Son Christ our God, that He may make us worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven; For this reason, we always glorify Thee, as the Author of our salvation, and extol the holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, glorified and worshiped God in the Trinity, forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
To whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to You, Lady Lady Theotokos, Queen of Heaven? Who will accept my cry and my sighing, if not You, O Most Immaculate One, the Hope of Christians and the Refuge for sinners? Bend, O Most Pure Lady, Thy ear to my prayer, Mother of my God, do not despise me, requiring Thy help, hear my groaning and inspire the cry of my heart, O Lady Theotokos Queen. And give me spiritual joy, strengthen me, who is impatient, sad and careless towards Your praise. Enlighten and teach me how You should pray, and do not leave me, the Mother of my God, for my grumbling and impatience, but be my protection and intercession in my life and lead me to the quiet haven of blessed peace, and count me among Your chosen flock and there deign me to sing and glorify You forever. Amen.
Documentary film “Seekers. TRACE OF HODIGITRIA" (2014)
The Assumption Cathedral is one of the most impressive buildings in Smolensk. It was here that the famous icon of the Smolensk Mother of God - the ancient Hodegetria - was kept from the day the temple was built. She, according to legend, saved the city more than once and was considered miraculous, disappeared during the Second World War. There are quite a few versions regarding the fate of Hodegetria. Many researchers are inclined to believe that the legendary image still exists, which means it makes sense to look for it!