home Secrets of medicine The meaning of the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God: how it helps. How does the Orthodox icon of the Pochaev Mother of God help?

The meaning of the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God: how it helps. How does the Orthodox icon of the Pochaev Mother of God help?

A lot of miraculous icons The Mother of God was revealed to the Russian people, but not everyone was able to survive 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. 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 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 imprint is full 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 exactly 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 right hand holds the cloth with which the Baby 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;
Rev. 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 carried him to 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 that destroyed them again to true faith and repentance, and together with us, Your miraculous image bowing, Your intercession will be confessed. Vouchsafe us, O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, to see in this belly the victory of truth by 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.

One of the most important shrines sent to people is the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God - a miraculous image associated with many amazing phenomena and miracles of faith

History of the miraculous image

Starting the story of how the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God appeared, one should be transported to distant times. When Russia took over Golden Horde, two Orthodox monks went to Volyn. Wandering through dense forests, they discovered a refuge for themselves; it was a small cave located in Pochaevskaya Mountain. In this part the land was practically uninhabited by people. As time went. The monks lived in constant prayers with requests to free the Russian land from the devastating raids of the Tatar-Mongols. One day, after a long prayer, one monk went to the top of the mountain and before him appeared the image of the Mother of God, who stood on a stone, and everything around her was on fire.

The monk immediately called his partner and together they began to observe this unusual phenomenon. A shepherd was walking near the cave at the same time, and he also saw this interesting phenomenon. The shepherd climbed to the top of the mountain and fell on his knees before the image of the Virgin Mary. After some time the vision went away. But the stone where the Mother of God appeared became the real evidence that she appeared to people because there was a trace left on it from her foot. The akathist to the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God, used for veneration, briefly notes these events.

Creation of the Pochaev Lavra

Since that time, the water that flows near this stone and in its footprint has been considered holy and healing. Comes there every year big number pilgrims in order to try this water and take it with them. Over time, the water in the footprint does not disappear; it is still full.
After a while, a stone monastery and church were built near the place where the Mother of God appeared. The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God also helps, which is also revered as miraculous. Many lists depict imprints on stone and the footprint of the Blessed Virgin.
In the Pochaev Lavra itself there is an icon of the Mother of God, which has significant significance for believers and was brought there by Anna Goyskaya.

Anna lived in the 16th century and was a Volyn landowner. Once, the Greek metropolitan visited her house. She greeted him kindly and showed true hospitality. Finally, he blessed Anna and gave her ancient icon The Virgin Mary, who now accepts the prayers of believers to the icon of the Mother of God, because the Pochaev Lavra attracts many pilgrims and parishioners.

At first, the landowner left the icon in her home place for prayer. After a while, she noticed that the icon was emitting an unusual light and unusual, wonderful things were happening nearby. Her brother Philip was blind, and after he read a prayer to the icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev, he was cured of this illness. This was the first famous case helping the Pochaev Mother of God to ordinary believers.

Miraculous phenomena continue to delight people today. That is why a large number of pilgrims and go to these parts to drink some water and bow to the icon of the Mother of God.

While reading prayers, they ask for help to save them from various illnesses and other unpleasant moments in life. The Pochaev Icon helps believers with a variety of requests.

What does an icon help with?

Throughout the entire time of veneration, the icon of the Pochaev Mother of God gave people many miracles. There are about six hundred recorded miracles alone, and this number is constantly increasing every year. From ancient times, facts have come down about incredible healing options, such as the resurrection of children and much more.

That is why children are also advised to pray to this icon; the Mother of God of Pochaev is considered the intercessor of young children. In addition, they use prayers to the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God from prison , and the Most Pure Virgin helps those who are accused unfoundedly and defends.

Throughout history, this image has been the protector of the faith and the Russian land. After all, there were historical periods when Lutherans actively spread their own faith in this territory. Nevertheless, the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Pochaev has always helped the Orthodox.

Iconographically, the image belongs to the type of Eleus, that is, Tenderness. Here the Mother of God and Christ clung to each other. This image symbolizes people's desire for the Lord.

Prayer and veneration of the icon

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Icon of Her “Pochaevskaya”:

To You, O Mother of God, we, sinners, prayerfully flow to Your miracles, revealed in the Holy Lavra of the Most Holy, in remembrance and contrition for our own sins. Vema, Lady, Vema, as it is not fitting for us, sinners, to ask anything, except for the hedgehog, the Righteous Judge, to leave our iniquities to us. For all that we have endured in life, sorrows, and needs, and illnesses, like the fruits of our falls, have vegetated us, I allow this God to correct us. Moreover, the Lord will bring all this truth and judgment upon His sinful servants, who in their sorrows come to Your intercession, the Most Pure One, and in the tenderness of their hearts they cry out to You Tse: do not remember our sins and iniquities, O Good One, but rather lift up Your most honorable hand , present yourself to Your Son and God, so that He may forgive us the cruelty of what we have done, and for the many unfulfilled promises of ours He will not turn His face away from His servants, so that His grace may be our salvation. who contributes, will not take it away 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 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 this, Most Pure One, by the gift, and not by illness and sorrow, may our life be raised to salvation, but, protecting our souls from despondency and despair, deliver us, the weak, from the troubles and needs and slander that come upon us human 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 diminishment, the statutes of the holy fathers are unshakable forever and save all who flow to You from the perishing pit. Also, bring the heresy of our deceived brothers or the saving faith in sinful passions who destroyed them back to true faith and repentance, and together with us, worshiping Your miraculous image, Your intercession will be confessed. Grant us, O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, to perceive the victory of the truth through Your intercession while still in this belly, grant us grace-filled joy before our death to perceive, as we did of old By your appearance you showed the victors and enlighteners of the Agarians, and we 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.

The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is one of the most revered shrines of the Russian Church. She is known throughout the Slavic world: she is revered in Russia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria and other countries. Along with the Orthodox, Christians of other confessions also come to venerate the miraculous image of the Most Holy Theotokos.

In the Pochaev Lavra, ancient stronghold Orthodoxy, the miraculous Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God remains for about 400 years. The miracles that flow from the holy icon are numerous and are attested in monastic books by the records of believers who prayed for deliverance from incurable illnesses, liberation from captivity and the admonition of sinners.

The celebration in honor of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God on August 5 (new style) was established in memory of the deliverance of the Assumption Pochaev Lavra from the Turkish siege on July 20-23, 1675.

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. 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 August 5 (July 23, old style), at sunrise, the Tatars held their final advice about storming the monastery, and the abbot ordered the singing of 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, “blossoming a white-shining omophorion,” 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 Holy Mother of God 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.

More than half a century ago, on June 17, 1950, in the Pochaev Lavra there was a miraculous healing of the nun Varvara (in the world Elena Konstantinovna Putyatina), 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 Most Holy Theotokos, testifying to the miracle that took place.

Troparion, tone 5:
Before Your holy icon, Lady, / those who pray are honored with healing, / receive knowledge of the true faith, / and reflect the Hagarian invasions. / In the same way, for us who fall to You, / ask for remission of sins, / enlighten the thoughts of piety in our hearts, / and offer 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: the same and us, who flow to her, from troubles and temptations of freedom, preserve Your Lavra unharmed, Orthodoxy in the surrounding standing countries confirm and resolve your sins: for as you will, you are able.

Prayer to Our Lady of Pochaev:

To You, O Mother of God, we, sinners, prayerfully flow to You, Your miracles in the Holy Lavra of Pochaev, revealed in remembrance and lamentation of our sins. We, Lady, we know, as it is not fitting for us sinners to ask anything, except for the righteous Judge of our iniquities to leave us. All that we have endured in life, sorrows, needs, and illnesses, like the fruits of our falls, have languished for us, and 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 more than Your all-honorable hand Having risen up, 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 He will not take His grace, which contributes to our salvation, from our souls. To her, Lady, be an 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 protect our souls from despondency and despair, deliver us who are 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, Lady, establish the Orthodox faith in our country, throughout the world, do not betray the Apostolic and Catholic Church to disparagement, preserve the statutes of the saints forever, unshakable, save all who come to You from the perishing ditch. Also, bring the heresy of our deceived brethren or the saving faith of those who have been destroyed by sinful passions to true faith and repentance, so that together with us those who worship Your miraculous image will confess Your intercession. Vouchsafe us, O Most Pure Lady Theotokos, even in this belly the victory of truth by Your intercession to behold, vouchsafe us grace-filled joy before the end of our perception, just as the ancient inhabitants of ancient times were shown by Your appearance to the victors and enlighteners of the Hagarians, so that we 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.

What do they pray for in front of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God?

Before the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God they pray for:

Strengthening faith;
Liberation from bad addictions;
Help in any matter;
Healing from infirmities;
Protect from enemies.

Through prayers before the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God, miracles happened more than once.

The mercy of the Most Holy Theotokos did not abandon the believers while the icon was in the possession of the Uniates.
A man born blind received his sight.
Healing of the nun Varvara.

Based on materials from open Internet sources

Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. Video

Of all those revealed miraculous images The icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most revered Christian shrines. Not only Orthodox Christians, but also Christians of other directions and religions in all Slavic countries bow before the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. The ancient face of the Mother of God has been in the ancient stronghold of the Pochaev Lavra for more than 400 years.

Apparition of the Virgin Mary

Under the faces of the Mother of God and the Savior there is a footprint of the Virgin Mary. It is displayed in memory of the miraculous appearance of the Queen of Heaven herself. This happened in 1340 on the mountain where the Pochaev Lavra is now located. Then two monks settled on this hill, wanting to retire from worldly life and devote yourself to prayer and service to the Lord.

As a reward for this, they were honored to see the All-Tsaritsa. And greatest miracle was able to notice a shepherd who was tending a flock of sheep nearby. According to legend, the Queen of Heaven descended in a pillar of fire. Unharmed by the flame, she touched the stone with her foot, and in this place there remained an imprint of her foot, which was filled with clean water. It still exists today; many pilgrims visit this place to collect miraculous water.

This legend is depicted on one of the miraculous icons called the Burning Bush. It is believed that it protects against fires, which is why it is often placed in homes. Military men, pilots, firefighters, doctors, and rescuers ask her for help, considering the icon their patroness. People who suffer for a long time from their sins believe that a miraculous image can burn away their sins upon repentance. It also helps with mental illnesses, infertility, musculoskeletal disorders and diseases that were beyond the power of doctors.

History of the Pochaev Icon

In the 16th century, the image of the Mother of God and the Child belonged to Metropolitan Neophytos of Constantinople. One day he passed through Pochaev and stayed with the Goysky nobles. In gratitude for the warm welcome and in memory of his visit, he blessed Anna Goyskaya and presented her with a shrine. Soon the metropolitan was appointed patriarch, and the holy image became famous for its most glorious miracles. Since then, the icon of the Pochaev Mother of God has become a lamp of faith for many pilgrims and a shrine for an entire nation.

The photo at first glance illustrates that the face of the Virgin Mary was painted by a talented painter in the Byzantine style. At the same time, the artist used oil paints, and the image itself is depicted on a linden board. The icon was decorated with a small silver covering, made in the form of a chasuble, but it was very worn. Over time, it was replaced with a scattering of pearls.

For several decades, the Pochaev Icon was kept in the pious Christian family of the Goiskys. Although the icon was placed in a home chapel, its owner was not distinguished by great strength of faith. When the maids said that they saw a bright radiance from the image, Mrs. Goyskaya considered this the nonsense of commoners and did not attach any significance to the miracle. But soon the hostess saw a dream in which the Most Pure One herself appeared to her in a shining light. In this field, near the holy image, Anna ordered to light an unquenchable lamp

In 1597 a miracle happened, which forever changed Mrs. Goyskaya’s attitude towards religion. Leaning against the icon during prayer, her brother Philip was healed. It made such a difference strong impression that Anna decided to transfer the shrine to the monks who settled on Pochaevskaya Mountain. A temple was soon built there in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God, and a monastery was built next to it. Goyskaya allocated considerable funds for this. From that time on, the icon received the name “Pochaevskaya”.

After the death of Anna Goyskaya, the mountain, along with the church and monastery, went to her nephew Andrei Ferelei, who was not Orthodox Christian. He removed the holy icon and other valuables from the church and kept them for about twenty years. Once he decided to mock the shrine in front of the guests, and for this he dressed his wife as a priest. She began loudly shouting blasphemy against the Mother of God, for which she was immediately punished. According to legend, she was possessed by evil spirit, and the offender fell ill with a mental illness - demonic possession. Only after Ferelei gave the holy image back to the monastery did his wife recover.

Meaning of the image

In the right hand Holy Mary holds God's Child, A another covers His feet and back. The Most Pure Virgin leaned her head against the Face of the Child, which symbolizes her boundless maternal love. With his right hand He gives His blessing, and with the other He holds it on the Mother’s shoulder.

In addition to the Holy Faces, the Icon also depicts seven God's Saints.

Miracles of the Shrine

Healing of Philip Goysky was the first manifestation of the holy image that has survived to this day, but by no means the only miracle of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. What the shrine helps with and what miracles it works has been known almost from the moment of its appearance.

There are more than 500 cases of healing described in chronicles. But miracles still happen today. The rescue of a nun from Orenburg is known. She could not walk and came to the shrine to pray for recovery. Grace descended on the nun and she went home on her own. Her crutches are still near the image.

Now the miraculous icon resides in the Holy Assumption Cathedral Pochaev Lavra as part of the iconostasis, which the monastery received from Alexander II. Every day, ministers lower the image on silk ribbons so that Christians can bow before it and read a prayer. Thousands of people, amazed by the healings that the miraculous icon created, come to bow before it in the hope that the Most Pure Virgin will help them just as it happened before. Therefore, Orthodox believers value and venerate the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. What do they pray for and come with such requests? First of all:

give health to yourself and your loved ones, cure ailments of body and soul, free yourself from lameness and blindness;
give the family peace and tranquility, help get rid of disagreements, quarrels and enmity;
protect your home from enemies and unwanted guests, thieves;
guidance on the true path, strengthening faith, protection from wrong thoughts.

Prayer to Our Lady of Pochaev

When asking, you should cleanse your soul and mind from bad intentions, forgive your offenders, open your heart and sincerely wish forgiveness for your sins. When reading the prayer, you must completely trust the Virgin Mary, and the promises you make must be fulfilled, otherwise you can incur anger and punishment.

The akathist before the image tells about the appearance of the Lady on Pochaevskaya Mountain, where her trace remained, about the history of the holy icon, about the healings that occurred by the grace of the Virgin Mary. It is performed in the form of a hymn, which must be sung while standing. The Akathist to the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God was created and approved for general church use in 1883.

Celebration of this shrine takes place on August 5 - in honor of the deliverance of Pochaev from the Turks and on September 21 - as a sign of honor for the movement of the miraculous image to Pochaev Mountain. These dates are considered days of memory of the icon.

When praying, we should not forget that the greatest miracle is the healing of the human spirit, the softening of the heart so that it can empathize and sympathize with its neighbor; filling it with love and forgiveness, which leads to peace and tranquility. Then a person can help others - heal their spiritual wounds. This is something to ask for first when praying.

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. An evil spirit began to torment her, and she was freed from the 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.

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 to the “Charred 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 strewn with precious stones, and inserted into a star-shaped icon case, the rays of which are 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. The 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 to St. Job of Pochaev before the miraculous image of the Mother of God. 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 Your Pochaev icon, Mother of God, appearing, and also us, who flow to her, from troubles and temptations of freedom, keep Your Lavra unharmed, establish Orthodoxy in the surrounding countries and resolve your sins, your prayer book: for if you willed, you could .

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 by 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. Ah min.

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