History of appearance
The history of this amazing icon is closely connected with the Alekseevsky Monastery, founded in Uglich in 1371 by Saint Alexy of Moscow. The first builder of the monastery was monk Andrian, thanks to whom the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God was originally built. That is why the monastery was called Assumption. The monastery began to be called Alekseevsky in the middle of the 15th century.
The beginning of the 17th century became very difficult for the monastery. The monastery was attacked by Polish-Lithuanian invaders. Despite the heroism of the brethren and the population, the monastery was captured by enemies and destroyed. After the liberation of Russian lands, in 1628 the Assumption Church was rebuilt.
It was here that the icon “The Unquenchable Candle,” also called the “Goalkeeper of Uglich,” first appeared. There are many secrets and mysteries associated with the origin of the holy image. According to one version, this icon was painted on the holy Mount Athos, which is why it was called Athos. One of the Uglich residents, former tradesman Ivan Ivanovich Belyaev, who took monastic orders with the name Joseph, lived on Mount Athos for more than 40 years. Later, Archimandrite Joseph arrived at the St. Petersburg metochion of St. Andrew's monastery, where he became rector.
In 1891, the archimandrite visited his native place, presenting Uglich with the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Consolation”. It is assumed that he also had with him the image of the “Abbess of the Holy Mountain”, recorded by the “Goalkeeper of Uglich”. But, according to diocesan sources - archival documents and printed publications, where the history of the Alekseevsky monastery is recorded - this version is not confirmed, since they only mention the Athos Icon, and the name “Goalkeeper” is not listed anywhere. Most likely, the image of the Mother of God on the “Abbess” icon served as the basis for writing the “Unquenchable Candle”, slightly different from the Athos shrine.
According to another version, the abbot of the Alekseevsky Monastery Evangel, who served as abbot from 1864 to 1872, once saw the appearance of the Most Pure Virgin Mary in the form of the Goalkeeper hovering over the monastery. The abbot described the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God to the brethren, and according to his description the holy image was painted. But later they forgot about the shrine, and for about 30 years the icon remained in oblivion.
In 1895, one of the St. Petersburg merchants became seriously ill, and none of the doctors could help him. One day, the Mother of God appeared to him in a dream, promising to grant healing. But for this, the merchant needed to go to Uglich and pray in front of the icon of the Mother of God, kept in the Alekseevsky monastery.
There was not a single image similar to the merchant’s description among the temple icons, so the abbot ordered the monastery’s storerooms to be examined. There the image of the Queen of Heaven was found, which was placed with great honor in the Assumption Church on June 23, 1894.
After a prayer service in front of the found image, the merchant was granted the long-awaited healing. Wanting to thank the Mother of God, the merchant decorated the icon with a gilded silver frame.
When exactly the icon was given the name “Candle of the Unquenchable Fire of the Immaterial” is not known. But since then, after prayers in front of the “Goalkeeper,” many miracles began to happen.
After the revolution, the Alekseevsky Monastery suffered the fate of most Orthodox churches. The monastery was closed and destroyed. But pious parishioners managed to preserve the shrine. For a long time, the miraculous image was kept among the icons of the temple of Tsarevich Demetrius.
One of the copies made from the holy image was given to the wanderer monk Alexander by one of the inhabitants of the Uglich monastery. The wanderer gave the holy image to one of the parishioners of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Claudia Alexandrovna, thanking her for the warm welcome. This list is still kept by Klavdia Alexandrovna’s relatives.
Several years ago the monastery was restored, but now the Alekseevskaya monastery has become a women's monastery. And in 2005, the “Uglich Goalkeeper” was returned to the monastery. The main merit in this belongs to Yaroslavl Archbishop Micah, who did a lot to ensure that the “Unquenchable Candle” once again illuminated the world with the immaterial fire of God’s love.
Icon “Goalkeeper”, or “Unquenchable Candle”: What the image of the Mother of God asks for
and why do icons get wedding rings?
Today, July 6, the honor of the “Goalkeeper” icon, or “Unquenchable Candle,” is celebrated.
The history of this extraordinary image is interesting. According to legend, the Mother of God appeared to the rector of the Alekseevsky Monastery in the city of Uglich, Yaroslavl province, Evangel in the image of the Mother of God with a staff and a candle. But this image became famous and revered only 30 years later.
A church was built in the monastery in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God; people called it Divna. It is interesting that at the beginning of the 17th century the monastery was destroyed by Polish-Lithuanian troops. The brothers and the population fought to the last. And at the site of their death in 1628, the stone tented church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built.
Until June 23, 1894, the icon was kept in the temple storerooms. One day, a visitor from St. Petersburg approached the abbot of the monastery. He spoke about the Mother of God appearing to him in a dream and commanding him to go for healing to Uglich, where Her holy icon was located, and to pray in front of it. The image was transferred to the Assumption Church of the monastery. Having prayed before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, the patient received complete healing. In gratitude for this, he donated a silver gilded robe to the icon. Since then, everyone who resorted to the Queen of Heaven with faith in Her intercession before God was given healing and consolation by the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Goalkeeper”.
The servants of the Assumption Church have collected many modern evidence of deliverance from diseases and misfortunes:
1. Assistance during childbirth
Expectant mothers fervently pray to the “Goalkeeper” for the birth to be easy and successful, and for the baby to be born healthy and strong. Cases of healing of infants from illnesses are also mentioned.
2. Healing from infertility
Mothers pray in front of this image of the Virgin Mary that their daughters will be freed from infertility. And also the women themselves venerate the shrine with fervent requests for long-awaited children.
3. Healing legs, arms and back
There are many known cases where, through prayers to the “Unquenchable Candle,” parishioners got rid of lumbago, osteochondrosis, and even acquired injuries.
4. Healing from cancer
It is believed that this particular image of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a special gift of healing from cancer. In some cases, the icon is applied to the sore spot, and the tumor disappears.
5. Healing facial skin
There is evidence of relief from skin irritations and even eczema.
They ask the “Goalkeeper” to help in spiritual matters - to strengthen faith, to calm down in difficult times, to gain new strength in life - to endure, humble oneself, endure and love, to receive consolation in the grief of losing loved ones.
They also pray to this image of the Mother of God for the creation, preservation and strengthening of the family .
It is even believed that the icon helps resolve housing and some business issues .
The Mother of God, holding in her hand a candle of unquenchable Fire of the Immaterial, acts as a mediator between people and the Savior. “The Goalkeeper” brings us the light of love and illuminates the path to the Kingdom of God and salvation.
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Description and meaning of the icon of the Mother of God “Unquenchable Candle”
The image of the Mother of God on the “Goalkeeper” is made in a rather unusual way and differs from the usual depiction of the Holy Mother of God. The Most Pure Virgin Mary is depicted in full height, soaring on the clouds.
Characteristic features by which one can recognize the “Unquenchable Candle of Immaterial Fire”:
- monastic robe on the Queen of Heaven;
- a staff in the left hand and a rosary hanging on the wrist;
- The Queen of Heaven has a lit candle in her right hand.
A burning candle symbolizes an unquenchable fire that illuminates the path to God's Kingdom. The image of the Mother of God, acting as a mediator between the Lord and people, gives hope for salvation.
In addition, the Most Holy Mother of God symbolizes the Guardian who protects the faith, and the Eternal Fire is a symbol of Christ's love that binds the hearts of believers.
Veneration of the shrine in the Alekseevsky Convent of Uglich
Only in 1894 this icon became famous thanks to the following event. A sick merchant arrived at the Alekseevsky Monastery from St. Petersburg. He said that the Mother of God appeared to him in a dream and ordered him to go to Uglich, where Her icon was located, from which he would receive healing. Based on the merchant's description, the brethren guessed which icon they were talking about. From the storeroom, where for unknown reasons the icon was located at that time, it was solemnly transferred to the Assumption Church of the monastery and a prayer service was served. The sick merchant actually received healing, and in gratitude brought a silver gilded robe for the icon. Since then, miracles began to happen from the icon. According to the acts compiled by the Yaroslavl Spiritual Consistory from 1894 to 1900, more than forty miraculous healings were confirmed. This information is contained in the book “Tales of the miraculous icons of the Mother of God and Her mercies to the human race,” where the icon is called “The Goalkeeper of Uglich” and is described as follows: “The Mother of God on this icon is depicted as a nun with a staff and rosary in her left hand and a candle in right hand."
We also find interesting information in the “Report on the state of the Uglich Alekseevsky Monastery for 1910,” where it is said that “the icon of the Mother of God, called the “Goalkeeper,” had a carved iconostasis, gilded on polyment with a frame and glass, built under Archimandrite Theophan.” Archimandrite Feofan ruled the Alekseevsky Monastery from 1893 to 1898, and, in all likelihood, the statement refers to the “gilded robe” that the healed St. Petersburg merchant brought as a gift to the “Goalkeeper”.
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Veneration in Orthodoxy
Any believer can see the Mother of God image “The Unquenchable Candle” by visiting the city of Uglich, Yaroslavl region. In the altar of the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God of the St. Alexeevsky Monastery there is a miraculous shrine.
The celebration of the icon falls on July 6 according to the new calendar and takes place simultaneously with the honoring of such icons of the Mother of God as “Vladimir”, “Pskov-Pechersk”, “Zaonikievskaya”.
On this day, many churches hold solemn services dedicated to festive icons, including the glorification of the Uglich image of the “Goalkeeper”. According to the instructions written on the back of the shrine, in honor of the holy face of the “Unquenchable Candle,” an akathist written for the Iveron Mother of God icon is read.
Icon of the Mother of God Goalkeeper of Uglich (Unquenchable Candle)
The Mother of God in this icon is depicted as a nun with a staff and rosary in her left hand and a candle in her right hand. This image is located in the Alekseevsky Monastery in the city of Uglich, Yaroslavl province.
Until 1894, the icon remained in the monastery's storeroom. On June 23 of this year, a sick merchant arrived from St. Petersburg at the monastery. Appearing to the abbot, he spoke in detail about his illness and that the Mother of God appeared to him in a dream and ordered him to go to Uglich, where Her icon is located, and pray before her, promising him healing. The abbot ordered to find this icon. His command was carried out, and the icon was transferred with great triumph to the Assumption Church of the monastery. When the sick merchant prayed before her, he soon completely recovered. In gratitude for the healing he received, he covered the icon with a gilded silver robe.
Currently, this miraculous icon of the Mother of God also provides healing to those who resort to the Queen of Heaven with faith in Her intercession before God. According to the acts drawn up by the Yaroslavl spiritual consistory, from 1894 to the present, more than forty miraculous healings have occurred with this icon.
How does the “Goalkeeper of Uglich” icon help?
Throughout the entire stay of the holy image of the Most Pure Mother of God “The Unquenchable Candle” in the Uglich Monastery, many miracles were performed. Many who resorted to the help of the Queen of Heaven received healing. This is evidenced by the numerous jewelry decorating the shrine. For several years, the nuns of the monastery have been recording evidence of miracles performed, keeping special books.
People turn to the “Uglich Goalkeeper” for help:
- pregnant women praying for an easy and successful birth;
- women who have been given a disappointing diagnosis by doctors - infertility;
- people suffering from diseases of the joints, spine, skin diseases;
- cancer patients.
“Goalkeeper” helps strengthen faith and gives strength in difficult moments of life.
People pray to the Uglich shrine not only for healing. Those who want to preserve and strengthen their family and protect their home from enemies also resort to the image of the Mother of God “The Unquenchable Candle” with prayers. The Mother of God will not refuse help and consolation to anyone, giving it to everyone according to their faith.
What prayers to read when you light a candle
Approaching the image of the Savior, read the prayer “Our Father”, then say:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Before the image of the Mother of God - “Virgin, Rejoice”, then: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us.”
Prayer to the Vladimir Mother of God
Before the Saints, say: “Holy Servant of God (name), pray to God for me, a sinner (or the name of the one for whom you pray today).”
If you do not find an image with your name, then at the icon of All Saints you must say:
“All saints, pray to God for us.” During prayer, the Angels must be addressed as intercessors: “Holy Angel of God, my Guardian, pray to God for me.”
Prayer text
Before the holy face of the Mother of God, “Candle of the Unquenchable Fire of the Immaterial,” a prayer text is read with the following words:
“Oh, Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord, Queen of Heaven and earth! Hear the much-painful sighing of our souls, look down from Thy holy height upon us, who with faith and love worship Thy most pure image. Behold, immersed in sins and overwhelmed by sorrows, looking at Your image as if You were alive and living with us, we offer our humble prayers. Imams have no other help, no other intercession, no consolation except You, O Mother of all who mourn and are burdened! Help us, the weak, satisfy our sorrow, guide us, the erring, on the right path, heal and save the hopeless, grant us the rest of our lives to spend in peace and silence, grant us a Christian death, and at the Last Judgment of Your Son, the merciful Intercessor will appear to us, and always We sing, magnify and glorify Thee, as the good Intercessor of the Christian race, with all those who have pleased God. Amen".
At the end of the prayer, you must definitely thank the Most Pure Mother of God and the Lord.
