The history of the appearance of the holy face
There is no consensus on how the “Blessed Heaven” icon appeared on the territory of modern Russia. The first mentions of it date back to 1678, when the first list was written from it by icon painters of the Archangel Cathedral. According to one version, the holy face of the Mother of God was brought to Moscow by the Lithuanian princess Sofia Vitovtovna when she became engaged to the Russian prince Vasily Dmitrievich. The second hypothesis says that the image was the dowry of Sophia Fominichna, the wife of Tsar John III. However, some theologians believe that it was brought from Byzantium, arguing for the Western style of icon painting.
The main idea of “Gracious Heaven” is the glorification of the Mother of God
History of the image of the Mother of God
The first mention of the icon of the Mother of God “Blessed Heaven” dates back to the 14th century.
Sophia, the daughter of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas, married Vasily I, the son of Dmitry Donskoy, and as a dowry and blessing for the young family, she took with her an icon of the Mother of God from Smolensk to Moscow. And the shrine was sent to Smolensk from Constantinople.
According to another legend, the relic was brought by Grand Duchess Sophia Paleologus from Lithuania. However, the basis for this assumption is only the similarity of this image with the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God.
Now the most revered copy from the ancient shrine is in the iconostasis of the Kremlin Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel. It dates back to the last quarter of the 17th century. The image was prepared at the Armory Chamber. An amazing precious silver setting with chasing was stolen during the Patriotic War of 1812. It was later restored.
Half a century earlier than this icon, an iconostasis image appeared from the Trinity Church in Nikitinki (in Moscow). The image of the Mother of God with the Child, at whose feet the monks Andrew of Crete and George Khozevit are kneeling, is considered the earliest image of this type in Rus'.
It is necessary to say something about the unusual naming of the shrine. They call it not only “Blessed Heaven”, but also “What shall we call you.”
Both names come from the phrase from the Mother of God of the first hour: “What shall we call Thee, O Blessed One? Heaven, as if you have risen as the Sun of Truth.”
The meaning of the icon “Blessed Heaven”
The main idea of “Gracious Heaven” is the glorification of the Mother of God as the Queen of Heaven. Here she is magnified in the Akathist, and the image itself belongs to the Akathist type. The Mother of God in the icon is represented as a patroness praying for the whole world. This is one of the few holy faces that is revered not only by the Orthodox, but also by people of other faiths.
According to some theologians, the Mother of God is depicted exactly as she will look when she appears to people before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Meaning in Orthodoxy
Akathist icons glorify the Divine essence of the Mother of God, without focusing on the earthly life of the Virgin Mary. The Mother of God ascended after death and became the Queen of Heaven.
The meaning of the image is the glorification and magnification of the Most Pure Virgin, the hymn and praise of the Mother of God. Located in a halo of light and reverence, the Mother of God patronizes the entire human race and is an intercessor before the Throne of God for Christians. Everyone who needs intercession, support, and help turns to her in prayer. All Orthodox believe in the prayers of the Mother of God.
The image of the Mother of God “Gracious Sky” is considered a symbol of the Universal Church of Christ, and the Virgin Mary herself is considered a prayer book for the human race.
Description and compositional features
The prototype of the “Blessed Heaven” was the icon “The Woman Clothed in the Sun.” It was written based on the vision of the Apostle John, which is described in chapter 12 of the Apocalypse. Later, the holy face of the Most Holy Theotokos underwent some changes that distinguished it from the original source. So, it became more complex and multi-figured - next to the Mother of God with a baby in her arms, prophets, saints, as well as some sketches from the Gospel are depicted. The image also has its own compositional features:
- The Virgin Mary, presented in full height, hovers above the earth, resting her feet on a cloud or crescent;
- on her left hand she holds Jesus, ready to ascend to Heaven, to the Father;
- an oval halo is drawn above the Mother of God, which illuminates the entire figure;
- on the head of the Virgin Mary and the little Christ there is a crown, as the meaning of the holiness of these two characters.
What does the icon look like?
Appearance of the Mother of God to earthlings. There is an opinion that the “Gracious Heaven” is an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in exactly the majestic form as John the Theologian described Her in the Apocalypse, when the Mother of God appears before earthlings on the eve of the second coming of Christ. The Lady of Heaven is painted in full length. The figure of the Virgin Mary seems to float in the air, with only her feet lightly resting on a cloud, in other versions - on the moon or crescent. The Mother of God is surrounded by an oval shining halo.
In iconography, such a technique is still possible only when depicting Jesus Christ, and even then not on all icons. It is not applicable to other saints, since it symbolizes the eternal glory of the Lord.
The Infant God is usually depicted sitting on the left hand of the Mother of God, with She supporting Him with her right. The arms of Jesus Christ are open, as if in a desire to embrace the whole earth. According to another point of view, His pose suggests that God the Son is about to leave his mother’s embrace in order to, having completed His Divine mission on earth, ascend to Heaven and ascend to God the Father.
In some images there are angelic ranks surrounding the central figures.
What does the icon help with and what do they pray for?
The Most Pure Virgin Mary helps with physical and mental ailments, problems in the family or government affairs. They also turn to her for protection in order to help someone who has stumbled take the righteous path. The Mother of God never refuses a true believer Christian who comes to her with a sincere request. They pray to the “Blessed Heaven” icon for the following:
- happy family life;
- birth of healthy children;
- healing from illnesses, addictions;
- protection from accidental death;
- getting rid of envious people and enemies;
- blessings along the way;
- protection from troubles, disasters, wars;
- assistance in government affairs.
The Mother of God never refuses a true Christian believer
Lists with icons
The most revered copy of the image from the Archangel Cathedral is the icon preserved in the winter chapel of the Resurrection Church of Romanov-Borisoglebsk (the city of Tutaev, Yaroslavl region). This copy image was ordered in 1900 to the director of the restoration workshop Ya. E. Epanechnikov for the sacristy of the chapel of the Dormition of the Queen of Heaven on the estate of Senator V. P. Mordvinov (Vaulovo village, Romanov-Borisoglebsky district, Yaroslavl province).
The icon was made in the academic style: painted in oil on tin and equipped with a wooden frame. The Virgin Mary with little Jesus is depicted without a mandrola and without crowns. The rite of consecration and blessing of the image was performed in St. Petersburg, in the home of Count V.P. Mordvinov (Znamenskaya Street, building No. 9) by the minister of the Church of the Theologian John (Leushinsky inn) Evgeniy Jerusalem.
Miracles of the Holy Image
Until the mid-19th century, the icon was not highly revered among believers, until Metropolitan Philaret ordered the collection of evidence of its miraculousness. After these facts were made public, parishioners began to bring candles to the image and celebrate a festive liturgy in front of it twice a year:
- March 19;
- on the first Sunday after Trinity.
Later, pilgrims from other cities flocked to the holy face. Thus, the following cases are called miracles of the “Blessed Heaven”:
- A seriously ill Christian woman once saw a dream in which the image of the Blessed Virgin was present. Waking up, she asked her nurse to go and order a prayer service in front of the holy image. For a month and a half, the girl went to the icon, after which the patient recovered and could already walk and pay homage to the Mother of God.
- When the famous artist Vasnetsov was invited to paint the Vladimir Church, he was forced to refuse due to the illness of his son. One day he was relaxing with his family at the dacha and saw a beautiful picture: his wife was standing with a child in her arms, and their silhouettes were surrounded by bright rays of the sun. Then Viktor Mikhailovich realized that this is how he should depict the Mother of God on the walls of the temple and went to fulfill the order.
- During the preparatory work, the plaster on the walls of the Vladimir Church did not dry out for a long time. Once, the image of the Mother of God with the Child clearly appeared on it, and after it was sketched, there were no more problems with the painting.
- Vasnetsov, who came to paint the temple, compared the “plaster” sketches with his own sketches and was amazed at the similarity. “It was God’s order,” the amazed artist said then.
- According to the stories of the caretaker of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, the list of “Blessed Heaven” was found by MSU students in a landfill next to the dormitory. They used it as a mattress pad and the look quickly wore out. Arriving at the temple, the icon miraculously was almost completely renewed on its own. Local restorers only completed a small corner fragment.
Text of the prayer word
Every Orthodox Christian who comes to the Most Pure Virgin with his sincere prayer can count on her protection and intercession. It protects believers from denigrators and enemies, bestows God's mercy in earthly life and contributes to the successful completion of any undertaking begun.
People pray to this image in different ways: from some lips a special prayer sounds, and from others - a heartfelt appeal in their own words. The Mother of God will hear everyone, regardless of the chosen method.
Prayer to the icon of the Blessed Heaven:
Every believer can use prayer to turn to the Mother of God asking for help and protection. The main thing is to do it sincerely and from the bottom of your heart. Then you can count on her help and intercession, and rejoice at the heights you have achieved.
Image location and lists
Lists of the “Blessed Heaven” icon are found in many churches not only in Russia, but also in Ukraine:
- Nikitniki - Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity;
- Tutaev - Resurrection Cathedral;
- Kremlin - Church of the Crucifixion;
- Chistye Prudy – Temple of the Archangel Gabriel;
- Kyiv - St. Vladimir Cathedral.
Until 1917, in addition to the “Gracious Heaven,” Orthodox Christians in Moscow prayed to two more shrines that helped to heal and receive blessings: “Unexpected Joy” and the Vladimir Mother of God.
Temple of the Archangel Gabriel (Moscow)
St. Vladimir's Cathedral (Kyiv)
Resurrection Cathedral (Tutaev)
Where can you see the shrine
You can venerate the most famous images of the Mother of God in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Nikitinki and in the Archangel Cathedral. The first miraculous lists made from the face of the Arkhangelsk Cathedral are located in the city of Tutaev in the Resurrection Cathedral, and in the Grand Kremlin Palace in the Church of the Crucifixion.
The best article for you, go to: Icon of Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome
The icon that is located in the Resurrection Cathedral is also known for the fact that it was the last image to which Saint John of Krostad addressed his prayers.
God bless you!
Watch also the video about the icon:
Prayer and akathist to the Mother of God before the icon “Blessed Heaven”
In addition to the usual requests for help, an akathist is offered to the Most Holy Theotokos. You need to read prayers with a pure soul, an open heart, sincerely, without being distracted by extraneous thoughts. The Queen of Heaven will hear everyone and give her blessing. It will help you overcome life’s difficulties, get rid of ill-wishers, and strengthen your faith.
Prayer to the Mother of God
What shall we call You, O Blessed Mother of God, Immaculate Mary? With what hymns shall we exalt Thee, exalted by Heaven and earth, Angels and men? For there appeared upon You a mystery unheard of for centuries on earth and unknown to the Angels in Heaven, more than mind and word, the incarnation of God the Word, born from the beginning from the beginning of the Father without a mother and incarnate in Your womb and with the imperishable seal of Your virginity. Oh, the miracle of all ancient and new miracles! The immutable word of God Himself about the victorious seed of the wife was fulfilled and perfected in the Husbandless Virgin. Oh, the immeasurable depth of the wisdom and greatness of God! What names shall we call Thee, O Unbrided Bride? Shall we call Thee the dawn of the sun rising in the sky? But You are Heaven itself, from You comes this Sun of Truth - Christ our God, the Savior of sinners. Do we call You the gate leading into the paradise lost by our ancestors, abounding in all blessings? But You Yourself are a blessed paradise, having grown the Flower of incorruption, healing and driving away the stink of sin and the stench of ancestral corruption. Shall we call You the young Immaculate Virgin who has not known marriage? But even to your old age you remained undisguised and virgin until birth, and in the birth, and after the birth of the Son, you remained. Shall we call Thee Pure and Holy Mary, who with Her purity surpassed all mothers and foremothers? But You not only gave birth to That Child Christ, but also carried Him with Your breasts and nourished Your mother with virgin milk, the One Who nourishes every creature, Whom the Heavenly powers stand before with fear and trembling, and Whom every breath and creature praises. Oh, truly You are wonderful in wives, wonderful in virgins, inimitable in mothers! We fall before You before Your Divine face and before Your holy feet we cast down and lay down all our thoughts, desires, intentions and feelings. Sanctify them with Your Mother of God charity and lift them up, like the sacrifice of our humble heart, like a little-valued mite of our spiritual poverty, to the Throne of Your Son, our Savior, so that the message of destinies will guide our path to salvation and the inheritance of His Kingdom, which has no end forever and ever. . Amen.
Troparion of the Mother of God before Her Icon
voice 6
What shall we call You, O Blessed One?/ Heaven - as you have shone as the Sun of Truth; / Paradise - as you have vegetated, the Color of incorruption; / Virgin - as you have remained incorruptible; / Pure Mother - as you had in Your holy embrace the Son, all God./ Pray to him for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion of the Mother of God
voice 6
There are no imams of other help, / not imams of other hope, / unless You, Lady, / help us, / we rely on You, / and we boast in You, / for we are Your servants, / let us not be ashamed.
The holy image “Blessed Heaven” is a powerful weapon against the devil’s machinations. Good deeds performed along with daily prayers will help a true Christian resist evil.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.
Prayer
O Most Holy Virgin, all-good Son of the all-good Mother, patroness of the reigning city and holy temple of this temple, faithful intercessor and intercessor to all who live in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, and beg Thy Son and our God, that He may grant to all of us, who with faith and tenderness worship before Thy miraculous image, joy according to our every need: to those in sorrow and sorrow, consolation, to those in need, mercy, to those in great distress. unexpected healing and strengthening. O Most Holy Lady, have mercy on all who honor Thy all-honorable name and show to all Thy all-powerful protection and intercession: make progress in every work pleasing to Thy Son; Destroy every evil deed; in bewilderment and difficult and dangerous circumstances, invisible help and admonition were sent down from heaven. Bring up infants, young ones to be wise, open their minds to accept every useful teaching. Protect and preserve from domestic warfare and from enemies visible and invisible. Preserve marriages in love and like-mindedness, and protect your brothers and sisters from enmity with peace and love. And give to all of us love, peace and piety, and health with long life. Having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, create a life with the angels and all the saints, so that everyone in Heaven and on earth will lead You as our steadfast and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and, leading, glorify You and Your Son, with His Beginning Father and by His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Information site about icons, prayers, Orthodox traditions.
"Save me, God!". Thank you for visiting our website, before you start studying the information, please subscribe to our Orthodox community on Instagram, Lord, Save and Preserve † - https://www.instagram.com/spasi.gospodi/. The community has more than 60,000 subscribers.
There are many of us like-minded people and we are growing quickly, we post prayers, sayings of saints, prayer requests, and timely post useful information about holidays and Orthodox events. Subscribe. Guardian Angel to you!
Many miraculous images, from which they asked for help in all worldly matters and which they worshiped, were in the churches of pre-revolutionary Moscow. The Orthodox people hurried to them with reverence and prayers. But among these images there were also special ones, which people rushed to bow to from the farthest corners of the country. One of these shrines, the “Blessed Heavens” icon, is still famous to this day for its power and the miracles it has created.
Icons of the Virgin Mary with the day of celebration
Icons of the Mother of God, helping to strengthen and preserve
1. Gracious Heaven. They pray for guidance on the path leading to salvation and inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. The day of celebration is March 6 (19).
2. Vladimirskaya. About deliverance from the invasion of foreigners, about the strengthening of the Orthodox faith, about preservation from heresies and schisms, about the pacification of the warring, about the preservation of Russia. June 23 (6).
We advise you to study Congratulations on Christmas Eve
3. Sovereign. It is customary to pray for truth, heartfelt joy, unfeigned love for each other, for peace in the country and the preservation of Russia - the day of celebration is March 2 (15).
4. Iverskaya. About deliverance from various misfortunes and about consolation in troubles, from fire, about increasing the fertility of the earth. February 12 (25) - celebrated on Tuesday of Bright Week.
5. Icon of the Mother of God of Murom. About the gift of the spirit of reason, piety, mercy, meekness, purity and truth, about the preservation of the city and the Christian country. April 12 (25).
6. Burning Bush. She saves the houses of those who worship Her from fires. Celebrated on September 4 (17).
7. Pochaevskaya. Protection from heresies and schisms, from the invasion of foreigners, about healing from blindness, both physical and spiritual, about liberation from captivity. July 23 (5).
8. Three Joys. It is customary to pray for the acquittal of the accused, for release from captivity, for the return of what was lost. The day of celebration is December 26 (8).
Icons of the Mother of God for an appeal for healing
1. Bogolyubskaya. Helps with epidemics of pestilence, plague, cholera. June 18 (1).
2. Recovery of the Dead. They are addressed for headaches, toothaches, fevers, eye diseases, for the admonition of those who have fallen away from the Orthodox faith, for perishing children, for a grace-filled marriage and for addiction to drinking. The day of celebration is February 5 (18).
3. Georgian. During an epidemic of pestilence, plague, about the healing of those suffering from blindness and deafness. August 22 (6).
4. Joy to all who mourn. All the offended, oppressed, suffering, suffering from seizures, weakness of the arms, throat diseases, tuberculosis are asking. October 24 (6).
5. Icon of the Mother of God the All-Tsarina. They pray for healing for cancer.
6. It is worthy to eat. For mental and physical illnesses, the end of any business. June 11 (23).
7. Life-Giving Source. Those suffering from bodily ailments, passions and spiritual infirmities are converted, and those who turn to Her with faith receive healing. Celebration - Friday of Bright Week.
8. Sign. About healing from blindness and cholera. September 8 (21).
9. Jerusalem. In case of a fire, a cholera epidemic, about getting rid of livestock deaths, about healing from blindness, paralysis. October 12 (25).
10. Ilyinsko-Chernigovskaya. About healing from paralysis, smallpox, leg disease, attacks by dark forces, and sudden death. March 16 (29).
11. Kazanskaya. About the sight of blind eyes, about deliverance from the invasion of foreigners, she is an intercessor in difficult times, she is used to bless those entering into marriage. July 8 (21), October 22 (4).
12. Icon of the Mother of God of Kaluga. Requested by those suffering from weakness, diseases of the ears and hearing. September 2 (15).
13. Kozelshchanskaya. Apply for various bodily injuries and injuries. February 21 (6).
14. Inexhaustible Chalice. Healing those possessed by the disease of drunkenness. May 5 (18).
15. Unexpected Joy. Those suffering from deafness apply. December 9 (22).
16. Joy and Consolation. Healing from illnesses. Celebrating January 21 (3).
17. Healer. Healing from various diseases. September 18 (1).
18. Assuage My Sorrows. Deliverance from illnesses and bodily sorrows, from sinful passions overwhelming the human heart. January 25 (7).
19. Three-handed. For diseases of the hands, feet, mental unrest, in case of fire. June 28 (11).
For women, marriage, family
1. Icon of the Mother of God Mammal. Nursing mothers also contact during childbirth. January 12 (25).
2. Unfading Color. About maintaining a pure and righteous life. It also helps in choosing the right spouse. Pure fiery prayer to this icon helps in resolving difficult family problems. Many healings of the sick are being performed. April 3 (16).
3. An assistant during childbirth. They pray for help in childbirth.
4. Seven-shot. They pray to her for healing from cholera, lameness and relaxation, and for the pacification of warring parties. August 13 (26). A more famous version of this icon of the Mother of God is the Softening of Evil Hearts.
5. The Word Flesh Became. Those expecting a child also pray during difficult births. March 9 (22).
6. Feodorovskaya. Helps with difficult childbirth. March 14 (27).
7. Tikhvinskaya. They pray for the sight of the blind, the healing of the possessed, for illnesses in children, relaxation of joints, for paralysis, falling sickness, and from the invasion of foreigners. Celebration day: June 26 (9).
See also the meaning of icons and interpretation with very valuable tips.
Read the icons of the Mother of God, say your requests - they will definitely help.
