Prototype and feature of the icon
The prototype for the “Fragrant Flower” icon was the “Unfading Flower” icon of the Mother of God. Initially, the difference between them was that the Mother of God was holding a branch with flowers in different hands. In modern icon painting this has ceased to play any role. And therefore, images that were previously perceived as different are today treated as one and the same.
The “Fragrant Flower” icon, like its prototype, belongs to the “Hodegetria” iconographic type. This is a clear canon of writing the Virgin Mary, different from all other types. It has its own characteristics and rules for depicting the image. For example, this canon is fundamentally different from the so-called Rublev style of writing saints.
Christians believe that the Fragrant Flower icon of the Mother of God helps believers in dangerous and difficult life situations. That is why it is especially revered, along with the image of Christ the Savior and the Holy Trinity.
Icon “Fading Color” - history
The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Unfading Flower” was painted presumably in the 16th-17th century. This image was formed as a result of the local tradition of the island of Kefalonia (Greece). Residents of the island on the day of the Annunciation (April 7, new style) bring sprigs of white lilies. The flowers are placed in the icon case of the Annunciation, where they first dry out without water or sunlight. But on the eve of the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 28, new style), new buds sprouted and bloomed. This phenomenon served as a source of inspiration for Athonite icon painters to paint a new type of icon of the Mother of God.
At the end of the 17th century, copies of the “Unfading Flower” icon were brought to Russia by pilgrims from Athos.
The celebration of the icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Color” takes place on April 16 according to the new style.
Story
The appearance of this holy image dates back to approximately the 17th century. To date, the place of appearance is controversial, as there are two versions.
According to one of them, it is believed that this image first appeared on the Greek island of Athos, which, as you know, is of very great importance to Christians. The version of the appearance of the Fragrant Flower icon of the Mother of God here is supported by the fact that this place is considered the earthly Lot of the Mother of God.
Another version says that this icon appeared in Constantinople, called Constantinople in Slavic culture.
In Christian literature, mention of the icon appears around the same time. For the first time they write about it in Byzantine akathists. In them, the images of the Mother of God and Jesus are identified with fragrant flowers that do not fade.
The artistic elements that persist today were influenced by the traditions of icon painting in Western culture.
Lists of the icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Color”
In the 19th century, in the Moscow Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary there was a copy of the icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Flower” that has not been preserved. It was brought from Athos to supervisory adviser A.V. Malevsky-Malevich in 1865 as a consolation for his illness. From this image, many believers received healing through their sincere prayers. This contributed to an even greater spread of veneration of the icon.
In the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor (Israel) there is a black and white paper icon “Unfading Color”. There is an amazing story connected with it. It was bought by an Orthodox Greek who lived on the island. Cyprus, back in 1956. He did not have the funds to visit the Holy Land himself. Then the Greek placed a paper icon in a bottle and notes asking people to pray for him. Placing his hope in the will of God, he set the bottle on the water so that it would float to the Holy Land.
His prayers were answered. After three months, the bottle was found and a printed icon of the Mother of God was found in it. Notes from it were transferred to a small Orthodox church in the city of Nazareth. From this image, the worshipers began to receive grace-filled help. It was especially noticeable for cancer patients. Due to the large number of pilgrims, the miraculous image was transferred to the monastery on Mount Tabor. There he remains to this day. The icon case is decorated with a large number of silver plates depicting various healed parts of the body.
Description
“Fragrant Flower” is an icon with the Mother of God, which has several options. This is very typical of the images that appeared in the late era of iconography. What unites all the icons is that they invariably contain a branch with flowers. Moreover, Jesus can be in both the left and right hand of the Virgin Mary. Just like a flower branch.
The background and edges of the icon are painted with various patterns and elements. Most often these are floral decorations, but there are also so-called geometric backgrounds. Sometimes you can see inscriptions on icons - both extensive and consisting only of the name of the icon itself. They are made in Old Church Slavonic or Latin. For example, “Our Lady and Jesus Christ.”
Another feature: on the Fragrant Flower icons, the Virgin Mary and Christ are depicted in royal robes, and their heads are crowned with halos. Usually the Mother of God was painted from the waist up, but there are images where she sits on a throne with Jesus on one hand and a sprig of flowers in the other, with her head uncovered. This speaks of different traditions of icon painting, each of which has its own canons and manner of painting holy faces.
Galaxy
November 28 – celebration of the Icon of the Mother of God “Fragrant Flower”
Iconographically, the image of the Mother of God is similar to the icon of the Mother of God “UNFADING COLOR”. In more ancient images, the difference was as follows. On the icon “Unfading Flower” the Infant God sat on the right hand of the Mother of God, and on the icon “Fragrant Flower” - on the left. In modern icons of the Mother of God these distinctions are often not respected.
Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Fragrant Flower” they pray for purity of thoughts, for the preservation of a pure and righteous life, for the resolution of family problems, in case of various adversities in life, physical and mental illnesses and in case of loss of purpose in life.
Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her Fragrant Flower icon:
To whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to You, 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 a refuge for sinners? Incline, O Most Pure Lady, Your ear to my prayer. Mother of my God, do not despise me who requires Your help, hear my groaning, and listen to the cry of my heart, O Lady Queen Theotokos! And give me spiritual joy, and 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 the face of Your chosen flock, and there deign me to sing and glorify You forever and ever. Amen.
Greatness We magnify Thee, Most Holy Virgin, and honor Thy holy image, through which we heal our illnesses and raise our souls to God.
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First image
The earliest depiction of the “Fragrant Flower” image is given by historian D. Dallas. He refers to an engraving he found in the New Treasury Bible. The tome was published by Venetian printers in 1612. Among the Latin text there is an image of the Mother of God with little Jesus.
The Virgin Mary in this engraving stands on a rotated crescent. She holds Jesus in her arms, and roses grow from Christ's halo. This image is considered one of the first to be documented.
This engraving and copies from it are called “Madonna Rosencrantz”. They are very common in the Western Catholic tradition. Early icons are quite close to the original. Later ones have many differences both in the depiction of additional elements and in the very style of writing images.
Iconography of the “Unfading Color” icon
There are several iconographic versions of the image of the Mother of God “Unfading Color”. In one version of the spelling, the Blessed Virgin Mary holds in her hand a sprig of a white lily (a symbol of purity and purity) or a rose (a symbol of love). With another type of iconography, the Mother of God (less often Christ) holds a blossoming staff in her hands. This is a reference to the Old Testament, where Aaron's rod that blossomed was an allegory of the Virgin Mary. The icon may have a half-length image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She can also be represented sitting on the royal throne. Most often, the Most Holy Theotokos and the Child of God are dressed in royal attire with crowns on their heads.
How does the Fragrant Color icon help?
Orthodox Christians believe that this Mother of God helps in difficult life situations. The Fragrant Flower icon itself encourages bright and pure actions, while protecting the needy from slipping and sinning.
In front of the image, believers pray, asking for guidance on the true path and help in gaining strength. It is believed that the icon protects the family from adversity and quarrels, enemies and any evil. Those who pray before this face gain strength to overcome difficulties and faith in their capabilities.
There is a legend that the Fragrant Color icon helps against physical ailments, as well as in solving various health problems.
What miracles did the Fragrant Flower icon of the Mother of God work?
It is not for nothing that the ancient image is revered as miraculous. More than once, young girls and women who fell to him found harmony and well-being in family relationships. Orthodox Christians also asked the shrine for help in moments of hopelessness and sadness, and this helped them find the meaning of their lives, reevaluate their own principles and goals, and pointed out the righteous path of existence.
So, in 2007, the icon “Fadeless Flower”, located in the village, began to flow with fragrant myrrh. Novovoskresenovka, Kherson region. (Ukraine). After praying near her, any conflicts and misunderstandings between household members disappear, and children and adults suffering from stuttering and aphasia (speech impairment) are miraculously healed.
And in 2012 in the village. Chernovka, Samara region, an image of the Virgin Mary holding a flowering branch in her hand appeared right on the window in the house of a virtuous woman. This happened on April 16, just on the feast of the remembrance of the shrine. The bright rays of the sun illuminated the glass, making it possible to see it in all details. Since then, the authenticity of the miracle has been repeatedly certified by clergy. By evening, the drawing gradually fades, but as soon as the sun rises, it reappears in all its glory.
Subject:
- Prayers
- Holidays
Artistic image
The Fragrant Flower icon, surprisingly, is not as often found in Orthodox churches as, for example, Kazan or Vladimir. However, it has special meaning for believers. It is believed that this image helps women and is a talisman for pregnant women.
From an artistic point of view, this is certainly one of the masterpieces of icon painting, which gave rise to a number of directions. It can definitely be said that “Fragrant Color” refers to unusual iconographic images - both visual and plot. Interpretations of the image are somewhat different in different Christian denominations. But they all agree that the image of the Mother of God carries purity, purity of thoughts and spiritual light.
Miracles from the Icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Color”
In 2006, a young man named Sevastyan from Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine), who was admitted to intensive care with a diagnosis of an open stomach ulcer, was healed. His sister Galina spent three days in intense prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her miraculous image of the “Unfading Flower.” Just at this time, the icon was brought to the city from the St. Constantine-Eleninsky Monastery of Izmail (Odessa region, Ukraine).
In 2007, in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Kherson region, Ukraine), the fact of the expiration of peace from the icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Color” was recorded. Many pilgrims received help from this image in solving family problems. There were cases of healing of children with problems and speech defects (including a child who was mute from birth began to talk).
