The history of the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God goes back to the deep past. The exact time and place of its writing are unknown. Its original location was in Georgia, but when the country was conquered by the Persian Shah Abbas in 1622, this image, like other Georgian icons, was captured and taken away by the Persians, for whom the trade in Orthodox shrines became a profitable business.
The further history of the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God is truly full of miracles. Stefan Lazarev, who served as a clerk for the Yaroslavl merchant Grigory Lytkin, ended up in Persia on trade-related matters. A certain Persian brought an icon to Lazarev for sale. Because of the silver and gold frame, it was very expensive, but Lazarev, nevertheless, bought it.
The merchant Lytkin, his owner, had a prophetic dream about this event; he was ordered to donate the icon to the Krasnogorsk monastery near Arkhangelsk. The merchant, however, soon forgot about his prophetic dream, and only when four years later the clerk returned with the icon, he remembered the command from above and himself took it to the indicated monastery. He not only handed over the icon, but also built a church especially for it and purchased liturgical utensils and books.
And immediately the Georgian icon of the Mother of God showed a miracle: after long prayers before it, the blind and deaf monk Pitirim regained his sight and hearing. The miraculous image was carried at the head of religious processions not only throughout Central Russia, but was even brought to the Siberian Lena River.
In order to renew the painting on the icon and make a new robe for it, in 1654 it was delivered to Moscow, which was at that moment engulfed in a pestilence epidemic, and showed many miracles of healing.
The latest information about the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God dates back to 1946, when it was carried in a religious procession; then its traces are lost. However, the significance of the copies from the icon is also great: they showed many miracles, and therefore are considered miraculous.
The history of the appearance of the miraculous face
It is unknown who the author of the icon is and when it was painted. Its original location was Georgia. In 1622, Georgian lands were conquered by the Persians during the reign of Shah Abbas. It was then that the holy image was transported to Persia, where local residents well organized trade in Christian relics.
"Georgian" icon of the Mother of God
- Three years later, the Slavic procurator, who came to Persia on trade business, received an offer to buy the image of the Mother of God. Stefan Lazarev could not refuse such a purchase. He bought the icon in a silver and gold case, although the price was quite high. Meanwhile, the Yaroslavl merchant Grigory Lytkin, for whom Lazarev served, had a strange dream. A voice in a dream ordered the merchant to deliver the image of the Mother of God to the monastery in Krasnogorsk on the Pinega River, not far from Arkhangelsk. The merchant did not take this dream seriously and quickly forgot about it. Only when the clerk got to the house did Lytkin remember the order from above and immediately set off for Arkhangelsk.
The merchant gave the holy image to the monks of the monastery. In addition, he built a church there with his own money and bought all the church paraphernalia and books.
- Then the icon of the Mother of God began to show miracles of healing. Monk Pitirim, who had not seen for a long time and had lost his hearing, fervently prayed before the Queen of Heaven for the healing of his ailments. After completing the prayer, he regained his sight and ability to hear. The news of the miraculous icon quickly spread throughout the region. Metropolitan Nikon of Novgorod, having learned about all the facts related to the healing, appointed the celebration of the Day of the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God for August 22.
Processions of the cross with the ancient icon reached the Siberian forests. And in 1698, a decree was issued on the annual bringing of the shrine to Arkhangelsk to consecrate the city and its inhabitants.
In 1654, a decision was made to restore the icon. He was transferred to Moscow. At that time, a plague epidemic was raging in the city. After the icon was brought to Moscow, believing citizens began to come to it on pilgrimages and received healing from a terrible illness.
Important! The icon of the Mother of God survived until numerous copies appeared, which turned out to be miraculous.
During the revolutionary years of religious persecution, the Krasnogorsk monastery ceased its activities, and all traces of the icon disappeared. In 1946 they started talking about him again. According to the clergy, a religious procession set off from Arkhangelsk with the image.
Some sources mention that the Georgian icon of the Mother of God was kept in the Tretyakov Gallery until the end of the 1950s. However, during the audit of the gallery in 1964, the icon was not included in the number of exhibits. The Soviet authorities could have sold it to foreign collectors, or the icon could have been stolen.
Disappeared shrine: Georgian icon of the Mother of God
Akathist to the Holy Mother of God BEFORE THE GEORGIAN ICON
Kontakion 1
Chosen from all generations, we offer songs of praise to the Mother of God and the Queen before Her most pure image with tenderness. But You, who have unspeakable mercy for the Christian race, deliver us all from troubles and sorrows, who call to You: Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.
Ikos 1
The archangels and angels reverently serve You, and all the heavenly powers sing with silent voices to You, the Virgin Mother of God, as having given birth to the heavenly armies of the King; We, earthly beings, who tremblingly stand before Your miraculous face, cry out to Tis with mortal lips: Rejoice, chosen from all generations for the redemption of our race; Rejoice, filled with the Holy Spirit of gifts. Rejoice, thou who hast surpassed the cherubim and seraphim; Rejoice, thou who served the sacrament of salvation of the human race. Rejoice, holy receptacle of the Word of God; Rejoice, you who bore the indescribable Word of the Father in your wombs. Rejoice, true fulfillment of prophetic verbs; Rejoice, having freed the ancestors of our race from the oath by Your birth. Rejoice, intercession to the Christian race, bestowed from God; Rejoice, salvation of the human race is the beginning. Rejoice, ladder of Divine condescension; Rejoice, bridge, raising earthly creatures from earth to heaven. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 2
Seeing, O Most Pure One, from the height of Her heavenly dwelling, where you abide with Your Son in glory, the bitterness against Christian shrines in the Georgian country, by God's permission in those days, was from the Persian king Abbas, who devastated the Georgian country and desecrated its Christian churches, and, preserving the holy I will return the icon from such a desecration to the Russian country to my husband and reverently give it to Stefan, you have helped, O Lady. Having now acquired Your holiness, this faithful servant, with tenderness of heart, cry out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Though the reverent husband George, understand the bewildered mystery of Your revelation, O Lady, about a certain priceless bead, the trustee of his estate acquired in the country of Persia, conferred with Patriarch Philaret. We, the mysterious admonition of the Most Blessed One, given from above by a faithful servant, marveling and reverently cry out to Her: Rejoice, you who reveal the hidden secrets of God’s grace to the faithful; Rejoice, you who praise God through the lips of the Orthodox. Rejoice, unfaithful Hagarites, who despised Your shrine, disgracing; Rejoice, thou who illumine the meanings of the faithful with the glory of Thy miracles. Rejoice, you who teach us the veneration of holy icons; Rejoice, you who affirm the faith of Christ in the country. Rejoice, you who sanctify the monks of the monasteries of the Red Mountain with Your holy image; Rejoice, you who marked the day of the bringing of Your venerable icon by healing the monk. Rejoice, priceless beads, your holy icon, as you promised, which you gave to us; Rejoice, priceless Beads, who gave birth to Christ for our salvation. Rejoice, having visited our country in Your honest image; Rejoice, you who have enriched the peaceful monastery with inalienable wealth. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 3
The power of the Most High overshadows those who flow with faith to Thy sovereign protection, Lady, and reverently honor Thy miraculous icon, Mother of God, for she has been given grace from God to heal every ailment and ulcer in people, and we also cry out to God with gratitude: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having a warm providence for the people of the winter midnight, Thou didst accept Red Mountain under Thy roof, O Mother of God, and Thou didst mercifully bestow Thy venerable image on the monastery of those monks, so that in sight the currents of miracles, poured out in abundance on those who pray to Thee with faith, cry out to Thee, the Lady, in tenderness: Rejoice, thou who overshadows the humble abode of the monks of the Red Mountains with Thy sovereign protection; Rejoice, miracles from Your holy icon, glorifying the Red Mountain. Rejoice, you who revealed the likeness of blessed Athos at winter midnight; Rejoice, you who wonderfully pointed out the Red Mountain to the monastic life. Rejoice, Thou who bestowed Thy celibate icon as a shield and fence for that place; Rejoice, you who have created a quiet monastery for the monk who settled on this holy mountain. Rejoice, you who organize the life of the monastic rite for the salvation of souls; Rejoice, you who promote salvation for everyone who wants to achieve salvation. Rejoice, covering the Red Mountain and those who live on it with an omophorion of grace; Rejoice, you who do not abandon those who flow to Your protection and intercession. Rejoice, strengthening the weak on the path of virtue; Rejoice, teaching those who have gone astray to the true path. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 4
Having a storm inside with doubtful thoughts, the blind Pitirim, when illuminated by the radiance of light, like the sun, was confused and obsessed with fear, thinking about this, like a demonic obsession, for many years he was blind; With prayer, make the sign of the cross, turn to the temple, and, beholding your wonderful, Lady, icon, shining with luminous rays in the temple, in your mind, as if his eyes were opened and his ears were opened, for this sake he offered thanksgiving to God, marvelous in deeds, singing : Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard the blessed Tsar of all Russia Alexy, as if from Thy holy icon, the Lady, even on the Red Mountain, the healing of many different ailments is abundantly given, he gave a command to the abbot of the monastery to carry out the city and weight of his great power with due honor, so that the afflicted would accept the healing of bodily ailments and spiritual and tender hearts cry out to You, Lady: Rejoice, consecrated temple of Christ our God; Rejoice, receptacle of His ineffable glory. Rejoice, King of the reigning animated city; Rejoice, chamber and palace of heaven. Rejoice, praise to the Orthodox Church; Rejoice, Russian powers, fortress and affirmation. Rejoice, blessed protection of our cities and villages; Rejoice, all Christians who flow to You, unashamed hope. Rejoice, worthily honored from all generations; Rejoice, thou who deliverest us all from troubles and sorrows by the coming of Thy honorable image. Rejoice, you who guide those who are on a journey to seek the mountain city; Rejoice, our guide to the eternal abode. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 5
More godly than a star, Thy icon appeared, O Mother of God, which, according to Thy will, was brought from the east to the fullness of the saints, and, like a gift from heaven, the monks received the red throat, placed it in the cathedral church of the monastery, and in joy they gave a belt of good things to the giver God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing the silversmith Gabriel, weeping green before Your miraculous image, O Lady, then You had mercy, You raised up his son lying on his sick bed and made You healthy; Have mercy on me and on my behalf, most blessed Mother of God, and resurrect my soul, mortified by sins, calling: Rejoice, thou who hast bestowed upon us the favor of Thy Son, Christ our God; Rejoice, Mother of the King of the belly and the Conqueror of death. Rejoice, illuminating the Russian country with the bright rays of miracles from Your holy icon; Rejoice, you who pour forth rich gifts of healings and mercies to those who ask You before Your wonderful icon. Rejoice, our prayers, offered to You with faith and love, mercifully accepted; Rejoice, you who quickly heal the bodily ailments of those who faithfully worship You. Rejoice, you who transform our sorrow into joy; Rejoice, you who deliver us from tears and sorrows. Rejoice, consolation to parents who grieve for their children; Rejoice, children of their grace-filled protection and salvation. Rejoice, protection for us in life and after death; Rejoice, our salvation is in the righteous Judgment of God. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 6
The preacher who did the merchant George Your will, you advertised to him, the Lady: Steward of your estate Stefan, who lives in Persia, buy you priceless beads; When he brings it to you, send it to the Dvina land, to the Chermnaya Mountain. Having now learned about this, George, Yours, Most Pure One, there is a special favor for that place, I will rise up to sing to the God born of You: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
The glory of God has shone on the holy mountain, Redder from Your most wonderful icon, the Mother of God, before the one who stands before us, we pray to You with tenderness: hear us, crying out to You earnestly: Rejoice, you who overshadowed the midnight mountain with the coming of Your miraculous image; Rejoice, you who showed an endless source of miracles on her. Rejoice, having shown Your mercy and love to the monastery of monks; Rejoice, you who showed your good providence for her. Rejoice, healer of our bodily ailments; Rejoice, you who console us in our spiritual sorrows. Rejoice, teacher of piety; Rejoice, leader of monastic life. Rejoice, you who accept vows good for salvation; Rejoice, you who contribute to our good intentions and undertakings. Rejoice, you who drive away evil thoughts from the enemy’s obsession from us; Rejoice, thou who destroyest the machinations of the enemy like a spider. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 7
Although to give the blessing to the newly built monastery of monks, named Raifa, the Kazan Archpastor Laurentius, the Lady of Thy face, identically copied from Your miraculous Krasnogorsk image, solemnly bringing it into the Raifa monastery with prayer singing. Having been a witness of the accomplishments of Thy holy One, O Lady, icon of signs and wonders, joyfully cry out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
We see the new font of Siloam, O Most Pure Mother of God, Thy temple, also in Raifa. For every ailment and every mental and physical illness, you heal with faith and love those who flow to You and reverently honor and kiss Your holy image. For this reason, having a new ineffable treasure of Your mercies, we joyfully cry out to You, Most Pure One: Rejoice, O font, in which our spiritual ailments are healed; Rejoice, fountain, flowing out the water of life to those who thirst. Rejoice, you who give sight to the bodily blind; Rejoice, opening the ears of the deaf. Rejoice, strengthening those who are weak in the body; Rejoice, raising up those lying on the bed of illness. Rejoice, saving those floating on the waters from storms and drowning; Rejoice, you who lie in the depths of the sea of life and guide you to the quiet haven of salvation. Rejoice, weapon, with which the demonic troops are afraid; Rejoice, shield, with which the abodes of monks are covered. Rejoice, quiet joy of the desert dwellers; Rejoice, quiet refuge for those overwhelmed in this world. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 8
It is strange to hear and uncomfortable to understand with evil unbelief, clouded by evil, how signs and wonders come from Thy holy icons, O Lady. For us, the warm believers of the word, You said to the first evangelist of the Gospel mysteries to the holy icon: The grace of the One who was born of Me and Mine will be convenient to understand and righteously trust, as with this Georgian icon of Yours, Your grace and power abide forever. For this reason, with reverent fear of what is to come, we give honor to her, as You Yourself, inherent in us, joyfully singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All ever-present and abiding with the heavenly powers, you do not abandon us earthly beings, Mother of God, with warm intercession before your Son and Your God, for you imash your motherly boldness towards Him. For this reason, standing before Your most pure image, with tears of repentance we cry out to You, Mother of God: Rejoice, faithful guide, guiding us to the good of the heavenly fatherland; Rejoice, Mother of the King of heaven and earth, opening the gates of heaven to us. Rejoice, steward, who organizes our life towards heaven; Rejoice, O Eternal Good One who reveals to us Your Son. Rejoice, you who save us here from sorrows and troubles; Rejoice, thou who deliverest us from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna after death. Rejoice, Thou who art most merciful to all who flow with faith and love to Thee; Rejoice, our prayers offered to You in front of Your miraculous image, lifting up to the throne of Your Son and our God. Rejoice, our good helper; Rejoice, our unshameable hope. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 9
You are superior to every archangel and angelic nature, and you are more honorable than the cherubs and seraphim, O Most Holy Virgin. For you gave birth to God, the King of the heavenly powers, in your flesh, you contained the inconceivable in your womb, you carried the whole world in your hands, and you nourished every nature that nourishes with milk. Moreover, truly the Mother of God and the intercessor of the Christian race, leading You, we cry out to God with boldness: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The oracles do not know the multifariousness with which words of praise befitting to magnify Thee, Mother of God; however, good being, accept mercifully, even if the weak are the meanings composed, but from the bottom of the heart offered to Thee in praise of the maize chant: Rejoice, most immaculate Youth, with eternal advice for the salvation of our race chosen; Rejoice, Woman, even the Seed crush the head of the ancient serpent. Rejoice, most blessed among women; Rejoice, having found grace from God. Rejoice, you who humbly accepted the Archangel broadcast about the incarnation of the One from the Holy Trinity; Rejoice, meek servant of the Lord. Rejoice, vessel sanctified by the Spirit of God; Rejoice, overshadowed by the power of the Most High. Rejoice, you who gave birth to the Savior of our souls; Rejoice, you who have reconciled our fallen race with the justice of God. Rejoice, Eden, closed by Thy Nativity, who has opened it to the world; Rejoice, having freed us from the captivity of hell by Your birth. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 10
Wanting to save many people from troubles and sorrows, you everywhere show, O Mother of God, to our family an inexhaustible source of mercy from His Georgian icon. You preserved the Krasnogorsk monastery undamaged from the burning of the fire in those days, extinguishing the fiery power that raged around it, and in the reigning city of Moscow and in the desert of Raif, streams of grace flow from Your icon to all who worship You with faith, and in other cities and towns of ours to those who honor You Serve something useful. Moreover, glorifying God, who has given us such grace in You, we cry out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
You are a strong wall, the Virgin Mary, the monastery of Krasnogorsk and the desert of Raifa, an indestructible fence, and to the monastic rank adornment and glory. For this reason, praying, we cry out to You, Most Pure One: cover with faith those who worship You before Your miraculous image from troubles and sorrows, who cry out to You with love: Rejoice, strong guardian from the misfortunes and troubles that come upon us; Rejoice, vigilant guardian of monastic monasteries. Rejoice, who wonderfully preserved the Krasnogorsk monastery from the ferocious flames in those days through the warm prayer of the monks; Rejoice, you who send down the goodness of the air and the saving rain in good time. Rejoice, life of the monastic rite is ornament and kindness; Rejoice, you who save us in the storm of temptations and troubles. Rejoice, sanctifying our thoughts; Rejoice, purifier of our hearts. Rejoice, you who extinguish the soul-destroying flame of our passions; Rejoice, dispelling the darkness of satanic temptations. Rejoice, you who bring down God’s blessing upon our life; Rejoice, guiding our mental desire to the heavenly abode. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 11
Singing of praise is brought to Ty, Lady, by the people of the God-saved city of Arkhangelsk, when their city alone in the summer is sanctified by the coming of Your miraculous image, and from the lamps and censers coming to meet it, they joyfully cry out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
With the luminous rays of miracles, Your icon, Lady, on the holy Mount Red shines unwaveringly and graciously illuminates our Russian Orthodox country, driving away every dark action of the enemy by the power of God, urging us before You, God’s chosen Youth, to offer songs of praise: Rejoice, unquenchable on the path of our salvation lamp of faith and piety; Rejoice, ray of the never-setting Sun. Rejoice, unflickering star in our land of Orthodoxy; Rejoice, you who sanctify the path of virtue. Rejoice, dawn, revealing the Sun of truth; Rejoice, light, driving away the darkness of ignorance. Rejoice, burning bush, who revealed God; Rejoice, fiery throne of the Almighty. Rejoice, treasure of purity; Rejoice, unfading flower of glory. Rejoice, most sanctified divine village; Rejoice, for through You you have given joy to all who call upon Thee, the Mother of God. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 12
You have shown Your grace, an inexhaustible source of Thy never-fading, inexhaustible source, O Mother of God, Your miraculous icon, from whom all who mourn and are burdened with many sins accept salvation and healing at all times and joyfully sing about You to the all-good God: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing Your glorious miracles, Mother of God, from Your holy icons endlessly given to us, and placing all our hope in You, the Intercessor, we cry out to You with tenderness: Rejoice, shameless hope of Christians in the future world; Rejoice, you who continue to save those who continue to do the commandments. Rejoice, you who keep us healthy in this life; Rejoice, you who do not leave us in the terrible hour of death. Rejoice, Thou who arrangest the Christian death of Thy faithful servant; Rejoice, at the righteous Judgment of Your Son, Your faithful servants are worthy to hear His longed voice. Rejoice, for all who want to be saved and to receive the good Hodegetria into the mind of truth; Rejoice, there is certain salvation for all repentant sinners with contrition in their hearts. Rejoice, through Your birth you opened the doors of heaven to the world; Rejoice, you who united the earthly with the heavenly for eternal joy. Rejoice, ever-sung by the angel; Rejoice, and worthily honored by the earthly. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Kontakion 13
O all-sung Mother, Most Holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, do not reject this little prayer that we humbly offer to You now before Your miraculous image, despising the abyss of our sins, deliver us all from the troubles and sorrows in this life and the coming eternal torment, unhypocritically crying out to God for You : Alleluia. This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “Archangels and Angels...” and the 1st kontakion “Chosen of all generations...”.
First prayer
Accept, O All-merciful Most Pure Lady, Lady Theotokos, these honorable gifts from us, Thy unworthy servants, to Thy whole-bearing image, sending up the singing with tenderness, as You are the One who exists and listens to our prayers, granting with faith to those who ask for each request: you alleviate the sorrows of those who mourn , you grant health to the weak, you heal the weakened and sick, and you drive away demons from demons, you deliver the offended from insults, and save the raped, you forgive sinners, you cleanse lepers, and you have mercy on little children, and you free the barren from infertility. Again, O Lady the Lady, you free us from bonds and prisons, and heal all kinds of diverse passions, and heal eye diseases, and deliver us from deadly ulcers: all things are possible through Your intercession to Your Son, Christ our God. O All-Singing Mother, Most Pure Mother of God! Do not cease to pray for us, Thy unworthy servants, who glorify Thee and honor and worship Thy most pure image, and who have irrevocable hope and unquestionable faith in Thee, the Ever-Virgin, Most Glorious and Immaculate, glorifying, and honoring, and singing Thee forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
To You, God-chosen Youth, Most Holy Virgin Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, we fall down and cry: hear our voices of prayer and do not turn Your face away from us, unworthy. Accept, O All-Blessed One, from Thy unworthy servants, who honor Thy all-honorable name and with faith who worship Thee before Thy miraculous image, our warm prayer offered now, lift up Thy Son, Christ our God, to the Throne, that He may be merciful to our iniquities and not repay us according to our deeds, but may He add to His generosity. Because we are not worthy, because of our sins, to receive mercy from Him, if not You, Lady, beseech Him for us, for you can ask Him for everything you can, for Motherly you have boldness towards Him. For this reason, we run to You, as our all-powerful and all-good Intercessor, fervently praying: ask the Only Begotten Son of God, Christ our God, who was born of You, for all of us to remain firmly in the Holy Fathers Orthodox faith until the end of our days and to walk steadily in all the commandments of the Lord, Yes, having lived the rest of our life in all piety and purity, we will be honored with a peaceful Christian death and a good answer at the terrible Judgment of Your Son and our God, and thus we will achieve, under the roof of Your help, an eternal life in the Kingdom of the Father of lights, Him, together with His Only Begotten The Son and the Holy Spirit are due glory, honor and worship, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Description of the icon
The Georgian icon of the Mother of God is iconographically similar to other images of the Mother of God in Georgia from the 10th to 16th centuries, especially from Kakheti. It belongs to the genus Hodegetria, which means "Guide". The icon radiates tenderness and a bright feeling of love.
Georgian icon of the Mother of God
Jesus sits on Mary's left shoulder. The Mother of God bows to the Child, and He stretches out his right hand to Her and raises His right hand, blessing the Virgin. Bare feet are visible from under the child’s clothes, one of which is turned with its foot towards the viewer. Jesus holds a scroll in his left hand, symbolizing good news for humanity.
Interesting Facts. Miracles of the Raifa Monastery
- The Raifa Bogoroditsky Monastery is famous for its non-croaking frogs living in Lake Sumy. According to legend, the monks of the monastery once asked God to make the frogs silent, since their croaking prevented them from singing, and the frogs actually fell silent. It is noteworthy that on the territory of Raifa, any other frogs brought here for the sake of experiment and debunking of the myth fell silent, and they burst into croaking as soon as they were taken away from the walls of the monastery.
- Since 1994, the monastery has operated a shelter for orphans, where boys aged 8 to 18 years are raised;
- Far beyond the monastery, the monastery choir is known - the “Parable” quartet;
- On the shore of Lake Raifa there is a monument to the Kazan Cat. Another monument to Kot is located on the main pedestrian street of Bauman;
- On the territory of the monastery complex there are many statues made by novice Vladimir Savelyev;
- Since 2001, Raifa, using her own funds and funds raised through donations, has been publishing the newspaper “Raifa Messenger” and a children’s supplement to the newspaper “Firefly”.
Where is the holy image located?
The original icon has not survived to this day. Today in the Tretyakov Gallery there is an exact copy, corresponding in size to the original painting. A copy was made in 1707 by engraver Kirill Ulanov.
Three other specimens, which turned out to be miraculous, are also in Moscow:
- in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity;
- Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Sokolniki);
- Church of St. Martin the Confessor.
The fourth and very revered copy of the image of the Mother of God is located in the Monastery of the Mother of God in Raifa. It was created by order of Metropolitan Lawrence. According to monastic legend, a copy of the icon healed people from mental disorders and mutilated limbs, and also restored sight on the way to the monastery.
Many found consolation and received help after praying to this miraculous image, even when official medicine did not give any chance of recovery. This proves that God's mercy is limitless and only sincere faith can help in difficult life situations.
History of the Raifa Monastery
In 1613, a hermit monk named Filaret settled on the shore of Lake Sumy (Raifa), surrounded by forests. At first, Filaret lived alone in a secluded cell-hut, devoting all his time to prayer and communication with God. Only the Cheremis (the ancestors of the modern Mari people), coming to the shore of the forest lake on certain days in order to perform their pagan sacrifices, violated Filaret’s solitude. It is likely that it was the Cheremis who spread the news of the hermit monk throughout the surrounding area. So, other monks began to settle next to Philaret, and a new monastic settlement arose.
What does an icon help with?
Our Lady of Georgia helps in the fight against the most terrible diseases.
The imperial family came many times to pray before the icon. At the suggestion of the emperor's wife Anna Ioannovna, the icon's robe was richly decorated with pearls and inlaid with precious stones. On April 12, 1900, Tsar Nicholas and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna came to the icon to pray for it.
The image of the Queen of Heaven haunts people experiencing physical suffering. The icon is credited with special powers to heal visual ailments, stomach and ear diseases, malignant tumors and infertility in women.
The deep veneration of the shrine is evidenced by the fact that copies of the image were kept in Russian Orthodox churches for a long time, and pilgrims from different regions still come to the icon.
Monastery today
In 1918 the monastery was closed. Since the 1930s, its territory housed a prison for political prisoners, and later a colony for juvenile delinquents. In 1991, Raifa was the first to be revived in the Kazan diocese. During the 1990s, its architectural ensemble was restored and full-fledged monastic life was restored.
Now about 60 novices live in the monastery. It attracts both pilgrims and tourists from all over the country and even beyond. Many come to Raifa for the holy spring, others - to get peace of mind. Those who want to plunge into the ice hole come to the monastery for Epiphany.
Address, how to get there. Where to stay
The monastery is located on the territory of the Volzhsko-Kama Nature Reserve, 30 kilometers from Kazan, near the city of Zelenodolsk and is always open to tourists and pilgrims. You can get from Kazan to Raifa by buses No. 552 and No. 554 from the Northern Station, from Zelenodolsk by bus No. 405. Location coordinates: 55.901451, 48.730545.
You can stay overnight at the Pilgrim's House hotel, owned by the monastery. The hotel has 25 rooms, the fee for accommodation is purely symbolic - from 500 rubles. You can book a hotel room or find out more detailed information by calling +7.
