The Mother of God Icon "Three Hands" - history, veneration, prayer

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands gained worldwide fame thanks to the great luminary of the Orthodox faith, John of Damascus. Our Lady helps all Christians who believe in Her power.

The Virgin Mary is depicted with the Baby in her arms, Her head is slightly inclined towards the head of the Son. Jesus looks before Him, and His right hand is folded in blessing. At the bottom of the image is the right hand, pointing to the Messiah. Thus, from Above we are given to understand that through Jesus and faith in Him we will receive Salvation, of course, if we ourselves desire it.

Icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”: the story of its discovery

The “Three-Handed” icon is associated with the life of St. John of Damascus (c. 676 - c. 754). The Byzantine emperor Leo III the Isaurian supported the iconoclastic heresy. John, being an adviser at the court of the caliph in Damascus (Syria), wrote him a letter in defense of icon veneration. The Emperor of Byzantium could not do anything in response to the subject of another ruler. Then he decided to resort to cunning. With the help of a forged letter, John was slandered for treason. The Syrian ruler, having removed John from office, ordered his right hand to be cut off and hanged in the city square as a warning to others.

When John of Damascus received his hand back in the evening of that day, he put it to the joint of his hand. Trusting in the mercy of the Lord, he began to fervently pray to the Most Holy Theotokos. After the prayer, John dozed off. The Mother of God appeared before him in a sleepy vision. She healed him and admonished him to work diligently with this right hand in defense of Orthodoxy. Waking up, John saw that the hand had grown to the arm, only a small scar remained.

The saint expressed his gratitude in a song of praise to the Most Holy Theotokos, “She rejoices in you,” which is now sung during the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. And John decorated the icon of the Mother of God, in front of which he prayed, with a silver image of a hand (according to another version, he added it to the icon). This is how a new iconographic image arose, because of which the Most Holy Theotokos began to be called the Three-Handed Mother.

Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Three-Handed”

Icon “Three-handed”: the history of its appearance on Mount Athos

The image of the Most Holy Theotokos was brought by St. John of Damascus as a gift to the monastery of St. Sava in the Judean desert. In the 13th century, the icon of the Mother of God was transferred to Serbia as a gift to Archbishop Sava (1169-1236). According to legend, when the Turks conquered Serbia in the 14th century, Christians, saving the Three-Handed Icon, tied it to the back of a donkey. By the providence of God, the donkey himself came to the gates of the Athos monastery of Hilandar. The monks placed the found icon in the altar of the Vvedensky Cathedral Church.

As the legend of the monastery says, in the 17th century the monks could not choose their abbot. One morning, having gathered for worship, the monks discovered an icon of the Mother of God standing in the abbot’s place. They returned her back to the altar. The next day she was miraculously discovered again at the abbot's place. This happened several times.

Finally, in a dream vision, the Most Holy Theotokos informed one of the monks that She herself would govern the monastery. Since that time, the tradition has been observed in the Hilandar Monastery. Instead of the abbot, a pro-abbot (vicar) is elected. The abbot's place belongs to the Most Holy Theotokos herself.

Remembrance Day of the Three-Handed Icon - July 25 according to the new style. In memory of bringing a copy of the miraculous image to Russia under Patriarch Nikon in 1661, the Russian Orthodox Church established an additional day of veneration of this icon on July 11.

Day of Remembrance

The memory of the icon is celebrated twice a year:

July, 12;
July 25.

Cases of help today

Nowadays the “Three-Handed” icon can be found in almost any church. The number of copies of the image, revered as miraculous, is also large.

Here are just a few cases of help to the Mother of God, collected by the sisters of the Assumption Feklina women's hermitage (Kaluga region), where one of the lists has been located since 2009.

During this time, this old, dark icon was wonderfully renewed. The sisters testify that the miracle of renewal continues. In addition, the face of the Mother of God changes: sometimes it becomes bright, sometimes Her eyes are filled with tears. Many pilgrims come to the Akathist of the Most Pure One. Many, in addition to their names, submit notes asking the Mother of God for help, which are also read during the service.

Healing without surgery

The abbess of the monastery, Vitalia (Kochetova) says:

“The Mother of God herself healed me: I have a heart defect, and an operation was already scheduled, but it was not required. The doctors said, “If it weren’t for the old ultrasound results, we would never have believed that you had a heart defect.”
It happened that pilgrims came to us to pray before the miraculous image for the successful outcome of the operation - in the end, the matter was managed without any operation at all, and the patient was safely discharged.”

Found a job

“One girl could not find a job for a long time and prayed in front of the icon, asking the Mother of God not even for work, but to cope with difficulties without complaining.
After the pilgrims’ fervent prayer, not even ten minutes had passed before the girl received a call and was offered a job, and a well-paid one at that. The next day another job offer came. The girl was incredibly happy and amazed at how quickly the Most Holy Theotokos answered her prayer.”

First aid for illnesses, everyday troubles, pacification of enemies - all this is given by the Mother of God in our days, as many centuries ago, through Her icon. Sometimes just a glance at the image in front of which the great Damascus prayed for the impossible, relieves despair, despondency, and gives hope. And the Mother of God does not disgrace the hope of those who hope in Her.

Natalia Sazonova

Icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”: iconography

Iconographically, the image of the Most Holy Theotokos “Three-Handed” belongs to the “Hodegetria” (Guide) type. The Mother of God is depicted from the waist up. With her right hand She holds the Infant of God, her left hand is in a prayer gesture. Her head is slightly tilted towards the Son.

The head of the Divine Infant is turned towards the Mother of God. In his left hand, Jesus holds a scroll (a symbol of the good news brought to the world). His right hand is in a blessing gesture.

A picturesque feature of this image is the presence of an image of a hand at the bottom of the icon. It does not belong to the Most Holy Theotokos, but is only a reminder of the miraculous healing of St. John of Damascus.

Meaning of the icon

Jesus Christ, sitting in his mother's arms, blesses with his right hand everyone who is before Him.

The meaning of the Three-Handed Mother of God is great - the Mother of God is trying to convey to each of us the path to Salvation and its great meaning.

Modern icon “Three-handed”

The hand of John of Damascus testifies that under the leadership of the Queen of Heaven and according to Her Command, everyone who has given his life to serve God will find Salvation.

Lists of the icon of the Mother of God “Three-handed”

In Russia, the veneration of the Three-Handed Icon of the Mother of God dates back to the 17th century. It was then that a list (copy) was sent from the Athos monastery of Hilandar to Patriarch Nikon for the New Jerusalem Monastery under construction in the Moscow region. The icon was placed in the Church of the Resurrection. She became famous for her many miracles, as evidenced by the gifts she brought that adorned the image. However, the monastery did not keep a record of the healings and help received from the Three-Handed Icon. In 1919, this icon was lost. Currently, the monastery houses a copy of it, written in the mid-19th century.

A particularly revered copy of the Three-Handed icon is located in the Trinity Cathedral of the Danilov Monastery (Moscow). When the darkened icon was sent for restoration in the 1980s, it itself began to lighten. And much faster than could be achieved by human means. At this time, the icon painter, who took up restoration work, had his vision restored. Currently, in the Danilov Monastery, every second Friday the Akathist is read in front of this miraculous icon.

Features of iconography

Iconography: Three-Handed (Damascus Icon of the Mother of God) Material: Wood, tempera. Dimensions of the icon: height 35 cm, width 30 cm. Half-length image of the Mother of God holding the Child. The icon depicts a silver statue of a hand, attached by John of Damascus, who, in prayer at the icon of the Mother of God, healed his severed hand. In the margins are figures of an angel and saints John Chrysostom, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian. © Samara Regional Art Museum.

The miraculous shrine located in Hilandar - the so-called “Hodegetria”, or guidebook, has a number of features in comparison with other similar ones:

The Mother of God sits completely straight, Her head is only slightly inclined towards Christ;
The baby on the right hand of the Mother of God looks attentively at the Mother, but does not cling to Her.

Christ and the Mother of God seem to be holding a silent conversation about the future sufferings of the Son of God, anticipating them in their spirit.

The Hilandar icon is quite large, 94x67 cm. It is believed that in ancient times the icon was the so-called “remote” one, that is, intended for religious processions. Such images often had an image on both sides. This shrine is no exception. On its back is an image of St. Nicholas of Myra.

Modern research has established that the frame of the image appeared around the 19th century. Moreover, the silver hand was initially not under the right hand of the Most Pure One, but on the left side. Scientists do not have a consensus on whether the Hilandarskaya is a prototype of the 8th century, or a copy from it. Many Serbian historians date this shrine to the 14th century, which, however, does not question its miraculousness.

Since ancient times, there have been copies, the iconography of which could differ from the original.

In Bulgaria, Three-Handed - list of Mount Athos - shrine of the Troyan monastery. Moreover, three hands are attached to the icon, not just one.
On the image from the village. Karan (Serbia, 16th century) The Mother of God has two left hands, with which She points to the Son seated on her right hand.
The third hand was also painted, rather than attached, by many Russian icon painters.

May

1722

In the Russian Church this image was prohibited by the Holy Synod. The decree speaks of “malicious icon painters who invented icons that are contrary to nature, history and truth, which are... the image of the Mother of God with three hands... Why, in future, such invented ones... to desecrate the holy archetypes and to reproach the holy churches from the heterodox, should not be painted , but write decorously and decorously.”

How does prayer to the Mother of God help in this image?

Remembering the history of the shrine, believers pray in front of it:

during disasters, persecutions;
in case of unfair accusations;
in serious illnesses;
o time of melancholy, despondency, despair.

Miracles from the Three-Handed Icon

In the summer of 1945, due to extreme heat, a fire occurred near the Hilandar monastery on Mount Athos, threatening the proximity of the monastery. The monks made a religious procession with the miraculous icon of the Three Hands. Suddenly a wind blew, which drove the fire away from the walls of the monastery. The fire soon stopped on its own.

In October 2012, a resident of the city of Berdyansk (Ukraine) named Larisa was diagnosed with a displaced comminuted fracture of the left radius. She was put in a cast and sent home. The next day she came to the temple, where she prayed fervently before the icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”. According to the woman, during prayer she felt a pleasant warmth at the fracture site, and peace in her soul. Soon she returned to the hospital, where the doctor stated that the bones were healing quickly without displacement.

Miracle help and rules of prayer

Many miracles around the world occurred from the miraculous icon. It heals injuries and injuries, heals eyes, legs, hands, banishes melancholy, anxiety, depression, protects from enemies, and helps achieve spiritual and material well-being.

The main condition for prayer is sincere faith, a pure heart and good thoughts.

Advice! After receiving what you ask for, you need to remember to give thanks to the Mother of God. If you did not manage to get what you asked for, then you need not to grumble, but to sincerely realize your sinfulness and foolishness.

Icons of the Mother of God “Three-handed”: what helps

The Holy Church teaches Christians to honor the Mother of God more than the Angels and saints of God. The Mother of God is worthy of such honor “for the fact that neither the Angels and Archangels, nor the Cherubim, nor the Seraphim had such a close and significant participation in the arrangement of our salvation as She did. The dispensation of our salvation is called the incarnate Dispensation. It was necessary for the Son of God and God to accept human nature in His person, and without this our salvation could not have been arranged... By virtue of this essential participation and incarnation, Her intercession for us was stronger than anyone else” (St. Theophan the Recluse, 1815-1894).

Christian believers pray in front of the miraculous image of the “Three Hands” for the gift of children, for the healing of diseases of the hands and feet, and for the restoration of vision. They also pray in front of this icon for protection from slander, wrongful conviction and accusation.

Where to hang it in the house

The best place in the house for the icon of the Mother of God “Three Hands” will be the traditional red corner of the main room. There should be nothing more in front of the image itself. This way the power of the Mother of God will spread to all the inhabitants of the house and to the guests. You can hang the icon opposite the entrance. So she will protect family members from the evil and harm of other people. Our Lady will also influence people who enter your home. If a person has good intentions, then he will feel warm and comfortable with you. If it’s the other way around, the attacker will try to leave faster.

Prayer

Oh, Most Holy Lady and Lady Theotokos, who showed a great miracle to Saint John of Damascus, as if he showed true faith - undoubted hope! Hear us, sinners, before Your miraculous icon, fervently praying and asking for Your help: do not reject this prayer of many for the sake of our sins, but, as the Mother of mercy and generosity, deliver us from illnesses, sorrows and sorrows, forgive the sins we have committed, fill us with joy and joy to all who honor Your holy icon, may we joyfully sing and glorify Your name with love, for You are chosen and blessed from all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion

Today, great worldwide joy has arisen for us: Thy celibate-bearing icon has been given to the holy Mount Athos, the Lady Theotokos, with the image of Thy three-numbered and indivisibly most pure hands, for the glorification of the Holy Trinity, calling for the faithful and those who pray to You to know this, as two imashes you hold the Son and the Lord , the third, show as a refuge and protection to those who honor You from all misfortunes and troubles, so that all who flow to You by faith, receive abundant liberation from all evils, protection from enemies, for this sake we, together with Athos, cry out: Rejoice, Gracious One, Lord with you.

Icon of the Mother of God “THREE-HANDED”

July 11 (June 28, old style) and July 25 (12)

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Description of the icon of the Mother of God of Three Hands

The history of this miraculous icon of the Mother of God is closely connected with the fate of the defender of Orthodoxy and the veneration of holy icons, St. John of Damascus. In 717, Emperor Leo the Isaurian, having ascended the Byzantine throne, began persecuting icon worshipers. Saint John lived at that time in the capital of Syria, Damascus, and served as an adviser to the caliph. He wrote letters to his many acquaintances in Byzantium denouncing the heresy of iconoclasm, citing the texts of the Holy Scriptures.

The wise letters of the Monk John infuriated Leo the Isaurian, but since the author of the messages was beyond the reach of the emperor, he decided to resort to slander. By order of the emperor, a forged letter was drawn up on behalf of John of Damascus, in which the Damascus minister allegedly offered Leo the Isaurian his assistance in the conquest of the Syrian capital. This letter was then sent to the Caliph of Damascus. The angry ruler ordered the minister to be immediately removed from office, his right hand to be cut off and hung in the city square as a sign of intimidation.

In the evening, Saint John, through his friends, sent a request to the prince: “My illness is increasing and tormenting me unspeakably, and I cannot have any consolation until my hand, hanged in shame, is given to me.” The ruler took pity on the sufferer and ordered the severed hand to be returned to him. The monk shut himself up in his cell and prayed for a long time with tears before the icon of the Mother of God for healing. The next morning, waking up, Saint John felt his hand and saw it whole and unharmed with a small scar at the site of the amputation. Soon the monk retired to the monastery of Sava the Sanctified and took monastic vows there. In gratitude for the healing, the monk attached to the lower part of the icon an image of a hand made of silver, hence the name of the icon of the Mother of God - “Three-Handed”.

In the 13th century, the “Three-Handed” icon of the Mother of God was presented as a gift to St. Sava of Serbia, who transferred it to his homeland. During the Turkish invasion of Serbia, in order to avoid desecration of the shrine, the keepers of the icon placed it on a donkey and released the animal to the will of God. With its wonderful burden, the donkey easily reached the Athos Hilendar Monastery, where the shrine was reverently received by the brethren.

Soon there was no abbot in the monastery, and the inhabitants of the monastery began to choose a new mentor, but could not come to a common decision. But one day, coming to the service in the morning, everyone unexpectedly saw the “Three-Handed” icon of the Mother of God on the abbot’s place. The image was taken to its usual place, but the next day it reappeared in the abbot’s place. Having decided to experience this extraordinary phenomenon, the monks sealed the door of the temple, but in the morning, having removed the seals from the door, they again saw the “Three-Handed” icon on the abbot’s place.

That same night, the Mother of God appeared to one monastery recluse and said that She herself was pleased to rule the monastery. Since then, there is no position of abbot in the Hilendar monastery, and monks, in order to receive blessings for certain monastic obediences, kiss the hand of the Most Holy Theotokos.

of the icon of the Mother of God “Three Hands” to Russia in 1661 and was installed by Patriarch Nikon in the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery. Currently, the collection of the New Jerusalem Museum contains a list made from that icon in 1854, but the image itself has disappeared. There are several more ancient copies of the icon in Moscow - one in the Assumption Church of the Bulgarian Compound, the other in the Trinity Cathedral of the St. Daniel Monastery.

The Royal Family prayed before the icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed” in the Ipatiev House on the eve of their martyrdom.

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Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her icon called “Three-Handed”

First prayer before the icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands

Most Holy and Most Blessed Virgin Mary! We fall down and worship Thee before Thy holy icon, remembering Thy glorious miracle by healing the truncated right hand of the Venerable John of Damascus, which was revealed from the icon, whose sign is visible to this day on it in the form of a third hand attached to Thy image. We pray to You and ask You, the All-merciful and All-generous Intercessor of our race: hear us, praying to You, and, like blessed John, who cried out to You in sorrow and illness, You heard us, so do not despise us, who are grieving and suffering from the wounds of many different passions and those who diligently come running to You from a contrite and humble soul. You see, O All-Merciful Lady, our infirmities, our embitterment, our need, I will demand our help and intercession, as if we are surrounded by enemies from everywhere and there is no one who helps, less than one who intercedes, unless You have mercy on us, the Lady. To her, we pray to You, listen to our painful voice and help us to preserve the patristic Orthodox faith until the end of our days, to walk unswervingly in all the commandments of the Lord, to always bring true repentance for our sins to God and to be honored with a peaceful Christian death and a good answer at the Last Judgment of the Son Thy and our God, Whom we begged for us with Thy Motherly prayer, may He not condemn us according to our iniquity, but may He have mercy on us according to His great and ineffable mercy. O All-Good One! Hear us and do not deprive us of Your sovereign help, yes, having received salvation through You, let us sing and glorify You on the land of the living and our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of You, to whom befits glory and power, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit always , now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Second prayer before the icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands

O Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos, who showed a great miracle to Saint John of Damascus, as if he showed true faith and undoubted hope! Hear us, Thy sinners (names), before Thy miraculous icon, earnestly praying and asking for Thy help: do not reject this prayer of many for the sake of our sins, but, as the Mother of mercy and generosity, deliver us from illnesses, sorrows and sorrows, forgive us for what we have done sins, fill with joy and gladness all who honor Your holy icon, so that we joyfully sing and glorify Your name with love, for You are chosen from all generations, blessed forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her icon called “Three-Handed”

Troparion, tone 4

Today, great worldwide joy has arisen for us, given to the holy Mount Athos, Thy celibate-bearing icon, Lady Theotokos, with the image of Thy three-numbered and inseparably most pure hands, for the glorification of the Holy Trinity: for Thou convenes the faithful and those who pray to Thee for this to know, as two are the Ones who hold the Son and the Lord , show the third as a refuge and protection to those who honor You from all misfortunes and troubles, so that all who flow to You by faith receive liberation from all evils and protection from enemies. For this reason, we, together with Athos, cry out: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Troparion, tone 4

Today the reigning city of Moscow brightly flaunts, containing in itself, O Most Merciful, the Most Honest of all creation, our Intercessor, the Virgin Mother of God, your honorable image, with which you astonish the sunflower ends of the earth and grant peace to the world, in the image of the Holy Trinity you reveal three hands: two for your Son , Christ our God, you bear, third, you faithfully deliver those who come running to You from misfortunes and misfortunes, and you save them from drowning, and you give something useful to everyone, and you show the monk Michael the Maleon Mountain, and you always have mercy on everyone, with your honest robe you cover this residence and all the cities and our country, let us call Ti: Rejoice, O Joyful One.

Troparion, tone 4

Like a shining star, the all-honorable icon of Your Three-Handed Mother miraculously came from Serbia to Athos, and the Hilandar monastery reverently received it, like a Divine gift from above, glorifying You, the Lady, and tenderly crying out: do not leave Your mercy from us, but abide with us forever.

Greatness

We magnify Thee, Most Immaculate Virgin, and honor the miracles of Thy holy image, the appearance of Thy three most pure hands to the glory of the Divine, in the Trinity of our God.

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Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her icon called “Three-Handed”

Kontakion 1

To the chosen Voivode, the God-delighted Ever-Virgin Mother of God, who visited Mount Athos with the miraculous appearance of Her icon and Her many mercies bestowing upon the Christian race, we now proclaim a praiseworthy song: But You, O Mother of God, as having an invincible power and Motherly care for us, advance to our aid and from deliver from all troubles those who call You: Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Ikos 1

The earthly angel and the heavenly man, the Venerable John of Damascus, out of warm love for Thee, the Lady of God, labored to build Thy holy icon and reverently placed it in his cell, before it before Thee in his fervent prayers saying: Rejoice, eternal joy who gave birth to the Savior of the world; Rejoice, thou who hast corrected the power of all-destroying hell through Thy Nativity. Rejoice, you who brought the fulfillment of prophetic verbs; Rejoice, having atoned for the crime of Adam and Eve. Rejoice, Thou who easily carried the One of the Trinity in Thy hand; Rejoice, Thou who didst contain the Fire of the Divine unburnt in Thy womb. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 2

Seeing the Venerable John of Damascus, his right hand, who wrote a lot in defense of the honor and veneration of holy icons, was mercilessly cut off at the behest of the iconoclast king, I asked for it from the unfaithful tormentor and, adding it to the truncated composition, before Your honorable icon, Most Pure Virgin, tearfully praying to You, O let her be healed. You, the All-Good and All-Powerful Intercessor of our family, quickly heard his prayer and, appearing to him in a dream, granted healing to his truncated hand, so that he sings to God in gratitude: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

The human mind cannot comprehend the power of grace-filled healings, miraculously revealed by Your icon, O Mother of God, and cannot explain the great miracle, how the severed right hand of the saint was found whole and healthy in one night, and on it only the scarlet sign of the former ulcer was left by the Good Physician, hearing this praise from us: Rejoice, thou who art soon appearing to the Comforter of sorrowing souls; Rejoice, O Joyful Visitor to aching hearts. Rejoice, you who encourage hopeless sufferers with the hope of healing; Rejoice, thou who receivest in thy hands the sick left by the doctors. Rejoice, you who made the truncated right hand of God’s chosen one whole and healthy beyond nature; Rejoice, for nothing is impossible for You, Merciful Representative, who always shows us intercession. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 3

Having recognized the power of the right hand of the Most High in healing his truncated right hand, the God-speaking John, sang with red songs to You, the All-Good Lady, and applied the likeness of Your truncated hand to Your healing image for the sake of the everlasting memory of the great miracle. Thus, this holy icon of Your Three-Handed One is now visible and is called, with three hands described on it, manifesting the mystery of the Holy Trinity, miracles that happen from Her, leading everyone to cry out in praise to the Lord: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Have great zeal for God, spirit-bearing hymn-writer of the Holy Church and her Divine glorifier, sweet Venerable John, with songs of praise until the end of his life glorify Your wondrous mercy towards him, Mother of God, in memory of the former miracle of the cloth with which his truncated hand was wrapped, on the head your burden, but Your multi-healing icon, like a rich heritage, leave the Holy Lavra of the Venerable Savva the Sanctified for yourself, so that all the faithful call to the Healer of souls and bodies depicted on Her: Rejoice, strong champion of the enemies of the holy Orthodox faith; Rejoice, patroness of preachers of the Gospel teaching. Rejoice, protection and praise of pious Christians; Rejoice, consolation of God-loving monks. Rejoice, good companion leading the war against the world, the flesh and the devil; Rejoice, you have greatly assisted those who are zealous for chastity and purity. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 4

A storm of bewilderment confuses my mind, how can I be able to sing with unworthy lips Your glory, Most Pure Virgin, Who in Your icon revealed You as holy, Who gave us help and protection from enemies visible and invisible. Moreover, magnifying Your countless mercies towards the Christian race, I confess Your miracles and humbly sing to the Almighty: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Having heard the monks of the Holy Lavra of Savva the Sanctified about the great virtues of the High Hierarch of the Serbian Savva, who came to the Lavra to worship, at the inspiration of You, Mother of God, gave him for blessing the holy icon of Your Three-Handed One, which he reverently, as a gift of great value, brought to the Serbian country, teaching his flock call to You: Rejoice, from East to West, proclaiming the power of the Omnipotence of Christ through Your icon; Rejoice, you who quickly heal illnesses of soul and body through your icon. Rejoice, Thou who bestowed Thy icon upon the Serbian country as a pledge of favor; Rejoice, having firmly established Orthodoxy in her through Your miracles. Rejoice, you who graciously visited the region of Simeon the Myrrh-streamer; Rejoice, Thou who hast overshadowed Sava's flock with Thy Motherly Protection. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 5

More God-bearing than a star, Your icon appeared, the Mother of God, by the will of Your Saints, placed on a donkey and released from Serbia, donating a donkey led by no one, bringing it to Mount Athos to the gates of the Hilendar monastery, even as the monks received the gift of Heaven, placing it in the altars of the cathedral church of the monastery , calling with deep emotion the good things to the Giver God: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Having seen the monks of the Hilendars Your favor towards them, Most Blessed Virgin, in the miraculous coming to them of Your holy icon of the Three-Handed One, I worshiped Her with joy and love, kissing and singing the praises of You: Rejoice, guide of the ascetics of piety to the High Zion; Rejoice, you who lead desert-loving monks to the Heavenly Jerusalem. Rejoice, thou who miraculously subdued the dumb ass to Thy holy will; Rejoice, you who wonderfully brought Your blessed icon from Serbia to Mount Athos on a donkey. Rejoice, you who filled the desert of Athos with the fragrance of the holy thing; Rejoice, you who have blessed the Hilendar monastery with Your favor. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 6

The monastery of Hilendar on Athos preaches the wealth of Thy mercies and bounties, O Virgin Mother of God, and flaunts itself brightly, having the holy icon of Thy Three-Handed Mother as abbot for itself, for such was Thy will that Thy icon should remain there in the abbot’s place in the temple of God and in the souls of the brethren, from To you is the only blessing for all obedience, accepting and calling in praise to the Creator who was well pleased with them: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Thou didst proclaim Thy will, O Bogomati, as a monk of Hilendar, by the disagreement in the election of an abbot to the troubled ones, miraculously placing Thy holy icon in the abbot's place in the temple of God and revealing to one of them in a vision that Thou Thyself desired to abide as the abbot in their monastery by Thy Honest icon, and yes otherwise they do not elect an abbot. They, in tenderness of souls and joyful hearts, cried out to you: Rejoice, well-known and all-powerful Patroness of the monks who strive well; Rejoice, warm representative of your Son and God for them. Rejoice, you who invisibly received the abbot’s rod in the Hilendar monastery; Rejoice, you who have preserved this monastery until now intact and well-maintained. Rejoice, through the fear and reverence of the hearts of the brethren, the blessing from Thy icon is fulfilled to those who receive; Rejoice, you who menacingly punish the irreverent and insolent. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 7

Although you made not only Athos, but also all other Orthodox countries, partakers of the grace of great miracles, poured out and performed by Your Three-Handed Icon, the Most Pure Lady, you spread them in all cities, villages, churches and monastic abodes and glorified wondrous miracles. Moreover, all the faithful children honor the holy icon of Your Three-Handed Mother with love and on it, together with You, they earnestly call to the Christ depicted: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

You have wondrously shown, O Blessed Virgin, mercy to faithful people and Your holy icon of the Three Hands, you have performed glorious miracles by the power of the Grace of Christ: you have enlightened the blind, strengthened the weakened, healed the sick, and to all who resort to Your healing image, You have always shown Your ambulance, striving to call to You: Rejoice , Holy She chose Mount Athos as her lot; Rejoice, thou who hast overshadowed all the Orthodox countries with the cover of Thy mercy. Rejoice, unchanging Abbess of the Hilendar monastery; Rejoice, abundant treasure of healings in many places and deserts. Rejoice, on Athos, in Russia, Serbia and other countries, gloriously working miracles with Your icon; Rejoice, you who love and honor Thee, delivering You from all troubles. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 8

It is strange to see the Hilendar monks coming to Your icon as if to the abbot and receiving blessings from Her for their obedience. But, O All-Blessed One, just as You accept them graciously and bless us, do not deprive us unworthy of Your Motherly mercy and care, graciously accept our prayers offered before Your holy icon, cover us with Your gracious blessing, deliver us from all troubles and sorrows and teach us to sing in a manner pleasing to God. To the Triune God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

The whole world is filled with God-bright stars, Your miraculous icons, O Virgin Mother of God, in which, like the Radiant Day, Your Three-Handed icon gracefully shines with wondrous miracles and warms our cold hearts with the banner of Your merciful concern for us. For this reason, we honor Your Most Pure Face, the holy image, and before it we cry out to You: Rejoice, O God-delighted and Immaculate Ever-Virgin; Rejoice, One Pure and Blessed One among Women. Rejoice, Imperishable and Unshaken Lamb and Shepherd Mother; Rejoice, beautiful and luminous chamber of saints of the Most Holy Word. Rejoice, thou who is snow-white and fragrant of virginity and purity; Rejoice, Queen and Lady of Heaven and earth. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 9

Every age of the faithful benefits from Your Mother’s care, O All-Blessed Lady. You mercifully nurture infants, you invisibly guide youths, you strengthen men in piety, you strengthen elders in their infirmities, and you bestow upon everyone all that is good and beneficial for your soul by Your omnipotent intercession at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, to Whom we gratefully sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The branches of humanity cannot adequately praise Thee, the Mother of God, the Most Honest Cherub and the Most Glorious Seraphim, who gave birth to the One from the Trinity, Christ the Life-Giver. We, inspired by love for You, humbly dare to bring You songs like these: Rejoice, Sovereign Intercessor of the Christian race; Rejoice, Blessed Mother of all who mourn and are burdened. Rejoice, through Your gentle radiance you disperse the darkness of our sins and passions; Rejoice, you who wisely guide us on the path of repentance. Rejoice, strong Protector of all of us in the terrible hour of death; Rejoice, zealous Intercessor gave us a good answer before the Righteous Judge. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 10

The guarantee of salvation has been given to us by Your holy and all-honorable icon, the Virgin Mother of God, for, just as You prophesied of old to the Divine Evangelist Lutsa, Your power graciously abides with it to this day, glorious miracles confirm faith in us, heal the sick freely and lead us to the path of salvation of our souls, Let us call upon the one who has glorified Your name in the Universe, the King of Heaven and earth: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Thou art a wall to virgins and monastic faces, God-Blessed Virgin, to all who diligently come running to You, and to those who reverently honor Your holy icon, for this is the gift of good things to us, the Lord, the Giver, for help and healing of mental and physical ailments, and with this inspires to sing to You: Rejoice, good Mother of the Virgins and motherless orphans; Rejoice, monks and nuns who grieve the Leader for Heavenly rewards. Rejoice, you who visit those in chains and prison with grace-filled consolation; Rejoice, blessing of the homes and marriages of the pious. Rejoice, teacher of chastity and abstinence to young people. Rejoice, you who lead the elders to a good life and a peaceful death. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 11

Our prayer song, offered to You before Your Most Pure Image with faith and love, mercifully hear, O All-Merciful Lady, and save us from the corrupting teachings of unbelief and superstition, they instill in us the patristic Orthodox faith, deliver us from evil seductions, save us and the Fatherland ours from all sedition and from all disorder and evil corruption by the enemies of faith and our Fatherland, and vouchsafe in love and unanimity with all the faithful children of the Holy Church of Christ to sing to our Creator: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

The light-accepting light of Your holy icon, Virgin Mother of God, enlightens the whole world with the radiance of miracles, and inflames our hearts with love towards You, the Most Pure and Most Blessed Mother of our Sweetest Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us Your protection and protection against the hordes of Satan, who fear and tremble at Your very name. We magnify Yours, knowing Your power, and we call upon You: Rejoice, our enemies, visible and invisible, who stumble in wisdom; Rejoice, invisibly punishing the blasphemers of the holy Orthodox faith. Rejoice, thou who solemnly drives away the spirits of evil from us; Rejoice, you who do not allow him to take over us. Rejoice, you who inspire us with love for God and our neighbors; Rejoice, you who quickly fulfill all our good requests. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 12

Grace from above was bestowed upon the holy icon of Your Three-Handed Lady, the Most Blessed Lady: to console the sorrowing, to heal the sick, to enlighten the blind, to strengthen the weakened, to affirm the faithful in piety, to bring the unfaithful to the knowledge of the truth, with signs and miracles from it, which truly surpass human understanding and can only be comprehended by faith. , leading faithful souls to silent praise of the Creator, with the Red Song of God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

We sing Thy miracles, O gracious Mother of God, we do not hide Thy bounty, we confess Thy good deeds, we glorify Thy innumerable mercy to the Christian race, as all the ends of the earth command, for from east to west Thy holy name is praised, blessed from all generations and invoked in prayers in all countries. For you, the most glorified and exalted face of Your Son and God, and we cry out in praise: Rejoice, quiet refuge for those floating in the depths of the sea of life; Rejoice, pacifying the unrest of passions with Your compassionate participation. Rejoice, you who lift up those who have fallen into despondency and despair with the hope of salvation; Rejoice, you who admonish those who doubt their faith with signs and miracles. Rejoice, in the monastic monasteries those who strive in a manner pleasing to God are the giver of blessed repose; Rejoice, even those who live piously in the world do not deprive You of Your intercession. Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.

Kontakion 13

O All-Singing Mother of the Sweetest Redeemer of our Lord Jesus Christ! Hear the voice of prayer, which we humbly lift up to You before Your holy icon, and Your Mother’s prayer to the Most Holy Word born of You, deliver from all adversity and eternal torment all who prayerfully call upon Your name and gratefully call upon God for You: Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)

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Greatness

First: We magnify You, Most Immaculate Virgin, and honor the miracles of Your holy image, the appearance of Your three most pure hands to the glory of the Divine, in the Trinity of our God.

Second: We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, and honor the three-numbered image of Your most pure hands, for You hold the Son and the Lord as two, and with the third you deliver us from misfortunes and troubles.

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