Among hundreds of Orthodox images of the Virgin Mary, there are very special ones, unique in composition. Such images are quite rarely seen in churches, but they are still known to believers. Often the history of its origin turns out to be no less interesting than the shrine itself.
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The “Increase in Mind” icon belongs to this rare type - it is prayed to, as the name implies, if a person needs the support of higher powers in mental work. What else does a rare image help with, where is the original, what is the history of the phenomenon?
Origin story
The history of the origin of the “Addition of Mind” icon, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, has extremely interesting details. According to legends, its acquisition occurred during the life of Patriarch Nikon. It was painted by an artist who lost his mind due to insurmountable contradictions that arose on religious grounds. He was so fixated on the problem that interested him that he could not think about anything else.
At night, the artist had a vision in which the Most Holy Theotokos visited him. She promised to heal the sufferer if he depicted her face as he saw it in his dream. The artist agreed and got down to business. The process of recreating the image was difficult, as the artist was not himself from stress. However, he coped with the task and after praying to the completed icon, he found harmony and enlightenment.
What does the image symbolize?
The main plot of the picture is quite unusual. In the icon, the Mother of God and little Jesus are depicted under a phelonion, which is a type of sacred clothing. This vestment is worn by representatives of the Orthodox clergy during services. In the past, they were made only from snow-white fabric, but later a phelonion of various colors appeared.
There are crowns on the heads of the Mother of God and the Child. Around them one can see the starry sky, seraphim, angels holding lit candles in their hands. Under the feet of the Mother of God and Her Son lies Heavenly Jerusalem - a white city in which righteous people are destined to find themselves together with Christ after completing their earthly journey (photo below):
The icon carries a deep meaning:
- the phelonion with which the Blessed Virgin and Jesus are shrouded is a symbol of the indestructible power of the Holy Spirit descending from heaven and speaks of the unearthly purity of the Mother and Son;
- the sky with stars symbolizes paradise, the Kingdom of Heaven. According to the icon painter’s plan, the Holy Virgin and the Infant Christ stand at the gates of heaven, which open to people only thanks to their prayers;
- four six-winged seraphim (three above the head of the Most Pure Mary and one at the feet) are the executors of the will of God. Four angels in apostolic robes with candles carry the light of truth and belong to the main archangels.
In some versions of the icon, from under the rich vestment of Christ, his right hand is visible, with which He depicts a blessing gesture. In the left hand of the Son of God there is an orb indicating that Jesus is the King of kings. Seraphim and angels soaring in the air sing praises to their Lord and the Virgin Mary.
The “Adding Mind” icon reminds Orthodox Christians of the famous biblical saying: “The wisdom of this world is foolishness before God...”. As the Holy Scripture says, it is contrasted with genuine wisdom, pure, modest, impartial, filled with mercy, capable of transforming a person in an unrecognizable way.
Description and meaning in Orthodoxy
The icon, called “The Addition of Mind by the Mother of God” or “Giver of Mind,” depicts a starry sky, against the background of which stands the Mother of God with a baby in her arms. Above her are depicted the gates of heaven, and below her feet is the Heavenly Jerusalem. The woman is surrounded on all sides by angels and seraphim, who protect her and the child from any misfortune.
For Orthodox believers, the icon means the opportunity to receive enlightenment and go to Paradise, if you truly believe in God, observing His laws.
The entrance to heaven is always open to such people, and the Mother of God herself will help them not to go astray.
Description of the icon of the Mother of God “Addition of Mind”
The most ancient icon of the Mother of God, which helps to gain wisdom, was found in the Church of the Intercession in the city of Romanov-Borisoglebsk, Yaroslavl region. At the moment, the Holy Image “Adding the Mind” is placed in a Moscow church. The Savior’s hands are positioned differently in the iconography: the right hand blesses humanity, the left hand holds a mace.
Western images had a huge influence on the creation. They are characterized by the presence of complex symbolism. It is worth paying attention to some elements, such as a mace and royal crowns. These items indicate strength that is greater than human. The depicted symbols seem to hint at the protection of Heaven for the common people.
The Virgin Mary and Jesus are dressed in special clothes, a domed red dalmatica - this is the outer clothing of men or women worn by the clergy. The robe is scattered with gold crosses and glitters with precious stones.
In addition, on the icon you can see the starry sky and angels flying up to the Mother and Child. These cherubim and seraphim hold candles in their hands. The flame of the lamps means the light of God's truth. Icon painters clearly highlight the difference in the origin of angels. Three seraphim fly overhead. The cherubim spread their wings at the foot of their feet. The buildings of the city are located in the lower part, which indirectly points to Mount Jerusalem. There is another important element in the reproduction of the icon. These are the candles of wise virgins that shine for their Groom.
The Icon of the Mother of God “Addition of Mind” contains a complex and amazing story. The legend says that the painting of this icon occurred during a difficult time for the Orthodox Church. This was in the 17th century. The icon painter was at that time in a creative crisis. He could not understand where truth and salvation were: in the old (from the time of Joseph) or new (Patriarch Nikon) liturgical books. I was also puzzled by the issue of the Nikon reform. This icon painter was a cautious man. For a long time he could not make a choice. His search for the truth almost drove him crazy.
In the end, the artist found nothing else but to resort to prayer to the Mother of God in order to receive instructions from her for further actions. He soon received the desired answer in a dream. In exchange for admonition, the Mother of God took his word that he would paint her image the way she appeared to him in a vision. The author fulfilled his promise. The depicted image of the Mother of God in the “Addition of Mind” iconographic type corresponded to what was presented to the icon painter in his visions.
There is another version of the story. As if the icon was painted by a mentally ill person, He dreamed of the Mother of God in royal robes. The person had never seen this image in reality and decided to capture it. When the painting of the icon was completed, the author began to pray before the face for healing. After which this person recovered. Since then, the icon began to be called “Adding the Mind.” This man's healing is as amazing as the legend itself.
There is a version that the source of the iconography was the Italian statue of the Mother of God in Loreto. This discovery was discovered by the Russian scientist Andrei Aleksandrovich Titov. The ethnographer noted the similarity of this statue with the famous Moscow icon. The only difference is that the Italian Virgin is made of cedar wood, covered with pearls and diamonds. The image of the Virgin Mary is located in a place called the Holy House, or Holy Hut. The original residence of the Loreta statue was Nazareth. This is the birthplace of the Most Pure Mother of God herself.
During the Age of Enlightenment, the Virgin of Loreto was moved to another part of Europe. The Mother of God warned an Italian bishop about her move when she appeared in a dream to a clergyman and said: “Child, my unassuming home of Nazareth, where I spent my childhood and youth, is coming to your shores.” The location chosen to place the statue was not chosen by chance. Once upon a time there was a church called “St. Mary of the Laurel Grove” on this site.
How did Russian icon painters find out about this statue? According to one legend, Russian ambassadors were invited to Italy by Pope Clement VII himself. In order to show the cultural heritage of his people to foreign guests, the pope invited the ambassadors to visit the city of Loreto. That place was famous for its ancient Christian shrines. Memoirs of this journey are preserved in the work “The Story of the Church of the Holy Mother of God, in which he was born from Joachim and Anna.” The museum in Rybinsk still houses the ancient image “Adding the Mind,” made in the Catholic style.
Western motifs in the iconography of Kievan Rus also appeared thanks to the marriage of Prince Ivan III to Sophia Paleolog. The husband was an Orthodox Christian, and the wife was a Catholic. Unification with a foreign culture implied the union of two different branches of Christianity under the leadership of the Union of Florence. Participants in such unity wanted to unite Eastern and Western cultures into a single foundation.
This iconography is also called “Giver of the Mind” or “Key of the Mind.”
Texts of prayers
Believers or their relatives suffering from illnesses associated with mental disorders can ask the Mother of God for help by reading one of four common prayers in front of her icon. All of them have miraculous powers, and which one to choose is up to you.
Note! Rely on the call of your heart. It will suggest the correct text that will clear the mind from clouding.
First
O Most Holy Virgin! You are the Bride of God the Father and the Mother of His Divine Son Jesus Christ! You are the Queen of Angels and the salvation of people, the accuser of sinners and the punisher of apostates. Have mercy on us too, who have gravely sinned and failed to fulfill the commandments of God, who have broken the vows of baptism and vows of monasticism and many others that we promised to fulfill. When the Holy Spirit retreated from King Saul, then fear and despondency attacked him and the darkness of despair and a joyless state of soul tormented him. Now, for our sins, we have all lost the grace of the Holy Spirit. The mind has become fussy with vanity of thoughts, oblivion about God has darkened our souls, and now all kinds of sadness, sorrow, illness, hatred, evil, enmity, vindictiveness, gloating and other sins oppress the heart. And, having no joy and consolation, we call to You, Mother of our God Jesus Christ, and beseech Your Son to forgive us all our sins and send the Comforter Spirit to us, as He sent Him to the apostles, so that, comforted and enlightened by Him, we will sing a song of gratitude to You : Rejoice, Holy Mother of God, who has added wisdom to our salvation. Amen.
Second
My most blessed Queen, my most holy Hope, friend to the orphans and the strange intercessor, help to the needy and protection of the embittered, behold my misfortune, behold my sorrow; I am overwhelmed by temptation everywhere, but there is no intercessor. You Yourself, help me as I am weak, nourish me as I am strange, guide me as I am lost, heal and save me as I am hopeless. There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope, unless You, Lady, help us, we rely on You and boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed. We take refuge under Your mercy, Virgin Mother of God, do not despise our prayers in sorrows, but deliver us from troubles, O pure and blessed One. Amen.
Third
Most Pure Mother of God, the House in which the Wisdom of God created for Himself, the Giver of spiritual gifts, raising our minds from the world to the worldly and leading everyone to the knowledge of reason! Receive prayerful singing from us, Thy unworthy servants, who bow with faith and tenderness before Thy most pure image. Pray to Thy Son and our God to grant to our rulers wisdom and strength, to judges truth and impartiality, to shepherds spiritual wisdom, zeal and vigilance for our souls, to mentors humility, to children obedience, to all of us the spirit of reason and piety, the spirit of humility and meekness, spirit of purity and truth. And now, our All-Singing, All-Beloved Mother, give us an increase in intelligence, pacify, unite those who exist in enmity and division and lay down for them an insoluble bond of love, convert all those who have gone astray from foolishness to the light of the truth of Christ, instruct the fear of God, abstinence and hard work, the word of wisdom and Grant soulful knowledge to those who ask, cover us with eternal joy, the brightest Cherubim and the most honest Seraphim. We, seeing the glorious deeds and manifold wisdom of God in the world and our life, will remove ourselves from earthly vanities and unnecessary worldly cares, and will raise our minds and hearts to Heaven, as if by Your intercession and help glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for all in the Trinity We send our praises to the glorious God and Creator of all, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Fourth
Wisdom to the Teacher and Giver of meaning, to the unwise to the Enlightener and the Intercessor of the poor, Mother of Christ our God, strengthen, enlighten my heart, O Lady, and add to my understanding, praying fervently to Christ. Give me a word, O You who gave birth to the Father’s Word, so that you may boldly ask Your Son for us. Amen.
Meaning of the image
The image “Addition of mind” symbolizes the intercession of the Mother of God before Jesus and his Father to endow young children with reason and spiritual enlightenment, to instill in them a spark called Divine Wisdom.
The meaning of the icon is also connected with the history of its creation. In the 17th century, a certain icon painter was unable to understand the meaning of church books that were written before the schism. He did not know how to avoid sin and pray according to the rules, and his mind became clouded.
During one of the periods of enlightenment, the Mother of God appeared to him, whom he asked for more reason, and ordered to paint her image and offer prayers to him. As a result, the icon painter regained his sanity.
How does an image help?
Prayers in front of the “Increase in Mind” icon help in the following situations:
- cures mental illness;
- gives enlightenment, helping to get out of a dead end when solving a difficult mental problem;
- facilitates the acquisition of knowledge for those believers for whom science is difficult;
- helps with everyday problems that require ingenuity and experience.
Where can you venerate the icon?
The miraculous image of the Virgin and Child, created in the 17th century, is located in Tutaev. Here is the beautiful Holy Intercession Church, which has become the main storage place for Orthodox shrines. Every year this icon is brought to neighboring Yaroslavl, where a huge number of people line up to see it, wanting to gain true intelligence, strengthen their mental abilities, and improve their academic success.
The image of “Adding the Mind” is also found in the Moscow Tikhvin Church in Alekseevo. Here everyone can read a prayer in front of the icon, which was also acquired by the temple in the 17th century. It is known that this face has great power and miraculous properties.
In Russia there is a statue of Our Lady of Loreta, called “The Addition of Mind.” It is located in the chapel of the Intercession-Tervenichesky Monastery, which is located on the territory of the Leningrad region.
How to pray correctly
You need to pray in front of the icon as follows:
- before prayer, one should cleanse the body and mind;
- at the beginning and end of reading the sacred text, you must make the sign of the cross three times;
- You can read the text from a book if you don’t know it by heart;
- after reading the prayer, you are allowed to describe the problem in your own words, without forgetting the limits of decency.
Note! The main thing is to ask from a pure heart, believing in the power of the Lord God. If this is not the case, and the text is pronounced with doubts in your soul, you should not expect any positive effect.
And one more image...
Key of Understanding.
The icon described is not the only one to which Orthodox Christians turn with similar requests. There is also the image “Key of Understanding”, or, as it is also called, “Key of Reason”. This is a locally revered icon located in the city of Balakhna (Nizhny Novgorod region), in the cemetery church. They turn to her with prayers in the same problems. On the eve of the school year, prayer services are held here. There is such an icon in the Church of St. John the Baptist of the Beloberezh Monastery (Bryansk region), but it is located in the altar.
On this icon, in its center, the Mother of God is written standing at full height on a key, symbolizing the key to knowledge, and Jesus Christ and God the Father - on both sides of Her - seem to place a crown-crown on the head of the Mother of God.
What do they ask for an icon?
Turning to the image of the Mother of God helps when:
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- a child (teenager or adult) is behind in school;
- he is overly active and undisciplined;
- his mental development leaves much to be desired;
- there is a mental disorder;
- a person is forgetful, his attention is scattered, he cannot concentrate;
- new complex information has to be learned;
- complex work is being carried out, scientific projects are being developed.
The icon also alleviates feverish conditions, protects against the invasion of mosquitoes and midges, and prevents the attack of wild animals and the bite of poisonous animals. It is also used when strong hurricane winds blow, which can cause property damage.
