In Christianity, among the Orthodox, several main types of shrines are revered, depicting the image of the Blessed Virgin and one of such shrines is the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”. It belongs to the main Russian type of icon painting, the so-called Eleusa, where the Son of God sits in the arms of the Mother and rests his cheek on Her. Therefore, on the icon of “Tenderness,” the Mother of God, as a rule, is represented in this type, depicted from the waist up, with the Child, whom she looks at tenderly, with tenderness.
Celebration date:
- August 1
- 10th of August
History of the icon
It is known that the Pskov-Pechersk Icon “Tenderness” or as it is also called Vladimir (name of the same name), is presented as a copy of the famous miraculous icon “Vladimir”, which was delivered from Kiev by Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in the distant years of the 12th century. The shrine arrived in Moscow, namely in the Assumption Cathedral, after mid-1395. Subsequently, the Pskov-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” miraculously survived the blockade of the city of Pskov by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Stefan Batory in 1581, and after and in 1812 it played a significant role in the battle with Napoleon Bonaparte. According to history, the Mother of God was saved from destruction more than once, and thanks to her people were cured of serious illnesses. Thus there was a case when, after long prayers to the Tenderness icon, a blind widow again saw the world around her, and such miracles were not uncommon.
Lokot Icon “Tenderness” (Seraphim-Diveevskaya)
In contrast to the Vladimir shrine, the Seraphim-Diveyevo Icon of the Mother of God has a number of distinctive features that distinguish it from the rest, since it does not belong to the “Eleus” type. Among its differences is that on the icon of “Tenderness” the Mother of God of Lokot is depicted alone. The hands of the Mother of God are crossed in the chest area, and the Holy Face expresses strong and bright feelings. On the icon of “Tenderness” of Seraphim-Diveevskaya, the Blessed Virgin Mary is depicted during the happiest moment, when the Archangel Gabriel narrates the upcoming birth of the Savior. Her gaze is filled with kindness, sanity, calmness and love in anxious anticipation of her child.
Initially, the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” was executed on canvas attached to a cypress board. Later, All-Russian Emperor Nicholas II bestowed a precious frame on the shrine. In 1991, the image of the Saint was presented to Patriarch Alexei II in the Moscow Patriarchal Church, from where it is moved from year to year to the Epiphany Cathedral, where its veneration takes place. Over time, copies began to appear from the original image, however, they are also famous for their abilities no less than the original.
Miraculous achievements of the icon
Many divine accomplishments took place before the eyes of believers, proving the extraordinary power of the holy face. Orthodox Christianity attaches enormous importance to the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness,” which reduces the negative impact of life-changing upheavals.
- According to the chronicle, in Novgorod in 1337 there was a merciless pestilence, claiming a huge number of victims. Desperate Orthodox people, having gathered together, made their way to the Trinity Cathedral, where they bitterly cried out for the image of the Virgin Mary. The clergy read prayers for the salvation of the unfortunate. A few days later, the severe infection subsided, and in gratitude for the redemption, the believers intended to make an annual religious procession to the image.
- In July of the same year, the icon of “Tenderness” streamed myrrh, and the canvas floated in the air, held in space by an irresistible force. The assembled clergy regarded this occasion as a call to timely services.
- In the house of a couple from the Bryansk region there is a shrine that saved a visiting woman from cancer. On the day of surgery, an ultrasound did not show any malignant changes in the patient’s cells. The healing took place in an amazing way after a sincere request for help from the Protector.
- The history of the modern icon of the Mother of God “Seraphim Tenderness” is amazing. One woman saw an image of the Mother of God on an expired and unsaleable calendar in a church shop and took it into her own home with a feeling of deepest concern. After a while, the holy face began to stream myrrh, and with it all the other iconography in the dwelling. On the reverse side, another appearance formed. From now on, the woman hosts believing pilgrims.
More about miraculous phenomena:
- The wonderful help of Matrona of Moscow
- Miracles in Orthodoxy
- Miracles of St. Nicholas in our days
Novgorod and Smolensk icons
For about 700 years, residents of a town in northwestern Russia have been honoring the Novgorod Icon of Tenderness. The shrine is famous for its miraculous power, which those who prayed before it experienced. She protected the people from ruin, fires and wars, and gave physical and mental healing to those in need.
The Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” of Smolensk, in turn, also became famous for the protection of local residents: during the attack of Polish troops on the townspeople at the beginning of the 17th century. The Mother of God is depicted on it together with her Son, and this image has gained popularity since 1103.
The meaning of the “Tenderness” icon
As you know, the images of the Mother of God are one of the main ones in Christianity, therefore the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Tenderness” is of great importance for the Orthodox. The Virgo's face is distinguished by penetration and sensitivity towards those who pray to Her for protection.
The miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” supports those praying in times of difficult trials and depressing everyday life that suppress their state of mind.
They ask the shrine for assistance in resolving conflicts and reconciling warring parties, for preserving family and homeland. In addition, women and girls often turn to the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” with a petition for family well-being and a successful marriage, the birth of a healthy child.
How does the “Tenderness” icon help?
As mentioned earlier, the shrine of the Virgin Mary is very important for believers. Thus, the face of the Virgin Mary helps in difficult life circumstances and illnesses, giving strength to those praying. The especially miraculous icon of “Tenderness” patronizes the weaker sex, favoring the preservation of purity and chastity, and also supports at significant moments in the life of every representative of the female half: marriage, family, conception, birth of a child.
We recommend reading:
- The meaning of the icon “Don’t cry for me, Mati”
- How does the Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God help?
Features of the image of the Virgin Mary
Historical research was carried out, which revealed that the icon of Tenderness was created in the eighteenth century. The style of painting of the icon is similar to the style of the Ostrobramsky face of the Virgin Mary, which is revered in Lithuania and in the western regions. But only on the icon of Tenderness there are no additional attributes. The main decorative element is the words that are inscribed around the holy face: “Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.”
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The original icon is made on canvas, which is mounted in a cypress board. But now such an icon, which depicts the Mother of God, can be made from any materials. The face of the saint on the original is an original mosaic of gems and stone chips. The Mother of God in the icon looks peaceful and prudent, hardworking and merciful, beautiful and concise, and also relying on the Savior in everything. A person standing in front of an icon and saying a prayer feels bliss and peace.
Prayers before the icon “Tenderness” Seraphimo-Diveevskaya
If you pray correctly in front of the Tenderness icon, then help will certainly come. First of all, it is necessary to give power to words so that they return in double size. They ask the shrine for deliverance from suffering and mental pain, for easier childbirth, for harmony, but even despite the diversity of these petitions, they need one thing - sincerity, the purity of what they want. Therefore, having gathered your heart to receive the support of the Blessed Virgin, you need to say the following prayer:
Troparion, tone 4
Let us fall to the Mother of God with tenderness, / all who are burdened with sin, / kissing Her miraculous icon of Tenderness / and crying out with tears: / Lady, accept the prayer of your unworthy servants x/ and grant us, who ask,// Your great mercy.
Translation: Let us all turn to the Mother of God with heartfelt contrition, burdened with sins, kissing Her miraculous icon of Tenderness and crying with tears: “Mistress, accept the prayer of Your unworthy servants and grant us, who ask, Your great mercy.”
Kontakion, tone 3
Even as I imitate the barren fig tree,/ I, the accursed one, bear no fruit of tenderness and am afraid of being whipped,/ but, looking at the miraculous icon of Your Tenderness, Lady,/ I groan from my heart and cry out ́:/ was touched, O kindhearted one,/ and to me, with a petrified heart, // deign to give spiritual and heartfelt tenderness.
Translation: Imitating the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), I, the accursed one, do not bear the fruit of humility at all and am afraid of beheading, but looking at the miraculous icon of Your Tenderness, O Lady, I heartily sigh and cry out: “Have mercy, O Merciful One, and bless me, who have become petrified at heart, and grant me spiritual and heartfelt humility.”
First prayer
Oh, Most Holy Lady Lady, Mother of God the Virgin! Accept our unworthy prayers, save us from the slander of evil people and from vain death, grant us repentance before the end, be merciful to our prayers and give joy in sorrow a place. And deliver us, O Lady and Lady Theotokos, from all misfortune, misfortune, sorrow, illness and all evil, and grant us, Your sinful servants, to be at your right hand at the second coming of the Son. him, Christ our God, and our heirs will be blessed with the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life with all the saints for ever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
Receive, O all-merciful, Most Pure Lady, Lady Theotokos, these honorable gifts, most useful to You, from us, Your unworthy servants: chosen from all generations, all creatures of heaven and earth the highest appearing, for for Your sake the Lord of Hosts be with us, and with You I know the Son of God and have become like His holy Body and His most pure Blood; Moreover, blessed art thou in the lineages of generations, O blessed one, the brightest of the Cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, all-singing Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease to pray for us, your unworthy servants, so that we may be delivered from all evil advice and every situation and may remain unharmed from all poison. tago of the devil; but even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned, for by Your intercession and help we are saved, we send glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity to the One God and to the Creator of all, now forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer three
Oh, Most Holy Virgin Mary, Christ the King and our Mother God, the Treasure of tenderness and the Source of mercy, the good Giver of soul-saving gifts and the gracious Comforter of grieving souls! We fall to You with love and before Your holy icon we humbly pray: beseech, O Lady, Your beloved Son, Christ our God, to have mercy and save us who are perishing in sins; breathe into our souls sincere repentance and godly tenderness, grant our prayers cleansing tears; beneficial life, temporary and eternal salvation, graciously, Lady, grant us; peace, this holy temple [or: this holy monastery] preserve well, the serenity and abundance of the fruits of the earth have been sent down to us, and at the end of our life, do not deprive us of your maternal intercession and help, yes Through Your intercession we will safely pass through the ordeal of the air and we will be worthy to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven . To her, the All-Blessed Queen, all the joys and consolation of the whole Christian world! Help us now, and always more than ever, we will require Your holy help, and save us with Your Motherly prayers to Christ God, to Him, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is due all glory, honor and worship food now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
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Miracles performed by the image of the Virgin Mary
- According to the chronicle, in 1337 a frightening pestilence reigned in Novgorod, which took more and more human lives every day, and there was no salvation from the deadly disease. And then, in despair, the entire Orthodox people gathered and marched to the Trinity Cathedral, where they tearfully began to cry out to the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, reading a prayer for salvation from the cruel embrace of the epidemic. After which the attack soon receded, and in memory of this divine help, people began to make an annual crusade to the Trinity Monastery from St. Sophia Cathedral.
- There were also cases when the image could stream myrrh, one of which occurred on July 8, 1337, but not only did tears flow from the face, but the entire image hovered in the air, held by some unknown force. After which the clergy were convened, and a religious procession was made to the Trinity Cathedral for the service;
- In the settlement of Lokot (Bryansk region) there is a unique divine shrine of the Seraphim-Diveyevo Heavenly Queen in the family of Natalia and Viktor Remezov. One day, a sufferer with cancer came to their house, and in the near future she had to undergo a complex operation. The woman earnestly and with all her heart prayed to the Mother of God for a successful outcome of her illness, and then she went to the hospital to prepare for the operation. However, after the ultrasound examination, the doctors were seriously surprised, because the ultrasound showed that there were no more cancer cells, and the patient turned out to be completely healthy.
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Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God Tenderness
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Lady, Virgin Mary! Accept our unworthy prayers, save us from the slander of evil people and from vain death, give us first and give us a place of joy in sorrow. And deliver us, O Lady and Lady Theotokos, from all evil, and grant us, your sinful servants, to be at the right hand at the second coming of Your Son, Christ our God, and to be our heirs, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life with all the saints for endless ages. Amen".
“Receive, O all-powerful, Most Pure Lady, Lady Theotokos, this honorable gift, the only one applied to You, from us, Your unworthy servants: chosen from all generations, the highest of all creatures of heaven and earth, who appeared, because for Your sake the Lord Almighty was with us, and By You we have known the Son of God and become worthy of His holy Body and His most pure Blood; Blessed are you, too, in the birth of generations, O God-blessed One, the brightest of the cherubim and the most honest of the seraphim. And now, all-sung Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil council and every situation and that we may be preserved unharmed from every poisonous pretext of the devil; but even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if by Your intercession and help we are saved, we send glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity to the one God and the Creator of all, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen".
God bless you!
