Translated into modern language, “sporuchnitsa” means “mediator, guarantor.” Thus, the icon “Helper of Sinners” is an image of the Mother of God, who acts not so much as a mediator, but as a guarantor, interceding for sinful people before the Lord God, counting on His mercy, and the name of the icon itself arose from the inscription on it, which goes over the head of the Mother of God “I am the Helper of sinners to My Son...”
Celebration dates:
- June 11
- 20th of March
History of the icon
From the iconography one can judge that this image is ancient, but neither the time nor the place where it was written is unknown. The only thing that can be assumed is its origin from Little Russia or Belarus, since their iconography is characterized by the presence of crowns on the heads of the Mother of God and the Child Christ.
In Russia, the icon of the Mother of God “Support of Sinners” was found in 1843 in the Oryol province. She was in the chapel at the gates of the Odrino-Nicholas Monastery, and her power was revealed by the Mother of God herself to several local residents at the same time, after which a series of miraculous healings immediately occurred: one little boy was healed of epilepsy, another of paralysis, a blind three-year-old girl received her sight.
The glory of the miraculous icon instantly spread throughout the surrounding area, and it was transferred to the cathedral church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, where a stream of believers poured in to find healing or forgiveness of sins by praying to the “Helper of Sinners” icon.
After the revolution, the icons from the church were distributed among the parishioners, and as a result, by the end of the 20th century, the icon of the Mother of God “Support of Sinners” ended up in Ukraine, which by that time had become an independent state, and even in a private collection. It was necessary to raise a substantial sum to buy back the “Sporuchnitsa” icon and return it to the walls of its native Nikolo-Odrinskaya monastery, which happened in 1996.
No less interesting is the history of the copy from the miraculous icon “Support of Sinners”. In 1846, the hieromonk of the monastery was sent to Moscow so that a suitable robe could be made for the icon. He stayed in the house of a pious parishioner, who was then sent from the monastery a list (an exact copy) of the icon in gratitude. Miraculously, this list began to flow myrrh, and the sick, anointed with this myrrh, were healed.
The miraculous list was donated in 1848 to the Moscow Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki; through prayer before him, many healings occurred, which were officially recorded
Currently in Moscow, the icon “Support of Sinners” is located in the Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki; there is also a list of it in the Church of the Deposition of the Robe in Leonov.
Significant events in the history of the temple
During Napoleon's attack on Moscow during the Russian campaign of 1812-1813, the temple was badly damaged and its interior was partially destroyed. During restoration work in 1845, wall paintings appeared inside, and by 1849 the temple was completely restored.
During its existence, the St. Nicholas Church in Khamovniki was restored three more times (in 1896, 1949 and 1972), but divine services never stopped there, and it was always open to parishioners.
The creation of a metal fence dates back to the end of the 19th century, and a little later wrought iron gates were installed.
In 1992, the 108-pound bell was returned to the bell tower, the only one surviving from the original bell set - the second heaviest bell, cast in 1686 by master Mikhail Ladygin. The remaining bells were lost during the persecution of the church in the 30s of the 20th century. The fate of the main 300-pound temple bell is unknown.
In 1922, during the confiscation of church valuables, more than five pounds of gold and silver jewelry and utensils were taken from the temple.
Description of the icon
By the nature of the image, the icon “Helper of Sinners” can be attributed to the iconographic type “Hodegetria” (“Guide”).
The Mother of God is depicted in scarlet robes, which symbolizes her image as the Queen of Heaven; often on Her head and the head of the Child Jesus crown
A characteristic feature of this icon is that the Child holds the right hand of the Mother of God with both hands; This gesture is not found in other images of the Mother of God. On most lists of the icon there is an inscription that gives it its name.
The Mother of God image “Helper of Sinners”
In Orthodoxy, the Virgin Mary is revered higher than any other holy person. After all, in the words of St. Nicodemus the Holy Mountain, she “gave birth, nurtured and raised the Redeemer of the world,” that is, the Savior of mankind from the power of sin - the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not surprising that a great many icons were painted in honor of the Mother of God. Many of them became famous as miracle workers. These include the ancient image of the Mother of God “Helper of Sinners.”
Icon of the Mother of God “Helper of Sinners”
How does the icon “Help of Sinners” help?
It is impossible to overestimate the significance of the icon of the Mother of God “Helper of Sinners.” It gives everyone hope for forgiveness and redemption if a person sincerely repents and prays for remission of sins. She truly is a Guide for all believers, for whom She vouched before the Lord and whom She directs on the true path.
Prayer in front of this icon helps strengthen faith and achieve spiritual insight, overcome despondency and bad thoughts, and get rid of sinful passions
They pray to her for the healing of physical and mental ailments, for support in difficult life situations. But no matter what difficult hour of your life you pray to the Helper of Sinners, do not forget to praise her for her guidance on the true path and intercession before the Lord.
Where to buy a shrine
The icon “Sure Lady of Sinners” is one of the most significant for the Russian people. That is why it can be purchased in all church shops and stores. It doesn’t matter what the image is - a small and inexpensive icon or a shrine in a frame embroidered with pearls - the Mother of God will pray for everyone who truly believes in her.
Recently, it has become very popular to purchase icons to order, choosing the desired size and material - for example, embroidery with beads or gold threads. The price of such a masterpiece will be quite high, since handmade works cost at least 4-5 thousand rubles. When ordering such work, know that this is not decoration or part of the antique interior of your home. An icon is, first of all, a mediator between you and God or a saint; it is an opportunity to directly address them in prayer. A beautiful, expensive image of the Mother of God has a place if by doing so you show your reverence for the heavenly powers. And most importantly, do not forget to come to the temple with a handmade icon and ask the church servants to help you consecrate it.
Prayers before the icon
Troparion, tone 4
Now all despondency falls silent / and the fear of despair disappears, / sinners in the sorrow of their hearts find consolation / and are illuminated with light by Heavenly love: / today the Mother of God stretches out her saving hand to us / and from His Most Pure Image he speaks, saying: / I am the Helper of sinners to My Son ,/ This one gave Me a hand for them to hear Me take out./ Moreover, people, burdened with many sins,/ fall at the foot of Her icon, crying out with tears:/ Intercessor of the world, Helper of sinners, / beseech the Savior of all with your motherly prayers, / that the Divine with all-forgiveness will cover our sins/ and the bright doors of heaven will open to us,// For you are the intercession and salvation of the Christian race.
Translation: Now all sadness calms down and the fear of despair disappears, sinners receive consolation in the hardships of the heart and are brightly illuminated with Heavenly love, because today the Mother of God gives us a saving hand and from Her Most Pure Image tells us: “I am an Intercessor for all sinners before my Son, He promised Me for them that He would always hear Me.” Therefore, people burdened with many sins, fall at the foot of Her icon, crying with tears: “Intercessor of the world and Intercessor for sinners, beseech the Savior of all with Your Motherly prayers, so that with Divine forgiveness He will forgive our sins and open the bright doors of heaven to us. Because You are the protection and salvation of all Christians.”
Troparion, tone 3
To You, the ever-flowing source of mercy/ and the Helper of sinners, Your unworthy servants, Mother of God,/ falling, sorrowing, we cry out to You:/ save us from troubles, O Lady,// and mother to Your progress secretly ask for eternal salvation for all of us.
Translation: To You, the ever-flowing source of mercy and Intercessor for sinners, Your unworthy servants, Mother of God, bending our knees in sorrow, we cry: “Save us from troubles, Lady, and through Your maternal intercession ask for eternal salvation for us all.”
Kontakion, tone 1
Honest dwelling that was / of the ineffable nature of the Divine / above words and above the mind / and you are the Helper of sinners, / giving grace and healing, / like the Mother of all who reigns: / pray to Thy Son him // receive mercy for us on the Day of Judgment.
Translation: Being the revered dwelling of the ineffable Divine nature, above words and beyond understanding [above understanding] and sinful, You are the Intercessor, giving grace and healing, as the Mother of the One who reigns over all, pray to Your Son that we may receive mercy on the Day of Judgment.
First prayer
Oh, Most Blessed Lady, Protector of the Christian race, refuge and salvation of those who flow to You! We know, truly we know, that we have sinned greatly and have been angry, O Most Merciful Lady, the Son of God was born in the flesh of You: but I have many images before me of those who angered His kindness: publicans, harlots and other sinners, to whom forgiveness of their sins was given, for the sake of repentance and confession. Thou art, therefore, imagining the images of those who have pardoned my sinful souls, and at the great mercy of God, which I have received, looking, I have dared, even I, a sinner, to resort with repentance to Your compassion . O All-Merciful Lady, give me a helping hand and ask Your Son and God with your motherly and most holy prayers for forgiveness of my grave sin. I believe and confess that He Whom You gave birth to, Your Son, is truly Christ, the Son of the Living God, Judge of the living and the dead, rewarding each according to his deeds. I again believe and confess that You are the true Mother of God, the source of mercy, the consolation of those who mourn, the recovery of the lost, a strong and unceasing Intercessor to God, who loves the Christian race dearly. ́nsky, and the Helper of Repentance. Truly, there is no other help and protection for a person than You, Most Merciful Lady, and no one was ashamed of trusting in You, and by You begging God, no one was left behind. For this reason I pray to Your innumerable goodness: open the doors of Your mercy to me, who have lost my way and fallen into the depths of the depths, do not disdain my filthiness, do not despise my sinful prayer , do not leave me, the accursed one, for an evil enemy is looking to kidnap me into destruction, but beg the one who was born for me from You, Your merciful Son and God, may He forgive my great sins and deliver me from my destruction: for even I, with all who have received forgiveness, will sing and glorify the immeasurable mercy of God and Yours - unshameful intercession for me in this life and in the endless eternity. Amen.
Second prayer
My Most Blessed Queen, My Most Holy Hope, Helper of Sinners! Behold, a poor sinner stands before You! Don’t leave me, abandoned by everyone, don’t forget me, forgotten by everyone, give me joy, who knows no joy. Oh, my grievous troubles and sorrows! Oh, my sins are immeasurable! Like the darkness of the night is my life. And there is not a single strong help in the sons of men. You are my only Hope. You are my only Cover, Refuge and Affirmation. I boldly stretch out my weak hand to You and pray: have mercy on me, O All-Good One, have mercy on Your Son redeemed by the Blood, quench the pain of my much-sighing soul, tame the rage of hatred Those who offend and offend me, restore my fading strength, renew my youth, like an eaglet, allow yourself to weaken in keeping the commandments of God. Touch my troubled soul with heavenly fire and fill me with unashamed faith, unhypocritical love and known hope. May I always sing and praise You, the Most Blessed Intercessor of the world, our Protector and Supporter of all of us sinners, and I worship Your Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, with His Beginning Father and the Life-giving Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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What does the image of the Virgin Mary “Helper of Sinners” look like?
The image of the “Helper of Sinners” is classified as one of the types of icons that do not appear to the world until the time comes to reveal their miraculous help. For centuries, such icons can be kept in remote and quiet places, in modest surroundings, devoid of any grandeur. But the day comes when grace, kept secret for many years, must be sent down to the suffering.
The icon is a half-length image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus in her arms. The Virgin Mary is dressed, as in most other icons, in traditional red and blue clothes with gold embossing, little Jesus is dressed in a white and blue robe. The background of the icon is golden, decorated with embossing; the fields of the image are decorated with a traditional ribbon ornament.
The image belongs to the “Hodegetria” iconographic type. Unlike common images made in the iconographic tradition of “Eleus”, in this image the Mother of God and the baby Jesus do not touch their cheeks: the Blessed Virgin carefully takes the palm of the Son in her hand, and He, in turn, gently holds the palm of the Mother with both hands. Theologians claim that this gesture contains special symbolism: the Mother of God allegedly transfers the destinies of all believers into the hands of the Savior, entrusts to Him the souls of all those who pray, and Jesus accepts Her intercession and protection, assuring His Mother that He will always heed Her prayers in protection of repentant sinners.
According to popular belief, the famous image was created based on an akathist dedicated to one of the most revered holidays among the people in honor of the Blessed Virgin - the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Calling to the skies
The prayer to the icon “Helper of Sinners” begins with the words “To my most blessed Queen, my most holy hope.” And indeed, the higher powers become the only ray of light and faith for disadvantaged people. Further in prayer we ask forgiveness for all our sins with which we offend our Lord by not keeping the commandments. “Like the darkness of the night, my life,” we say. In prayer, the believer asks not only for himself, but also for his enemies: “Weaken the anger of those who hate and offend me.” And at the end we will definitely praise our Lord. This prayer, read from the heart with faith in the heart, has great power. Of course, you shouldn’t hope for a miracle by praying to the Mother of God once and continuing to do things indecent to God. Our correction is important for the Lord, leading its way from repentance - the first stage of healing.
