Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Feodorovskaya icon

"Save me, God!".
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The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God has long been considered one of the most revered and respected by the Russian people. The main reason why she is revered is her miraculous nature. Thanks to the icon, Orthodox Christians received many joyful and miraculous events, incredible healings and divine support in difficult situations or historical disasters.

The Akathist to the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God is read in cases of prolonged childlessness, when carrying a child, to seek happiness in marriage or during difficult childbirth. But it is best to read it with a request for healing.

Akathist to the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God

Kontakion 1

To the chosen Voivode, the Most Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, our Intercessor and the unashamed Intercessor of Christians, with the appearance of the wonderful icon of His joy who gave the land of Russia and all the faithful children of the Church who enlightened, we earnestly offer thanks to You, Mother of God, and falling upon Your most wonderful image, we tenderly say: save, O Lady, and have mercy on your servants who call:

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Ikos 1

Archangel Gabriel was sent from God to the city of Nazareth to the Most Pure Virgin Mary, and came to Her and said: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women. Imitating the Archangel’s voice, we, sinners, filled with joy and thanksgiving in our hearts, before the revealed image of Yours, dare to offer up our praises to You, Most Holy Theotokos:

Rejoice, blessed branch from the root of David; Rejoice, having been sacrificed to God by the vow of your parents.

Rejoice, holy righteous Joachim and Anna, Daughter of God; Rejoice, you were brought into the temple of God for three years and raised there.

Rejoice there, having surprised everyone with humility and purity; Rejoice, thou who hast been honored with the Arkhangelsk conversation.

Rejoice, Virgin, who humbly accepted the gospel of the conception of God the Word; Rejoice, chosen Youth, overshadowed by the power from above for the conception of God the Word.

Rejoice, you who have revealed the secret of the incarnation of the Son of God, hidden in God for centuries; Rejoice, O Lamb, who gave birth to the Lamb Christ, who took away the sins of the world.

Rejoice, through You we are delivered from the torments of hell; Rejoice, for through You we are worthy of eternal life.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 2

Seeing Your icon, Most Holy Virgin, standing on a tree, the pious prince of Kostroma shuddered with horror, wondering why this vision had happened. I want him to be accepted, and from this I have withheld him from above, but I can’t; Noticing how wonderful the appearance of the icon was, I cried out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Desiring with reason, the pious prince, to understand the coming of Your most wonderful image to the city of Kostroma, Mother of God, with a soul filled with joy, you surrendered to the guidance of God, and bow your knees, crying out to You in fear:

Rejoice, O Virgin, who showed Your image wonderfully; Rejoice, Blessed One, who shows us mercy in the manifestation of Your image.

Rejoice, you who provide for all who honor your Son; Rejoice, you who give gifts to all who ask You, according to the measure of faith, leading to salvation.

Rejoice, you who show the path of truth to the lost; Rejoice, raising our minds to the heavenly world with Your wonders.

Rejoice, remover of confusion from doubtful thoughts; Rejoice, you who glorify you always glorify you.

Rejoice, teaching us purity through Your purity; Rejoice, through Your purity you reprove our uncleanness.

Rejoice, you who accept our prayers; Rejoice, you who do not sweep away sobs and tears.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 3

The pious prince recognized the power of God in the ascension of Your wondrous image, Mother of God, and in the manifestation he saw Your mercy for all who want to receive salvation, saying: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having the thought of acquiring the given heavenly treasure, Your bright face, Mother of God, secondly stretched out your sovereign hand to the image that descended; Having again seen his ascent, he quickly went to the city and told the consecrated cathedral about what had happened to him, so that when they came and saw Your icons, they would cry out with him in faith:

Rejoice, Queen of Heaven and earth; Rejoice, throne of the King of kings.

Rejoice, Immaculate Virgin; Rejoice, Mother of the Unapproachable Light.

Rejoice, most honorable Cherub; Rejoice, most glorious without comparison Seraphim.

Rejoice, magnified by the Heavenly Powers; Rejoice, blessed one from all earthly beings.

Rejoice, inexpressible joy of the Angels; Rejoice, royal crown of all the prophets and apostles.

Rejoice, Orthodoxy protects the Church of Christ; Rejoice, all superstitious teachings and heresies have been overthrown.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 4

I storm inside with perplexed thoughts, the consecrated cathedral with psalms and spiritual hymns abyss to see Your image, Unartificed. Seeing him standing marvelously on the tree and shining with splendid beauty, he said: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing the coming of Thy holy icon, O Mother of God, people came, and when they came to it, I worshiped You, as if You existed, and with tenderness and tears I cried out to You:

Rejoice, O Virgin, Blessed among women, Who bore in Thy womb the Bearer of all things; Rejoice, through the birth of Your Son you have revealed salvation to all the world.

Rejoice, you who united people with God; Rejoice, thou who exceedest the heavens, having delivered us from the oath.

Rejoice, you who guide us to eternal life; Rejoice, Lady of the world.

Rejoice, God's favor towards mortals; Rejoice, mortals have boldness towards God.

Rejoice, thou who observest the good in goodness; Rejoice, turning the wicked to the good path.

Rejoice, you who have mercy on those who come running under the shadow of Your shelter; Rejoice, you who bestow all the need for life and piety to those who trust in You.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 5

Like a godlike star, people saw your icon, O Blessed Virgin, and like a many-bright lamp, you placed it in the holy cathedral church, rejoicing and crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Having seen the inhabitants of the city of Gorodets, O Lady, Thy image standing in the temple of the city of Kostroma, and holding the Infant Jesus in Thy hand, they were overcome with grief, and before his departure was gone from their city. We, overjoyed by Your favor to our city, bring You gifts, and lovingly kissing Your holy image, we cry out to You:

Rejoice, Star, the Sun of truth revealed to us; Rejoice, thou who loved this country.

Rejoice, finding for You those who seek; Rejoice, filling the hearts of the faithful with inexpressible joy.

Rejoice, inexhaustible treasure of grace; Rejoice, ever-flowing source of mercy.

Rejoice, you who save us from grave troubles; Rejoice, thou who deliverest from the deadly plague.

Rejoice, Intercessor of the whole world; Rejoice in all ailments to the Healer.

Rejoice, incomparable beauty; Rejoice, Unspeakable Kindness.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 6

The preachers of God-bearing life saw Your image, Mother of God. Each one returned to his own country, proclaiming his coming and the miracles that would come from him, singing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Having shone forth grace from Your wondrous image, O Pure One, strengthen the faith of the weak, and gladden the hearts of the faithful with love. For this reason we cry out rejoicingly to Ti:

Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, illuminating us with the light of heavenly truth; Rejoice, you who drive away the darkness of sin from us.

Rejoice, thou who through Thy miracles brings us to knowledge of God; Rejoice, you who strive for piety among all repentant sinners.

Rejoice, strong intercession of all who flow to You; Rejoice, affirmation of those who are mentally weak.

Rejoice, you who restore those who are weak in faith; Rejoice, quiet haven in the sea for those overwhelmed by life.

Rejoice, revealing the evil advice of the sons of perdition; Rejoice, subduing the exalted pride of the enemies of our fatherland.

Rejoice, Power of the Orthodox Tsars; Rejoice, all Christians Praise.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 7

Although Thy Son, Mother of God, glorified Thy holy icon in the city of Kostroma, on the day of Thy Dormition I commanded the holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates to carry it around this city, so that everyone who sees this miracle will cry out to him with a grateful heart: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

The Lord show us a new miracle through Your prayers, Mother of God, when the temple burned down, Your holy image was placed in it, keep it in the ashes unharmed from the fire, and so transform those who burned down into joy. We, who know this miracle, glorify Ti like this:

Rejoice, Unburnt Kupino; Rejoice, pillar of fire, instruct those who exist in darkness.

Rejoice, O Icon, gilded by the Spirit, who has contained the inconceivable God; Rejoice, golden censer, like fragrant incense, ever raising Your prayers for us to God the Son.

Rejoice, O rod of Aaron, for the appearance of Your Son in the world; Rejoice, fleece of Gideon, watered with the grace of God for our salvation.

Rejoice, uncut mountain, from which the cornerstone Christ was cut off; Rejoice, animated temple, the physical Divinity dwells in Him.

Rejoice, guardian of virginity; Rejoice, blessing of marriage.

Rejoice, thou who loved the Lord more than all; Rejoice, exalted above all others by Him.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 8

Having seen a strange miracle, the icon of the Mother of God standing in the air, like holding the hands of angels, when the second burning of the temple, in which this icon stood standing, we, people, will reject this world, turning our minds to heaven; For this reason, a wonderful icon of the Mother of God has been given to us, and, looking at the nude, we are wise, not an earthly one, crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

In the villages above and below you were not separated, O Mother of God, with Your miracles enlightening all who come to You with faith, for this reason you hear this from us:

Rejoice, Mother of Christ our God, who dwells in Heaven; Rejoice, you who do not leave us on earth.

Rejoice, for the sake of Your Majesty, surrounded by Angels in Heaven; Rejoice, for the sake of Your glory, glorified by men on earth.

Rejoice, for all the Heavenly Powers serve You; Rejoice, for you, according to God, are praised by the Cherubim and Seraphim.

Rejoice, contemplating the face of God in Heaven; Rejoice, before the throne of Thy Son, Thy hand stretches out to the mother, praying for us.

Rejoice, covering us who exist on earth from all evil with Your omophorion; Rejoice, thou who removest the faithful from all soul-destroying deeds.

Rejoice, who through the birth of the Son of God opened the doors of the Kingdom of Christ to us; Rejoice, you who delight the souls of the faithful with the hope of receiving heavenly blessings.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 9

Every angelic nature extols Thee, O Great Virgin, for the sake of Thy love for the Christian race; invisible and unapproachable, like the Mother of God who ascended from earth to Heaven, in Your most pure image I see and approach You, appearing to all who sing to Your Son: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The oracles of many things, like mute fish, we see You, Mother of God, for they are perplexed to talk about the glorious miracles that happened from Your icon. We, marveling at them, gratefully cry out to You:

Rejoice, recovery of sight for the blind; Rejoice, lame walking.

Rejoice, you who heal from dark and evil spirits; Rejoice, having driven away the enemies of our land with the rays from Your most pure image.

Rejoice, Thou who hast given Thy vision to the sick; Rejoice, you who grant healing to those who pray to your revealed icon.

Rejoice, you who raise up those weakened from the bed of sickness; Rejoice, you who resolve dumb lips.

Rejoice, you who return us from the captivity of the enemy; Rejoice, quenching the fierce passions of the flesh.

Rejoice, touching the souls of the faithful with Thy ineffable mercy; Rejoice, you who encourage the discouraged with your unspeakable love for mankind.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 10

You want to maintain the purity of the house-building of the Orthodox Church, O Pure One, and to establish the scepter of the Russian power, with your wonderful icon you have placed in the heart of the blessed sovereign Mikhail Feodorovich to receive the royal crown of the Russian land, so that all who see can see that the Most High owns the kingdom, and to whom he wants he gives it, and they will cry out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Thou art an insurmountable wall, O Virgin Mother of God, to all who come running to Thee: no one who flows to Thee then departs. For this reason, we are humbled by Your mercy, in the tenderness of our souls we proclaim to You:

Rejoice, solid wall, protecting from enemies visible and invisible; Rejoice, strong protection for those who placed their trust in You.

Rejoice, pure mirror of the knowledge of truth; Rejoice, maintaining the faith has taken away the strength.

Rejoice, thou who art saving Christian cities and countries from their enemies by Thy intercession; Rejoice, thou who combatt the faithful tsar.

Rejoice, thou who dwellest in the world in cities; Rejoice, you who prosper in good behavior.

Rejoice, thou who by the power of Thy prayers turns evil thoughts into nothingness; Rejoice, you who destroy the strength of your neighbor's enemies.

Rejoice, instruction to youth; rejoice in old age maintenance.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 11

All singing is overcome, and the one who strives to meet the multitude of Thy bounties; Equal to the sand of the sea, when we offer songs to Thee, the Virgin Mary, we do nothing worthy of what You have given to us, crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

We see the light-receiving candle, which appeared in ancient times, in Your holy icon, the Virgin Mary, when You protected our city from the destruction of the enemies of our land by the rays emanating from Your holy icon. For this reason, falling to her with faith and kissing her with love, we cry out to Ti:

Rejoice, Mother of the Eternal Light of Christ, enlightening His soul with the teachings; Rejoice, by the grace of God you bring unbelievers to faith in God.

Rejoice, traveler who travels; Rejoice, needy sailing helmsman.

Rejoice, you who save us from all sorrow, anger and need; Rejoice, preserving you from famine, destruction, cowardice and fire.

Rejoice, deliverer from foreigners; Rejoice, protector from internecine warfare.

Rejoice, in Your holy icon, like the sun, shining in the Kostroma region; Rejoice, here you have magnified the royal branch.

Rejoice, for through You kingdoms are established; Rejoice, for through You kings are crowned.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 12

The grace that you received from God of your Son, the Virgin Mother of God, and that of old poured out on all those who resort to your image, do not now deprive us of your rich mercy, grant us repentance for sins, so that with a pure heart and lips we cry out to your beloved Son and our God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing Your mercy and miracles, we all praise You, Mother of God, and, like ancient Israel to the ark of the Covenant, we flow to the image of Your face, and from the depths of our souls we cry: lift up Your hand to Your Son, that you may give us all that is good and saving with faith and love crying Ti:

Rejoice, our consolation in sorrows; Rejoice, quenching our sorrows.

Rejoice, our endless joy; Rejoice, lordship and joy of heart.

Rejoice, our strong hope; Rejoice, dear friend.

Rejoice, strange refuge; Rejoice, O offended Patroness.

Rejoice, justification for the slandered; Rejoice, protection of good things.

Rejoice, healing of my body; Rejoice, salvation of my soul.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 13

O our most merciful Intercessor, for the sake of your great mercy, who bestowed your miraculous icon on our fatherland and city for sanctification, consolation and protection for us, accepting the present praise, deliver your servants from every evil situation. Establish the scepter of our blessed Emperor, grant him health and salvation, victory and victory over his enemies, and free us all from the eternal torment of freedom, crying out with our lips, soul and heart: Alleluia.

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

Ikos 1

Rejoice, blessed branch from the root of David; Rejoice, having been sacrificed to God by the vow of your parents.

Rejoice, holy righteous Joachim and Anna, Daughter of God; Rejoice, you were brought into the temple of God for three years and raised there.

Rejoice there, having surprised everyone with humility and purity; Rejoice, thou who hast been honored with the Arkhangelsk conversation.

Rejoice, Virgin, who humbly accepted the gospel of the conception of God the Word; Rejoice, chosen Youth, overshadowed by the power from above for the conception of God the Word.

Rejoice, you who have revealed the secret of the incarnation of the Son of God, hidden in God for centuries; Rejoice, O Lamb, who gave birth to the Lamb Christ, who took away the sins of the world.

Rejoice, through You we are delivered from the torments of hell; Rejoice, for through You we are worthy of eternal life.

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 1

Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

(After the akathist a prayer is read)

General information and strength

Evangelist Luke created a priceless shrine, reminiscent in characteristics of the Vladimir Mother of God. The brother of Yaroslav the Wise, Yuri Vsevolodovich, received the holy image, and a monastery was built on the site of the chapel. It was in honor of the secret baptism name of Grand Duke Yaroslav - Theodore - that the icon was named.

The wise ruler built and restored churches and significantly strengthened the state. The icon protected the prince and his sons and became a powerful protection. Vasily Yaroslavovich miraculously escaped during civil strife in Kostroma and won the fight against the Tatars. The path of another son, Alexander Nevsky, was illuminated by the icon and guarded along all the paths. The icon appeared as an intercessor and guardian to everyone who turned to it.

The “Feodorovskaya” icon keeps a secret: Paraskeva is represented on the hidden surface. Experts suggest that the appearance of the great martyr is secretly correlated with the wife of Alexander Nevsky.

An akathist was written in honor of the Mother of God. The church hymn glorified and praised the Mother of God. In prayers and litigation, people turned to the icon of the “Theodore” Mother of God and received divine proof of power on the akathist:

extraordinary cures from serious physical and mental illnesses occurred;
relationships in families were improved;
believers received heavenly help during difficult periods.

The Akathist includes 25 divine songs of praise. The beginning is the kukuliy, then the poetic texts follow:

Kontakion. They begin with “Hallelujah!” and are small stanzas.
Ikosy. They sound from the words “Rejoice!”, and present large stanzas.

The Akathist is read while standing; seriously ill patients are allowed to lie down and sit. It is advisable to light a candle and turn to the Mother of God with all your heart, to open your soul to her.

People come to the Most Holy Theotokos with glorification in the akathist in various situations:

for a happy family life in harmony and love;
for an easy birth of the baby, to relieve stress and prevent any complications during childbirth;
for conception and successful pregnancy if a woman cannot become pregnant for a long time;
to improve health and cure illnesses.

They ask the Mother of God for the health of babies and older children, begging for relief from worries and developmental disorders. It is important to ask with pure thoughts and sincere desires. Only in this case is there a high probability of being heard through the reading of the “Feodorovsky” akathist.

The miraculous icon truly works miracles. Hundreds of thousands of people received an answer from the Mother of God. Extraordinary changes took place in their lives after reading the akathist. Many women, considered infertile for many years, were able to bear and give birth to healthy heirs. Orthodox Christians received miraculous answers to prayer through conversions:

improvement of the situation;
harmony and happiness in family life;
extraordinary healings;
joyful changes in life;
divine support during wars, disasters, difficult times.

The Feodorovskaya Mother of God is the intercessor and patroness of the family, helps in marriage problems. Answers requests, changes life for the better. People turn to the holy icon with an akathist in order to get married successfully and create an ideal union between a man and a woman.

Priests advise reading the akathist for any adversity in life. The Mother of God will hear everyone.

Prayer to the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God

“O Most Merciful Lady, Queen, Mother of God, accept our humble prayer, and do not reject us, our intercession and refuge, and do not disdain us, unworthy, but, like the Merciful One, do not stop praying, Whom You gave birth to, may He grant us forgiveness of many sins ours, may He save us, like the news of our destinies. Have mercy on us, Lady, have mercy on us, for there is no salvation for us from works. It is also true that we cry to Thee: have mercy on Thy servants and show our barren heart fruitful in good deeds. Look down on us, unworthy, for You are our hope and protection, life and light to our hearts. As you raised up the Everlasting Light from Your womb, illuminate our soul, O Pure One, and drive away all darkness in our hearts. Grant us tenderness, repentance and contrition of heart. Grant us all the days of our lives to do the will of Thy Son and our God and to please Him alone in everything. O Mother of God, do not stop praying to the One born of You for all those who flow with faith to this miraculous image of Yours, and give them quick help and consolation in sorrows and misfortunes and suffering, deliver them from slander and human malice, from enemies visible and invisible and all kinds of needs and sorrows. Save our fatherland, this city and all cities and countries from all troubles and needs and make our God merciful to us, turn away all His anger against us, and deliver us from His due and righteous rebuke. O God-loving Lady, adornment of the angels, glory to the martyrs and joy to all the saints, pray to the Lord with them, that he may grant us in repentance to end the course of our life. In the hour of death, Most Holy Virgin, deliver us from the power of demons and condemnation, and the answer, and the terrible test, and bitter ordeals, and eternal fire, so that, having been honored with the glorious Kingdom of God, we magnify Thee and glorify Christ, our God, incarnate from Thee, To him be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen."

Other prayers before the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God.

Story

In the chronicles, the first mentions of the shrine are associated with a city in the Nizhny Novgorod region called Gorodets (the Feodorovsky Monastery was built there at the beginning of the 12th century). After the attack on these places by the Mongol-Tatars, the icon disappeared.

In the 13th century it was found in the forest near Kostroma. According to legend, at the same time, local residents saw a warrior in the city similar to Saint Theodore Stratilates. In his hands he held the found shrine:

“...seeing the people of this venerable icon, and beginning to tell the story, saying, yesterday we saw this icon, carried through our city by a certain warrior, similar to that warrior’s vision of the holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates, and thus testifying to the people” (“The Tale of the Appearance of the Miracle-Working Icon of Theodore” ).

Days of celebration

In memory of the miraculous discovery of the icon near Kostroma, the Church established August 16 (August 29 in the new style) as the Day of Veneration of the Icon.
The second day of remembrance of the shrine is March 14 (March 27, new style).

This date is associated with an important historical event, when the Time of Troubles ended in Rus' in 1613. Then, in the Kostroma Ipatiev Monastery, with this image of the Mother of God, the mother blessed Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov to reign. Since then, the shrine was especially revered in the royal dynasty.

Martha

1613

The Zemsky Sobor elected Mikhail Romanov to the throne, laying the foundation for a new royal dynasty. Mikhail agreed to accept the throne and arrived in Moscow in May. With his accession the Time of Troubles in Rus' ended.

These days in churches you can hear the solemn hymns of the Theodore Mother of God being sung.