Icon of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos called “The Sign” is especially revered among Orthodox Christians in Russia. After the miraculous deliverance of Novgorod, copies of the original appeared throughout Rus', and many miracles also occurred from them.
It depicts the Queen of Heaven, who sits on a throne and raises her hands to the sky in a prayer gesture. Against the background of a round shield located on the chest of the Virgin Mary, there is the Infant Emmanuel.
History of origin and significance in Orthodoxy
The first images of the Mother of God in Rus' appeared in the 11th-12th centuries, and received their name from the Novgorod icon, which showed a miracle during the siege of the city in 1170. The appanage princes united their troops and, under the leadership of the Suzdal prince, treacherously attacked Novgorod. The townspeople prayed to the Almighty day and night, asking for intercession. After three days, the local archbishop named Elijah heard a wondrous voice from heaven, which commanded him to take the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, which was in the Church of the Transfiguration, and take it to the city wall.
At the moment when the image was transferred in procession to the indicated place, the archers of the attackers fired arrows along the procession. One of the arrows hit the face of the Queen of Heaven, and tears flowed from her eyes, and the icon itself turned to face the besieged city. After seeing the Divine sign, the attackers were attacked by inexplicable horror, and they began to kill each other. The townspeople who saw this rushed to attack and destroyed the opponents.
In memory of this miracle and the intercession of the Mother of God, Elijah established a holiday in honor of the icon, which is still celebrated annually by the Orthodox Church today.
How to pray in front of an icon
Before the image of the Mother of God, you must pray with a pure heart and sincere faith that the Queen of Heaven will hear your petitions and come to your aid. The ceremony can be performed both in church and at home. The face of the Blessed Virgin Mary called “The Sign” can be ordered through the online store. After this, he must be consecrated in the temple. During prayer, you can light church candles or a lamp.
What can you ask for?
Believers turn to Our Lady with sincere prayers in the following cases:
- to reconcile warring parties and end wars;
- during natural disasters such as floods, fires or earthquakes;
- during pandemics and various epidemics;
- for protection from robbers and thieves;
- to take away the evil eye and envy from yourself.
What does it help with?
Any prayers can be read in front of the icon - from praise to supplication. Confessors say that the image gives all Christians its protection in any conflict situations (state and family), softens the souls of enemies, and relieves negative emotions. The icon helps in solving difficult situations that can happen to a traveler during a trip.
In addition, “The Sign” cures diseases, its effect on the eyes is especially beneficial. For a long time, cities defeated by epidemics were walked around with the shrine, after which they were stopped. The image protects the house from envious people, thieves, gossip, gossip, and ill-wishers. She overshadows the inhabitants of the home with her grace, giving their souls peace and love. The icon strengthens faith in people, saves them from rash actions, gives humility, meekness and patience. Therefore, every believer should have an image in their home.
Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God
To appeal to the Mother of God at home, use the following prayer. It is recommended to memorize the text so as not to be distracted during the ritual.
Prayer
To whom shall I cry, O Lady, to whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to You, the Queen of Heaven? Who will hear my cry and receive my sighs, if not You, Most Immaculate, the Hope of Christians and refuge for us sinners? Who will protect You more in misfortunes? Hear my groaning and incline Your ear to me, the Lady and Mother of my God! Do not despise the one who seeks Your help and do not reject me, a sinner, to the Queen of Heaven! Teach me to do the will of Your Son and grant me the desire to always follow His holy commandments. For my grumbling in illnesses, labors and misfortunes, do not retreat from me, but remain the Matter and Patroness of the cowardly me.
To my Most Blessed Queen, zealous Intercessor! With your intercession, cover my sins, protect me from visible and invisible enemies; Soften the hearts of those who are hostile against me and warm them with the love of Christ. To me, weak, grant Your all-powerful help to overcome my sinful habits, so that, purified by repentance and subsequent virtuous life, in communion with the Holy Church, I may spend the remaining days of my earthly journey.
Appear to me, Hope of all Christians, at the hour of my death and strengthen my faith in the difficult hour of death. Offer up for me, a sinner in this life, Your all-powerful prayers after my departure, that the Lord will justify me and make me a partaker of His endless joys. Amen.
Kontakion 1
To the chosen Voivode, our Lady Theotokos, who granted a wondrous victory to the people of Novagrad with the sign of Her holy icon, we sing a song of thanksgiving.
But You, our All-merciful Intercessor, who has an invincible power, free us from all troubles and protect us from visible and invisible enemies, so we call to You: Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Ikos 1
Angels to the Queen and all creation, Lady, Most Pure Virgin Theotokos, with the glorious sign of Your holy icon, You graciously illuminated the entire Russian country and streams of miracles flowed from it to the faithful. In the same way, with zeal and love, falling before Your most honorable image, with tenderness we offer You praises:
Rejoice, consecrated village of God the Word; Rejoice, you who sanctify us through the grace of God. Rejoice, you who served immaculately for the salvation of the fallen human race; Rejoice, O Pure One of all the Creator and Lord, having been conceived in the womb by the Divine Spirit, having given birth without corruption. Rejoice, O thou who embracest us all with Thy maternal care; Rejoice, in troubles and misfortunes you are a quick Helper to us. Rejoice, thou who invisibly tames our evil passions; Rejoice, you who help us to succeed in Christian virtues. Rejoice, free healer of our ailments; Rejoice, you who wisely instruct us on the path of repentance. Rejoice, Virgin, praise to Christians; Rejoice, for you are blessed by everyone.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the embitterment of Novagrad, strongly at war from the Suzhdal wars, Saint John of Christ tearfully prayed for the deliverance and salvation of the city and heard a Voice from above, let him go to the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and take there the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, and carry it to the visor of the city against the hordes fighting against it . Hearing this command of God, the saint cried out in gratitude to the Savior Christ: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Having understood the will of God in the voice of heaven, Saint John of Christ came to the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord to take the icon of the Mother of God, and while praying before her, the icon moved from its place on his honest hand, and with the singing of prayer he carried it to the visor of the city, saying to the people: be of good cheer. , Mother of our God is with us. For this reason, having seen Your favor towards them, revealed in the miraculous coming of Your icon, we exclaim in song the blessings of Sisitsa:
Rejoice, Hope of unreliable Christians; Rejoice, Joy and Intercession of those who mourn. Rejoice, Thou who showest Thy quick help to the helpless; Rejoice, you who are weak and give freedom to those who are oppressed. Rejoice, Leader of Orthodox warriors to victories; Rejoice, all-strong overthrow of the enemy armies. Rejoice, thou who hast overshadowed the great Novgrad with Thy favor; Rejoice, for he was not taken away by the Chosen Voivode who came in Your icon. Rejoice, unpunished merciful Punisher; Rejoice, wise Instructor of the foolish. Rejoice, O all-terrible Terrorist who offends; Rejoice, O all-merciful Intercessor of the offended.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 3
Strengthened by the power of God, St. John of Christ lifted up Thy holy icon, O Lady Theotokos, in the midst of the battle, where arrows from the opposing forces fell like rain, and only one of them shot down Thy honest face on the icon; Abi Your icon, turn away your face from the hostile regiments and tears from your eyes, collecting them in your phelonion, Saint John of Christ commanded the people to be bold, and they, like the strong guardian of a certain property, rushed at the resistance and conquered them to the end, calling to the Lord of Powers : Hallelujah.
Ikos 3
Having You, the truly great Novgrad, the Sovereign Warrior, the All-Blessed Mother of God, when, more than in hope, with the sign of Your holy icon, You helped to defeat the strong regiments of the resistant people of Novagrad. Moreover, the singing of victory brings to You, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, Thou who brought peace to the world through Thy Holy Nativity; Rejoice, thou who destroyed the mediastinum of ancient enmity. Rejoice, you who punish those who are unjustly at war; Rejoice, consoling Christ-loving people with your signs and miracles. Rejoice, you who received the plague on the faces of your icon from the arrow of the enemy; Rejoice, you who wonderfully shed tears of grace from her. Rejoice, having struck down those who resisted with blindness and flight; Rejoice, you who made strong shelves powerless. Rejoice, strong Helper in battles; Rejoice, disgrace of enemies. Rejoice, You who crowned Your people with wondrous victory; Rejoice, Invincible Commander of the leaders and armies of the Christians.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 4
A storm of bewilderment confuses my mind: how can I be able to sing with unworthy lips Your miracles, O Lady of God, Whom You showed Your sign in Novegrad with the holy icon, granting help and intercession to all Orthodox people from enemies visible and invisible? Moreover, we humbly sing Your majestic, innumerable mercies towards us, to Your Son and God who glorified You: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard about the wondrous miracle of the holy icon of Thy sign in Novegrad, Most Pure Virgin, how the people of Novograd, who possess this, by Thy power and the help of Thy Divine image, gloriously overcome the resistance to show, with reverence and joy we worship this wonderful image of Thy and call upon Thee in praise:
Rejoice, Bride of the Father Without Beginning; Rejoice, unartificial Mother of the Eternal Word. Rejoice, beautiful village of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, overshadowed by grace of the Life-Giving and Consubstantial Trinity. Rejoice, prophets of old who foretold in many ways; Rejoice, having surpassed the angelic councils with Your purity. Rejoice, exaltation of the human race; Rejoice, grace-filled uprising of the fallen sons of Adamli. Rejoice, for You have clothed yourself with flesh and clothed the sky with clouds; Rejoice, for with Your milk You nourished the Nourisher of the universe. Rejoice, All-Blessed Mother of God, Pure Ever-Virgin; Rejoice, our Joy and the salvation of our souls. Rejoice, our Intercessor, given to us by God; Rejoice, guardianship and sacred refuge for all the faithful.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 5
God-bright star - the icon of Your sign, Virgin Mary, spiritually enlighten the great Novgrad with the radiance of many miracles, endlessly exuding grace-filled healings to all the faithful who zealously flock to her. Do not deprive us of Your gracious illumination and Your merciful bounties, who honor Your miraculous icon with godly worship, so that we sing gratefully to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen the glorious miracles that came from the icon of Thy sign, the Most Blessed Lady, the people of Novagrad flocked to her with zeal and in their ills received grace-filled healings from her. Now we come to her, we worship, and we honor, and from the desire of our hearts we kiss, we draw grace for healing, and we free ourselves from the ailments of the body and spiritual passions, calling to Ti and saying:
Rejoice, Joy of the sorrowing and the offended Intercessor; Rejoice, consolation to the sad and help to the distressed. Rejoice, unbearable Healer of the sick; Rejoice, unstolen wealth for the poor and wretched. Rejoice, thou who hast provided the patient sufferers with gifts of grace; Rejoice, thou who deliverest the desperate and hopeless from the pit of destruction. Rejoice, merciful Trustee of widows and orphans; Rejoice, Teacher of chastity and abstinence of young people. Rejoice, sweet tranquility of reverent elders; Rejoice, quiet refuge of God-loving elders. Rejoice, faithful Helper of repentant sinners; Rejoice, generous Giver of spiritual gifts.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 6
Novgrad preaches Your glorious intercession, O Most Pure Lady, how in the days of the invasion of enemies strong and armed from the holy icon of Your sign, You bestowed Your gracious help on Your people, You turned back the hostile regiments with the cold, Your city was safe and unharmed from them, and all sing to God the Savior: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You shone with the rays of great miracles in Novegrad, the Virgin Mary, and you wonderfully glorified the icon of Your sign with the grace-filled flow of tears, generously giving countless mercies from her to all the mourning and burdened. Visit our souls, sickened by sinful passions, to the All-Good Lady, and be our Helper for salvation, so we cry to You in gratitude:
Rejoice, O Prayer Book favorable to God for us; Rejoice, O omnipotent Representative, turning the wrath of God into mercy. Rejoice, stretching out Your God-bearing hands to supplicate the Creator; Rejoice, as the Mother of the Son, the Righteous Judge, pleading for the whole world. Rejoice, covering us all with the cover of Your Motherly intercession. Rejoice, you who provide the grace of humility and patience to those who are in troubles and sorrows. Rejoice, invisibly strengthening the suffering and helpless; Rejoice, you who raise up those who are sick and hopeless from the bed of illness. Rejoice, you who show great mercy to those who pray to You by faith; Rejoice, you who wonderfully fulfill our good requests. Rejoice, streams of grace-filled healings abundantly flowing to us; Rejoice, bestower of all things useful to everyone.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 7
Wanting to show, O Lady, not only to the Great Novugrad, but also to the entire Orthodox Russian population, Your glorious miracles from the icon of Your sign, You glorified this in many cities, abodes and villages from ancient years to our days with wondrous miracles: sight for the blind, strengthening for the weakened, and for many She mercifully grants healing to the sick, and in this way people strive to magnify Thee, who has magnified our race, and sing to Christ our God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Novgrad and the entire Russian land, a wondrous icon of Your sign, O Virgin Mary, blessed miracles of Hosea, showing Your rich mercy to the faithful. In honor of this divine worship, we cry out in praise to You, the Lady:
Rejoice, quickly presenting Helper to those who diligently flow to You; Rejoice, merciful Hearer of our prayers. Rejoice, thou who hast overshadowed the great Novgrad with Thy blessing; Rejoice, within its borders the icon of Your Sign glorified miracles. Rejoice, thou who hast spiritually rejoiced the virgins of the face by the glorification of Thy icon; Rejoice, raising us to heavenly bliss with your omnipotent prayers to God. Rejoice, thou who art merciful to Thy Son and God the Intercessor for all of us; Rejoice, good Helper, leading the war against the world, the flesh and the devil. Rejoice, covering all the Orthodox countries with the cover of Thy mercy; Rejoice, infinite treasure of healings in many places and abodes. Rejoice, O omnipotent Patroness of monks and nuns who strive well; Rejoice, zealous Intercessor in the world of those who live piously.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 8
Wandering in this earthly vale, much sorrowful and much rebellious, the mountain city - Heavenly Jerusalem, we seek and pray to You, Lady: guide us along the path of the commandments of Christ and save us from the falls of sins, surprise us with Your mercy and overshadow us with Your intercession, yes, Yours With the help of those who save us, let us be worthy to sing together with all the saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
To all the grieving Comforter and the needy Helper, O All-merciful Mother of God, do not despise us who fall before You before Your most pure image, but mercifully visit us with Your bounties: and just as You showed Your sovereign help to our fathers of old, so do not deprive us, the humble, of Yours intercession at the right time, let us not be ashamed of our hope, which according to God we place firmly in Thee, and we call upon Thee:
Rejoice, God-bright light, illuminating faithful souls with the light of Christ; Rejoice, valuable alabaster, anointing God-loving hearts with the world of God's grace. Rejoice, faithful Mother of the Sun, who enlightens the faithful and darkens the unfaithful; Rejoice, glory of heaven and hope of earth. Rejoice, our Hope and Intercessor of all those who flow to You with faith; Rejoice, you who love and honor Thee, delivering You from all troubles. Rejoice, thou who graciously gladdens the souls of the faithful with good promises; Rejoice, glory and praise to the virgin faces. Rejoice, you who guide the ascetics of piety to the mountainous Zion; Rejoice, you who lead the faithful to Heavenly Jerusalem. Rejoice, you who enlighten darkened hearts with the light of true knowledge of God; Rejoice, covering us all with the blessed rays of Your great mercy.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 9
All the angelic armies reverently serve You, heaven and earth the Queen, but the human race brings silent praise to You, the Lady above and below, and honors Your holy icon with venerable worship. You have given us this joy and consolation, O All-Good One, and You have always shown us the signs of the Mother of Your love, so that we may sing to the God who benefits us: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The wisdom of humanity cannot comprehend the Divine mystery of Your ever-virginity, O Mary Theotokos, how at the Nativity and after the Nativity you kept the keys of Your virginity intact, surprising angels and men. In the same way, we piously confess Thee, Mother and Virgin, we always please Thee and sing praises to Thee:
Rejoice, having magnified the human race with Your immaculate purity; Rejoice, having sanctified the earth with Your all-holy Nativity. Rejoice, you who wonderfully combined virginity and Christmas in Yourself; Rejoice, having preserved both yourselves immaculately. Rejoice, great miracle of the universe; Rejoice, secretly incomprehensible to human minds. Rejoice, astonishment of angelic faces; Rejoice, everlasting joy of God's saints. Rejoice, first adornment of the heavenly world; Rejoice, reliable intercession of the world. Rejoice, overthrow of demons; Rejoice, hell has been trampled underfoot.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 10
You gave birth to the Savior to fallen humanity, O Most Pure Virgin, and You bore Him like a Child in Your arms, His Divine image and on the icon of Your sign You showed us and You bestowed upon us many of Your mercy and bounty. For this reason, with reverence and faith, we honor Your miraculous image, Lady, and we pray to You diligently: grant us protection and protection on the Day of Judgment, so that through Your Mother’s intercession the Righteous Judge, Your Son and God, may have mercy on us, and make us worthy to stand on the right hand and sing to Him with favorites: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
An insurmountable wall and a source of miracles, Your holy icon appeared, O Virgin Mary, not only to the great Novugrad, but to the entire Russian country. This, like a sign of victory, is possessed by the armies of the Orthodox enemies, and the saints are adorned with it, and every age of the faithful receives grace-filled consolation from it. Comfort us also with Thy, All-Merciful Lady, favor and mercy, and let us cry out to Thee in praise:
Rejoice, our strong Hope; Rejoice, our undoubted Hope. Rejoice, great glory of Novagrad; Rejoice, our country is a blessed protection. Rejoice, victorious Helper against enemies in the days of battle; Rejoice, good Teacher of piety in the days of peace. Rejoice, protection and supply of monastic monasteries; Rejoice, blessing on pious homes and marriages. Rejoice, Champion of virginity and purity; Rejoice, O offended and persecuted Representative. Rejoice, robe of the naked; Rejoice, healing of the sick.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 11
Do not despise our humble singing, O all-merciful Queen, and do not close the womb of Thy bounty to us, O all-generous Lady: behold, having become poor in good deeds, to the treasury of Thy mercy, Thy miraculous icon, we flow with zeal, O All-Blessed One, and, falling down, we pray: illuminate us with the light of Thy Divine grace and teach us to faithfully fulfill the commandments of Thy Son and God, so that we may worthily sing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
Light of the non-evening friend, with the bright rays of Your miracles you enlighten us, darkened by the darkness of sin, the Most Pure Mother of God, and lead us to the unceasing praise of Your Most Holy Name. By the sign of Thy holy icon Thou hast truly revealed Thy sovereignty, O Lady All-Blessed, whom we joyfully call Thee in a bright celebration:
Rejoice, exalted by God above earthly and heavenly things; Rejoice, one Pure and Blessed One among women. Rejoice, Queen and Lady of heaven and earth; Rejoice, porphyro of the King of kings. Rejoice, devil of seedless disgrace; Rejoice, the main thing of human salvation. Rejoice, you who trust in You without shame; Rejoice, you who ask for Your holy help and deliver from troubles. Rejoice, pillar and affirmation of virginity; Rejoice, shield and defense of the Orthodox faith. Rejoice, magnificent adornment of the Holy Church of Christ; Rejoice, covering us all with Your Mother's cover.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 12
Grant us grace and mercy from above, O Lady, from Thy holy icon, which as a sign of Thy intercession Thou hast bestowed on us, miracles that come from it, confirming the Orthodox faith in us and disgracing unbelief. In the same way, we worship You and pray: keep us in Orthodoxy, O All-Good One, and grant us worthy to sing faithfully to God until our last breath: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing Your miracles from the icon of Your sign revealed, the Virgin Mary, we praise, glorify and magnify You, the Most Honest Cherub, truly, and the Most Glorious without comparison, the Seraphim. But You, our All-merciful Intercessor, cover us with Your sovereign veil and deliver us from all troubles and temptations of the enemy, so that we may unceasingly sing to You with a voice of praise:
Rejoice, God-delighted and immaculate Ever-Virgin; Rejoice, imperishable and incorruptible Lamb and Shepherd Mother. Rejoice, crowned with a royal diadem from the Triune God; Rejoice, holy and luminous chamber of saints of the Most Holy Word. Rejoice, standing at the right hand of Your Son and Lord; Rejoice, always praying to Him for the Christian race. Rejoice, Cause of the grace-filled renewal of mankind; Rejoice, reconciliation of repentant sinners to God. Rejoice, Deliverance to those suffering from troubles; Rejoice, Seeker of the lost. Rejoice, healing of our bodies; Rejoice, salvation of our souls.
Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.
Kontakion 13
O All-Sung Mother of our Sweetest Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! Having accepted our present offering, deliver us from all misfortune and sorrow, and remove the eternal torment of all before Thy holy icon of those who worship with faith and love and who gratefully call upon God for You: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
Prayer
O Most Holy and Most Blessed Mother of our Sweetest Lord Jesus Christ! We fall down and worship You before Your holy, miraculous icon, remembering the wondrous sign of Your intercession, which was revealed to the great Novugrad during the days of the military invasion of this city. We humbly pray to You, O All-Powerful Intercessor of our race: just as in ancient times You hastened our fathers to help, so now we, weak and sinners, have been made worthy of Your Motherly intercession and care. Save and preserve, O Lady, under the shelter of Your mercy, the Holy Church, Your city, our entire Orthodox country and all of us who fall to You with faith and love, tenderly asking with tears for Your intercession. Hey, Lady All-Merciful! Have mercy on us, overwhelmed by many sins, stretch out your God-receiving hand to Christ the Lord and intercede for us before His goodness, asking us forgiveness of our sins, a pious peaceful life, a good Christian death and a good answer at His Last Judgment, yes, we are saved by your omnipotent Through our prayers, we will inherit the bliss of paradise and, with all the saints, we will sing the most honorable and magnificent name of the Most Worshipful Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and Your great mercy to us forever and ever. Amen.
