Icon of the Mother of God “Helper of Sinners”
Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in Honor of Her Icon “Helper of Sinners”
Kontakion 1
Chosen by the Most High, sinners to the Assist, who bows down to the mercy of His Son, that He may save even He created with His hand, we offer a song of thanksgiving to Thee, the Virgin Mother and Lady, about the appearance of Thy wondrous and miraculous icons. But You, as an intercessor to the Lord, are drawn from diverse circumstances deliver us and bring us eternal salvation, yes, chanting, crying out to Ti:
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Ikos 1
The faces of angels reverently serve You and all the saints with silent voices please You, Virgin Mother of God, as she gave birth to the Angels of the King, Christ our God, but we, sinners, boldly imitate them and praise You in bewilderment, humbly, the archangel’s voice cries out to You, Pure One:
Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you; Rejoice, Most Blessed among Women, All-Immaculate Virgin.
Rejoice; Daughters of the Heavenly Father; Rejoice, Mother of the Eternal Son.
Rejoice, village of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, constant wonder of angels and man.
Rejoice, Most Honest Cherub; Rejoice, Most Glorious Seraphim without comparison.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 2
Having seen our earthly sorrowful life, infirmities and illnesses, the Most Merciful Mother of God, deigned to give us His holy icon as a blessing and consolation, for joy and salvation and from all troubles and misfortunes, calling upon Her the help of sinners, and bringing joy before this icon to Her , joyfully always sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Opening the heavenly mind, O Virgin Mother of God, You have deigned to glorify Your holy icon with many miracles, called the Helper of sinners, and all who know Your good will towards her call You in song:
Rejoice, Merciful One, Mother of us all in Christ; Rejoice, inexhaustible treasury of Divine grace.
Rejoice, for through You God's favor descends upon us; Rejoice, for through you the imams have increased boldness towards God.
Rejoice, you who accept the prayers of all Christians; Rejoice, and you who do not reject the prayers of the most desperate sinners.
Rejoice, for through Your intercession we hope to be saved; Rejoice, for through Your prayers we will receive the Kingdom of Heaven with tea.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 3
The power of grace overshadows everyone, Most Blessed Mother of God, with faith towards You, as the Helper of sinners who come and worship Your holy icon: You alone have been given the gift of quickly fulfilling every good request and having mercy on sinners and saving them, and You alone can truly help everyone When you wish, you sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having the most maternal providence for all, You, the All-Blessed Mother of God, call even the most desperate sinners to salvation, saying: I am the Helper of sinners to My Son and God, who promised Me to always hear Me, so that those who bring joy to Me will forever rejoice through Me . For this reason, we, sinners, joyfully call to You, as our Helper:
Rejoice, zealous Intercessor, given to us by God; Rejoice, our Blessed Guide to the Heavenly Fatherland.
Rejoice, you who consume from the pit of destruction; Rejoice, you who receive the helpless into your omnipotent hands.
Rejoice, you who drive away constant despondency; Rejoice, you who restore those who have fallen to grace.
Rejoice, you who give the word of wisdom to those who ask; Rejoice, making the foolish wise.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 4
Tempted by a storm of doubts, a certain woman did not want to believe in the miracles that came from Thy icon, the Helper, but was suddenly struck by a deadly ulcer, recognizing Thy omnipotent power, Lady, and the miraculous icons of Thy grace, and, repenting, tearfully begging Thee for the forgiveness of her unbelief, with mercy Healed by You, always crying out to God in gratitude for You: Alleliua.
Ikos 4
Your Lord hears your petition for us in Heaven, Queen of Heaven, and fulfills your petitions, but we, sinners, as our all-good Quick-to-Hear and Helper, ask and pray to You: Lady, soon hear our prayers and turn all our sorrows into joy, and petitions Fulfill all those who pray here soon, so that we may always joyfully sing to Ti:
Rejoice, bringing to Thy Son and God the prayers of the faithful; Rejoice, and always praying for us at the throne of Your Son.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners; Rejoice, Seeker of the lost.
Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful; Rejoice, and our petition will soon be fulfilled.
Rejoice, Merciful One, always merciful to us; Rejoice, you who arrange our good life.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 5
Like a radiant star, illuminating the whole world, You gave to us, the Lady of the World, Your honorable icon, called the Helper of sinners, looking at us, we worship You, the true Mother of God and the Virgin, saying: Lady, accept the prayers of Your servant and deliver us from all needs and sorrows, praising You and singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
A certain reverent man was filled with great fear when, on the night of Christ’s Holy Resurrection, he saw Your icon, the All-Blessed Helper, shining with the light of Heaven and, like raindrops, oozing myrrh and emitting lightning-like sparks, having recognized in this sign of Your mercy towards people, with tears of tenderness and gratitude joyfully sing to You, Most Blessed Mother of God:
Rejoice, you who held the Divine Fire without burning, through which our sins are burned; Rejoice, you who bore the inviolable Light, through which our souls are enlightened.
Rejoice, you who offer your hand to God in charge of us; Rejoice, you who open the entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven to us sinners.
Rejoice, for lightning cuts through the darkness of our sins; Rejoice, for fragrant myrrh, softening our hearts.
Rejoice, you who flow forth springs of miracles everywhere; Rejoice, making all people rejoice through Your icon.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 6
The whole Christian world preaches Thy mercy and miracles, O Glorious Mother of the Lord, and is brightly adorned with many of Thy miraculous icons, among which Thy icon, the Helper of sinners, called like the full moon, shines unwaveringly with the rays of Thy mercy and miracles, enlightening and illuminating our souls with the light of God's grace, challenging us to cry out in praise to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
On one of the nights the heavenly light appeared in the Church of St. Nicholas-Khamovniche, when Your miraculous image, the Help of sinners, was received, then the lamps and lamps in this temple were kindled by an invisible force, a burning lamp, as if in service, carried invisibly around the throne. The people who stood outside the temple and saw all this, marveled, glorifying Thee, the Mother of God, and Thy Son, but we, remembering this wondrous vision, say with tenderness to Thee:
Rejoice, transforming our sorrows into joy; Rejoice, you who bring joy to those who do not hope with undoubted hope.
Rejoice, Holy One, ever-burning at the throne of God; Rejoice, Lampado, shining with Divine oil.
Rejoice, radiant Light, showing us the path of life; Rejoice, animated Temple, who sanctifies us all.
Rejoice, you who give shameless life to those who trust in You; Rejoice, and after death you continually intercede for them before God.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 7
Although the Long-suffering Lord revealed the Abyss of His love for mankind and generosity, He chose You, Most Holy Virgin, as His Mother and revealed You as an inexhaustible source of His mercies, so that whoever is worthy of condemnation by the righteous judgment of God, by Your intercession, like a sinner, will be preserved, calling with a loud voice: Alleluia .
Ikos 7
You showed us Your wondrous deeds, O Lord, in Your Most Pure Mother, and You gave us Her wondrous icon, illuminating people more than the rays of the sun, like those who behold the Mother of God Herself and with heartfelt love from the soul, like the Mother of God and the Virgin, crying out to Her:
Rejoice, Kupel, in Neizha all our sorrows are immersed; Rejoice, Chalice, through which we all receive joy and salvation.
Rejoice, Life-Giving Source, who revives us all; Rejoice, unfading flower, fragrant to us all.
Rejoice, delight in our sorrows; Rejoice, our sorrows are quenched.
Rejoice, healing of our illnesses; Rejoice, our deliverance from troubles is imminent.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 8
We are strangers and strangers on earth and, according to the words of the Apostle, are not the imams of the city that resides here. But to whom shall we resort, O Lady, in the sorrows of our life, if not to You, All-merciful Helper for us sinners! Do not reject us, Mother of God, and do not tell us: We do not know your sins for your sake, but have mercy on us, the orphans and helpless, and take us into the eternal shelter, our Patroness, so that we joyfully cry out in the glory of Heaven to the King of glory, Christ: Alleliua.
Ikos 8
It is a comfort to all the faithful to look at Thy holy icon, Lady, Helper of sinners, in which we see Thee, in Thy hand holding the Eternal Child, our Lord Jesus Christ, and we worship Him magnificently, as our Creator and God, to You, the true Mother of God, we tenderly say : Lady, help us, having mercy on us, struggling, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away Your vain servants, who cry out to You:
Rejoice, you who hunger for the Nourisher; Rejoice, robe of the naked.
Rejoice, Protectress of widows; Rejoice, Patroness of orphans.
Rejoice, O intercessor of the persecuted and offended; Rejoice, speedy Liberator of the suffering and captives.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 9
All angelic nature brings hymns of praise to You, the Mother of God and Helper of all who fall to You and ask for Your help and Your consolation, as through Your firm and strong intercession you cheer the righteous, intercede for sinners and deliver them from troubles and satisfy sorrows, and pray for everyone who calls with faith To you God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Every fluttering tongue is perplexed to praise Thee according to her inheritance, but the mind and the most worldly praise of Thee, the Mother of God, amazes; Otherwise, O good being, accept faith, for our divine love is ours; You are the Representative of Christians who call to You:
Rejoice, having enlightened the whole earth with the radiance of Your most pure soul; Rejoice, who made all heaven rejoice with the purity of Your body.
Rejoice, you who adopted us all at the Cross of Your Son; Rejoice, always showing Your motherly love for us.
Rejoice, O all-powerful Giver of all spiritual and physical gifts; Rejoice, zealous intercessor for us, temporal and eternal blessings.
Rejoice, thou who openest the doors of the Kingdom of Christ to the faithful; Rejoice, filling our hearts with joy and gladness on earth.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 10
To save the human race from eternal torment and unceasing sorrow, the Lover of Mankind, the Lord, His Mother, has given the gift of help to the earthly, saying: sons of humanity, behold My Mother will be your protection and refuge, consolation for the sad, joy for the grieving, Intercessor for the offended, to the needy - help, to the sick - to the Healer, to the sinners - to the Helper, and may He raise up all from the depths of sin, crying out: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Heavenly King, My Son and God,” this is what the Heavenly Queen always prays for us, “accept every person who glorifies You and calls on Your Holy Name, and those who glorify Me for Your Name’s sake, and do not cast them away from Your presence, but be pleased with them and Accept every good prayer from them and deliver them all from troubles. We, sinners, relying on Your Mother of Prayer, call to You:
Rejoice, for You are our warm Prayer Book to God; Rejoice, for Your prayer is always powerful before God.
Rejoice, through Your prayers you also make our poor prayers acceptable to God; Rejoice, and filling our unworthiness with Your intercession.
Rejoice, unashamed Assist of repentant sinners; Rejoice, Intercessor of all Orthodox Christians.
Rejoice, you who heal all our illnesses; Rejoice, you who disperse the cloud of passions and temptations.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 11
Receive all-contrite singing from us, our Heavenly Helper, and soon hear the prayer offered to You, Virgin Mother of God; For in times of misfortune, grief and sadness we run to You and before You in our troubles we shed tears and pray: Lady, quench your sorrows and accept the prayers of Your servants who sing for You: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
With the bright rays of signs and wonders, Your holy icon, the Virgin Mary, shines unwaveringly, and gracefully illuminates everyone who prays to You with faith before it, driving away every enemy action by the power of God emanating from it. We, sinners, rejoice in the same way, having such a wonderful icon of Yours in our temple, as a pledge of Your favor to us and our temple, and to You, our Helper and Quick to Hear our prayers, we cry out with gratitude:
Rejoice, you who pour out blessed joy upon us; Rejoice, you who soon give us spiritual consolation.
Rejoice, fulfiller of God's desires; Rejoice, you who hasten to help us in all sorrowful circumstances.
Rejoice, you who dearly love those who live in faith and piety; Rejoice, thou who inflame their hearts with love for God and people.
Rejoice, in the hour of bewilderment you put a good thought in your heart; Rejoice, you who teach us to have trust in God in everything.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 12
The grace of God inherent in Your holy icon, called the Helper of sinners, the Lady of God, draws to her all those who mourn and are burdened with many sins and misfortunes, and they do not depart in vain from this source of Your manifold mercies and bounties, but in sorrows - joy, in adversities - protection, in illness - healing, and all that is beneficial for the soul and body are abundantly received from Thy miraculous image, O All-Good One, even if, according to God, they place all their trust in Thee, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing Your ineffable Motherly mercy towards us sinners, we praise You, as our Almighty Helper, we bless You, as the All-merciful Quick-to-hear our prayers, and with tenderness we worship You in Your most honest icon, we believe and trust, as even now You have asked us from Your Son and God, that in this life and after our death His mercy will be unfailing for all who sing with love to Ti:
Rejoice, saving the whole world through Your prayers; Rejoice, intercession of the entire Universe through Your intercessions.
Rejoice, for you quickly help everyone who comes with faith; Rejoice, and you who ask for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, for as we look at Your icon, we worship You, the true Mother of God; Rejoice, through Your intercession all our good desires will soon be fulfilled.
Rejoice, even in the hour of death you do not abandon your faithful; Rejoice, and after death you intercede for their eternally blessed repose.
Rejoice, Helper of sinners, always offering Your hand to God for us.
Kontakion 13
Oh, All-Singing Mother, All-Blessed Helper of the salvation of sinners, Virgin Mary! Mercifully accept our present prayer, which we offer from our zeal in thanksgiving to You, and ask us from the All-Merciful God for steadfastness in the Orthodox faith, in Christian love for success and forgiveness of our sins, so that through Your intercession we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and be honored with all the saints to sing to God: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “Angels’ faces...” and the 1st kontakion “Chosen from the Most High...”.
Prayer
O Most Blessed Lady, Protector of the Christian race, refuge and salvation of those who flow to You! We know, truly we know how greatly we have sinned and are angry, O Merciful Lady, the Son of God born in the flesh of You, but I have seen many images of those who angered His compassion before me: tax collectors, harlots and other sinners, to whom forgiveness of their sins was given, for the sake of repentance and confession. Thou, therefore, imagining the images of those who were pardoned by the eyes of my sinful soul, and looking at the great mercy of God that they had received, I, a sinner, dared to resort with repentance to Thy compassion. O All-Merciful Lady, give me a helping hand and ask Your Son and God with Your Mother and Your 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 dearly loves the Christian race, and the Helper of repentance. Truly, there is no other help and protection for man except You, the Most Merciful Lady, and no one else, trusting in You, was ashamed when, by You begging God, no one was quickly abandoned. For this sake, I pray to Your innumerable goodness: open the doors of Your mercy to me, who have gone astray and fallen into the darkness of the depths, do not disdain me, the foul one, do not despise my sinful prayer, do not abandon me, the accursed one, as an evil enemy seeks to kidnap me into destruction, but beg for may Thy merciful Son and God be born to me from Thee, may He forgive my great sins and deliver me from my destruction; as if I, together with all who have received forgiveness, will sing and glorify God’s immeasurable mercy and Your shameless intercession for me in this life and in the endless eternity. Amen.
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 heavenly love: today the Mother of God extends to us a saving hand and speaks from Her Most Pure Image, saying: I am the Helper of sinners to My Son, this One gave to Me for them Your hand will hear me and take me 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, implore with Your Mother’s prayers the Savior of all, that Divine forgiveness may cover our sins and open the bright doors of heaven to us, for You are intercession and salvation kind of Christian.
Troparion, tone 3
To You, the ever-flowing source of mercy and the Helper of sinners, Your unworthy servants, Mother of God, falling, mourning, we cry out to You: save us from troubles, Lady, and through Your maternal intercession ask for eternal salvation for all of us.
Kontakion, tone 1
The honest dwelling of the former ineffable nature of the Divine, above words and above the mind and to sinners, you are the Helper, giving grace and healing, as the Mother of all the Reigning: pray to Your Son to receive mercy for us on the Day of Judgment.
When is the best time to say prayers?
The greatest effect from reading prayers in front of the icon of the Mother of God “Helper of Sinners” is achieved on the days of veneration of this icon, which according to the Orthodox calendar are celebrated three times a year:
- The first day falls on Thursday of Pentecost;
- The second is March 20 (March 7, old style);
- The third is June 11 (May 29, old style).
But even in case of spiritual burden, you can turn to the face of the Mother of God on this icon at any time, in a temple, monastery or at home. Such prayer is the best way to communicate with God through the intercession of the Mother of God, who never refused her help to those who resort to her in difficult times.
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What do they pray to the Queen of Heaven for in front of this shrine?
Before the image they pray:
- about forgiveness of serious sins, about repentance and correction of life;
- about healing diseases; according to the inscrutable fate of God, this particular icon became famous for helping sick children;
- during epidemics and natural disasters.
The Royal Face of the Mother of God is a promise of forgiveness for sinners, healing for the sick, support for the discouraged. And a reminder that we will never be alone in our troubles.
Moscow image
After the first known appearance of the miraculous image, it so happened that a copy was made. It was presented as a gift to Dmitry Boncheskul, who lived in Moscow (Khamovniki). He was distinguished by his love for pilgrims, with whom he prayed together in front of the image. After Easter, abundant myrrh streaming began, which prompted the owner to give the image to the St. Nicholas Church, which was located nearby.
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The fragrant myrrh appeared in the form of a small drop, which gradually increased and spread throughout the icon. The moisture was collected on cloth and distributed to parishioners. Those who suffered received abundant blessings, and evidence of them has survived to this day.
- One woman was healed of a leg disease that had left her bedridden. The oil from the icon lamp completely restored mobility.
- A peasant from a village near Moscow suddenly fell into a motionless state, although his eyes remained open. Anticipating a quick end, his relatives took him to St. Nicholas Church, where they placed him next to the icon “Helper of Sinners.” He immediately woke up and rose to his feet.
- During the cholera epidemic in the 19th century. many sick people were healed.
- Already in our time, a storm broke out in the Ryazan region. Hailstones the size of hen's eggs fell from the sky, breaking windows and piercing slates. The boy who served as an altar boy was caught in bad weather, but returned home completely unharmed. He said that he prayed to the “Help of Sinners,” which helped him.
The temple where the “Sure Lady of Sinners” is still located today is very famous in the capital. After the image was transferred there, an unusual phenomenon was noticed in the altar. Late at night there was a glow in the form of stars and fire of varying brightness. This continued for several days, with many witnesses gathering.
The miracle caused an extraordinary stir - at night people watched the divine light, during the day they prayed near the icon. Over the first few years, more than a hundred miraculous healings were recorded through prayers at the “Helper of Sinners” icon. At first there were skeptics, but over time the image became one of the most revered in Moscow. The temple is located near the Park Kultury metro station, its doors are open to believers.
History of the Holy Image
For a long time, this icon, unusual in its writing, did not receive due attention. It stood in an old chapel and was in such an abandoned state that the inscriptions, which later became the basis for naming the image of the Queen of Heaven, were not visible.
The inhabitants of the Nicholas Monastery in the Bryansk region (the village of Odrina) knew nothing about the miraculous image until an amazing incident occurred. In the summer, a merchant's wife came to the monastery with her little son. The boy was very sick - severe seizures gave no rest, nothing helped. The mother placed her hopes only on God and often spent time in prayer. After the end of the service, she decided to defend the prayer service in front of the image of the Virgin Mary, relying on her support.
The mother’s faith and the intercession of the Mother of God did their job: the baby became healthy immediately after finishing the prayer . They talk about two more cases of healing that occurred almost simultaneously: a blind baby regained his sight, and the landowner’s son was left paralyzed. This served as a source of enormous fame, which the image of the “Helper of Sinners” instantly gained.
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The monks cleaned the icon and moved it to its rightful place in the temple. Today it is the most revered local shrine. It is believed that the same ancient image has been preserved to this day. Unfortunately, the authorship remains a mystery - as does many other famous icons. It is believed that the Mother of God herself sends them, wanting to show mercy and protection to the world.
