Features of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The icon depicts the Mother of God with the baby Jesus Christ in her arms, who blesses the praying Orthodox. The icon was discovered in 1579 thanks to the young daughter of a Kazan merchant, to whom the Mother of God appeared three times in a dream with instructions to find her image in the ashes.
Based on the name of the place, the found face was called the “Kazan Mother of God.” The miraculous power of the icon manifested itself immediately, restoring sight to two blind men. John IV (Ivan the Terrible) demanded that the icon be delivered to Moscow, where the Kazan Cathedral was built for it.
During the troubles, the icon returned to Kazan. Before the decisive assault on Moscow, Prince Pozharsky prayed with the militia in front of a copy of the image found in Kazan. In the 18th century, a large number of copies were made from the original, which were distributed throughout the world.
The original was lost in 1904. The robbers stole the icon for its precious setting, and destroyed the image itself. The oldest copy dates back to the beginning of the 17th century and is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery. The second list was completed in 1611 and transferred to Prince Pozharsky. The copy in the Prince Vladimir Cathedral (St. Petersburg) is considered to be closest to the prototype.
Canon of the Kazan Mother of God
Iconographically, the Kazan Icon is usually classified as an abbreviated shoulder-length (that is, it is a shoulder-length image) version of Hodegetria, which translated from Greek means “Guide”. This name has a certain deep meaning. The Most Holy Theotokos is our Guide to Christ. On the one hand, this is expressed in the fact that She is the Mother of the Lord according to the flesh, thereby bringing down the grace of God on us, interceding for us before Christ. On the other hand, being human by nature, the Mother of God leads each of us to Christ.
- The figure of the Mother of God is presented frontally, with a slight tilt of the head towards the Infant. This is a symbol of mercy, love, maternal tenderness and at the same time admiration for the Savior of the human race.
- On one hand of the Virgin Mary sits the Infant Jesus Christ.
- The Baby Jesus Christ with his right hand blesses the Mother of God, and in Her person all Christians. The second hand of the Infant God is hidden by clothing.
- The views of the Mother of God and the Child of God are directed directly at the person praying. This especially emphasizes a person’s spiritual dialogue with the Lord and His Most Pure Mother. The glances turned by the Mother of God and Christ on the person praying express the fullness of communication between two personalities - God and His creation, man.
- The theological meaning of the icon lies in the intercession of the Most Pure Mother of God for us before Her Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, Christ is the Way, Life and Truth for every Christian. Being the Mother of the Lord and at the same time human by nature, the Mother of God has the opportunity to most strongly pray to Her Son for each of us. This meaning is most visible in icons such as “Hodegetria”, where the Mother of God points her hand to Christ. The Kazan image is shoulder-length, so we don’t see the hand instructions. However, despite this, the meaning remains the same, only in the Kazan image it is hidden from a superficial glance.
How to pray correctly
Prayer addresses to the icon of the Kazan Mother of God are offered in the church and at the home iconostasis. The holy image should stand on the right side of the face of the Savior. The Church advises starting the morning with a prayer to the Mother of God after washing, before eating.
Before visiting the temple, you should observe a three-day fast and receive communion from the priest. This will give weight to the prayer. In the church they place a lighted candle in front of the icon, cross themselves three times, kiss the hand of the Mother of God, and then make a prayer request.
Texts of strong prayers in Russian
They pray to the miraculous icon for health - for themselves and their loved ones, for a successful marriage and the birth of children, and ask for success in business. The miraculous power of the image protected the Russian land in turbulent times of unrest and invasion of enemies.
First
Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Queen of Heaven and earth, the highest angel and archangel and all creatures, the most honest, pure Virgin Mary, good Helper to the world, and affirmation for all people, and deliverance for all needs! Look now, O All-Merciful Lady, upon Thy servants, praying to Thee with a tender soul and a contrite heart, falling with tears to Thee and worshiping Thy most pure and wholesome image, and asking for Thy help and intercession. Oh, All-Merciful and Most Merciful Pure Virgin Mary! Look, O Lady, at Thy people: for we are sinners and imams of no other help than to You and from You, Christ our God born. You are our intercessor and representative. You are protection for the offended, joy for the sorrowing, refuge for the orphans, keeper for widows, glory for virgins, joy for those who cry, visitation for the sick, healing for the weak, salvation for sinners. For this reason, O Mother of God, we resort to You, and looking at Your Most Pure Image with the Eternal Child held in Your hand, our Lord Jesus Christ, we bring tender singing to You and cry out: have mercy on us, Mother of God, and fulfill our request, for all that is Your intercession is possible, for glory is due to You now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Second
Oh, Most Holy Lady and Lady Theotokos! With fear, faith and love, falling before Your honorable icon, we pray to You: do not turn Your face away from those who come running to You. Pray, merciful Mother, to Thy Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, to preserve our country peacefully and to keep His holy Church unshakable from unbelief, heresies and schism. There are no imams of any other help, no imams of other hope, unless You, Most Pure Virgin, are You the all-powerful Helper and Intercessor of Christians. Deliver all who pray to You with faith from the falls of sin, from the slander of evil people, from all temptations, sorrows, troubles and from vain death. Grant us the spirit of contrition, humility of heart, purity of thoughts, correction of sinful lives and the remission of sins, so that we all sing gratefully of Your greatness, we will be worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom, and there with all the saints we will glorify the Most Honorable and Magnificent Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Third
O Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos! With fear, faith and love, falling before Your honorable icon, we pray to You: do not turn Your face away from those who come running to You, beseech, merciful Mother, Your Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, that He may preserve our peaceful country and establish it in piety May the Church preserve its Holy, unshakable, and deliver from unbelief, heresies and schism.
We have no other help, we have no other hope except You, Most Pure Virgin: You are the all-powerful helper and intercessor of Christians. Deliver all those who pray to You with faith from the falls of sin, from the slander of evil people, from all temptations, sorrows, illnesses, troubles and from sudden death. Grant us the spirit of contrition, humility of heart, purity of thoughts, correction of sinful life and remission of sins, so that to all who gratefully sing Your greatness and mercies, which are revealed to us here on earth, we may be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, and there, with all the saints, we will glorify the most honorable and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
For marriage
The Church does not recognize and considers it a devilish temptation to resort to magical rituals to find a betrothed. But twice a year, on Intercession and Christmas, clergy advise praying to Our Lady of Kazan for family structure.
Before prayer, you should submit a note about the health of your parents and receive communion. The petition should not include a specific male name. It is forbidden to ask to create a family with an already married person.
“Most Pure Lady Theotokos! Your Son Himself entrusted You with the care of His disciples. According to the true faith of the Church, You are the Mother of all who love the Lord. Pray to Your Son to grant me, an obedient to His will, the joy of an honest marriage. Help me, my husband and our children to be faithful to the Lord and live according to His commandments. You know what the joy of motherhood is, what it means to teach a baby the first words, to raise a child, to release a grown child into an adult, independent life. I beg you, Most Blessed One, grant me the joy of marriage and motherhood. I will do my best to be worthy of this gift! Amen".
For work
O Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos! With fear, faith and love, we fall before Your venerable icon, we pray that You do not turn Your face away from those who come running to You; beg, O merciful Mother, Your Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, to preserve our peaceful country and establish it in piety. Let the Church preserve its Holy, unshakable Church and deliver it from unbelief, heresies and schism.
We have no other help, we have no other hope except You, Most Pure Virgin: You are the all-powerful helper and intercessor of Christians. Deliver all who pray with faith from the falls of sin, from the slander of evil people, from all temptations, sorrows, illnesses, troubles and from sudden death.
Grant us the spirit of contrition, humility of heart, purity of thoughts, correction of sinful life and remission of sins, so that all who gratefully sing of Your greatness and mercies, revealed here on earth, may be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, and there with all the saints we will glorify the most honorable and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!
About health
You should pray for the health of the image of Our Lady of Kazan every day, with sincere faith in your heart for healing. The prayer is offered at home or in an Orthodox church.
“Zealous intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High! Thou prayest Thy Son for all. Christ our God, and make it possible for all to be saved, in Your sovereign protection of those who resort. Protect us all, O Lady, Queen and Lady, both in misfortunes and in sorrows and in illnesses, burdened with many sins, standing and praying to You with a tender soul and a contrite heart before Your Most Pure Image with tears and irrevocable hope for those who have in You for the deliverance of all angry Grant that which is useful to all and save all, O Virgin Mary: for Thou art the Divine protection of Thy servants.”
Troparion
O zealous intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High, pray for everyone to Your Son, Christ our God, and grant to all those who seek refuge in Your sovereign protection to be saved. Intercede for all of us, O Lady, Queen and Lady, who are in adversity, and sorrow, and in illness, burdened with many sins, coming and praying to You with a tender soul and a contrite heart before Your most pure image with tears and irrevocable hope for those who have in You, deliverance of all evils , grant useful to everyone and save everything, Virgin Mary: For You are the Divine protection of Your servant.
Kontakion
Let us, people, come to this quiet and good refuge, the quick Helper, the ready and warm salvation, the protection of the Virgin, let us hasten to prayer and sweat to repentance: for the Most Pure Mother of God exudes to us unfailing mercies, advances to our aid and delivers from great troubles and evils the well-behaved and His God-fearing servants.
Greatness
We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, God-chosen Youth, and honor Your holy image, which exudes healing to all who flow in with faith.
Canon
Song 1.
Irmos: I will open my lips, and they will be filled with the Spirit, and I will vomit a word to the Queen Mother, and I will appear, brightly triumphant, and I will sing, rejoicing, These are miracles.
They revere Thee, the Mother of God, the leader of the angels, and serve the saints honestly, the righteous show off, the heavenly intercessors bless Thee. However, both the earth and the sky brightly praise Thee in joy, and we, sinners, ask for mercy: illuminate our hearts, Lady, sing the song of Thy holy icon to the appearance.
Come, gather, people named after Christ, your minds secretly cleansed, to the holy church of the Mother of Christ our God: for a spiritual source flows for us endlessly from the holy icon, healing for soul and body, a song for those who cry: Blessed is our God born from You.
Divit, Most Immaculate, and the strange miracle of your divine Nativity terrifies every ear: how did you conceive the cherubic Creator? What kind of unbearable fire did you carry in your womb? How did you clothe real life with flesh and give birth to the whole world, God and man?
Under Your shelter, Virgin Lady, we take refuge with all the generations of mankind: enlighten us today with the light of Your Nativity, Your sinful servants, who pray diligently and bow down to Your most pure glory. no, asking you to accept great mercy.
Song 3.
Irmos: Thy hymns, Mother of God, living and unenvious Source, the face of Thy body, spiritually established, in Thy divine glory, the crowns of glory of the Lord.
What kind of worthy praise will our final infirmity bring? As through the appearance of Your most pure divine icons, unenvious springs of healing flow forth, Your servant faithfully resorting to You.
Your divine icons are a holy manifestation, Virgin Mary, like a radiant sun shining upon us, sending forth rays of glorious miracles, driving away the darkness of cruel circumstances by Your sacred ones, Lady, intercession.
You sometimes filled with grace your first-written icon, Lady Virgin Mary, and now the same grace is true with the radiance of faith in miracles, as if for the sake of the first-written, for the salvation of the world Those who come running to You for God’s sake.
We worship, Mother of God, Your most pure image and Your sweet Infant, the eternal and everlasting Light, Christ, in Whom You saved all mankind from the cruel ashes and corruption of death human nature.
Sedalen, voice 8.
The Divine Words of the Apostles, the Gospel of Christ, the evangelists of the universe, who created the Divine Church in Your most holy name, Mother of God, and they come to You, Lady, praying to You Come to the consecration. But you, O Mother of God, advertise: go in peace and I am there with you. They, on their way, find there on the wall of Your church, O Lady, a likeness, written by Divine power in spherical likenesses, and, having seen it, they worshiped Ty and glorified God. With him, we also worship Your Divine Icon, asking You for great mercy: grant forgiveness of sins to Your servant, O Blessed One.
Song 4.
Irmos: Seated in glory on the Throne of the Divinity in a light cloud, the Divine Jesus came, with an imperishable Hand and those who saved, calling: glory, O Christ, to Thy power.
Let us honor, people, the pure and pure icon of the Virgin Mother of God and the Divine Child, Christ our God, and kiss and glorify with fear and trembling: we venerate the icon piously, and even more reverence I eat the Most Pure Mother of God.
David, the divine and wonderful prophet, foresaw from afar, the verb: to your face will riches of people pray. We, faithful ones, bow and kiss the honest icon, sanctifying our souls and bodies.
The God-acknowledged copyist of the Gospel of Christ, Luke, by the wave of God, Your all-blameless One will write the image of the Mother of God and the Eternal Child in Your arms, imagining, to which the misfortunes and You deliver from troubles, and cover everything, and save by Your mercy.
You are the praise and crown of all saints, O Queen! You are our hope and Helper according to God, and on You we place all the hope of our salvation. We pray to you, as the Mother of God: shower your rich sinful servants with your soul-saving mercies.
Song 5.
Irmos: Everyone was terrified of Your Divine glory: For You, the unartificed Virgin, had in your womb God above all, and You gave birth to the Flightless Son, to all who sang Your praises, bestowing peace present.
Every single creature, O Most Pure One, is perplexed to sing of Thee, for Thou hast exalted herself above all the higher minds, having given birth to the unapproachable and terrible All-Tsar and God, but, for Thou art most merciful and quick to help man Sister, heed the prayer of Your servant and grant Your help.
When Your grace overshadows, O Mother of God, the demons disappear with fear and their evil dreams are destroyed, the souls of darkness flee, but the multitude of the faithful rejoices, I give you a song of praise from hearts cry out: Rejoice, Divine Protection of our souls.
Sweet sight is given to the foolish, hearing to the deaf, blessings to the mute, walking to the lame, cleansing to lepers, chastity to those who are demonized, and healing to those who are ill of various kinds, by the overshadowing of the Lord Thy stature, Mother of God, icons.
Let us never cease, O Mother of God, from singing psalms and songs of Thy greatness, O O joyful One: for Thou hast truly given birth to God incarnate, for our universal salvation and deliverance.
Song 6.
Irmos: This divine and all-honorable celebration, God of God, Mother of God, come, let us clasp our hands, from Her we glorify the God who was born.
Your Divine Nativity, Virgin Lady, the most rich grace, which you proclaimed from ancient times, betrayed you to your most pure image, so that the great and glorious one will act inexorably for salvation in Tyana. those who are
Wherever the holy name of the Delighted Mother of God is glorified, there flow all sorts of good springs; Come in purity, people, for the appearance of the divine Virgin icon will announce the coming of the Queen, for the salvation of all the faithful.
Healing of illnesses, driving away passions and soul-nourishing salvation, forgiveness of sins and eternal deliverance from Your most pure icon, Lady, surely coming, we accept, All-Immaculate Mother of God.
To You, Lady, the families of the faithful come running, asking for great mercy and receiving the abundant healing that exists in those who are ill, change in passions, and consolation in sorrows. Give me, too, O Lady, a soul-saving drop, so that I may sing Your greatness with everyone.
Kontakion, tone 8.
Let us come, people, to this quiet and good haven, to the ambulance, ready and warm salvation, to the protection of the Virgin, let us hasten to prayer and strive to repentance: for there is no shortage of things for us the aching mercy of the Most Pure Mother of God, advances to help and delivers from great troubles and evils the well-behaved and His God-fearing servants.
Ikos.
Having purified the meaning and the mind, we turn to the Mother of God, with bright songs pleasing Yu, and we glorify and honor Her most pure icon, and, falling down, we worship as Her very being: Because the icon ascends to the prototype, and the one who venerates and worships it honors the prototype itself, as if it were divine fathers rekosha. And if anyone does not honor the Most Holy Theotokos and does not venerate Her icon, let him be anathema: for he shames and destroys those who do not honor Her, but delivers the well-behaved and God-fearing from great troubles and evils His servants.
Song 7.
Irmos: Having not served the creation of God, more than the Creator, but, having bravely overcome the fiery rebuke, I rejoice, singing: O venerable father, Lord and God, blessed art thou.
Come, let us draw remission from the inexhaustible source that drains the shrine - the Most Pure Virgin, and the Most Pure Child, the Word of God, for us for the sake of humanity. Let us cry to Him: Thou art the Creator of the Deliverer, glorified with the Father and the Spirit, O God, blessed art thou.
The indefatigable, pure, and God-pleasing prayer, and the invincible power of the fortress, the insolence of our enemies, even now, destroy them, and lay them down under the nose of our faithful Emperor, Let us rejoice in You, servant, to Your Son, crying out: Blessed be our Father, God you are.
We rejoice and rejoice, faithful people, at the wonderful appearance of the icon of the Most Pure Lady of the Theotokos, for the river appears inexhaustible, flowing healing water: for it gives sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf walking, walking for the lame, and free healing for all who are sick.
The depth is untested, the mystery unknown, the image incomprehensible, Virgin, of Your conception: conception without a seed, birth without a husband, Incarnate incarnate, the Eternal One infancy, Son of God, Son of You, Virgos, it happens. To him we cry: God, blessed are you.
Song 8.
Irmos: The pious youths in the cave The Nativity of the Theotokos saved is, then what was formed, now in action, the whole universe raises up to sing to You: Sing to the Lord, do ye, and exalt Him in all things ́ki.
The angelic and human minds are terrified, O Mother of God, how did you incarnate the God of heaven, surrounded by lies? How, having given birth to a Baby, did you carry a Son in your hand? The creation is terrified and the thrones on high tremble, crying incessantly: Holy, Holy, Holy are you, O God, praised and exalted forever.
Rejoice, you who are the joy of the whole world, with the Archangel Gabriel we cry to Ty, Mother of God: Rejoice, container of the Inconceivable; Rejoice, O Gracious One, who bore the Divinities of all; Rejoice, Adam's proclamation, the Lord is with You, and for Your sake is with us, saving us. We sing Him and extol him forever.
You plucked out the sanctified root of Jesse - the root of our sin; the rod of Aaron, which flourished - the Life-Giver of the flower, having grown Christ; stanno receiving manna - you crushed all the power of death and you raised the human race into a breed of life. Moreover, we sing to You, good culprit.
You are the praise of Christians, O Lady, You are a weapon against enemies and a wall for those who come running to You. Even now we call upon you for help, O Lady, do not allow your enemy to ascend to your people, who do not praise you, nor your Son, the Mother of God, nor your icon; save our souls.
Song 9.
Irmos: Let every earth-born leap, let us be enlightened by the Spirit, let the nature of disembodied minds triumph, honoring the sacred triumph of the Mother of God, and let it cry out: Rejoice, All-Blessed, Pure Mother of God Ever-Devo.
To you, the steadfast helper of the human race, Mother of God Mary, I proclaim in many ways the prophetic face, the holy canopy, the most spacious of heaven, the tablet written by God and the burning bush, the door of God. the bottom, the mountain, and the ladder, and the bridge, and the flowering rod; We truly magnify Theotokos Thee.
The mystery of the depths of Your Nativity terrifies the angelic mind, O Virgin, and the most pure icon will drive away demons, and darken the faces of the wicked, and howl in the cold: they cannot bear to look at its power, but they run away and disappeared ayut. We kindly bow and kiss, and magnify Thee, the Mother of God.
The representative of the essence is persistent to the Supreme King, as those who have the motherly boldness are not shameful, in the world of the deep Orthodox lives, establish and exalt our Blessed Emperor, and all that is useful Always be Thy servant, that we may magnify Thee, Mother of God.
Oh, All-merciful helper of Christians! The human and angelic mind cannot praise You worthily, for all creatures are more honest, heavenly and earthly, more glorious: for you gave birth to all the Creator and God. But, oh Lady! Let me mercifully accept You from my heart and lay down a song, save us always, we trust in You.
Luminous:
Let the All-Singing Mother of God be honored, having given birth to real life - Christ our God, the opening of the doors of paradise, and the purification of the whole world, the elevation to life. This is the prophet who speaks; we will worship Him, the God and Savior of our souls.
Glory, and now: Come, faithful ones, with purity, let us glorify the wonderful icon of the Most Pure Mother of our God, and the Divine Child of the Savior Christ, who, as if she gave birth, carried Him in her hand, and He who has thorns has boldness towards Him, unceasingly prays for us and gives to His servants rich in mercy.
About the return of the beloved
Kazan Mother of God, pray to God for the servant of God! Give my wife some sense, return her love to me! Help, I beg you! In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit! Amen!
About children
O Most Holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, save and preserve under Your shelter my children (names), all youths, young women and infants, baptized and nameless and carried in their mother’s womb. Cover them with the robe of Your motherhood, keep them in the fear of God and in obedience to their parents, pray to my Lord and Your Son to grant them what is useful for their salvation. I entrust them to Your maternal supervision, for You are the Divine Protection of Your servants.
About conceiving a child
The request to conceive a child will be accepted by the Mother of God during the religious consecration of the marriage. An unmarried woman should not address such a prayer to the icon of the Mother of God.
“Oh, Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord Most High, quick to obey all who come running to You with faith! Look down from the height of Your heavenly majesty on me, obscene, falling to Your icon, quickly hear the humble prayer of me, a sinner, and bring me to Your Son; beg Him to illuminate my gloomy soul with the light of His Divine Grace and cleanse my mind from vain thoughts, to calm my suffering heart and heal its wounds, to enlighten me to good deeds and strengthen me to work for Him with fear, to forgive all the evil I have done, May He deliver from eternal torment and not deprive the Heavenly One of His Kingdom. Oh, Most Blessed Mother of God! You deigned to be named Georgian in your image, commanding everyone to come to You with faith, do not despise the sorrowful me and do not allow me to perish in the abyss of my sins. According to God, all my hope and hope of salvation is in You, and I entrust myself to Your protection and intercession forever. I praise and thank the Lord for sending me the happiness of a married state. I pray to You, Mother of the Lord and God my Savior, that with Your Motherly prayers He will send me and my husband my beloved child. May He give me the fruit of my womb. May it be arranged according to His will, to His glory. Change the sorrow of my soul to the joy of conception in my womb. May I praise and thank You, Mother of my Lord, all the days of my life. Amen".
For money
Problems with finances are no exception to prayer to Our Lady of Kazan. You should ask in prayer for success in business, the result of which will be material well-being. Before asking for support, you should fast for three days, avoid alcohol, quarrels and hostile thoughts towards other people. The words of the prayer can be your own or taken from the prayer book.
Rules to follow when reading your own prayers:
- pronounce the magnification of the Mother of God;
- repent of sins;
- light a candle;
- words must come from the heart.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Queen of Heaven and earth, the highest angel and archangel of all creation, the most honest, pure Virgin Mary, good Helper to the world, and affirmation and deliverance for all people in all their needs! Look now, O All-Merciful Lady, upon Your servants, who pray to You with a tender soul and a contrite heart, who fall with tears to You and worship Your most pure and wholesome image, and ask for Your help and intercession. Oh, All-Merciful and Most Merciful Pure Virgin Mary! Look, Lady, at Your people: for we sinners have no other help except You and Christ our God born of You. You are our intercessor and representative. You are protection for the offended, joy for the grieving, refuge for the orphans, guardian for widows, glory for virgins, joy for those who cry, visitation for the sick, healing for the weak, salvation for sinners. For this sake, O Mother, we resort to you, and at Your Most Pure Image with the Eternal Child held in your hand, looking at our Lord Jesus, we tenderly sing to You and cry out: have mercy on us, Mother of God, and fulfill our request, the whole essence of which is possible through to Your intercession, as glory befits You, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen".
Canon of the Blessed Virgin Mary before the Kazan Icon
Appearance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the city of Kazan (1579)[1]
On October 1, 1552, on the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, at night, John IV, the leader of the Russian soldiers preparing for a decisive assault on Tatar Kazan, suddenly heard the sound of Moscow bells.
The Tsar realized that this was a sign of God’s mercy: through the prayers of the Elected Voivode, the Lord wanted to convert the Kazan people to Himself. The conquest of Kazan under the protection of the Most Holy Theotokos completed the work begun in 1164 by the holy Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky († 1174; commemorated July 4). The Volga, the country's main waterway, became a Russian river. 60,000 Russian people were freed from Tatar captivity. The enlightenment of the Tatars with the light of the Gospel truth began. The first martyrs appeared - Saints Peter and Stephen (March 24). The newly established Kazan diocese became part of the Russian Church and soon shone with its archbishops: St. Gury († 1563; commemorated December 5) and St. Herman († 1567; commemorated November 6).
But what especially contributed to the rise of Orthodoxy among the Volga Mohammedans was the appearance in the city of Kazan on July 8, 1579 of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God.
The work of preaching the Gospel in the conquered kingdom among hardcore Muslims and pagans was difficult. The Most Holy Theotokos, the patroness of preachers of the Word of God, who even in Her earthly life shared evangelistic labors with the holy Apostles, seeing the efforts of Russian missionaries, did not hesitate to send them Heavenly help by revealing Her miraculous icon.
On June 28, 1579, a terrible fire that started near the Church of St. Nicholas of Tula destroyed part of the city and turned half of the Kazan Kremlin to ashes. The fans of Mohammed gloated, thinking that God was angry with the Christians. “The Faith of Christ,” says the chronicler, “has become a byword and a reproach.” But the fire in Kazan was an omen of the final fall of Islam and the establishment of Orthodoxy throughout the Golden Horde land, the future East of the Russian state.
The city soon began to rise from the ruins. Together with other fire victims, archer Daniil Onuchin was building a house not far from where the fire started. The Mother of God appeared in a dream vision to his nine-year-old daughter Matrona and ordered her to retrieve Her icon, which had been buried in the ground during the rule of Muslims by secret confessors of Orthodoxy. They did not pay attention to the girl’s words. The Mother of God appeared three times and pointed out the place where the miraculous icon was hidden. Finally, Matrona and her mother began to dig in the indicated place and found the holy icon. Archbishop Jeremiah arrived at the place of the miraculous discovery at the head of the clergy and transferred the holy image to a nearby church in the name of St. Nicholas, from where, after a prayer service, they transferred it with a procession to the Annunciation Cathedral - the first Orthodox church in the city of Kazan, erected by Ivan the Terrible. During the procession, two blind men, Joseph and Nikita, were healed.
A copy of the icon revealed in Kazan, a statement of the circumstances of its discovery and a description of the miracles were sent to Moscow in 1579. Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of a temple in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God at the site of the apparition, where the holy icon was placed, and the founding of a women’s monastery. Matrona and her mother, who contributed to the acquisition of the shrine, took monastic vows in this monastery.
In the St. Nicholas Church, where the first prayer service was held before the Kazan Icon, the future Patriarch Hermogenes, Saint of Moscow († 1612; commemorated February 17) was a priest at that time. Fifteen years later, in 1594, already being Metropolitan of Kazan, he compiled a legend about the sacred events of which he was an eyewitness and participant: “The Tale and Miracles of the Most Pure Mother of God of Her honest, glorious appearance in Kazan.” The story describes with great factual accuracy many cases of healing that took place from the miraculous icon through the prayers of believers. The manuscript of the “Tale” - the autograph of His Holiness Patriarch Hermogenes - is reproduced in its entirety in the facsimile edition: The Legend of the Miraculous Kazan Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. With a foreword by A. I. Sobolevsky, M., 1912.
A small icon, found by the girl Matrona on the recently annexed foreign outskirts of the Russian kingdom, soon became a national shrine, a sign of the Heavenly Protection of the Mother of God, revealed to the entire Russian Church, for the soul of the Orthodox people felt the special participation of the Most Pure Lady in the historical destinies of the Motherland. It is no coincidence that the Kazan image is a copy of the ancient Blachernae icon (celebration of July 7) and is of the iconographic type of the icons called Hodegetria the Guide. Many times “Mother of Kazan” showed the path to victory for Russian Orthodox soldiers in fulfilling their sacred duty to God and the Motherland.
In the year of her appearance in Kazan (according to other sources, two years later), the famous campaign “for Kazan” (for the Ural Mountains) of Blessed Herman, Cossack ataman Ermak Timofeevich Povolsky († 1584), began, culminating in the annexation of Siberia. Over the course of several decades, Russian missionary explorers traveled to the east, “meeting the sun,” many thousands of kilometers, and on the Feast of the Intercession in 1639, they set out on their first voyage across the Pacific Ocean, preaching salvation to the surrounding peoples.
The icon was kept in the cathedral of the Kazan nunnery until the beginning of the twentieth century, and in 1904 Russia was shocked by the news of the theft of the shrine. The sacrilegious event occurred on the night of June 28-29, 1904.
There were several vestments attached to the revealed icon. The festive one was worn on Christmas, Easter and on the days of the celebration of the Kazan Icon, and the everyday one was worn on other days. The festive robe was golden. She was put on another robe, studded with large pearls, diamonds, emeralds, yachts and other precious stones. Everyday, no less precious, made in Moscow, completely studded with pearls, had gold crowns with diamond roses, many other decorations and precious stones. And in 1767, Empress Catherine II also added a diamond crown to the icon. Apparently it was precisely because of such an abundance of jewelry that the revealed Kazan icon was stolen from the Kazan nunnery by a gang of 28-year-old Bartholomew Stoyan. The thieves were soon caught, and in November 1904 a trial took place in Kazan. However, during the investigation it was not possible to finally find out what happened to the miraculous icon. At the trial, the opinion was expressed that the icon was burned, since burnt remains of the icons were found in the stove in Stoyan’s apartment. The mother of Stoyan’s partner, Kucherova, testified at the trial that both icons were chopped up and burned by Stoyan. Stoyan himself denied participation in both the theft and destruction of the icon, confessing only to the purchase of stolen jewelry. Stoyan and his accomplice Komov were sentenced to deprivation of all rights, property and exile to hard labor for 12 and 10 years, respectively.
The loss of the original image does not detract from the gracious power of the entire multitude of copies from the Kazan Icon, through which the Most Holy Theotokos helps us with Her intercession before Her Son in the flesh, and in hypostasis the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Deliverance of Moscow and Russia from the Poles in 1612[2]
Orthodox soldiers and missionaries went east, apostates fled to the west. The Jesuits tried to flood Rus' with a wave of impostors and “thieves’ people” at the beginning of the 17th century. By the providence of God during the period of the Polish invasion (1605–1612), which the people called the “Time of Troubles,” the Russian Church was led by the great confessor of Orthodoxy - Hieromartyr Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', admirer of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, author of the “Tale” about her and the Service to her.
In difficult days, when Moscow was occupied by the Poles, and strife and disorder were spreading throughout the country, an unyielding sufferer for the Holy Faith and the Fatherland, while in custody, managed to secretly send an appeal to Nizhny Novgorod: “Write to Metropolitan Ephraim in Kazan, let him send to the regiments to a teaching letter to the boyars and the Cossack army, so that they would stand firmly for the faith, stop robbery, preserve brotherhood, and as they promised to lay down their souls for the house of the Most Pure One and for the miracle workers and for the faith, they would do so. And write to all cities... speak my name everywhere.” The people of Nizhny Novgorod responded to the call of the high priest. The assembled militia was headed by Prince Dimitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky.
The Kazan squads that joined the militia brought with them a copy of the Kazan miraculous icon, which was handed over to Prince Demetrius in Yaroslavl. The Most Holy Lady took the militia under Her protection, and Russia was saved through Her intercession.
The Russian troops experienced enormous difficulties: internal hostility, lack of weapons and food. In the autumn bad weather, the Russian army moved to storm Moscow, which was in the hands of the Poles.
Three days of fasting and fervent prayer before the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God brought the Lord to His mercy. In the besieged Kremlin at that time, Archbishop Arseny of Elasson (later Archbishop of Suzdal; † 1626; April 13), who had arrived from Greece and was seriously ill from shocks and experiences, was in captivity. At night, the cell of St. Arseny suddenly illuminated with Divine light, he saw St. Sergius of Radonezh (July 5 and September 25), who said: “Arseny, our prayers are heard; through the intercession of the Mother of God, God’s judgment on the Fatherland was transferred to mercy; "Tomorrow Moscow will be in the hands of the besiegers and Russia will be saved."
As if to confirm the truth of the prophecy, the archbishop received healing from his illness. The saint sent news of this joyful event to the Russian soldiers. The next day, October 22, 1612, Russian troops, inspired by the vision, won a major victory and took China Town, and 2 days later the Kremlin.
On Sunday, October 25, Russian squads solemnly, with a procession of the Cross, went to the Kremlin, carrying the Kazan Icon. At the Place of Execution the procession of the Cross was greeted by Archbishop Arseny, who emerged from the Kremlin and carried the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which he had preserved in captivity. Shocked by the accomplished meeting of two miraculous icons of the Mother of God, the people prayed to the Heavenly Intercessor with tears.
After the expulsion of the Poles from Moscow, Prince Dimitry Pozharsky, according to the Nikon Chronicle, placed the holy Kazan icon in his parish church of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on Lubyanka, in Moscow. Later, at the expense of the patriotic prince, the Kazan Cathedral was erected on Red Square. The holy icon, which was in Pozharsky’s troops during the liberation of Moscow, was transferred to the newly built church in 1636. Now this holy image is in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral in Moscow.
In memory of the liberation of Moscow from the Poles, it was established that on October 22 a special celebration would be held in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. At first this celebration took place only in Moscow, but since 1649 it was made all-Russian.
In 1709, before the Battle of Poltava, Peter the Great and his army prayed before the icon of the Kazan Mother of God (from the village of Kaplunovka). In 1721, Peter transferred one of the copies of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God from Moscow to St. Petersburg, where the icon was first placed in the chapel, then in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, and from 1737 in the church in honor of the Nativity of the Mother of God on Nevsky Prospekt. In 1811, before the Patriotic War, the holy icon of the Heavenly Intercessor was moved to the newly created Kazan Cathedral.
In 1812, the Kazan image of the Mother of God overshadowed Russian soldiers who repelled the French invasion. On the feast of the Kazan Icon on October 22, 1812, Russian troops led by Miloradovich and Platov defeated Davout’s rearguard. This was the first major defeat of the French after leaving Moscow; the enemy lost 7 thousand people. That day snow fell, severe frosts began, and the army of the conqueror of Europe began to melt.
... The Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg was built from 1801 to 1811 - as if specifically to become a temple-monument to Russian glory in the Patriotic War of 1812. The iconostasis of the main altar of fine chased work is made of one hundred pounds of silver: forty of them were donated to the temple by the Don Cossacks, who recaptured this silver from the French in 1812. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with trophies taken from the French in 1812. Enemy banners bowed at the sacred tomb of Prince Mikhail Kutuzov-Smolensky, savior of the Fatherland, buried in the cathedral. Bronze statues of Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly stand in front of the temple at the ends of the colonnade, which hugs the cathedral square in a semicircle...
In numerous miraculous lists from the Kazan Icon, the Most Pure Mother of God, Patroness of the Orthodox Russian people, is glorified in Rus'. Of the many icons of the Mother of God revered in the Russian Orthodox Church, not one is as widespread as the Kazan icon. She is sacredly revered by all Orthodox Russia; people most often turn their attention to her in troubles and illnesses, crying out: “O zealous intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High, pray for everyone, Thy Son Christ our God... grant usefulness to all and save all, O Virgin Mother of God, for Thou art Divine protection for Your servant."
The icons of the Most Pure Mother of God are spread over the face of our Fatherland in a blessed overshadowing, truly forming the Veil of Heaven. Through her tireless intercession, the Divine Son was sent down, sacrificing Himself for the salvation of humanity. The ancient Vladimir holy image of the Mother of God protects and blesses our northern borders, the Smolensk and Pochaev icons protect the west, and to the east, to the ends of the earth, the miraculous Kazan image of our Most Pure Mother shines with rays of inescapable grace.
See the film “The Holy Sign of Russia. Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
List of churches with the patronal feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Revered copies of the icon are in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg and in the Kazan Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow.
Notes
[1] Memory 21 July.
[2] Memory of November 4.
