Translated into modern language, “sporuchnitsa” means “mediator, guarantor.” Thus, the icon “Helper of Sinners” is an image of the Mother of God, who acts not so much as a mediator, but as a guarantor, interceding for sinful people before the Lord God, counting on His mercy, and the name of the icon itself arose from the inscription on it, which goes over the head of the Mother of God “I am the Helper of sinners to My Son...”
Celebration dates:
- June 11
- 20th of March
History of the icon
From the iconography one can judge that this image is ancient, but neither the time nor the place where it was written is unknown. The only thing that can be assumed is its origin from Little Russia or Belarus, since their iconography is characterized by the presence of crowns on the heads of the Mother of God and the Child Christ.
In Russia, the icon of the Mother of God “Support of Sinners” was found in 1843 in the Oryol province. She was in the chapel at the gates of the Odrino-Nicholas Monastery, and her power was revealed by the Mother of God herself to several local residents at the same time, after which a series of miraculous healings immediately occurred: one little boy was healed of epilepsy, another of paralysis, a blind three-year-old girl received her sight.
The glory of the miraculous icon instantly spread throughout the surrounding area, and it was transferred to the cathedral church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, where a stream of believers poured in to find healing or forgiveness of sins by praying to the “Helper of Sinners” icon.
After the revolution, the icons from the church were distributed among the parishioners, and as a result, by the end of the 20th century, the icon of the Mother of God “Support of Sinners” ended up in Ukraine, which by that time had become an independent state, and even in a private collection. It was necessary to raise a substantial sum to buy back the “Sporuchnitsa” icon and return it to the walls of its native Nikolo-Odrinskaya monastery, which happened in 1996.
No less interesting is the history of the copy from the miraculous icon “Support of Sinners”. In 1846, the hieromonk of the monastery was sent to Moscow so that a suitable robe could be made for the icon. He stayed in the house of a pious parishioner, who was then sent from the monastery a list (an exact copy) of the icon in gratitude. Miraculously, this list began to flow myrrh, and the sick, anointed with this myrrh, were healed.
The miraculous list was donated in 1848 to the Moscow Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki; through prayer before him, many healings occurred, which were officially recorded
Currently in Moscow, the icon “Support of Sinners” is located in the Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki; there is also a list of it in the Church of the Deposition of the Robe in Leonov.
The history of the image
According to the iconographic style, this image can be attributed to the ancient images of the Virgin Mary, although the exact time of its composition is unknown. Historians suggest that the author of this image was born on Ukrainian or Belarusian soil: the image of a crown on the head of the Virgin Mary and the Infant God is inherent in the traditional iconography of those places.
The first historical evidence of this amazing icon dates back to the mid-19th century: during these years, the miraculous image of the “Support of Sinners” was kept in one of the monasteries of the Oryol province. According to ancient legends, many residents of the village located near the monastery had a dream one day. In it, the Most Pure Virgin told people that the icon, kept in a small chapel, bestows healing on many people.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, this image actually experienced many amazing healings. Many parents whose children suffered from serious illnesses came to the Most Pure Virgin for help and prayed to Her miraculous icon. Thanks to Her help, children were freed from nervous attacks and paralysis; there is evidence of how a three-year-old girl who was blind from birth was healed.
Soon the miraculous image was transferred to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and the news of the help of the Mother of God spread throughout many cities. Many people came to the temple to venerate the Most Pure Virgin, pray to Her and thank Her for her help.
The history of the list from this icon is no less interesting. One of the hieromonks of the Odrino-Nicholas monastery, where the miraculous image was originally kept, was sent to Moscow. There he had to worry about a suitable robe for the icon and return back with it. In Moscow, the monk was unselfishly sheltered by a pious parishioner, for which the monks of the monastery subsequently gave him a copy of the miraculous image. The parishioner placed it in a place of honor in the home iconostasis, and soon noticed that the image of the Mother of God began to stream myrrh. All the sick anointed with this world immediately received healing.
Description of the icon
By the nature of the image, the icon “Helper of Sinners” can be attributed to the iconographic type “Hodegetria” (“Guide”).
The Mother of God is depicted in scarlet robes, which symbolizes her image as the Queen of Heaven; often on Her head and the head of the Child Jesus crown
A characteristic feature of this icon is that the Child holds the right hand of the Mother of God with both hands; This gesture is not found in other images of the Mother of God. On most lists of the icon there is an inscription that gives it its name.
Description and meaning of the icon “Helper of Sinners”
“Helper of Sinners” depicts the Virgin Mary from the waist up with the Child Christ in her left hand. This makes the holy image similar to the iconographic type of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” (“Guide”). However, the “Suporuchnitsa” has a unique feature - the Infant of God on the icon clasps the Mother’s right palm with both hands. Their heads are crowned with richly decorated crowns. The icon got its name thanks to the inscription on it:
“I am the supporter of sinners to My Son: He gave Me a hand for them to hear Me; so that those who bring me joy will ask to rejoice forever through me.”
Thus, this sacred image glorifies the Mother of God as a zealous “helper,” that is, a “guarantor” or “mediator” between repentant sinners and the merciful Lord. The Monk Paisius the Svyatogorets taught:
“We ask the Mother of God for our salvation, and She asks Her Son, Who can save. And He fulfills the Mother’s request, because He loves Her very much... The Mother of God transfers all our requests to Christ. But She herself, through Her care and tenderness, fills our souls with love for Christ... The Mother of God never leaves us, she carries us on Her shoulders. The main thing is that we ourselves want this and do not kick our legs like disobedient children” (“On Prayer”).
How does the icon “Help of Sinners” help?
It is impossible to overestimate the significance of the icon of the Mother of God “Helper of Sinners.” It gives everyone hope for forgiveness and redemption if a person sincerely repents and prays for remission of sins. She truly is a Guide for all believers, for whom She vouched before the Lord and whom She directs on the true path.
Prayer in front of this icon helps strengthen faith and achieve spiritual insight, overcome despondency and bad thoughts, and get rid of sinful passions
They pray to her for the healing of physical and mental ailments, for support in difficult life situations. But no matter what difficult hour of your life you pray to the Helper of Sinners, do not forget to praise her for her guidance on the true path and intercession before the Lord.
Where is the icon “Support of Sinners” located now?
Now the shrine, which has become an assistant to many believers in finding health and happiness, is located in the same Nikolo-Odrinsky monastery.
In addition to the original icon, there are two more copies of this image.
- One of the lists is now kept in the temple in Khamovniki. St. Nicholas Church did not close even in Soviet times, during the years of persecution of Christians. Anyone could venerate the famous image; many people received healing through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos at this icon.
- Another copy of this amazing icon, famous for its miracles of healing, is kept in the Ryazan region.
Prayers before the icon
Troparion, tone 4
Now all despondency falls silent / and the fear of despair disappears, / sinners in the sorrow of their hearts find consolation / and are illuminated with light by Heavenly love: / today the Mother of God stretches out her saving hand to us / and from His Most Pure Image he speaks, saying: / I am the Helper of sinners to My Son ,/ This one gave Me a hand for them to hear Me take out./ Moreover, people, burdened with many sins,/ fall at the foot of Her icon, crying out with tears:/ Intercessor of the world, Helper of sinners, / beseech the Savior of all with your motherly prayers, / that the Divine with all-forgiveness will cover our sins/ and the bright doors of heaven will open to us,// For you are the intercession and salvation of the Christian race.
Translation: Now all sadness calms down and the fear of despair disappears, sinners receive consolation in the hardships of the heart and are brightly illuminated with Heavenly love, because today the Mother of God gives us a saving hand and from Her Most Pure Image tells us: “I am an Intercessor for all sinners before my Son, He promised Me for them that He would always hear Me.” Therefore, people burdened with many sins, fall at the foot of Her icon, crying with tears: “Intercessor of the world and Intercessor for sinners, beseech the Savior of all with Your Motherly prayers, so that with Divine forgiveness He will forgive our sins and open the bright doors of heaven to us. Because You are the protection and salvation of all Christians.”
Troparion, tone 3
To You, the ever-flowing source of mercy/ and the Helper of sinners, Your unworthy servants, Mother of God,/ falling, sorrowing, we cry out to You:/ save us from troubles, O Lady,// and mother to Your progress secretly ask for eternal salvation for all of us.
Translation: To You, the ever-flowing source of mercy and Intercessor for sinners, Your unworthy servants, Mother of God, bending our knees in sorrow, we cry: “Save us from troubles, Lady, and through Your maternal intercession ask for eternal salvation for us all.”
Kontakion, tone 1
Honest dwelling that was / of the ineffable nature of the Divine / above words and above the mind / and you are the Helper of sinners, / giving grace and healing, / like the Mother of all who reigns: / pray to Thy Son him // receive mercy for us on the Day of Judgment.
Translation: Being the revered dwelling of the ineffable Divine nature, above words and beyond understanding [above understanding] and sinful, You are the Intercessor, giving grace and healing, as the Mother of the One who reigns over all, pray to Your Son that we may receive mercy on the Day of Judgment.
First prayer
Oh, Most Blessed Lady, Protector of the Christian race, refuge and salvation of those who flow to You! We know, truly we know, that we have sinned greatly and have been angry, O Most Merciful Lady, the Son of God was born in the flesh of You: but I have many images before me of those who angered His kindness: publicans, harlots and other sinners, to whom forgiveness of their sins was given, for the sake of repentance and confession. Thou art, therefore, imagining the images of those who have pardoned my sinful souls, and at the great mercy of God, which I have received, looking, I have dared, even I, a sinner, to resort with repentance to Your compassion . O All-Merciful Lady, give me a helping hand and ask Your Son and God with your motherly and most holy prayers for forgiveness of my grave sin. I believe and confess that He Whom You gave birth to, Your Son, is truly Christ, the Son of the Living God, Judge of the living and the dead, rewarding each according to his deeds. I again believe and confess that You are the true Mother of God, the source of mercy, the consolation of those who mourn, the recovery of the lost, a strong and unceasing Intercessor to God, who loves the Christian race dearly. ́nsky, and the Helper of Repentance. Truly, there is no other help and protection for a person than You, Most Merciful Lady, and no one was ashamed of trusting in You, and by You begging God, no one was left behind. For this reason I pray to Your innumerable goodness: open the doors of Your mercy to me, who have lost my way and fallen into the depths of the depths, do not disdain my filthiness, do not despise my sinful prayer , do not leave me, the accursed one, for an evil enemy is looking to kidnap me into destruction, but beg the one who was born for me from You, Your merciful Son and God, may He forgive my great sins and deliver me from my destruction: for even I, with all who have received forgiveness, will sing and glorify the immeasurable mercy of God and Yours - unshameful intercession for me in this life and in the endless eternity. Amen.
Second prayer
My Most Blessed Queen, My Most Holy Hope, Helper of Sinners! Behold, a poor sinner stands before You! Don’t leave me, abandoned by everyone, don’t forget me, forgotten by everyone, give me joy, who knows no joy. Oh, my grievous troubles and sorrows! Oh, my sins are immeasurable! Like the darkness of the night is my life. And there is not a single strong help in the sons of men. You are my only Hope. You are my only Cover, Refuge and Affirmation. I boldly stretch out my weak hand to You and pray: have mercy on me, O All-Good One, have mercy on Your Son redeemed by the Blood, quench the pain of my much-sighing soul, tame the rage of hatred Those who offend and offend me, restore my fading strength, renew my youth, like an eaglet, allow yourself to weaken in keeping the commandments of God. Touch my troubled soul with heavenly fire and fill me with unashamed faith, unhypocritical love and known hope. May I always sing and praise You, the Most Blessed Intercessor of the world, our Protector and Supporter of all of us sinners, and I worship Your Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, with His Beginning Father and the Life-giving Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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In what cases do they pray before the icon of the Mother of God?
According to the established Christian tradition, believers pray to this image in the following cases:
- asking for healing from physical ailments;
- asking for deliverance from sadness and despondency;
- Often the Most Pure Virgin is asked for intercession for children;
- girls turn to the Mother of God with a request for help in choosing a good husband;
- young spouses ask the Most Pure Virgin to give them a long-awaited child;
- many Christians turn to the Mother of God with a request for strengthening in faith;
- At this icon, believers pray to the Most Pure Virgin to deliver them from pride;
- Prayers to the Mother of God at this icon are offered in days of epidemics and natural disasters.
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Helper of sinners
The first prayer before the icon is the Helper of Sinners. To whom shall I cry, O Lady, to whom shall I resort in my sorrow, will she accept mine and quickly heed our prayers, if not You, O All-merciful Helper, are the Joy of all our joys? Hear the present hymns and prayers offered to You for me, a sinner. And be my Mother and Patroness and Giver of Your joy to all of us. Arrange my life as you want and as you wish. I commend myself to Your protection and providence, so that I may always joyfully sing to You with everyone: Rejoice, O full of grace; Rejoice, Delighted One. Rejoice, Most Holy One; Rejoice, Glorified One forever. Amen. The second prayer in front of the icon is the Helper of Sinners, my Most Blessed Queen, my Most Holy Hope, the Helper of Sinners! Behold, a poor sinner stands before You! Don’t leave me, abandoned by everyone, don’t forget me, forgotten by everyone, give me joy, who knows no joy. Oh, my troubles and sorrows are severe! Oh, my sins are immeasurable! Like the darkness of the night is my life. And there is not a single strong help in the sons of men. You are my only Hope. You are my only Cover, Refuge and Affirmation. I boldly stretch out my weak hands to You and pray: have mercy on me, O All-Good One, have mercy on Your Son, redeemed by the Blood, quench the sickness of my much-sighing soul, tame the rage of those who hate and offend me, restore my fading strength, renew my youth, like eaglets, let us weaken in keeping the commandments of God. Touch my confused soul with heavenly fire and fill me with unashamed faith, unfeigned love and known hope. May I always sing and praise You, the Most Blessed Intercessor of the world, our Protection and Helper of all of us sinners, and I worship Your Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, with His Beginning Father and the Life-Giving Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. Third prayer before the icon, Helper of Sinners 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, Having mercy on the Lady, the Son of God born in the flesh of You: but I have seen many images of those who angered His mercy before me: tax collectors, harlots and other sinners, and to them was given forgiveness of their sins, for the sake of repentance and confession. Thou art 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 received, I dared, even a sinner, to resort with repentance to Thy compassion. O all-merciful Lady, give me a helping hand and ask Your Son and God with Your motherly and most holy prayers for forgiveness of my grave sins. I believe and confess that the One You gave birth to, Your Son, is truly Christ, the Son of the Living God, Judge of the living and the dead, rewarding everyone 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 Seeker 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, Most Merciful Lady, and no one was ashamed of trusting in You, and 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 the foul me, do not despise my sinful prayer, do not leave me the accursed, as an evil enemy seeks to kidnap me into destruction, but beg for me who was born from You, Your merciful Son and God, may He forgive my great sins and deliver me from my destruction: for I, too, with all those who have received forgiveness, will sing and glorify the immeasurable mercy of God and Your unashamed intercession for me in this life and in the endless eternity. Amen. The icon of the Helper of Sinners received its name from the content of one of the scrolls located in the four corners of the icon: “I am the Helper of Sinners to My Son.” Sporuchnitsa - means the Surety before Jesus Christ for sinning people, the vigilant Intercessor and Prayermaker for them. In 1844, the merchant wife Pochepin came to the monastery where the icon of the Helper of Sinners was located (Nikolo-Odrinsky Monastery near the city of Karachev, Oryol province) with her two-year-old son, who was suffering from severe seizures, and asked to serve a prayer service before the icon of the Helper of Sinners. A prayer service was served, and the sick child recovered. Soon other miraculous signs followed from the icon. Since then, the image of the Mother of God in the Nikolo-Odrinsky Monastery began to be considered miraculous. The icon became especially famous for its healings during the cholera epidemic in 1847/48. In 1846, the hieromonk of the Odrina monastery was sent to Moscow to build a chasuble for the miraculous icon of the Mother of God, Helper of Sinners, where he was sheltered by Lieutenant Colonel D.N. Boncheskul. In gratitude for his hospitality, an exact list (copy) of the miraculous icon, made on a linden board, was sent from the Odrina monastery. D. Boncheskul reverently placed the resulting icon of the Helper of Sinners with other icons in the home iconostasis. Soon everyone began to notice that an extraordinary shine flashed across the icon of the Helper of Sinners, and drops of oily moisture began to flow from the icon itself. They anointed several sick people with this moisture, and they were healed. Sick people began to come to the icon from all sides, prayed in front of it and received healing. In 1848, Lieutenant Colonel Boncheskul donated his icon “Supportress of Sinners” to the parish St. Nicholas Church in Khamovniki. The flow of oily liquid from the icon continued, and the deacon standing by the icon wiped off the moisture with paper and distributed it to the people. Soon the myrrh-streaming stopped, but phenomena of unusual light began in the altar of the church in the form of stars appearing and disappearing. The icon became famous for its many officially recorded healings. Currently, the miraculous icons of the Mother of God, Helper of Sinners, are located in the Nikolo-Odrinskaya hermitage in the village of Odrino, Karachevsky district, Bryansk region and in Moscow in the Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki (Lva Tolstoy St., 2, metro station "Park Kultury" (Koltsevaya))
Used materials
- Page of the official calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church on the website of the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate:
- “Index of miraculous and revered icons of the Mother of God,” Orthodox Church Calendar for 2006
, Moscow: Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church: - Icon of the Mother of God “Support of Sinners”
, calendar page on the website of the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (parish of the Moscow Patriarchate in Baltimore, USA):
[1] Orthodox Church Calendar 2015. Edition of the Monastery of St. Job of Pochaevsky in Munich (official calendar of the ROCOR), p. thirty
