In every Orthodox church there are several images of the Mother of God, where the Ever-Virgin appears before us in various guises: either as a joyful Virgin who heard the Good News, or as a tender Mother with the Divine Son, or as the majestic Queen of Heaven.
Most of these images were painted according to ancient Byzantine canons, many even go back to the icons painted by the Evangelical Luke himself. However, the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow” has a less reputable origin. Compared to canonical images, this is a remake, which does not prevent it from being glorified and showing true miracles to the world.
The history of the acquisition of the icon
The icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow” (Sorrowful Icon) received its name from a line in one of the church stichera dedicated to the Mother of God. Despite such an impressive name and theological plot, it miraculously escaped destruction.
Images of this iconographic type appeared in Rus' in the 17th century. It was a very difficult and controversial time in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. As a result of the reform of Patriarch Nikon, a schism formed in the church, which led to the emergence of the Old Believers.
Shrines that did not correspond to new church trends were mercilessly destroyed. Icons that do not fit into the official canon did not escape this fate. Patriarch Nikon personally ordered the destruction of the images of the so-called Fryazhian letter.
Fryazhsky writing is an iconographic style that came to Rus' from the West. It is characterized by increased attention to background images and their excessive detail. According to the official church, this distracts attention from the main faces.
The first of the icons “Joy of All Who Sorrow” became famous, the image painted by Ivan Bezmin in 1683. This is far from the first icon of this type: the Mother of God was painted this way even before Bezmin, but without being surrounded by secondary figures.
Ivan Bezmin was neither a monk nor a theologian: he was an artist and did not comply with any requirements imposed by the church on the very process of painting icons. And his teacher was the Italian painter Daniil Vuchters, who was invited to Russia and worked at the Armory Chamber.
Therefore, the icon of Bezmin was clearly painted under the influence of the Western art school of that time. And even the plot of the image was borrowed from there: in fact, it is a version of the popular Catholic plot “Madonna in Glory” at that time in the Orthodox reading.
The icon was painted in 1683, and already in 1687 the Great Moscow Council was held, which banned images of this type. They simply stopped being considered shrines and began to be destroyed everywhere.
Now the icon is in the church on Bolshaya Ordynka
The Bezmin icon was clearly painted to order, for a specific temple. This is indicated by the images of the saints venerated in the Transfiguration Church on Ordynka.
The icon would have perished if not for the miracle that happened in 1688. A certain Euphemia Papina was dying from a serious illness (in church sources - from an “ulcer on her side”). But in a semi-delirious dream, she heard a voice commanding her to turn to the image of the Mother of God for healing. Moreover, the voice named the name of the icon, the temple where it resides, and the method of receiving healing.
In general, they found a priest from the church on Ordynka, he came to the sick woman’s house along with the named icon and served a prayer service. Euphemia is healed!
Perhaps this incident would not have received wide publicity and would not have affected the further fate of the image if not for a small detail. Euphemia Papina was the sister of Patriarch Joachim! Thanks to him, the news of the miraculous icon spread throughout Russia.
Petersburg image
The news of the miraculous icon also reached the royal family, so at the beginning of the 18th century the image was taken from Moscow by Princess Natalya, the sister of Peter the Great.
Here we enter the shaky ground of speculation: either Natalya took the prototype, but the list remained in Moscow, or vice versa. One thing is clear: both images became revered and miraculous.
The icon was in the princess’s home church (Church of the Resurrection of Christ), which later became a parish church. And even later, after perestroika, this church was consecrated in honor of the Sorrowful Icon.
The icon almost immediately received a luxurious chasuble, decorated with the princess’s jewelry and religious relics. She changed her “robes” at least twice more, and one was richer than the other. The making of the 1858 frame took almost seven kilograms of gold and hundreds of precious stones.
It is known that the St. Petersburg Sorrowful Icon was revered by all members of the royal family, which also attracted the attention of representatives of lower classes. They prayed to her before battles, and during the smallpox epidemic, “Joy of All Who Sorrow” became the epicenter of prayers for the entire population of Northern Palmyra.
Catherine the Great also greatly revered this image. She was an enlightened autocrat, so she vaccinated both herself and the heir to the throne against smallpox. But before that, Catherine held a prayer service at the Sorrowful Icon!
Sorrowful icon with coins
After some time, towards the end of the 18th century, the Sorrowful Icon of an authentic version appeared in St. Petersburg, significantly different from the Moscow one. She later became known as the icon of “Joy to All Who Sorrow with Pennies.” At the end of the last century, this name was formalized.
It is not known for certain how this image got into the chapel of the Tikhvin Mother of God. There are many versions of its appearance, from the miraculous (it floated down the river in perfect condition) to the completely earthly (donated by one of the philanthropic entrepreneurs).
The icon received such a strange name thanks to a miracle that appeared to it in 1888. Once a terrifying thunderstorm broke out over St. Petersburg, lightning struck the Tikhvin Chapel, and a fire started.
After the liquidation of the fire, it turned out that many of the chapel’s valuables were lost without a trace, but the Sorrowful Icon miraculously survived almost in its original form. But it received a characteristic feature that distinguishes it from other similar images - a peculiar frame of pennies.
A donation mug broke next to the icon. Small coins spilled out of it and miraculously stuck to the icon. Eleven of them are still standing, the twelfth fell off over time.
Soon after this incident, the icon with pennies received its own temple. Many lists have been made from it, as well as from the Moscow image.
Icon “Joy to all who mourn with pennies”
Where is the icon
Before the revolution, the fate of the miraculous icons of the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” can be traced quite clearly. One was in Moscow, in the Transfiguration Church on Ordynka, the other two were in personal Sorrow churches in St. Petersburg.
Everything further is vague. The most tragic time for these shrines came in the 30s of the last century. All churches where the mentioned icons were kept were desecrated and closed. The Moscow icon went to the Tretyakov Gallery, the St. Petersburg icon (the one of Princess Natalia) was lost, and the icon with pennies was miraculously saved by parishioners.
The Transfiguration Church on Ordynka resumed work after the Great Patriotic War, in 1949. It is believed that the icon from the Tretyakov Gallery was returned there and remains there to this day. However, skeptics claim that the historical prototype has been lost, and in the church on Ordynka there is a later copy.
And the icon with pennies now resides in the Trinity Church in St. Petersburg. It is better known to parishioners as “Kulich and Easter” (its architecture is so original, you can’t confuse it with anything else).
Church of the Holy Trinity "Kulich and Easter"
Incredibly, in pre-revolutionary times, many copies were removed from this non-canonical icon, which later became revered, and some of them became miraculous. Most, unfortunately, have been lost, but new copies of the Sorrowful Image are gradually beginning to work wonders.
There are miraculous copies of the Sorrowful Icon in many churches at Moscow hospitals, in Tambov, Yaroslavl, Tver, Vologda, and other Russian cities. And even in the USA!
Iconography
All icons of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” are united by one feature: the full-length figure of the Mother of God and the environment in the form of saints, angels and praying people. However, there is no single principle of writing: each icon looks special.
For example, the icon painted by Ivan Bezmin depicts the Mother of God in the image of the Queen of Heaven: in rich robes and a crown, surrounded by radiance. In her arms sits little Christ, also richly dressed. This is understandable: after all, Bezmin was a court painter.
The central figures are surrounded by secondary images, and above them there is an image of the so-called “New Testament Trinity,” which was strictly prohibited under Nikon. Thus, it turns out that the Savior is present in the image twice.
In the icon with pennies, the Mother of God is closer to the people, for she is depicted in much more modest attire, her head covered with a simple white scarf. Her hands are empty, and the image of Jesus is placed above the mother's head.
Description and meaning of the icon
Many find consolation in prayer in front of this icon. After all, every person encounters something throughout their life. The Mother of God comes to the call and gives hope to everyone who turns to her for support with faith and a pure heart. She wipes away the tears of those who suffer, gives wisdom and strength during difficult trials, and does not leave them in suffering.
The divine image miraculously appeared in 1688 in the Moscow Church of the Transfiguration. The priests are still at a loss and cannot establish for certain the true origin of the shrine. But at that moment everything happened through the terminally ill novice of Patriarch Jokim. Euphemia was quickly melting away from an incurable illness. But one day in a dream she saw the appearance of the Mother of God herself. The heavenly intercessor pointed her to the icon and told her how to pray for healing from the illness.
The woman was already moving poorly and asked to bring the shrine to her house and conduct a service with the blessing of water. The priest fulfilled the last request of a woman on her deathbed. But after the prayer service, 100% healing occurred, and the sister lived in the fortress for a long time, offering prayers to the Divine Protector.
The memorial date in honor of the miraculous icon is celebrated on November 6.
A prayer service to the image of the patron saint helps in many situations:
- heals physical and mental illnesses;
- cures infants, adolescents and girls from pathology;
- brings support and benefits to those who ask;
- protects businessmen and businessmen in conducting business;
- protects on all trips - on water, on land, in the air;
- gives long-awaited consolation during sorrows and sorrows;
- strengthens family ties between wife and husband;
- helps to save the family, to survive life’s adversities together.
The appearance of the icon brought special mercy to Orthodox Christians. This is evidenced by the great number of healings that do not stop today. The divine healer is not indifferent to human sorrows and pain. Even if sometimes believers themselves lead themselves, voluntarily or unwittingly, into sadness.
When you pray to the Mother of God, it is tantamount to knocking on the door to God. After all, in order to heal and get rid of problems, it is important to work with soul and spirit, to pray continuously and sincerely and not to allow laziness.
Many Christians are interested in the question of where to find the icon. You will always find the original shrine in Moscow in the Church of Our Lady. The icon of the Holy Mother of God is also on the lists of many churches that were erected in honor of the Heavenly Intercessor:
- Vysotsky Church in the Moscow region;
- church in Sergievo;
- Church of the Moscow Diocese on Shpalernaya;
- Chapel of Our Lady in St. Petersburg;
- Holy Trinity Zelenetsky Monastery.
In front of the shrine, they pray to the Mother of God in the morning or evening with a lit candle. At the beginning of the prayer they ask to forgive all sins, and after that they pray for help and healing.
Read sequentially the troparion, kontakion and the words of the 4 prayers in order.
In order for the Protector from adversity to hear, one must adhere to the divine principle indicated in the Bible: “Knock and it will be opened to you.” This rule applies always and everywhere, it is only important to pray with faith, love, hope in your heart.
Video “Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God”
The video features a prayer in front of the icon “Joy to All Who Sorrow.”
The meaning of the icon in Orthodoxy
This is not an icon of sorrow, as many mistakenly believe, but an image of true joy from finding God. We suffer, but by sincerely repenting of our own sins, we receive deliverance from sorrows.
The meaning of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” is that the road to God is open to everyone. The Mother of God has compassion for each of us and asks her Divine Son for forgiveness for our sins. The Lord is merciful and forgives us sinners, despite the fact that with every unseemly act we multiply his suffering.
Prayer text
Hope of the unreliable, strength of the helpless, refuge of the overwhelmed, protection of the attacked, intercession of the offended, bread-loving, delight of the hungry, nectar of heavenly rest for those thirsty, Mother of the Most Blessed God, Most Blessed and Immaculate Virgin! I alone resort to You, to Your protection I wholeheartedly bow my knees, Lady. Do not despise crying and tears, the joy of those who cry!
Even if my unworthiness and the damnation of my sins terrify me, but this whole-bearing image assures me, on it Your grace and power, like an inexhaustible sea, I see: the blind who have received their sight, the galloping lame, wandering as if under the canopy of Your charity, those who have been laid to rest, and those who have abounded at all times. ; Looking at these images of pardon, he came running, blind with his spiritual eyes and lame with his spiritual feelings. Oh, Unstoppable Light! Enlighten and correct me, weigh all my sorrow, weigh all misfortune, do not despise my prayer, O Helpful One! Do not disdain me, a sinner, do not despise me, a foul one; We know that you can do everything, the greatest will, oh my good hope, my hope comes from my mother’s breast. I am committed to You from the womb of my Mother, I am left to You, do not leave me, do not depart from me, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
To my queen, my hope, to the Mother of God, friend of the orphans, and strange intercessors, those who grieve with joy, those who are offended by the patroness! See my misfortune, see my sorrow; help me as I am weak, feed me as I am strange. Weigh my offense, resolve it like a will; for I have no other help but You, no other intercessor, no good comforter, except You, O Mother of God, for you will preserve me and cover me forever and ever. Amen.
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How does the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow” help? What to pray to the image for?
This image of the Mother of God is capable of bringing comfort to any person who turns to it.
Usually the icon of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” is prayed for:
- Healing and maintaining health. Hundreds of cases of miraculous healings from serious illnesses, including oncology and paralysis, have been recorded. All of them are inexplicable from a scientific point of view.
- Resolving material problems. After prayer, parishioners receive high-paying jobs, debt forgiveness, and financial assistance from unexpected sources.
- A message of consolation and guidance in a difficult life situation. Sincere prayer brings relief in the most difficult life situations, including after the death of loved ones, family breakdown, job loss, and so on.
Not so long ago, other miracles began to be attributed to the pennies icon. She began to heal from alcoholism and drug addiction no worse than the “recognized specialist in this area”, the “Inexhaustible Chalice”!
Prayers for help to the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow”
Heavenly forces support a person in the most difficult moments of life. The prayer to the miraculous icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow” will certainly be heard, because the Mother of God has at all times been considered the intercessor and helper of the human race.
Icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow"
The origin of the icon is unknown for certain. According to legend, the image, which, in addition to the Mother of God, depicts people suffering from illnesses and angels healing them, was first revealed in the Moscow Transfiguration Church.
The icon began to be revered as miraculous after the sister of the Moscow patriarch, suffering from a serious illness, received healing. When the woman turned to the Mother of God in prayer, she heard the voice of the Most Pure Virgin. The news was sent down to the sufferer that she would receive healing from the miraculous image kept in the Church of the Transfiguration. The woman immediately asked to bring the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow” to her house for a prayer service. Immediately after the service, the woman was miraculously cured.
Since then, in front of the miraculous shrine, believers have offered prayers for salvation from mental sorrows and physical ailments. In difficult moments of life, people turn to her with requests for help, and the Mother of God helps a person overcome difficulties and guides him on the right path.
Prayers for help
Prayer before the icon of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” should be performed only when peace reigns in the soul. It is necessary to expel negative emotions from yourself, especially in relation to other people, and ask the Mother of God for forgiveness of sins. Only then can you begin to pray for help.
- Hope of the afflicted, strength of the helpless, intercessor of the offended, Most Holy Mother of the Most Blessed God, Holy and Immaculate Virgin! I resort to you alone in sorrows, trusting in your endless mercy. The unworthiness of my sins terrifies me, but I give my fate to your bright image, which gave sight to the blind, healing to the suffering, and peace to the hopeless. Enlighten and correct me, deliver me from all sorrow and misfortune, help me in spiritual and earthly labors, may they serve for the glory of Your bright name. Do not bypass me with your endless mercy, do not leave me without your divine grace, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.
- Blessed Queen, Most Pure Mother of God, refuge for the orphans, joy for the sorrowing, protection for the offended! See my misfortune and sorrow, help me, the weak one. Resolve my difficulty, for I have no other protection and help except You, the Good Comforter. Accept my prayer, help me cleanse myself of sins and show me the righteous path. Protect me from the slander of the enemy and unkind people, be a persistent helper all the days of my life. May Your holy intercession and prayers to Your Son and God Our Savior protect me. Amen.
Holy powers never leave a person without help.
Miracles associated with the icon
Behind each of the famous images there are many miraculous cases associated mainly with the healing of serious illnesses and assistance in resolving the most difficult life situations.
For example, the Sorrowful Icon with pennies almost immediately began to perform miracles of healing. After praying to this image, a paralyzed peasant, chained to his bed for many years, rose to his feet.
But the best known case is that of the little St. Petersburger Kolya Grachev. The boy and his sister, children of wealthy parents, suddenly became orphans. Kolya had a hard time with the death of his father and mother, and epileptic attacks began to overtake him more and more often.
The unfortunate boy was getting worse, the grieving sister was already preparing for the funeral, but the icon of the Mother of God showed another miracle. The Mother of God appeared to the dying Kolya in a dream and said that if he visited the chapel where the coins fell, he would be healed. This is what happened when the sister brought the boy to the Mother of God with pennies.
The case of Kolya Grachev gained the widest public resonance. They even wrote about him in the press far beyond Russia. And the house where the Grachevs lived was bought by the church.
Appearance of the Mother of God to Nikolai Grachev
A similar case was recorded a little later, when parishioner Vera Belonogina was healed of consumption. The doctors had already given up on the unfortunate woman, but she heard a voice commanding her to pray to the icon. Vera went to the chapel, prayed, and when she returned home, she was surprised to notice that the illness had gone away!
Texts of prayers to the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”
The miraculous icon is like a window opening towards the Mother of God. The Mother of God hears our prayers, intercedes for us before God, he helps and shows miracles. Therefore, you need to pray not to the icon, but to the Mother of God.
First prayer
Oh, Most Holy Lady and Mother of God, Most High Cherub and Most Honest Seraphim, God's Chosen Maiden, Reclamation of the lost and Joy to all who mourn! Give consolation to us, who are in perdition and sorrow; Have you no other refuge and help than the imams? You alone are our Intercessor of joy, and as the Mother of God and the Mother of Mercy, standing at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, you can help us, for no one who comes to You leaves in shame. Hear us now, on the day of destruction and sorrow, before Your icon, falling down and praying to You with tears: take away from us the sorrows and troubles that are upon us in this temporary life, and make us not deprived. Your all-powerful intercession and eternal endless joy in the Kingdom of the Son and God ours. Amen.
Second prayer
Oh, Most Holy and Most Blessed Virgin, Lady Theotokos! Look with Your merciful eye on us, standing before Your holy icon and praying to You with tenderness; raise us up from the depths of sin, enlighten our minds, darkened by passions, and heal the ulcers of our souls and bodies. There are no imams of other help, no imams of other hope, except for You, the Lady. You weigh all our weaknesses and sins, we resort to You and cry out: do not leave us with Your Heavenly help, but appear to us ever and with Your ineffable mercy and bounty, save and have mercy on us who are perishing . Grant us correction of our sinful life and deliver us from sorrows, troubles and illnesses, from sudden death, hell and eternal torment. You, Queen and Lady, are the quick Helper and Intercessor of all who flow to You and the strong refuge of repentant sinners. Grant us, O Most Blessed and All-Immaculate Virgin, the Christian end of our life to be peaceful and shameless, and grant us, through Your intercession, to dwell in the Abodes of Heaven, where the unceasing voice of the vain with joy he glorifies the Most Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages . Amen.
Prayer three
Oh, Most Blessed Lady, Protector of the Christian race, refuge and salvation of those who resort to You! We know, truly we know, how much we have sinned and been angry, O Most Merciful Lady, the Son of God was born in the flesh of You. But to the imams there are many images of those who angered His mercy: tax collectors, harlots and other sinners, to whom forgiveness of sins will be given for the sake of repentance and confession. Thou art, therefore, imagining the images of those who have been pardoned by the hand of my sinful soul, and looking upon the great mercy of God, which I have received, I am bold, and I, a sinner, will run with repentance to Thy blessing. diyu. Oh, 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 everyone according to his deeds; I believe again 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 wrangler of repentance; Truly, there is no other help and protection for us except You, Most Gracious Lady, and no one else, trusting in You, was ashamed when, 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 my filth, do not despise sinful prayer mine, do not leave me, the accursed one, for an evil enemy is looking to kidnap me into destruction, but beg for me Your merciful Son and God, born of You, may He forgive my great sins and deliver me from my destruction, as yes and I, with all who have received forgiveness, will sing and glorify the immeasurable mercy of God The living and Your unashamed intercession for me in this life and in the endless eternity . Amen.
You should not think that the Mother of God helps only those who repeat the words of the canonical prayers. You can pray in your own words, but sincerely hoping for help and salvation - the Intercessor will definitely quench your sorrows and open the way to joy!
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19.10.21
In front of the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow”
Troparion, voice 2:
For all those who grieve, the joy and the offended are the intercessor, and the hungry for the nourisher, the strange consolation, the overwhelmed refuge, the visiting of the sick, the weak protection and intercessor, the rod of old age, You are the Mother of the Most High God, the Most Pure One: we strive, we pray, to be saved by Thy servant.
Kontakion, tone 6:
There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope, except for You, the Lady. Help us, we rely on You and boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.
Prayer:
Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Most Blessed Mother of Christ God our Savior, Joy to all the sorrowing, visiting the sick, protection and intercessor of the weak, widows and orphans, patroness of the sad, all-reliable comforter of sad mothers, strength of weak infants, and always ready help and faithful refuge for all the helpless! You, O All-Merciful One, have been given grace from the Almighty to intercede for everyone and deliver them from sorrow and illness, for you yourself have endured fierce sorrow and illness, looking at the free suffering of Your beloved Son and Him crucified on the cross in sight, when Simeon’s weapon was predicted by Your heart let's pass. Moreover, O beloved Mother of children, heed the voice of our prayer, comfort us in the sorrow of those who exist, as a faithful intercessor of joy: standing before the throne of the Most Holy Trinity, at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God, you can, if you wish, ask for everything useful to us. For this reason, with heartfelt faith and love from the soul, we fall to You as the Queen and Lady and we dare to cry out to You in psalms: hearing, Daughters, and see, and incline Your ear, hear our prayer, and deliver us from current troubles and sorrows; You fulfill the requests of all the faithful, as if they were joyful, and you have given peace and consolation to their souls. Behold our misfortune and sorrow: show us Thy mercy, send comfort to our hearts wounded by sorrow, show and surprise us sinners with the riches of Thy mercy, give us tears of repentance to cleanse our sins and quench the wrath of God, and with a pure heart, good conscience and With undoubted hope we resort to Your intercession and intercession: accept, our all-merciful Lady Theotokos, our earnest prayer offered to You, and do not reject us, unworthy, from Your mercy, but grant us deliverance from sorrow and illness, protect us from all slander of the enemy and slander human, be our constant helper all the days of our life, so that under Your maternal protection we will always achieve our goals and be preserved by Your intercession and prayers to Your Son and God our Savior, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with His beginningless Father and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
