Today there are many famous icons in the world that are miraculous and help people at their requests and prayers. Feodorovskaya is one of these. This image has a fairly ancient history of miracles, discoveries, and healings. Believers turn to her in many sorrows and sorrows, receiving consolation through their prayers.

In this article we will look at various legends that mention the icon of the Mother of God of Feodorovskaya, what this image helps with, how they pray in front of it, as well as the history of its discovery.

Legends about the appearance of the icon

The first mention of this image appeared around the middle of the 13th century. However, it was written by the Evangelist Luke. There are several legends about the rediscovery of this icon in Rus', and they are all quite contradictory. But for the first time the image was found in an old wooden chapel near the city of Gorodets. This place was marked by grace, and after some time the Gorodetsky Feodorovsky Monastery was built here.

The further history of the icon of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God is rather vague. It is believed that it was in this image that he blessed his son Alexander Nevsky for marriage in 1239. He was married to the Polotsk princess Bryachislava. A sign of this action is the second image, which contains on its reverse the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God, namely St. much Paraskeva, which is also called Friday. She is considered the patroness of the Polotsk princely house.

Be that as it may, after 1238, when the country was invaded by Batu Khan, the chapel, like many other buildings, was looted and completely destroyed. She was simply burned. Everyone thought that the icon was lost. However, very little time passed, and the image was found again. And here there are several legends about this event.

Rediscovery of an icon

The most popular legend, which mentions the Feodorovskaya icon of the Mother of God (photo presented below) and its re-discovery, is the following. In the city of Kostroma a warrior appeared who walked through all the streets with this image. The next day she was found by Vasily Yaroslavovich, the younger brother of Alexander Nevsky. This happened on the banks of the Zaprudny River. This event happened in 1263. The found image was identified by residents of Gorodets. And the warrior who brought it was the martyr. Theodore Stratelates.

The second legend regarding the location differs only in that it was found in 1239 (a year after it went missing), and Vasily Kvashnya, the then prince of Kostroma, found it. The image was discovered on a tree near the river, and then transferred to the temple. The icon immediately became revered and capable of working miracles. Subsequently, more than one prayer before the icon of the Theodore Mother of God saved this city from various misfortunes.

Study of the icon and its iconography

It should be noted that there is some debate among experts regarding the origin of the icon. Some believe that it was painted to order from the Vladimir icon (but disagree on who it was for), since the iconography of these images is very similar. Both of them can be attributed to the “Tenderness” type, but the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God has a number of features and distinctive features.

For example, the main feature of images of this type is preserved - the Baby turns to the Mother and hugs her by the neck, touching her cheek with his cheek. However, the difference from the Vladimir image is that little Jesus sits on the Mother’s hand. This image is more typical for icons of the “Hodegetria” type. Next, the Baby’s feet are depicted in such a way that it seems that he is taking a step. Moreover, the hands of the Mother and the cloth of Maforia are depicted in such a way that a symbolic bowl is formed into which the feet of Christ are lowered. This is a symbolic image of a vessel into which prosphora is lowered and wine is poured during the Eucharist.

The Virgin's clothes are purple, which in ancient times was a symbol of royal power. And even later, in the Christian tradition, the meaning of this color began to refer to the suffering of Christ. The Baby's clothes symbolize his incarnation. Christ's cloak is covered with golden assist rays. In ancient times, the color gold was not only a divine symbolism, but emperors were also wrapped in cloaks of this color during burial. Therefore, this detail of the vestment has a double meaning.

The naked leg of Christ symbolizes the memory of his suffering. In general, the entire image of the Feodorovskaya icon is not only the caressing of the Mother and Son, but also their farewell. This can be seen on icons that relate to the mourning and burial of Christ. The Mother of God in these images has a mournful face.

A distinctive feature of the Feodorovsky image is also that on its reverse there is another image of the saint, presumably Paraskeva Friday. There are several options for the appearance of this image. According to one of them, the image was painted when Alexander Nevsky was married, and the saint was the patroness of the bride's house. According to the second version, the icon was considered altarpiece, since it once had a shaft at the bottom (which directly indicates this). Similar icons were once made in Byzantium.

The meaning of the icon

For the Russian people, the significance of the Feodorovskaya icon is very great. At one time, she saved the country from various misfortunes more than once. For example, in 1272, Prince Vasily set out from Kostroma on a campaign against the Tatars, taking with him the image of the Mother of God. According to eyewitnesses, it emitted bright rays that scorched enemies. Thanks to this, the victory was won.

The icon became more famous after the end of the Time of Troubles, when Mikhail Romanov ascended the throne. This happened in 1613. Since then, the image was considered the patron saint of the royal family, numerous copies were written from it, some have survived to this day. It should be noted that believers still reverence the icon of the Mother of God of Feodorovskaya. You can read below how it helps ordinary Christians.

What does an icon help with?

Not only the country is patronized and assisted by the icon of the Mother of God of Feodorovskaya. How does image help in everyday life? She is considered the patroness of women, those who are getting married or just planning, as well as expectant mothers. If there are any disagreements in your family, and you want to maintain peace and find lost understanding, then you should also turn to the image.

Help in difficult childbirth or the opportunity for a woman to become pregnant - this is what the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God most often helps with. The prayer to get pregnant is quite simple; it needs to be read every day. You need to approach the Mother of God humbly, with a pure soul and a great desire to give birth to a child. Today there are many cases where such prayers actually helped. And besides this, women also got rid of their ailments, which also contributed to a successful pregnancy.

Prayer and Akathist to the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. Help in worldly affairs

You can turn to the Feodorovskaya icon in different cases (as was written above). Most often this is done by women. There are several prayers to read on different occasions. Of course, you need to turn to the Mother of God every day; for this you can purchase a small home image. But it is advisable to go to the place where the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God is located. Praying before this image will bring more benefits, but your heart must be pure, and you must really desire a child or a change in the situation in your family. And also be prepared for these changes.

Usually, to be able to get pregnant, you need to read almost the entire akathist to the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God. And then a prayer. It is advisable to talk about this with the priest so that he can give instructions.

Miracles associated with the icon

Throughout the history of the image, the icon of the Mother of God of Feodorovskaya has seen considerable miracles. The very first miracle was her rescue from the burning temple, when it was destroyed by the Tatar-Mongol troops, and then her amazing discovery. When the icon was transferred to the cathedral in Kostroma, in 1260 it saved the city from the destruction of the same Mongols who were attacking Rus' at that time. The rays of light emanating from the image forced the opponents to flee, and the prince ordered the installation of a cross and later a stone chapel at the site of victory. Since then, the Feodorovskaya icon has been considered the protector of the Russian Land.

Less global miracles also occurred, but just as significant. People who began to go on pilgrimage to the miraculous icon began to find healing (this was especially true for women). Numerous families who had been unable to conceive a child for a long time suddenly received this opportunity through their prayers. Women who had illnesses and, as a result, also could not conceive a child, recovered and gave birth. The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God helped them in all this. What they pray to the image for and why they turn to it is now clear.

Icon Veneration Day

As you can see, the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God helps in different situations, and everyone is rewarded according to their prayers. And celebrations in honor of this image take place twice a year. The first time this happens is on the twenty-seventh of March according to the new style (or the fourteenth of March according to the old style), and the second time on the twenty-ninth of August according to the new style (the sixteenth according to the old style).

In the first version, this is a tribute to tradition, a memory of the fact that in 1613 the Time of Troubles ended, and Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich ascended the throne. It should be noted that this number was fixed only in 1620; earlier the holiday was determined by fasting. It must also be said that an instruction was issued that this day is equivalent to the Feast of the Annunciation and is celebrated with great pomp even on days of fasting. And the second option is dedicated to the day of the miraculous discovery of the icon.

Churches and temples that are consecrated in honor of the icon, as well as places where you can find its lists

The Feodorovskaya icon of which has great power, is ancient and miraculous. Throughout the history of its existence, many lists have been written from it (most of which were created after Mikhail Romanov ascended the throne), which were placed in many churches. Some of them were also consecrated in her honor. Let's look at the list of temples.

1. Feodorovsky Cathedral, which is located in the Feodorovsky Monastery in the ancient city of Gorodets.
2. Theodore Sovereign's Cathedral. It was built in Tsarskoe Selo and belonged to the royal family.
3. city ​​of St. Petersburg. It was built for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Construction was completed in 1913. Also this year its chapels were consecrated.
4. Feodorovskaya Church in the city of Yaroslavl. It has an ancient history, it was built back in 1680.

Now you need to note in which churches and cathedrals you can find the icon. The most important miraculous image is located in the city of Kostroma, in the Epiphany Cathedral. It is this icon that has been around for more than eight centuries; it was she who helped Alexander Nevsky, and after that she was the intercessor and patroness of the royal Romanov family. A copy of this image, which is revered, is located in Tsarskoe Selo in the city of Pushkin. It was written for Tsar Nicholas II in honor of the fifteenth year of his reign.

Today, a copy of the Feodorovskaya icon is located in the Kashinsky Klobukov Monastery, which is located in Tver. It has a fairly ancient history and was abandoned for some time. In 1994, it was restored, and in 2004, the Theodore Icon was brought to the monastery, thus consecrating a copy of it, which was written specifically for the monastery. The last one was left there.

The image can also be found in other churches, for example, in the Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki, in the small cathedral in Moscow.

Troparion, tone 4

With the coming of Your venerable icon, O Mother of God, the God-protected city of Kostroma, now rejoiced, like ancient Israel to the ark of the Covenant, flows to the image of Your face and our God incarnate from You, and through Your Motherly intercession to Him you may ever intercede for all who come under the shadow of Your shelter, peace. and great mercy.

Kontakion, tone 8

Offering thanksgiving to Thee, Thy servants, the Mother of God, for everyone in whose image Thou hast done good to our city, from the depths of our souls we cry out to Thee and pray: do not cease, O Lady, with Mother’s prayers to Thy Son and our God, bestow all that is good and saving to all, with faith and love crying out to Ti: Rejoice, Virgin, praise to Christians.

PRAYER TO THE HOLY VIRGIN IN FRONT OF HER ICON OF THEODOROVSKAYA

O Most Merciful Lady, Queen, Mother of God, accept our humble prayer, and do not reject us, our intercession and refuge, and do not disdain us, unworthy, but, like the Merciful One, do not stop praying, Whom You gave birth to, may He grant us forgiveness of many of our sins , may he save us, like the news of destinies.
Have mercy on us, Lady, have mercy on us, for there is no salvation for us from works. It is also true that we cry to Thee: have mercy on Thy servants and show our barren heart fruitful in good deeds. Look down on us, unworthy, for You are our hope and protection, life and light to our hearts. As you raised up the Everlasting Light from Your womb, illuminate our soul, O Pure One, and drive away all darkness in our hearts. Grant us tenderness, repentance and contrition of heart. Grant us all the days of our lives to do the will of Thy Son and our God and to please Him alone in everything.
O Mother of God, do not stop praying to the One born of You for all those who flow with faith to this miraculous image of Yours, and give them quick help and consolation in sorrows and misfortunes and suffering, deliver them from slander and human malice, from enemies visible and invisible and all kinds of needs and sorrows. Save our fatherland, this city and all cities and countries from all troubles and needs, and make the existence of our God merciful to us, turn away all His anger against us, and deliver us from His due and righteous rebuke.
O God-loving Lady, adornment of the angels, glory to the martyrs and joy to all the saints, pray to the Lord with them, that he may grant us in repentance to end the course of our life. In the hour of death, Most Holy Virgin, deliver us from the power of demons and condemnation, and the answer, and the terrible test, and bitter ordeals, and eternal fire, so that, having been honored with the glorious Kingdom of God, we magnify Thee and glorify Christ, our God, incarnate from Thee, To him be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Akathist to the Holy Mother of God in front of her Icon of Feodorovsk

Kontakion 1

Ikos 1

Kontakion 2

Seeing Your icon, Most Holy Virgin, standing on a tree, the pious prince of Kostroma shuddered with horror, wondering why this vision had happened. I want him to receive it, and from above I will withhold it from him, but I can’t: having realized how miraculous the appearance of that icon is, I cried out to God Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Desiring with reason, the pious prince, the coming of Your wonderful image to the city of Kostroma, Mother of God, with a soul filled with joy, you surrendered to the guidance of God, and bow your knees, crying out to You in fear:
Rejoice, O Virgin, who showed Your image wonderfully; Rejoice, Blessed One, who shows us mercy in the manifestation of Your image.
Rejoice, you who provide for all who honor your Son; Rejoice, you who give gifts to all who ask You, according to the measure of faith, leading to salvation.
Rejoice, you who show the path of truth to those who have gone astray; Rejoice, raising our minds to the heavenly world with your miracles.
Rejoice, remover of confusion from doubtful thoughts; Rejoice, you who glorify you always glorify you.
Rejoice, teaching us purity through Your purity; Rejoice, through Your purity you reprove our uncleanness.
Rejoice, you who accept our prayers; Rejoice, you who do not sweep away sobs and tears.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 3

The pious prince recognized the power of God in the ascension of Your wondrous image, Mother of God, and in the manifestation he saw Your mercy for everyone who wants to receive salvation, saying: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having the thought of acquiring the given Heavenly treasure, Your bright Face, Mother of God, secondly stretched out your sovereign hand to the lower image: having again seen its ascent, you will soon go to the city and tell about those who were to the Consecrated Council, so that when they come and see Your icons, they will cry out with him for faithfulness. :
Rejoice, Queen of Heaven and earth; Rejoice, Throne of the King of Kings.
Rejoice, Immaculate Virgin; rejoice. Mother of the Impregnable Light.
Rejoice, Most Honest Cherub; Rejoice, Most Glorious Seraphim without comparison.
Rejoice, magnified by the Heavenly Powers; Rejoice, blessed one from all earthly beings.
Rejoice, inexpressible joy of the Angels; Rejoice, royal crown of all the prophets and apostles.
Rejoice, Orthodoxy protects the Church of Christ; Rejoice, all superstitious teachings and heresies have been overthrown.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 4

Having a storm inside with bewildered thoughts, the Consecrated Council with psalms and spiritual songs abyssed to see Your image, Unartificed. Seeing him standing marvelously on the tree and shining with splendid beauty, he said: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing people’s venerable icons, O Mother of God, coming, I worshiped them as if they were You, and with tenderness and tears I cried out to You: Rejoice, O blessed Virgin. in wives, in Your womb you bore the Bearer of all things; Rejoice, through the birth of Your Son you have revealed salvation to all the world.
Rejoice, you who united people with God; Rejoice, O Exceeding Heaven, who delivers us from the oath.
Rejoice, you who guide us to Eternal Life; Rejoice, Lady of the world.
Rejoice, God's favor towards mortals; Rejoice, mortals have boldness towards God.
Rejoice, thou who observest the good in goodness; Rejoice, turning the wicked to the good path.
Rejoice, you who have mercy on those who come running under the shadow of Your shelter; Rejoice, you who bestow all that is necessary for life and piety to those who trust in Thee.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 5

Like the God-bearing star, people saw your icon, O Blessed Virgin, and like a many-bright lamp you placed it in the holy cathedral church, rejoicing and crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

When the inhabitants of the city of Gorodets saw Your image, O Lady, standing in the temple of the city of Kostroma, and holding the Infant Jesus in Your hand, they were overcome with grief: before his departure came from their city. We, overjoyed by Your favor to our city, bring You gifts, and with love kissing Your holy image, we cry out to You:
Rejoice, Star, the Sun of Truth revealed to us; Rejoice, thou who loved this country.
Rejoice, finding for You those who seek; Rejoice, filling the hearts of the faithful with inexpressible joy.
Rejoice, inexhaustible treasure of grace; Rejoice, ever-flowing source of mercy.
Rejoice, you who save us from grave troubles; Rejoice, thou who deliverest from the deadly plague.
Rejoice, Intercessor of the whole world; Rejoice, Healer of all who are ill.
Rejoice, incomparable beauty; Rejoice, unspeakable kindness.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 6

The preachers of God-bearing life saw Your image, Mother of God. When each one returned to his own country, he announced his coming and the miracles that would come from him, singing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

The grace that has arisen from Your wondrous image, O Pure One, has strengthened the faith of the weak, and gladdened the hearts of the faithful with love. For this reason we cry out rejoicingly to Ti:
Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, illuminating us with the light of Heavenly truth; Rejoice, you who drive away the darkness of sin from us.
Rejoice, thou who through Thy miracles brings us to knowledge of God; Rejoice, you who strive for piety among all repentant sinners.
Rejoice, strong intercession of all who flow to You; Rejoice, affirmation of those who are mentally weak.
Rejoice, you who restore those who are weak in faith; Rejoice, quiet haven in the sea for those overwhelmed by life.
Rejoice, revealing the evil advice of the sons of perdition; Rejoice, subduing the exalted pride of the enemies of our fatherland.
Rejoice, Power of the Orthodox Tsars; Rejoice, all Christians Praise.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 7

Although Thy Son, Mother of God, glorified Thy holy icon in the city of Kostroma, on the day of Thy Dormition I commanded the holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates to carry it around this city, so that everyone who sees this miracle will cry out to Him with a grateful heart: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

The Lord show us a new miracle through Your prayers, Mother of God, when the temple burned down, Your holy image was placed in it, keep it in the ashes unharmed from the fire, and so transform those who burned down into joy. We, who know this miracle, glorify Ti like this:
Rejoice, Unburnt Kupino; Rejoice, fiery Pillar, instruct those who exist in darkness.
Rejoice, O Belly, gilded by the Spirit, who has contained the inconceivable God; Rejoice, golden censer, like fragrant incense, ever raising Your prayers for us to God the Son.
Rejoice, O Rod of Aaron for the coming into the world of Thy Son; Rejoice, Fleece of Gideon, watered with the grace of God for our salvation.
Rejoice, uncut Mountain, from which the cornerstone Christ was cut off; Rejoice, animated Temple, in which the physical Divinity dwells.
Rejoice, guardian of virginity; Rejoice, blessing of marriage.
Rejoice, thou who loved the Lord more than all; Rejoice, exalted above all others by Him.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 8

Having seen a strange miracle, the icon of the Mother of God standing in the air, as if I were holding it with the hands of angels, when the second burning of the temple, in which this icon stood, we will reject this world, turning our minds to Heaven: for this reason the wonderful icon of the Mother of God has been given to us, yes looking at the heavenly soul we think, and not the earthly one, crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

You are not separated from the Highest Villages and from the lower ones, O Mother of God, with Your miracles enlightening all who come to You by faith: for this reason you hear this from us:
Rejoice, Mother of Christ our God, who dwells in Heaven; Rejoice, you who do not leave us on earth.
Rejoice, for the sake of Your Majesty, surrounded by Angels in Heaven; Rejoice, for the sake of Your glory, glorified by men on earth.
Rejoice, for all the Heavenly Powers serve You; Rejoice, for you, according to God, are praised by the Cherubim and Seraphim.
Rejoice, contemplating the face of God in Heaven; Rejoice, before the throne of Your Son, the Mother of God stretches out Your hand for us in prayer.
Rejoice, covering us who are on earth from all evil with Your omophorion; Rejoice, thou who removest the faithful from all soul-destroying deeds.
Rejoice, who through the birth of the Son of God opened the doors of the Kingdom of Christ to us; Rejoice, you who delight the souls of the faithful with the hope of receiving heavenly blessings.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 9

Every angelic nature extols Thee, O Virgin, great for the sake of Thy love for the Christian race: invisible and unapproachable, like the Mother of God who ascended from earth to Heaven, I see and approach myself in Thy most pure image to all who sing to Thy Son: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The prophets of many things, like mute fish, we see about You, Mother of God: they are perplexed to talk about the glorious miracles that happened from the appearance of Your icons. We are silently amazed and gratefully crying out to You:
Rejoice, recovery of sight for the blind; Rejoice, lame walking.
Rejoice, you who heal from dark and evil spirits; Rejoice, having driven away the enemies of our land with the rays from Your Most Pure Image.
Rejoice, Thou who hast given Thy vision to the sick; Rejoice, you who grant healing to those who pray to your revealed icon.
Rejoice, you who raise up the paralytic from the bed of sickness; Rejoice, you who resolve dumb lips.
Rejoice, you who return us from the captivity of the enemy; Rejoice, quenching the fierce passions of the flesh.
Rejoice, touching the souls of the faithful with Thy ineffable mercy; Rejoice, you who encourage the discouraged with your unspeakable love for mankind.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 10

If you want to maintain the purity of the house-building of the Orthodox Church, O Pure One, and to establish the scepter of the Russian power with your wonderful icon, you have placed it in the heart of the blessed sovereign Mikhail Feodorovich to receive the royal crown of the Russian land, so that all who see can see that the Most High owns the kingdom, and to whom he wants he gives it, and they will cry out. To him: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

You are an insurmountable wall, O Virgin Mother of God, to all who come running to You; no one who flows to You quickly leaves. For this reason, we are humbled by Your mercy, in the tenderness of our souls we proclaim to You:
Rejoice, solid wall, protecting from enemies visible and invisible; Rejoice, strong protection of those who placed their trust in you.
Rejoice, pure mirror of the knowledge of truth; Rejoice, maintaining the faith has taken away the strength.
Rejoice, saving Christian cities and countries from their enemies by Your intercession; Rejoice, thou who combatt the faithful tsar.
Rejoice, thou who dwellest in the world in cities; Rejoice, you who prosper in good behavior.
Rejoice, thou who by the power of Thy prayers turns evil thoughts into nothingness; Rejoice, you who destroy the strength of your neighbor's enemies.
Rejoice, instruction to youth; Rejoice, maintenance of old age.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 11

All singing is overcome, striving to meet the multitude of Thy bounties: for when we bring songs equal to the sand of the sea to Thee, the Virgin Mother of God, we do nothing worthy of what Thou hast bestowed upon us who cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

We see the light-receiving candle, which appeared in ancient times, in Your holy icon, Virgin Mary, when You protected our city from the destruction of the enemies of our land by the rays emanating from Your holy icon. For this reason, falling to her with faith and kissing her with love, we cry out to Ti:
Rejoice, Mother, of the Eternal Light of Christ, enlightening the souls of His teachings; Rejoice, by the grace of God you bring unbelievers to faith in God.
Rejoice, traveler who travels; Rejoice, needy sailing helmsman.
Rejoice, you who save us from all sorrow, anger and need; Rejoice, preserving you from famine, destruction, cowardice and fire.
Rejoice, deliverer from foreigners; Rejoice, protector from internecine warfare.
Rejoice, in Your holy icon you have risen like the sun within the Kostroma region; Rejoice, here you have magnified the royal branch.
Rejoice, for through You kingdoms are established; Rejoice, for through You kings are crowned.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 12

The grace that you received from God of your Son, the Virgin Mother of God, and that of old poured out on all those who resort to your image, do not now deprive us of your rich mercy, grant us repentance for sins, so that with a pure heart and lips we cry out to your beloved Son and our God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing Your mercies and miracles, we all praise You, Mother of God, and like ancient Israel to the Icon of the Covenant we flow to the image of Your face, and from the depths of our souls we cry: lift up Your hand to Your Son, that He may give us all that is good and saving with faith and love crying out Tee:
Rejoice, our consolation in sorrows; Rejoice, quenching our sorrows.
Rejoice, our endless joy; Rejoice, lordship and joy of heart.
Rejoice, our strong hope; Rejoice, dear friend.
Rejoice, strange refuge; Rejoice, patroness of the offended.
Rejoice, justification for the slandered; Rejoice, protection of good things.
Rejoice, healing of my body; Rejoice, salvation of my soul.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 13

O our Most Merciful Intercessor, for the great sake of Thy mercy, who bestowed upon our fatherland and our city Thy miraculous icon for sanctification, consolation and protection for us, receiving the present praise, deliver us from every evil situation, Thy servants, granting us health and salvation, victory and victory over our enemies. , and free us all from the eternal torments of freedom, crying out with our lips, souls and hearts: Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)

Ikos 1

The angel Gabriel was sent from God quickly to the city of Nazareth to the Most Pure Virgin Mary, and he came to Her and said: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women. Imitating the angelic voice, we, sinners, are filled with the joy of thanksgiving in our hearts, before the revealed image of Your blessings we dare to offer up to You, Most Holy Theotokos.
Rejoice, blessed branch from the root of David; Rejoice, having been sacrificed to God by the vow of your parents.
Rejoice, holy righteous Joachim and Anna, Daughter of God; Rejoice, you were brought into the temple of God for three years and raised there.
Rejoice, you who surprised everyone there with your humility and purity; Rejoice, you who have been honored with angelic conversations.
Rejoice, Virgin, who humbly accepted the gospel of the conception of God the Word; Rejoice, chosen Youth, overshadowed by the power from above for the conception of God the Word.
Rejoice, you who have revealed the secret of the incarnation of the Son of God, hidden in God for centuries; Rejoice, O Lamb, who gave birth to the Lamb Christ, who took away the sins of the world.
Rejoice, through You we are delivered from the torments of hell; Rejoice, for through You we are worthy of Eternal Life.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Kontakion 1

To the chosen Voivode, the Most Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, our Intercessor and the shameless intercession of Christians, with the appearance of the wondrous icon, who gave His joy to the land of Russia, and to all the faithful children of the Church who enlightened us, we earnestly offer thanks to Thee, Mother of God, and falling upon Thy wonderful image we tenderly say: save, O Lady, and have mercy Thy servants calling: Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

THEODOROVSKAYA ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of Godfor three centuries she was the patroness of the Royal House of Romanov, the sovereign Intercessor of the Russian state. It is this icon that represents the end of the Time of Troubles and the beginning of the restoration of the Russian state after many years of humiliation and disorder.

According to legend, the Theodore Icon was painted by the holy evangelist Luke and is close in iconography to the Vladimir Icon, but unlike the latter, the left leg of the Infant Christ in the icon is bare to the knee.

The Feodorovskaya icon received its name from the Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, the father of Saint Alexander Nevsky, who bore the name Theodore in holy baptism in honor of Saint Theodore Stratilates. According to legend, it was found by his elder brother, Saint George (Yuri) Vsevolodovich, in a dilapidated wooden chapel near the ancient city of Gorodets - later the Gorodetsky Feodorovsky Monastery was built on that site.

It was with this image of the Mother of God that Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich in 1239 blessed his son - the blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky - for marriage with the Polotsk princess Bryachislava. This is confirmed by the peculiarity of the Feodorovskaya icon: on its reverse side there is an image of the holy martyr Paraskeva, called Friday, the heavenly patroness of the Polotsk princely house.

One of the significant events in the history of our country is also associated with the name of the Feodorovskaya icon. On February 21 (Old Art.), 1613, at the Zemsky Sobor in Moscow, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the first Russian Tsar from the boyar family of the Romanovs, was elected sovereign of all Rus'. The 16-year-old youth was the son of Fyodor Nikitich, (monastically Philaret, future Patriarch of Moscow), and Ksenia Ivanovna (monastically Martha) Romanov. On March 14, 1613, an embassy of the Zemsky Sobor arrived at the Ipatiev Monastery in the city of Kostroma to notify Mikhail Feodorovich and his mother nun Martha about their election to the throne. At the same time, the Feodorovskaya icon was brought from the Assumption Cathedral in Kostroma to the monastery in a religious procession. After much persuasion, the ambassadors of the Zemsky Sobor managed to convince young Mikhail Romanov and his mother to accept election to the throne. Nun Martha blessed her son with the Feodorovskaya iconto the kingdom with the words: “ Behold, to You, O Mother of God, Most Pure Mother of God, in Your Most Pure Hands, Lady, I commend my child, and as you wish, arrange for something useful for him and for all Orthodox Christianity».

Since that time, the Feodorovskaya icon has become one of the main family shrines of Russian sovereigns and their families. Since the end of the 18th century, German princesses, marrying Russian grand dukes and converting to Orthodoxy for this purpose, according to tradition, received the patronymic Feodorovna in honor of the Feodorovskaya icon. These include Maria Feodorovna (wife of Paul I), Alexandra Fedorovna (wife of Nicholas I), Maria Feodorovna (wife of Alexander III), Alexandra Fedorovna (wife of Nicholas II) and Elizaveta Feodorovna. This tradition dates back to the 17th century, when, in honor of the same icon, the “dissonant” patronymic of Tsarina Evdokia Lopukhina was changed from “Illarionovna” to “Fedorovna”, and when Tsar Ivan Alekseevich married Praskovya Saltykova, they not only changed the patronymic, but also changed the name to her father from Alexander to Fedor.

Many members of the royal family, including all Russian emperors, starting with Nicholas I, considered it their duty to visit Kostroma - “the cradle of the House of Romanov” - and venerate the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God. The patroness icon was especially revered by Tsar Nicholas, and his entire family prayed before it. In Tsarskoe Selo (1909-1912), on the site chosen by the monarch himself, the Feodorovsky Sovereign Cathedral was built in honor of the shrine. At the site of the death of the holy passion-bearers, in the house of Ipatiev (Ekaterinburg), a copy of the Feodorovskaya icon of the Mother of God, which belonged to the martyr Queen Alexandra Feodorovna, was discovered.

Church history has preserved many miracles of icon renewal. But the opposite miracle happened with the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. Shortly before the abdication of the passion-bearer Tsar Nicholas II, the image darkened and became almost black.

The celebration of the miraculous discovery of the icon has been known since the 13th century and was of a local nature. However, starting in 1620, which is associated with the return of Patriarch Philaret, the royal father, from captivity, this holiday was assigned to March 14 and immediately became very solemn and significant in the royal family.

Under the first Romanovs, the date of celebration, which fell on the days of Lent, was strictly observed and was transferred to other days only in exceptional cases. The celebration of the icon was distinguished by a splendor atypical for Lenten services and was equated to the feast of the Annunciation. It was celebrated in the Assumption Cathedral, dressed in white vestments, and the all-night vigil and the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom were served. From the second half of the 18th century, the holiday began to be moved to the nearest Sunday, which has already reduced its status. In modern liturgical regulations, the celebration of the icon is carried out according to the usual Lenten rite.

The Kostroma Cathedral survived fire twice, and both times the icon was unharmed.During the second fire, residents of Kostroma could observe a miraculous phenomenon. When the flames of the fire destroyed the temple, the face of the Virgin Mary was visible above the flames in the air.After these fires, Prince Vasily decided to build a special temple for the icon of Our Lady of Theodore - the Assumption Cathedral with a chapel in the name of the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates. The altar was facing not to the east, but to the north - to the place where the icon was found. The Feodorovskaya icon remained in this cathedral until 1929.

The original Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, fortunately, was not lost, which was confirmed, surprisingly, by the expedition of the People's Commissariat for Education in 1919. She never left the church walls, prayer never stopped before her. In the modern history of the Russian Orthodox Church, this case can rightfully be called unique. During the years of persecution of the Church, after the closure and destruction of the Assumption Cathedral, it was first kept in the Church of St. John Chrysostom, and then in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on Debra.On August 18, 1991, the icon was moved to the cathedral Epiphany- Anastasiin Cathedral Kostroma diocese.

The icon was repeatedly decorated with precious frames. At the beginning of the 19th century, at the expense of the residents of Kostroma, a new gold frame was made for the icon, in which precious stones from the previous one were placed. Later, a golden chasuble weighing about 10 kg was made for the icon. It adorned the icon until 1922, when the chasuble was requisitioned as part of a campaign to confiscate church property. In 1948, Patriarch Alexy I wished to decorate the icon with a new precious robe, worthy of the spiritual greatness of the shrine. Fundraising took several years, and in the spring of 1955, Moscow craftsmen made a silver-gilded frame for the icon. In 2003, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II gave a blessing to develop the project and make an exact copy of the lost precious robe (1891), and the Kostroma diocese began collecting donations.

In 1869 in Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki Moscow honorary citizen Anna Vasilievna Levina donated a copy of the ancient Kostroma icon of the Theodore Mother of God. Saint Righteous Alexy (Mechev) revered this image very much; he used to perform a prayer service in front of it every Wednesday after Vespers with the reading of the canon. Once, on the eve of the events of 1917, during the service of such a prayer service, tears rolled from the eyes of the Queen of Heaven. St. rights Alexy was shocked by this.

The Monk Ambrose of Optina blessed women expecting a child to resort to prayer in front of the Theodore Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. And now women carrying a child in their womb pray in front of this image of the Mother of God, asking Her help in safely relieving themselves of the burden, andgirls pray for happiness in marriage e.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her Feodorovskaya icon:
Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the only hope for us sinners! We resort to You and pray to You, for you have great boldness before the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, who was born of You in the flesh. Do not despise our tears, do not abhor our sighs, do not reject our sorrow, do not disgrace our trust in You, but with your motherly prayers beseech the Lord God that He will grant us, sinners and unworthy, to be freed from sins and passions of the soul and body, to die in peace and May He alone live all the days of our life. Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, travel and protect and protect those who travel, deliver those captives from captivity, free those suffering from troubles, comfort those in sorrow, sorrow and misfortune, alleviate poverty and all bodily suffering and grant everyone everything they need for life, piety and life is more temporary. Save, O Lady, all the countries and cities and this city, to which this miraculous and holy icon of Thy was given for consolation and protection, deliver me from famine, destruction, cowardice, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners, internecine warfare and turn away all anger, righteously moved towards us. Grant us time for repentance and conversion, deliver us from sudden death and during our exodus appear to us, appearing to the Virgin Mary, and deliver us from the airy ordeals of the princes of this age, grant us at the terrible Judgment of Christ to stand at the right hand and make us heirs of eternal blessings, may we glorify forever the magnificent Name of Your Son and our God, with His Originless Father and His Holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. A min.

Troparion, voice 4:
With the coming of Your venerable icon, O Lady of God, the God-protected city of Kostroma, now rejoiced, like ancient Israel to the Icon of the Covenant, flows to the image of Your face and our God incarnate from You, and through Your Motherly intercession to Him you may ever intercede for all who come under the shadow of Your shelter for peace and great mercy. .

Kontakion, voice 8:
Offering thanksgiving to Thy servants, the Mother of God, for everyone in whom Thou hast done good to our city, from the depths of our souls we cry out to Thee, and we pray: do not cease, O Lady, by giving motherly prayers to Thy Son and our God all that is good and salutary through faith and love crying Ti: Rejoice, Virgin, praise to Christians.

Celebration Theodore Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is being done March 27(March 14, old style) and August 29(August 16, old style). Also on the second Sunday, the Old Believer Church performs a service for the appearance of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God “according to the charter of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin in 1627.” On this day, New Believers commemorate St. Gregory Palamas (1296-1359). They pray to the Feodorovsky image of the Mother of God for health, the birth of a child, easy childbirth, and the well-being of married life.

The history of the holiday in honor of the appearance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Feodorovskaya

About the appearance in Rus' Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God there is no exact information. The first mention of an image of similar iconography dates back to the 12th century. The icon was located in a wooden chapel near the city of Gorodets (Nizhny Novgorod region). At the beginning of the 13th century, a monastery was built on this site in the name of the icon of the Mother of God, which became its main shrine. Later it began to be called by the name of the icon of the Mother of God, the Mother of God-Feodorovsky, and then - Feodorovsky. In 1238, during the invasion of Batu's troops, the city was destroyed, and the monastery also burned down. Contemporaries of the events believed that the icon was also lost, but after several years it was found again. There are several legends about the rediscovery of the Theodore Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

First legend. August 16, 1239 Kostroma prince Vasily Kvashnya(XIII century) not far from the Zaprudni River I saw an image of the Virgin Mary hanging on a tree. With the participation of the priesthood, the icon was transferred to Kostroma and placed in the cathedral church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Later, the Zaprudnensky Spassky Monastery was built at the site where the icon was found. The story of the appearance of the miraculous icon of Feodorovskaya reports the following:

...seeing the people of this venerable icon, and beginning to tell the story, saying, yesterday we saw this icon carried through our city by a certain warrior, like that warrior with the vision of the saint Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates, and thus testify to the people.

The icon received its name from the name of the Great Martyr Theodore - Theodorovskaya. Soon a resident of Gorodets appeared in Kostroma, who reported that this was the same icon that was considered lost after the burning of the Feodorovskaya monastery.

According to second legend, The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God was found on August 16, 1263 by the younger brother of Alexander Nevsky (1221-1263), the Kostroma prince Vasily Yaroslavich(1236/1241-1276). This date is indicated in " Legends about the appearance and miracles of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God in Kostroma"(1670)

Third legend reports that Theodore's image of the Mother of God has found Yuri Vsevolodovich(1188-1238) in a dilapidated wooden chapel near Gorodets (later the Gorodetsky Feodorovsky Monastery was built on this site). After the death of the prince, the icon passed to his younger brother Yaroslav Vsevolodovich(1190/1191-1246), who blessed the marriage of his son Alexander Nevsky with the Polotsk princess Alexandra Bryachislavovna. After the death of Prince Alexander in 1263, the icon passed to his younger brother Vasily (the second legend reports about him), who transferred the holy image to Kostroma.

The events described above formed the basis of the legend about the icon. The icon was transferred from Gorodets, devastated by Batu, to Kostroma, where it was placed in the church of the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates (d. 319). This fact is confirmed by the “Tale of the Appearance and Miracles of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God in Kostroma.” From that moment on, it began to be called Feodorovskaya. Some researchers, based on the identity of the iconography of the Feodorovskaya icon with the Vladimir icon, consider it a copy of the famous ancient shrine and put forward three versions of its origin:

1. the icon was painted in 1164 by order of Andrei Bogolyubsky (1111-1174) for the Gorodets Monastery;
2. The icon was painted by order of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich in 1239 as a gift for the wedding of his son Alexander Nevsky. It is noteworthy that on the reverse side of the image there is an image of the Great Martyr Paraskeva, who in Rus' was considered the patroness of brides and weddings, as well as the former patroness of the Polotsk princely house, where Alexander’s bride came from;
3. The icon was painted by order of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich in 1218-1220 in honor of the return of his wife Theodosia, who was taken away by her father in 1216 during the confrontation, and the birth of his first-born Theodore from her (1219-1233).

Regarding the name of the icon “Theodore”, it is hypothesized that it arose due to the fact that Theodore Stratilates was the heavenly patron of Prince Yaroslav and many other Mstislavich princes, with whom Yaroslav and his offspring were connected through his wife Theodosia, daughter of Mstislav Mstislavich Udatny (d. 1228).

Miracles of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God

To the first miracles of the Feodorovskaya icon of the Mother of God include stories about her miraculous salvation in a fire (the legends report two fires: one destroyed the old wooden church, the second occurred in the new stone church). “The Legend of the Appearance and Miracles of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God,” which was created over several centuries and has survived to this day in a number of copies, reports the miraculous salvation of Kostroma from the Tatar troops in the Battle of the Holy Lake (1262(?)):

... and departed from the city as if there were two fields or in the distance there was little and a stash near a certain lake, and as if the regiments were close to each other, and the sinners drew their weapons and strained their bows to shoot the right and humble-hearted, small Christian army, and suddenly from the miraculous The image of the Most Holy Theotokos lifted up divine and bright rays, more than the sun's rays and like fire, scorching and attacking them and burning the Tatar regiments, and from that illumination and the divine ray and from the scorching, all the opposite regiments were confused, and many of them were blinded and did not make each other having known and in them fear and trembling, and weapons in them, and their hearts and bows, they were crushed and the Russian hordes attacked them and killed many of them, the remnants of the wicked disappeared and perished for their iniquity, and they filled all the Russian captives with the intercession and help of the Most Holy One. Mother of God.

Veneration of the Theodore Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In 1613, the Zemsky Sobor elected Mikhail Romanov(1596-1645), which was secured by the final document - the Council Oath. After this, an embassy was appointed from Moscow to the Kostroma Ipatiev Monastery, where Mikhail Fedorovich lived with his mother, nun Martha (d. 1631).

The embassy was headed by Ryazan Archbishop Theodoret(1551-1617), cellarer of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery Abraham Palitsyn(d. 1625/1626/1627) and boyar Feodor Ivanovich Sheremetev(d. 1650). On March 14 (old style), the embassy was received by Mikhail Romanov and his mother in Ipatiev Monastery. Both Mikhail Romanov and his mother initially refused the throne, but as a result of persuasion they agreed. According to the message Patriarch Filaret:

On that day there was great joy in Kostroma, and a celebration was held for the miraculous icon of the Most Pure Theotokos of Feodorov.

This day became the day of celebration of the icon, which is celebrated in our time. Some historians claim that the nun Martha blessed her son with the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God when he was elected to the kingdom. However, cellarer Abraham Palitsyn, a participant in those events, does not mention this icon in his “Legend”. He writes that when the nun Martha and her son Michael refused for a long time the offer to take the royal throne, then the archbishop “ ... we took on our hands the wonder-working icon of the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, which was painted by Metropolitan Peter, and the Trinity cellarer, Elder Abramaeus, took up the image of the great wonder-workers Peter and Alexy and Jonah, and brought it before the empress».

Mikhail Romanov took the copy of the icon with him to Moscow and placed it in the court church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary “on Senya”. In 1618, he sent decorations for the icon to Kostroma, and in 1636, at the direction of the tsar, the icon was renewed and decorated with a precious robe. From now on, they gradually begin to create lists from this icon. Since the end of the 18th century, German princesses, marrying Russian grand dukes and converting to Orthodoxy, according to tradition, received the patronymic Feodorovna in honor of the Feodorovskaya icon. These include Maria Feodorovna (wife of Paul I), Alexandra Feodorovna (wife of Nicholas I), Maria Feodorovna (wife of Alexander III), Alexandra Feodorovna (wife of Nicholas II), Elizaveta Feodorovna. The origins of this tradition go back to the 17th century, when, in honor of the same icon, the “dissonant” patronymic of Tsarina Evdokia Lopukhina was changed from “Illarionovna” to “Feodorovna,” and when Tsar Ivan Alekseevich married Praskovya Saltykova, her patronymic was not only changed, but and changed her father's name from Alexander to Theodore.

The icon was repeatedly decorated with precious frames. At the beginning of the 19th century, at the expense of the residents of Kostroma, a new gold frame was made for the icon, in which precious stones from the previous one were placed. In the description of the Assumption Cathedral in Kostroma, which dates back to 1820, the icon is reported:

In this image, the robe, made in 1805 of the purest gold, by the cathedral, and more by the diligence of the citizens, weighs 20 pounds 39 spools with the crown; she and the crown are decorated with diamonds, yachts, emeralds, rubies (of which one red is the most precious), garnets and other precious stones, large pearls and Burmite grains... This image includes cassocks or earrings more than half an arshin in length, with Burmite grains, precious stones, gold dies, rings and pads...

In 1891, a golden chasuble weighing about 10 kg was made for the icon. She decorated the icon until 1922. After the October Revolution, the icon was in the temple. In 1919, in Kostroma, the image was examined by a commission of the museum department of the People's Commissariat for Education under the leadership of I. E. Grabar. In 1922, the Assumption Cathedral and Theodore Icon passed to the Renovationists. In 1929, the Kostroma community brought the icon to Moscow to the Central State Restoration Workshops. During the restoration work, experts came to the conclusion that the main part of the 13th century painting was lost. Since April 1964, the icon has been in the Church of the Resurrection on Debra, where the bishop's see was moved. On August 18, 1991, the Theodore Icon was transferred to the Epiphany Anastasia Cathedral, which was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, where it remains to this day.

The celebration of the appearance of the Theodore Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been known since the 13th century. The icon was locally revered. After the accession of Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov to the Moscow throne, a new celebration of the icon appeared, associated with the events of his naming in the Ipatiev Monastery. From this period, veneration of the image became church-wide. Initially it did not have a specific date. Various officials indicate the celebration is " in the second or third or fourth week of Holy Lent", then in " second week or on the first day of Lent" The celebration of March 14 (old style) has been fixed in the church calendar since 1620, which is associated with the return from captivity of Patriarch Filaret, father of Mikhail Romanov. Typicons of the Assumption Cathedral for this day indicate: “ On the 14th day of the singing of the Most Pure Mother of God of Feodorovskaya with Benedict for the naming of the sovereign..." Under the first Romanovs, the date of celebration, which fell on the days of Lent, was strictly observed and was transferred to other days only in cases of coincidence with Lazarus Saturday or the burial of someone from the royal family. In the second half of the 17th century, the date of the holiday began to be moved to the next Sunday, which already reduced its status. Under Patriarch Filaret, on the day of the holiday, at the end of the service, the tsar organized a festive reception at which he presented gifts to his father the patriarch. This tradition ceased to exist completely in 1668. In the second half of the 18th century, the custom of postponing the celebration of the icon to the nearest Sunday finally took root in the church life of the dominant church.

Divine service for the appearance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Feodorov. Troparion and kontakion for the holiday

Troparion, tone 8

Today the city of Kostroma, and the entire Russian country, are shining brightly, calling all the God-loving Christian peoples to joy, to the glorious triumph of the Mother of God, Her miraculous and multi-healing image of the coming. On the day of battle, the bright, great sun hangs for us. Come, all God's chosen people, new Israel, to the healing source, for the Most Pure Mother of God exudes boundless mercy for us, delivering all Christian cities and countries unharmed from all the slander of the enemy. But Oh! All-merciful Lady Virgin Mother of God Lady, save our country and the metropolitan, and all the people of Your property from all troubles, according to Your great mercy, let us call You, Rejoicing Virgin, praise to Christians.

Kontakion, tone 8

Let all the people come to a quiet and kind refuge, in the House of God, the Mother of God of the wonderful image of the appearance of the Queen and the Mother of God. For Her ineffable mercy, truly falling and crying: Oh! All-merciful Lady, for Your saving vision of the wondrous image coming to us, visit us sinners who brightly celebrate Your festival. Strengthen our people, it is marvelous for them to give victory to their enemies. And establish our metropolitan, keep the Church of Your Son unshakably. Save those who come to You, deliver them from all misfortunes: preserving all Orthodoxy in the world, let us call You, Rejoice Unbrided Bride.

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Feodorovsky image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Iconography

According to legend, The Theodore Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke. The image belongs to the iconographic type of Eleus (Tenderness). Its iconography is very close to the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, many researchers consider Feodorovskaya to be a list of Vladimirskaya. The difference between the Feodorovskaya icon and the Vladimirskaya icon is the left leg of the Savior, naked to the knee. According to the description of the icon made when it was transferred to Kostroma, it had the following appearance:

...painted with oil paints “on dry wood.” The board is 1 arshin 2 vershoks long, 12 vershoks wide. The Mother of God is depicted with her head slightly bowed on her right shoulder. The right hand supports the Infant God hugging the Mother of God. The right leg of the Infant God is covered with a robe, while the left leg is uncovered up to the knee. On the reverse side is written the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva, called Friday... The lower part of the icon ends with a handle 1 1/2 arshins in length.

To this day, the icon has been poorly preserved; it has been renewed more than once, and the original painting of the faces of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ is noticeably worn out. On the reverse side of the icon is a half-length image of the Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. The saint is depicted in red clothes, decorated with golden floral patterns. Her hands are raised in prayer at chest level.

There are a number of lists of the Theodore Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Temples and monasteries in Rus' in honor of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God

Consecrated in honor of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God Cathedral of the Feodorovsky Monastery in Gorodets Nizhny Novgorod region.

The monastery was built at the beginning of the 13th century on the site of a wooden chapel in which the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God was located. The monastery was called the Mother of God-Feodorovskaya. According to legend, the monastery and the city were founded in 1152 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky (1090s - 1157). In 1238, during the invasion of Batu's troops, Gorodets was devastated and the monastery was burned. Tradition says that the Feodorovskaya icon miraculously survived, but never returned to the monastery. But a miraculous list was placed in the monastery, which was the main shrine of the Theodore Church.

The monastery existed in this deserted place until approximately the 15th century, then the place was inhabited and the monastery was abolished. The monastery was re-established in 1700. In 1927 the monastery was closed. Revived in 2009.

In honor of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the chapel of the St. Nicholas Cathedral of the St. Nicholas Peshnoshsky Monastery in the village was consecrated. Lugovoy, Dmitrovsky district, Moscow region. The Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was built at the beginning of the 16th century. It was rebuilt at the end of the 17th and end of the 18th centuries. Restored in the mid-1960s.

St. Nicholas Cathedral of the St. Nicholas Peshnoshsky Monastery in the Moscow region

In the name of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, the chapel of the Cathedral of the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates of the Feodorovsky Monastery in Pereslavl-Zalessky was consecrated. Fedorovsky Monastery was founded after 1304, on the southern outskirts of Pereslavl-Zalessky. The location of the foundation was not chosen by chance: here in 1304, on the day of memory of the Great Martyr Fyodor Stratilates, a bloody battle took place between the troops of the Moscow and Tver princes. Many people died in this battle, including the leader of the Tver army, boyar Akinf. In memory of the victory, Moscow Prince Yuri Danilovich built a monastery here. The oldest building of the monastery is Fedorovsky Cathedral, built in 1557. The cathedral was closed in 1928, and 2 years later the baroque bell tower that stood separately next to the cathedral was destroyed. The cathedral was used as a storage area for a children's colony located on the territory of the monastery, and then a nursing home. After the Great Patriotic War, a military unit settled on the territory of the monastery. In 1998, the cathedral was transferred to the newly revived convent.

Feodorovsky Cathedral of the Feodorovsky Monastery in Pereslavl-Zalessky

In the name of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the chapel of the Ascension Cathedral of the Orshina Monastery in the village was consecrated. Orshino, Kalininsky district, Tver region. The Cathedral Church of the Ascension of the Lord was consecrated in 1567 by Saint Barsanuphius of Tver (c. 1495-1576). There were four thrones in it: the main one - the Ascension of the Lord, two side ones - the Monk Onuphrius the Great and the Holy Great Martyr Catherine, the throne of the Nativity of John the Baptist "on the floors".

Ascension Cathedral of the Orshina Monastery in the Tver region

Old Believer churches in honor of the Theodore Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Republic of Kazakhstan will be consecrated in honor of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. The foundation stone of the temple in the name of Theodore's image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was carried out on August 29, 2013 by the Patriarch. Construction continues.

The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God is considered miraculous and one of the main shrines in Orthodoxy. Repeatedly, news came from different parts of the country that thanks to this particular icon, people were healed of terrible diseases. In addition, many other miraculous acts were associated with it; this icon has rightfully become a symbol of the protection of our country from many historical disasters.

What do they pray to the Feodorovskaya Mother of God?

It has long been believed that this icon helps many families who have been unable to conceive a child for a long period of time. Very often you can see girls who pray to the Theodore Icon and ask to conceive children. It has been repeatedly noted that if the family is good, faith and love reign in it, then after a while a child will be conceived.

In addition to the fact that the prayer of the Mother of God of Feodorov helps in the birth of children, this icon has miraculous properties and people have been repeatedly healed of various ailments. Most often, healing from various female diseases was noticed.

The prayer of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God for pregnant women gives a woman spiritual and physical strength so that bearing a child occurs with ease. At the same time, mother and child remained healthy throughout this time.

But you should not ask the Mother of God of Feodorovskaya in an ultimatum form, then the request will not be heard. Parents who are raising a child also often ask for help from the icon.

What does it help with?

For many years, people have noted the miraculous properties of the icon of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God. Very often people come to pray to her and ask for:

• easy birth;
• conception;
• healing from illnesses;
• easy childbearing;
• happiness in family life.

Most often they resort to the prayer of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God for the gift of children. There was a case when a married couple could not conceive a child for years, but prayers to the icon yielded an amazing result: they had a boy.

History of the icon

There are three versions of the appearance of this icon, but they all have some inaccuracies. The most likely version says that it appeared in the 12th century and was in a small chapel near the city of Pskov. Then she received the status of miraculous, as various miracles associated with her were noticed.

So that more people could see it, they wanted to move the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God from this chapel to the city. But no one could even simply lift this icon, and then it became clear to everyone that she did not want to leave this small town and chapel.

It was decided to leave the icon in place and build a huge monastery around the small chapel. It received this name because for a very long period of time it was located and brought benefit to people in the chapel of Theodore Stratelates. During the Tatar invasion, the invaders burned and plundered everything in their path, and local residents were forced to flee the city. Everyone thought that the icon had burned down, like everything else in the settlement, but it turned out to be unharmed.

A little later, the icon was nevertheless transferred to the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Vladimir, and then it ended up in Kostroma.

Some time after the invasion of the Tatars, they returned to Russian lands again, the foreigners approached the walls of the city, in which the Feodorovskaya icon was located at that time. Local residents prayed and asked her for help. Then the Prince took the icon with him to the battle and held it in front of him. When the battle was about to begin any minute, the face of the Mother of God from the icon in front of the Tatars began to emit a glow, so much so that the light was stronger than the sun.

The Tatars, unable to withstand such a powerful glow, simply began to run away from the battlefield. Thus, Kostroma was saved from the Tatar invasion. A cross was erected at the site of the battle in honor of this event, and the lake, near which everything happened, is still considered Holy to this day.

In the history of this icon there were still many different deeds that remained in various chronicles. No one had any doubts about its miraculousness.

Prayer to the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God

Troparion, tone 4:

With the coming of Your venerable icon, O Mother of God, the now joyful, God-protected city of Kostroma, like ancient Israel to the ark of the covenant, flows to the image of Your face and our God incarnate from You, so that by Your Mother’s intercession you may ever intercede for all who come under the shadow of Your shelter for peace and greatness. mercy.

Kontakion 1st:

To the chosen Voivode, the Most Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, our Intercessor and the shameless Intercessor of Christians, with the appearance of the wondrous icon, who gave His joy to the land of Russia, and all the faithful children of the Church who enlightened us, we earnestly offer thanks to Thee, Mother of God, and falling upon Thy most wonderful image, we tenderly say. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on Thy servants who call: Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor.

Prayer:

To whom will I call, Lady, to whom will I resort in my sorrow; to whom will I bring my tears and sighs, if not to You, Queen of Heaven and earth: who will pluck me from the mire of sins and iniquities, if not You, O Mother of the Belly, Intercessor and Refuge of the human race. Hear my groaning, comfort me and have mercy in my sorrow, protect me in troubles and misfortunes, deliver me from anger and sorrow, and all sorts of ailments and illnesses, from visible and invisible enemies, pacify the enmity of those who suffer me, so that I will be delivered from slander and human malice ; Likewise, free me from your flesh’s vile customs. Cover me under the canopy of Your mercy, so that I may find peace and joy and cleansing from sins. I commend myself to your Motherly intercession; give me Mother and hope, protection, and help, and intercession, joy and consolation, and a quick Helper in everything. Oh, wonderful Lady! Everyone flows to You, without Your all-powerful help does not leave; For this reason, even though I am unworthy, I come running to You, so that I may be delivered from sudden and cruel death, gnashing of teeth and eternal torment. I am vouchsafed to receive the Kingdom of Heaven and to You in the tenderness of my heart the river: Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor, forever and ever. Amen.

The prayer of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God helps different people with problems with conception, birth, and raising a child. The icon also has healing properties, primarily aimed at helping women with their health.

You should not demand anything from the Mother of God, you must ask for help with a pure soul and heart, only then will your prayer be heard. It was repeatedly noticed that people sometimes asked the icon for the conception of a child for years, day after day, and their prayers after a year or two were heard and brought to life. The main thing is to believe and wait for help, and it will definitely come.

Listen to prayer and akathist to the Feodorovskaya Mother of God

Prayer of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God - read and listen was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub