Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God: photo
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One of the first places in the list of the most revered images in Russia is the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. Its significance for the country is enormous. At one time, a prayer to her more than once saved Russia from the crushing raids of invaders. It was only thanks to the intercession of the Mother of God that this was avoided.
The history and significance of the Vladimir icon is majestic, first of all for the Russian people, because it is truly its defender.
The origin and journey of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God
An ancient legend says about the emergence of the icon. I wrote it when the Mother of God was still alive. An image was created on the board from the table where the whole Sagrada Familia was eating.
Until 450, the icon was in Jerusalem, in the same year it was sent to Constantinople. There it was kept somewhere until about 1131.
In the 12th century, the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God was donated to Kievan Rus by Luka Chrysoverg (Patriarch of Constantinople). She was sent to the Mother of God Monastery in Vyshgorod.
When she stayed there for some time, Andrei Bogolyubsky (son of Yuri Dolgorukov) takes the icon away from there. In his wandering, he stops in the city of Vladimir, where he was the sign of the Virgin. In place of this miracle, a temple was erected, in which the icon remained. Now it has become known as Vladimirskaya.
Today, there is a list written by Andrei Rublev. The original icon was transferred in 1480 to the Assumption Cathedral, which is located in Moscow. Then the image was transferred two more times: in 1918 - to the Tretyakov Gallery, and in 1999 - to the Church of St. Nicholas. It is stored in the latter to this day.
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is a great shrine. Many stories have been recorded about the history and significance of the icon for the Russian people, which happened in ancient times and at the present time.
Miracles associated with this icon
There are really a great many of them. And they are connected not only with the original of the icon, but also with the lists of which a large number were created.
In addition to the threefold and recorded salvation of the Russian land from the invasion of a foreign yoke, the Mother of God more than once manifested her will through her. For example, where the icon was supposed to remain (in Vladimir), there was a sign to Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky during prayer.
In addition, even in the temple in Vyshgorod, cases of moving the icon were recorded. She seemed not to find a place for herself. Three times she was found in different parts of the church, as a result, after the prayer, Andrei Bogolyubsky took her with him to the Rostov land.
Then there were numerous cases of healing of common people. For example, the water that washed the icon could heal the disease. This is how the healings of the eyes and hearts took place.
This is how the Vladimir Mother of God became. Its significance both for the common people and for the greats of this world was undeniable. She has witnessed many important actions in Russia. This is the appointment of patriarchs and military campaigns. They also swore an oath of allegiance to their homeland in front of her and carried out the coronation of several monarchs.
Prayer before the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God
Prayer to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is truly salvation for a state in which there has been a turmoil or schism. She will allow passions to subside, to moderate anger and enmity. In addition, when heretical sentiments arise, one should also offer prayer to this image.
Many believers turn to the icon during an illness, and also, if necessary, make any important decision.
The prayer begins with a respectful address: "O All-Merciful Lady Theotokos." Further, he asks to protect the people and the Russian land from various shocks, to protect the entire spiritual rank. Prayer to the Mother of God strengthens faith and gives strength to overcome adversity and troubles.
The meaning of the icon for Russia
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is the most beloved icon in Russia. And in fact, she protected her so much from everything, numerous signs and healings were shown.
Perhaps an interesting sign was that the Mother of God herself chose the place for the stay of her icon, which later became known as the Vladimir icon. This was her already mentioned appearance to Andrei Bogolyubsky.
Then there were some more signs of her intercession for the Russian land. For example, in 1395, the great invasion of the conqueror Tamerlane was expected, who had already conquered many lands and was approaching the border of the Russians. It seemed that the battle could not be avoided, but the universal prayer to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God did not allow this to happen.
According to one version, Tamerlane saw in a dream the Majestic Mother of God, who ordered him to leave this land.
And this happened more than once. People's faith increased after each successive salvation. became truly miraculous and most revered. A large number of lists were written from it, which are also worshiped by believers. The importance of icons has always been important. The Vladimir Mother of God in Russia was especially revered.
Days of celebration
Since the icon is considered the deliverer from external attacks on the Russian land, as well as its protector, the celebration in honor of it takes place three times a year. Each of these dates was chosen for a reason.
- On August 26, the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God is worshiped for the liberation from Tamerlane in 1395.
- On June 23, a celebration takes place in honor of the victory over the Tatar yoke, which happened in 1480.
- May 21 - celebration in honor of the victory over Khan Mahmet-Girey, which took place in 1521.
Prayer to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has saved Russia more than once.
Lists of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God
There are numerous lists that have been written from this icon. The most famous are the following:
- Orange icon. It was written in 1634.
- Rostov icon. This image dates back to the 12th century.
- Krasnogorsk icon. Its writing dates back to 1603.
- Chuguev icon. The exact date of creation is not known.
These are far from all the available lists from the icon. The first of them were written when the image had just appeared on Russian soil. Later, they also created lists from it, the most ancient now remain two.
Obviously, such a diversity says that the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God is very much revered, the significance of which is great for believers.
Iconography of the image
If we talk about writing this image, then his style is referred to as “caressing”. It is characterized by the fact that icons of this type speak of the communion of the Theotokos and her Son, that is, this is the deeply human side of the Holy Family.
It is believed that such a style of painting icons did not exist in early Christian art; it appeared much later.
This writing style contains two central shapes. This is the Mother of God and the baby Jesus Christ. Their faces are in close contact, the Son embraces the Mother with his hand around the neck. This image is very touching.
The peculiarity that the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God has, its meaning is the appearance of a baby's heel, which is not present on others like this type.
This icon is double-sided. On the reverse side there is a throne and symbols of the Passion. This suggests that the icon itself carries a special idea. This is the future sacrifice of Jesus and the mourning of his Mother.
There is also an opinion that this icon is a list of Our Lady of Caress from the Blachernae Basilica. In any case, the Vladimir image has long become an independent miraculous face.
Other revered icons of the Mother of God
In addition to the Vladimirskaya Mother of God, there are many more miraculous images that are addressed. So, in front of which icon of the Mother of God what do they usually pray for?
- For example, a prayer in front of the Iberian icon helps to increase the fertility of the earth, and it is also a comforter in various troubles.
- Prayer before the Bogolyubskaya icon is help during epidemics (cholera, plague).
- With cancer diseases, prayers are offered to the image of the Mother of God the Tsaritsa.
- The Kazan icon is a blessing for marriage, as well as a protector from various invasions and in difficult times.
- The image of the Mother of God "Mammal" is very revered by nursing mothers, and prayers are offered to him during childbirth.
As you can see, there are a lot of images that help believers with their miracles. You should always pay attention to the meaning of the icons. Our Lady of Vladimir is no exception. It's just that each of the images takes on intercession in different situations. The Mother of God, as it were, embraces all the sorrows and sorrows of her subjects, helping them in difficulties.
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table, at which the Savior ate with the Most Pure Mother and righteous Joseph. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: "From now on, all generations will bless Me. Let the grace of the One born of Me and Mine be with this icon."
Until 450, this image of the Lady stayed in Jerusalem, and then was transferred to Constantinople. In the first half of the 12th century, the patriarch of Constantinople, Luka Chrysoverh, sent the icon as a gift to the Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky, who placed the icon in the Vyshgorod Monastery near Kiev, in the area that once belonged to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga. In 1155 Vyshgorod became the inheritance of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky.
Having decided to move to his native Suzdal land, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky took the icon with him. On the way, he constantly served prayers before her. The inhabitants of Vladimir-on-Klyazma greeted their prince with joy; from there the prince went further, to the city of Rostov. However, having driven away from Vladimir no more than ten versts, the horses stood on the bank of the Klyazma and, despite being urged, did not want to go further. Struck, Prince Andrew fell before the icon and began to pray tearfully. And then the Mother of God appeared to him with a scroll in her hand and commanded to leave her image in the city of Vladimir, and in the place of this appearance of her to build a monastery in honor of Her Nativity.
The prince erected the icon in Vladimir, and from that time - from 1160 - it received the name Vladimirskaya.
In 1395, Khan Tamerlane reached the Ryazan limits, took the city of Yelets and, heading for Moscow, approached the banks of the Don. Grand Duke Vasily Dimitrievich went out with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka. He prayed to the saints of Moscow and the Monk Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, Saint Cyprian, that the coming Dormition Fast would be dedicated to fervent prayers for mercy and repentance. The clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the glorified miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the clergy accepted the icon and carried it to Moscow with a procession of the cross. Countless people on both sides of the road, kneeling, prayed: "Mother of God, save the Russian land!" At the very hour when the inhabitants of Moscow met the icon on the Kuchkov field, Tamerlane was dozing in his tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which the saints with golden rods were walking towards him, and the Majestic Wife appeared above them in a radiant radiance. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. Those in the know answered that the radiant Wife is the Mother of God, the great Protector of Christians. Then Tamerlane gave the order for the regiments to go back. In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, the Sretensky Monastery was built on the Kuchkov Field, where the icon was met, and on August 26, an All-Russian celebration was established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The icon of the Theotokos of Vladimir passed to Moscow and was installed in the Kremlin cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Most Pure. Moscow owes its blessed power to the deliverance from the raids of Khan Edigei in 1408, the Nogai prince Mazovsha in 1451, and Khan Sedi-Akhmet in 1459.
In 1480, the Horde Khan Akhmat moved to Moscow and reached the Ugra River in the Kaluga limits. The Grand Duke of Moscow John III was waiting on the other side of the river. Suddenly the Tatars were attacked by such a strong and causeless fear that Akhmat did not dare to go to the Russian army and turned back into the steppe. In memory of this event, a procession of the cross from the Assumption Cathedral to the Sretensky Monastery began annually in Moscow. And since then the Ugra River has been known as the Belt of the Virgin.
In 1521, Kazan Khan Makhmet-Girey led the Kazan and Nogai Tatars to Moscow. Metropolitan Barlaam and all the people prayed fervently before the face of Vladimir. Grand Duke Vasily Ivanovich barely had time to gather an army to meet the Tatars at a distant line, on the Oka River. Restraining their onslaught, he slowly retreated to Moscow. On the very night of the siege, the nun of the Kremlin Ascension Monastery saw the saints coming out through the locked doors of the Assumption Cathedral, carrying the miraculous Vladimirskaya in their hands. These were the holy metropolitans of Moscow Peter and Alexy, who lived two centuries earlier. And the nun also saw how the monks Varlaam of Khutynsky and Sergius of Radonezh met the procession of the holy hierarchs at the Spasskaya Tower - and fell prostrate before the image, begging the Most Pure One not to leave the Cathedral of the Assumption and the people of Moscow. And then the Intercessor returned through the locked doors. The nun hastened to tell the townspeople about the vision. Muscovites gathered in the church and began to pray fervently. And the Tatars again dreamed of "a great army, shining in armor," and they fled from the walls of the city.
So more than once our Fatherland was saved by the people's prayer before the miraculous image of Vladimir. In memory of these deliverances, the celebration of the Vladimir Icon was established:
May 21 - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Makhmet-Girey in 1521;
June 23 - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Akhmat in 1480;
August 26 - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Tamerlane in 1395.
Before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the most important events of Russian church history took place: the election and installation of Saint Jonah - Primate of the Autocephalous Russian Church in 1448, Saint Job - the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in 1589, His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon in 1917. On the day of the celebration in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Russia took place - May 21 / June 3, 1971.
In 1918, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was withdrawn from the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin Cathedral for restoration, and in 1926 it was transferred to the State Historical Museum. In 1930 she was transferred to the State Tretyakov Gallery.
In September 1999, the image of the Most Pure One was transferred to the Church-Museum of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi at the State Tretyakov Gallery, where it is still located.
The Vladimir icon of the Mother of God (the icon of the Mother of God) is considered miraculous and, according to legend, was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Holy Family ate: the Savior, the Theotokos and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: “ From now on, all generations will bless Me. The grace of him who was born of me and mine with this icon be».
The icon was brought to Russia from Byzantium at the beginning of the 12th century as a gift to the holy prince Mstislav (+ 1132) from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverkh. The icon was erected in the women's monastery of Vyshgorod (the ancient appanage city of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga), not far from Kiev. The rumor about her miracles reached the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who decided to transport the icon to the north.
Passing Vladimir, the horses carrying the miraculous icon got up and could not move. Replacing the horses with new ones also did not help.
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vladimir
During fervent prayer, the Queen of Heaven herself appeared to the prince and ordered to leave the Vladimir miraculous icon of the Mother of God in Vladimir, and in this place to build a temple and a monastery in honor of Her Nativity. To the general joy of the inhabitants of Vladimir, Prince Andrew returned to the city with the miraculous icon. Since then, the icon of the Mother of God began to be called the Vladimir icon.
In 1395 terrible conqueror Khan Tamerlane(Temir-Aksak) reached the Ryazan limits, took the city of Yelets and, heading for Moscow, approached the banks of the Don. Grand Duke Vasily Dimitrievich went out with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka. He prayed to the saints of Moscow and St. Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Cyprian, that the coming Dormition Fast would be dedicated to fervent prayers for mercy and repentance. The clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the glorified miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the clergy accepted the icon and carried it to Moscow with a procession of the cross. Countless people on both sides of the road, kneeling, pleaded: “ Mother of God, save the Russian land!"At the very hour when the inhabitants of Moscow met the icon on Kuchkovo field (now Sretenka street), Tamerlane dozed in his camping tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which the saints with golden rods were walking towards him, and the Majestic Wife appeared above them in a radiant radiance. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. He was told that the radiant Wife is the Mother of God, the great Protector of Christians. Then Tamerlane gave the order for the regiments to go back.
In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, the Sretensky Monastery was built on Kuchkovo Pole, where the icon was met, and on August 26 (according to the new style - September 8), an All-Russian celebration was established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane on the Kuchkov field (meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos)
For the second time, the Mother of God saved our country from ruin in 1451 when the army of the Nogai Khan with Tsarevich Mazovsha approached Moscow. The Tatars set fire to the Moscow townships, but Moscow was never captured. During the fire, Saint Jonah performed religious processions along the walls of the city. Warriors and militias fought with the enemy until nightfall. The small army of the Grand Duke at this time was too far away to help the besieged. The chronicles tell that the next morning there were no enemies at the walls of Moscow. They heard an extraordinary noise, decided that it was the Grand Duke with a huge army and retreated. The prince himself, after the departure of the Tatars, wept in front of the Vladimir icon.
The third intercession of the Mother of God for Russia was in 1480(celebrated on July 6). After the resounding victory at the Kulikovo field in 1380, the Russian principalities were still dependent on the Horde for another century, and only the events of the fall of 1480 drastically changed the situation. Ivan III refused to pay tribute to the horde, and regiments were sent to Russia Khan Akhmat... Two troops converged on the Ugra River: the troops were stationed on different banks - the so-called "Standing on the Ugra"- and waited for a pretext to attack. In the front ranks of the Russian troops held the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. There were skirmishes, even small battles, but the troops did not move in front of each other. The Russian army withdrew from the river, giving the Horde regiments an opportunity to begin the crossing. But the Horde regiments also retreated. The Russian soldiers stopped, and the Tatars continued to retreat and suddenly, rushed away without looking back.
Standing on the Ugre River on November 11, 1480
"Standing on the Ugra" put an end to the Mongol-Tatar yoke... Russia finally freed itself from paying tribute. From that time on, we can talk about the final elimination of any form of political dependence of Moscow on the Horde.
Standing on the Eel
In 1472, the Horde Khan Akhmat with a large army moved to the Russian borders. But at Tarusa, the invaders met a large Russian army. All attempts by the Horde to cross the Oka were repulsed. The Horde army burned the city of Aleksin (in the Tula region) and destroyed its population, but the campaign ended in failure. In 1476, the Grand Duke Ivan III stopped paying tribute to the Khan of the Golden Horde, and in 1480 he refused to recognize the dependence of Russia on her.
Khan Akhmat, busy with the struggle against the Crimean Khanate, only in 1480 began active operations. He managed to negotiate with the Polish-Lithuanian king Casimir IV on military assistance. The western borders of the Russian state (Pskov lands) at the beginning of 1480 were attacked by the Livonian Order. The Livonian chronicler reported that: “... Master Bernd von der Borch was involved in the war with the Russians, took up arms against them and gathered 100 thousand troops from foreign and native warriors and peasants; with these people, he attacked Russia and burned down the outskirts of Pskov, without doing anything else».
In January 1480, his brothers Boris Volotsky and Andrei Bolshoi revolted against Ivan III, dissatisfied with the growing power of the Grand Duke. Taking advantage of the situation, Akhmat in the summer of 1480 set out with the main forces.
The boyar elite of the Russian state split into two groups: one (“rich and belly lovers of money”) advised Ivan III to flee; the other advocated the need to fight the Horde. Perhaps the behavior of Ivan III was influenced by the position of the Muscovites, who demanded decisive action from the Grand Duke.
Grand Duke Ivan III arrived on June 23 to Kolomna, where he stopped in anticipation of the further course of events. On the same day from Vladimir to Moscow was brought the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God- the intercessor and savior of Russia from the troops of Tamerlane in 1395.
Akhmat's troops moved freely across Lithuanian territory, waiting for help from Casimir IV, but they never received it. Crimean Tatars, allies of Ivan III, distracted the Lithuanian troops by attacking Podolia (in the south-west of modern Ukraine).
Akhmat decided, passing through the Lithuanian lands, to invade Russian territory through the Ugra River.
Upon learning of these intentions, Ivan III sent troops to the banks of the Ugra River.
October 8, 1480 years, the troops met on the banks of the Ugra. Akhmat tried to force the Ugra, but his attack was successfully repulsed. This historical event took place in the area of a 5-kilometer section of the Ugra River. It was impossible for the Tatar cavalry to cross the border of the Moscow Grand Duchy here - the Oka had a width of 400 m and a depth of up to 10-14 m. There were no other fords in the area between Kaluga and Tarusa. For several days, the attempts of the Horde to cross, suppressed by the fire of Russian artillery, continued. On October 12, 1480, the Horde retreated two miles from the river. The Ugrians also got up in Luza. The troops of Ivan III took up defensive positions on the opposite bank of the river.
The famous began "Standing on the Ugra"... Skirmishes broke out periodically, but neither side dared to launch a serious attack. In this position, negotiations began. Tribute claims were rejected, gifts were not accepted, and negotiations were broken off. It is possible that Ivan III entered into negotiations, trying to gain time, since the situation was slowly changing in his favor.
All of Moscow prayed to its Intercessor for the salvation of the Orthodox capital. Metropolitan Gerontius and the prince's confessor, Archbishop Vassian of Rostov, with prayer, blessing and advice supported the Russian troops, hoping for the help of the Mother of God. The Grand Duke received a fiery message from his confessor, in which he called on Ivan III to follow the example of former princes: “... who not only defended the Russian land from the rotten (that is, not Christians), but also subjugated other countries ... Just take heart and be strong, my spiritual son, as a good warrior of Christ according to the great word of our Lord in the Gospel: “You are a good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep “…»
Upon learning that Akhmat, striving to achieve a numerical advantage, mobilized the Big Horde as much as possible, so that there were no significant reserves of troops left on its territory, Ivan III allocated a small, but very combat-ready detachment, under the command of the Zvenigorod voivode, Prince Vasily Nozdrevaty, which was supposed to be in boats go down the Oka, then along the Volga to its lower reaches and make a devastating sabotage in the possessions of Akhmat. The Crimean prince Nur-Devlet with his nukers (warriors) also took part in this expedition. As a result, Prince Vasily Nozdrovaty with his army defeated and plundered the capital of the Great Horde Sarai and other Tatar uluses and returned with a lot of booty.
On October 28, 1480, Prince Ivan III ordered his troops to retreat from the Ugra, wanting to wait for the Tatars to cross, but the enemies decided that the Russians were luring them into an ambush, and they also began to retreat. Akhmat, having learned that a sabotage detachment of Prince Nozdrevaty and Crimean tsarevich Nur-Devlet was operating in his deep rear, and deciding that the Russians were luring them into an ambush, did not pursue the Russian troops and in late October - early November also began to withdraw his troops. And on November 11, Akhmat decided to go back to the Horde.
For those who watched from the sidelines how both armies almost simultaneously turned back, without bringing the matter to battle, this event seemed either strange, mystical, or received too simple an explanation: the opponents were afraid of each other, were afraid to accept the battle.
On January 6, 1481, Akhmat was killed as a result of a surprise attack by the Tyumen Khan Ibak, and in 1502 itself Horde ceased to exist.
Since then, the river Ugra near Moscow has been called "The belt of the Virgin".
"Standing" put an end to the Mongol-Tatar yoke. The Moscow state became completely independent. Ivan III's diplomatic efforts prevented Poland and Lithuania from entering the war. The Pskovites, who stopped the German offensive by autumn, also contributed to the salvation of Russia.
The acquisition of political independence from the Horde, along with the spread of Moscow's influence over the Kazan Khanate (1487), played a role in the subsequent transfer of part of the lands that were under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to Moscow's rule.
The Russian Orthodox Church has established a three-time celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Each of the days of the celebration is associated with the deliverance of the Russian people from enslavement by foreigners through prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos:
8 September according to the new style (August 26 according to the church calendar) - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Tamerlane in 1395.
6 july(June 23) - in memory of the deliverance of Russia from the Horde king Akhmat in 1480.
June 3(May 21st) - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the Crimean Khan Mahmet-Girey in 1521.
The most solemn celebration takes place 8 September(new style), established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir icon during its transfer from Vladimir to Moscow.
The festival on June 3 was established in memory of the salvation of Moscow in 1521 from the invasion of the Tatars under the leadership of Khan Makhmet-Girey.
Invasion of the Crimean Tatars
Tatar hordes approached Moscow, consigning Russian cities and villages to fire and destruction, exterminating their inhabitants. The Grand Duke Vasily was gathering an army against the Tatars, and the Moscow Metropolitan Varlaam, together with the inhabitants of Moscow, fervently prayed for deliverance from death. During this terrible time, one pious blind nun had a vision: Moscow saints emerged from the Spassky gates of the Kremlin, leaving the city and taking with them the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God - the main holy of Moscow - as God's punishment for the sins of its inhabitants. At the Spassky Gate the saints were greeted by the Monks Sergius of Radonezh and Barlaam of Khutynsky, tearfully begging them not to leave Moscow. All of them together brought to the Lord a fiery prayer for forgiveness of those who have sinned and for the deliverance of Moscow from its enemies. After this prayer, the saints returned to the Kremlin and brought back the Vladimir holy icon. A similar vision was experienced by the Moscow saint, Blessed Basil, to whom it was revealed that the intercession of the Mother of God and the prayers of the saints would save Moscow. The Tatar khan had a vision of the Mother of God, surrounded by a formidable army, rushing to their regiments. The Tatars fled in fear, the capital of the Russian state was saved.
In 1480, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was transferred for permanent storage to Moscow in the Assumption Cathedral. In Vladimir, however, there remained an exact, so-called "spare" copy of the icon, written by the Monk Andrei Rublev. In 1918, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was closed, and the miraculous image was transferred to the State Tretyakov Gallery.
Now the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is located in the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi (metro "Tretyakovskaya", M. Tolmachevsky per., 9).
Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi at the State Tretyakov Gallery
Museum-temple of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi
Iconography
Iconographically, the Vladimir icon belongs to the Eleusa (Tenderness) type. The baby laid his cheek against Mother's cheek. The icon conveys the communication between Mother and Child, full of tenderness. Mary foresees the suffering of the Son in His earthly journey.
A distinctive feature of the Vladimir icon from other icons of the Tenderness type: the left leg of the Infant Christ is bent in such a way that the sole of the foot, the "heel", is visible.
The reverse depicts Etimasia (The Throne Prepared) and the instruments of the passions, dating very approximately to the beginning of the 15th century.
The throne is prepared. The back of the "Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God"
The throne is prepared th (Greek Etimasia) is the theological concept of the throne, prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ, who is coming to judge the living and the dead. Consists of the following elements:
- the church throne, usually dressed in red garments (symbol of Christ's purple robe);
- closed Gospel (as a symbol of the book from the Revelation of John the Theologian - Rev. 5: 1);
- instruments of passions lying on the throne or standing nearby;
- a dove (symbol of the Holy Spirit) or a crown crowning the Gospel (not always depicted).
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is an all-Russian shrine, the main and most revered of all Russian icons. There are also many copies of the Vladimir Icon, a significant number of which are also revered as miraculous.
Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Vladimirskaya" they pray for deliverance from the invasion of aliens, for instruction in the Orthodox faith, for preservation from heresies and schisms, for the pacification of warring parties, for the preservation of Russia.
The law of God. Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
Queen of Heaven. Our Lady of Vladimir (2010)
About the film:
According to church tradition, the icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke on the board of the table, which was located in the house of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. The icon was transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople, and then to a convent near Kiev, in Vyshgorod. Escaping from Vyshgorod to the north, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky brought the icon to Vladimir, after which it was named.
During the invasion of Tamerlane, under Vasily I, the venerated icon was transferred to Moscow as the defender of the city. And an example of the intercession of the Mother of God of Vladimir is considered to be that the troops of Tamerlane left without any special reason before reaching Moscow.
Troparion, voice 4
Today the most glorious city of Moscow flaunts brightly, as if the dawn of the sun is perceived, to the Lady, your miraculous icon, to her now we are flowing and praying to you, we call out to you: oh, wonderful Lady, the Theotokos, praying from you to our incarnate Christ our God, may this city deliver and all the cities and countries of Christianity are safe from all the slander of the enemy, and will save our souls, like the Merciful.
Kontakion, voice 8
To the victorious Voevoda, who will be freed from the evil by the coming of Your honest image, to the Lady of the Theotokos we lightly create the feast of Your meeting and we usually call Ty: Rejoice, Bride Unmarried.
Sretensky monastery was founded and got its name in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which is associated with the victory of the Russian troops over the army of Khan Timur-Tamerlane. We bring to the attention of our readers an essay on the history of church art, written by the teacher Sretensky Theological Seminary candidate of theology Oleg Viktorovich Starodubtsev.
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At all times of the existence of the Russian Church, miraculous icons have been and remain an integral part of it, its visible image and a blessed beginning. This divine grace is delivered through icons in different ways and under different conditions. In some cases, most of the icons emerging from the brush of the ascetic icon painter, due to his feat, become, revered and famous. In other cases, the Providence of God reveals Divine Grace through the images of unknown icon painters, hiding their origin and authorship. But in all cases, no matter what time, by what masters and techniques the images are painted, Divine Grace is always present on them.
After the Ascension of the Lord to heaven, St. The Apostle Luke, as the Holy Tradition tells us, wrote on the board the image of the Mother of God. The first image was shown to the Mother of God, which She blessed with the words "The grace of him who is born of Me and Mine be with this icon." This image was sent to St. the Apostle Luke to Alexandria to Theophilos. According to other sources, this icon was kept until 450 in Jerusalem. Later, the image was transferred to Constantinople and for many centuries it was in the Blachernae temple. The Holy Apostle Luke, as the Church Tradition tells us, painted several more icons of the Mother of God.
According to the chronicle, the icon of the Virgin, painted by the apostle. Luka, was sent around 1131 to Russia during the reign of Yuri Dolgoruky by the Patriarch of Constantinople Luka Christoverg. From the same sources it is known that at this time another icon of the Mother of God was brought. The latter was located in one of the temples of Kiev, built in 1132, and, probably, from it also received the name "Pirogoshchaya".
In 1155 St. blg. Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky, leaving Kiev and heading to the ancestral Suzdal land, secretly took with him the wondrous icon of the Mother of God, written according to the legend of St. Lukoy, from Vyshgorod, which by this time had become his specific city. This icon was later named "Vladimirskaya".According to Church Tradition, the image of Our Lady of Vladimir goes back to the work of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke himself.
According to Church Tradition, the image of Our Lady of Vladimir goes back to the work of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke himself. However, researchers date this icon to a much later time (XII century). For us, it is unconditional that this wondrous image, being painted at a later time, goes back to the prototype and is a copy of the icon painted by St. and the evangelist Luke. 
Holy blessings book Andrei brought the marvelous icon to Vladimir, and after the completion of the construction of the Assumption Cathedral, the icon was placed there. Already in 1161, according to the chronicler, the icon was richly adorned with gold, silver, precious stones and pearls. The wealth of this setting amazed the chronicler, who especially notes the efforts of St. Prince Andrew: "and we have more than thirty hryvnias of gold (about 12 kg), except for silver and precious stones and pearls." The icon has since become known as "Vladimirskaya", and St. Prince Andrey received the nickname "Bogolyubsky".
During the mutiny of 1175, when St. good. book Andrei, priest Nikolai and the clergy made a procession with the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir through the streets of the city - and the rebellion subsided. Successors of St. blgv. book Andrei Bogolyubsky - Yaropolk and Mstislav - illegally appropriated many riches, including the treasures of temples, and gave the icon of the Mother of God to Prince Gleb of Ryazan. Outraged by the iniquity and blasphemy, the inhabitants of the city drove out the princes, and the icon was returned back.
At the end of the thirties of the XIII century, the Russian lands were subjected to numerous terrible raids of the Tatar hordes. Among many Russian cities, Vladimir was also ruined. In a short time, all residents of the city were destroyed "<…>from a cool and to an old man and a real baby<…>". The Assumption Cathedral was taken by storm, in which the last inhabitants of the city took refuge. Many shrines of the temple were stolen or destroyed. The miraculous image of "Our Lady of Vladimir" lost its precious setting: "the wonderful icon of the Odrash is adorned with gold and silver and a precious stone ...".At night to the sleeping Tamerlane in a dream, the radiant Virgin appeared in a wonderful radiance, accompanied by heavenly armies and saints - and ordered the invaders to leave.
But soon the icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" was again adorned with the joy of God-loving townspeople and placed in the Assumption Cathedral. It is possible that the increase in the size of the icon, due to the addition of wide margins, also belongs to this time. The original icon size is 0.78? 0.54 m; with additions - 1, 036? 0, 68 m.
The fate of the icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" was followed with special attention by Russian chroniclers. We know not only its consistent location, but also the history of the most important restoration that it has undergone over the centuries. The icon was renewed at intervals of about once every hundred years. Church history tells that the chief hierarchs of Moscow also renewed the icon. So, in 1514 the icon was renovated by Metropolitan Simeon, and in 1567 - by Metropolitan Athanasius. The last time before 1917 the icon was renovated secretly for the coronation of St. Nicholas II. In all these cases, the face of the Mother of God and the Savior was left intact.
In 1395, Tamerlane (Khan Timur) attacked Russia. With a huge army, he approached the borders of the Moscow principality. To strengthen the spirit of the Russian people, the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir was transferred to Moscow. The entire Orthodox people of Moscow, together with St. Cyprian and the princes met the icon far beyond the outskirts of the city. On August 26, a solemn meeting of the icon took place. "Like the dawn of the sun" shone the shrine of the Russian land in Moscow. At this place in 1397, in memory of this event, the Sretensky Monastery was founded. In memory of this event, the icon was brought from the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin to the Sretensky Monastery every year on August 26 in a solemn procession.
At night to the sleeping Tamerlane in a dream, the radiant Virgin appeared in a wonderful radiance, accompanied by heavenly armies and saints - and ordered the invaders to leave. Struck by this miracle, in fear, without crossing the Oka River near Kolomna, Tamerlane, together with the army, quickly left the Russian land.
The miraculous intercession for the Russian land from the icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" took place in 1408, during the invasion of the Horde Khan Edygei, and in 1451, during the invasion of Tsarevich Mazovsh. The victory of 1480 is also associated with the intercession of the Mother of God through Her icon. In memory of the last event, the second celebration of the icon was established on 23 June. In memory of the miraculous salvation of Moscow in 1521 from the Kazan Tatars led by Makhmet-Girey, a third celebration was established in honor of this icon - on May 21.
At the beginning of the 15th century. two gold frames were arranged for the icon, one of which, however, was intended for a copy (XIV-XV centuries). Part of the surviving basma frame of the 13th century with the image of the seven-figure Deesis was attached to one of the frames. The second setting for the icon was a gold field covered with filigree (the centerpiece of the icon was not closed). 12 keeled plates with embossed images of the twelve holidays were reinforced on it. In the 17th century, the entire field of the icon (except for the faces) was covered with a golden garment. At the same time, gold crowns with emeralds and rubies and tsata, a pendant studded with large pearls, were added.For many centuries the icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" was in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, to the left of the Royal Doors, in a special icon case.
For many centuries the icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" was in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, to the left of the Royal Doors, in a special icon case. The kyot was arranged like Vladimir who was in the Assumption Cathedral. This is a fairly deep case, in the depths of which the icon was placed. The kiot was crowned with a keeled end and was decorated with a basma frame made of silver. The icon case had two blank doors that covered the icon. The doors were opened only on major church holidays or when singing in prayer in front of this icon. After the closure of the Assumption Cathedral in 1919, in 1921, the icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" was sent to the storerooms of the Tretyakov Gallery. Later it was transported to the State Restoration Workshop, where the precious setting was removed and the first complete cleaning of the icon from late layers and drying oil was carried out. For the first time after a long time, the icon was placed on the exposition of the Tretyakov Gallery only at the end of the 30s of the XX century.
In 1993, during a difficult period for Russia, the icon was brought for several hours to the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow for intense prayer and worship of the Orthodox. In 1995, in memory of the deliverance of Moscow from Tamerlane (600 years), the icon was installed for several days in the cathedral of the Sretensky Monastery. At the same time, the first religious procession took place with a list of icons from the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin to the Sretensky Monastery, which was headed by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II with a host of bishops, clergy and numerous laity.
In the mid-90s of the 20th century, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II and the Holy Synod of the Russian Church repeatedly appealed to the Russian government with a request to return the shrine to its rightful place - to the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin. Until now, this issue has not been resolved. The government made only a concession, allowing this icon to be transferred to the church of St. Nicholas at the State Tretyakov Gallery, where it is now located.
Today the icon is not a monument of icon painting created by the brush of one icon painter, but is a combination of additions to the surviving fragments of the ancient original and additions to these additions.
The remarkable icon has come down to us in fragments, but God was pleased to preserve the most precious parts of this magnificent work of world art. Despite all the severe trials that this icon was subjected to together with the Russian statehood and the Church, the faces on it survived from the ancient original.There are no ancient icons like "Our Lady of Vladimir", but icons that are close to her in iconography and the power of the image have survived.
Near the left eye of the Mother of God, a small fragment of a greenish-blue cap is preserved, on the right side there is a fragment of the yellow border of the maforium with golden strokes left over from the original painting layer. Of the original vestments of the Divine Infant, only a part near the right shoulder has survived; in character and decoration, it is characteristic of a fragment of maforia. Below are the late inserts; the oldest of them, apparently, belongs to the XIII century and, probably, was caused by the damage that was caused to the icon by the Tatar defeat. Here, against the background of a dark-crimson shirt with a golden asyst, the fingertips of the Mother's left hand have survived. A fragment of a transparent white shirt on the same right hand of the Child and several fragments of the background with a part of the inscription complement our idea of the original appearance and color of the icon.
There are no ancient icons like "Our Lady of Vladimir", but icons that are close to her in iconography and the power of the image have survived. There is also a huge number of copies from this icon, glorified as miraculous. For example, the iconographic image, which is known in Russia as "Tenderness".
All the most important events of the Russian state over the course of many centuries are associated with this miraculous image. The all-merciful Lord through the image of the "Vladimir Mother of God" at all times sends intercession to all those who come running to her in prayer.
The image of the Mother of God is especially revered by all Orthodox Christians. The Vladimir icon is remarkable for its special power: prayers in front of it have saved entire cities from certain death more than once.
The history of the icon
According to legend, the Vladimir Icon was painted during the life of the Mother of God by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke. During the meal, the apostle saw a wonderful vision of the future Christian people, and he, taking a board from the table, began to paint the image of the Mother of God with the Baby Jesus in his arms. The Virgin Mary did not interfere with the apostle, for she saw that he was moved by the Will of the Lord.
Where is the holy image
For a long time, the Vladimir Icon was in the holy city of Jerusalem. In the middle of the 12th century, the image was donated to Kievan Rus and kept in the Mother of God Monastery in the city of Vyshgorod. A little later, Andrei Bogolyubsky transported the icon to Vladimir, where it was kept for a long time. At the moment, the miraculous image of the Vladimir Mother of God is located in Moscow, in the Church of St. Nicholas.
Description of the icon
The Vladimir Icon depicts the Mother of God with the baby Jesus in her arms. The gaze of the Mother of God is directed directly at the praying person standing in front of the icon, her face is serious and full of sorrow for the sins of this world.
The Mother of God tightly hugs the Infant Jesus to her, and His gaze is directed upward, towards the Mother of God. Thus, the image shows the great love of the Lord for his Mother, which should be equal to all believers.
How does the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God help
The Vladimir image of the Mother of God has repeatedly saved Russia from invaders. That is why they pray to the image for the well-being of the country, for salvation in difficult and dangerous life situations, as well as for the preservation of peace.
There are cases of miraculous healings that occurred during a common prayer in front of the icon. Therefore, the Vladimir image of the Virgin Mary is prayed for healing from bodily and mental illnesses.
Prayers before the Vladimir icon
“All-merciful Intercessor, Patroness and Protector! We humbly pray to You, bowing before You in tears: Cast out, Lady, death that tramples on the souls of the Lord's faithful servants, turn enemies around and deliver our land from all evil! Oh, Mistress, we hope in You, and our prayer flies to You, for only in You we hope and pray to save our belly and our souls. Amen".
“Queen of Heaven, merciful Intercessor, I humbly pray to You: do not leave my cry unanswered, hear me, a sinful and unworthy servant of God, take away trouble, ailments and infirmities from me. May my soul not turn away from the Lord, and a prayer to the Most High will send grace on my forehead. Be merciful, Mother of God, and send down the miraculous healing of my soul and body. Amen".
Days of veneration of the Vladimir Icon of the Virgin - June 3, July 6 and September 8 in the new style. At this time, any prayers to the Mother of God can completely change your life and destiny. We wish you peace of mind and strong faith in God. Be happy and remember to press the buttons and
06.07.2017 05:36
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