All about religion and faith - "the prayer of the Fedorov Mother of God helps in what" with a detailed description and photographs.

Each variety of the icon of the Mother of God, in addition to its general meaning, like images of the Virgin Mary, also has a special meaning and characteristic. Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God Fedorovskaya is called upon to help young couples who have just sealed (or expressed such a desire) their union, as well as women (men) in solving the problems of procreation.

The shrine kept in the city of Kostroma has an intricate and rich history, the details of which are little known. But it deserves attention, confirming the divine will by the very fact of existence.

He painted the icon of St. Luke - the apostle of Christ and the first icon painter, whose brush belongs to many faces of the Mother of God - but how the creation came to Russia remains the greatest mystery.

There is documentary evidence that already in the XII century. the icon, endowed with miraculous power, was visited by pilgrims in a chapel near the small settlement of Gorodets. A legend is connected with this fact that, allegedly, the icon was made to the order of the Vyshgorod prince Andrey Bogolyubsky in 1164.

After the burning of the settlement, the icon strangely disappeared and appeared in the city of Kostroma only a century and a half later: it was seen hanging over a tree branch (just in the air!) by the hunting prince Vasily Kostroma, who is known among the people for his piety and righteousness. The Fedorovskaya shrine began to be called because for a long time it was kept in the church of the great martyr Stratilat, who was called Fedor.

Now the image occupies a place of honor among the sacred images of the Epiphany-Anastasinsky Monastery in Kostroma, and many lists (copies) are distributed throughout the cities and towns of Orthodox Russia and other Slavic states. One of these lists, written by the nun Martha in the 19th century, is located in the Fedorovsky Gorodets (monastery) of Tsarskoye Selo. This image is glorious throughout the Orthodox world because in 1994 (on the day the remains of Prince Mikhail Romanov, who was killed in 1918) were buried, it became myrrh-streaming, and this miracle continued for 4 days.

Icon of Fedorovskaya: who prays

Confessors advise reading the prayer of the Mother of God Fedorovskaya to people who are looking for help in gaining family well-being and the happiness of childbearing. The Fedorov Mother of God is considered the patroness of brides and the keeper of the family hearth.

She helps single girls and women who have problems communicating with the opposite sex; men suffering from sexual impotence; women who have problems conceiving, as well as pregnant women during the gestation period and during difficult childbirth.

Rules for reading a prayer

The Fedorov Mother of God performs miracles to those who, with sincere faith, offer up prayers before her icon. There is no need for fasting, candles and worship, it is important that a person be determined to receive the help of the Blessed One and believe in a favorable outcome of upcoming events.

If a young woman is predicted to have a difficult birth or is about to have a caesarean section, the main thing that is required is the calmness of the woman in labor. On the day of the birth or the scheduled operation, the expectant mother reads a prayer in solitude, preferably several times, so that all bad thoughts go away. It is good if relatives go to church and also pray for the health of the woman and her baby.

The patroness Fedorovskaya stands for strong family ties and will never leave those who ask for help in trouble.

Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos

In Christianity, the earthly mother of Jesus Christ, one of the most revered personalities and the greatest of Christian saints.

Christian prayer in front of the icon Theodore's mother: comments

One comment

I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not, but after praying to this icon, I got married! I didn’t know the truth about the rules that are described here before (But now I will definitely take this into account! Because I really want a baby) And the icon, by the way, is very beautiful! She draws you right in! Only she has such an effect on me) Probably, she really has great power)

Icon of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God: what helps

If you want to know the icon of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God in what it helps and what it protects from, then we advise you to read our article.

History of the Icon of the Theodore Mother of God

• This icon was painted by Saint Luke, but no one knows exactly when it was brought to Mother Russia.
• And the icon owes its name to Saint Theodore Stratilat, who found it hanging on a pine tree.
• Gorodetsky Feodorovsky Monastery was later built on that site.
• This icon survived several fires, but remained unscathed.
• It only darkened, but after abdication of Nicholas II happened, then she again brightened and shone.
• And on March 27 and August 29, she is honored and remembered.

What is on the icon?

• This icon is written in black and red shades.
• It depicts the Mother of God and the little Christ.
• The kid tightly hugs his mother by the neck, and she clings to him with her cheek.
• The eyes of the Virgin are sad and full of suffering.
• With one hand, the Mother of God supports her child, and the other hand is drawn to his little hand.
• On the reverse side of this icon you can see the face of a martyr named Praskeva. This Feodorovskaya icon of the Mother of God differs from others. This two-sidedness makes it unique.

Where is she now?

• The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God had to travel a lot around the world to various churches and temples.
• And at the same time, you can see it in the Epiphany Cathedral, which is located in Kostroma.
• She was transferred there in 1991, on August 17th.

Who can pray before her image?

How to pray before this icon?

• You can not put ultimatums either before the Theodore Mother of God, or before other icons.
• Ask for help in raising children, in childbirth, in conceiving a baby, you can also ask for health.
• You can ask for strength to live on and strengthen your faith in the Lord.
• You can’t ask for a lot of money in order to be richer than everyone else, because happiness is not in them, and they will not bring good anyway.
• If you are poor, you can ask for help in finding a decent job that will provide you and your children with a normal life without hunger and cold.

What words should be read next to it?

• If you have this icon, then you can read before it at least an Orthodox prayer, at least your own. The Lord and his own prayers are pleasing.
• The text of the prayer might look something like this: “Dear Mother of God, Blessed Virgin Mary, help me give birth to a healthy baby, so that no complications occur during my birth. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen!"

Now you know the icon of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God in what it helps and what prayers are supposed to be read next to it.

How does the Fedorovskaya Mother of God help?

The icon of the Fedorovskaya Mother of God was created by the Apostle Luke. On the reverse side of this image is depicted the martyr Paraskeva. Every year, believers celebrate the feast of this icon twice a year: on March 14 and August 16. The first miracle happened at the beginning of the 12th century, when the temple and the lands where the image was kept were burned, and it disappeared. By God's will, the icon was returned to Russian lands.

Before we find out what the Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God helps with, we will find out what is depicted on it. This image belongs to the iconographic type of Eleus. Many believe that it is a list-replica of the famous icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. There is one significant difference - the leg of the Divine Infant, bare to the knee. The Mother of God and the son touch each other with their cheeks, which symbolizes the warm feelings between them. At the moment, the appearance of the icon is very worn and many details cannot be seen. On the other side of the image, Paraskeva is depicted in red robes, decorated with golden floral ornaments. Her hands are raised in prayer at chest level.

How does the Fedorovskaya Mother of God help?

The main purpose of this image is to help girls get rid of existing fears that relate to the upcoming birth. Many of the fair sex are worried about their situation, they are worried that everything will be fine with the baby, and the birth will be easy without complications. With all these problems, a prayer addressed to the Fedorov Mother of God will help to cope. Petitions are raised to the holy woman for family well-being and the preservation of warm feelings between lovers. The Mother of God also helps in requests for the protection of her child from various problems and illnesses. Another meaning of the icon of the Fedorov Mother of God is that it helps to get rid of numerous diseases, and primarily from women's.

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Icon of the Mother of God Fedorovskaya. The miraculous power of the icon

The entire history of the Russian Orthodox Church is inextricably linked with the veneration of icons, especially those that became famous for the miracles revealed through them. They are called miraculous. One of such miraculous images is the icon of the Mother of God Fedorovskaya. This is the oldest image of the Queen of Heaven. Its authorship is attributed to the Evangelist Luke. When and how he got to Russia is unknown, but many legends and traditions are associated with his stay in Russian lands.

The first information about the miraculous icon

The first information about this miraculous icon dates back to the beginning of the 12th century. It is known that it was kept in a chapel near the legendary city of Kitezh, in the Gorodets monastery. This continued until the hordes of Batu passed through the Russian lands. Gorodets, and with it the monastery, were completely looted and burned. The miraculous image also disappeared without a trace. Those who were lucky enough to survive the invasion of the Tatars believed that it was hopelessly lost, but after a while something happened that is now commonly called the first of its known miracles.

By the will of the Creator, having survived in the fire of conflagrations, the image was again revealed to the Russian land. The legends present us with several versions of this event, and they name the names of various historical persons who were the first to take the newly acquired shrine into their hands, but one thing is indisputable - the Queen of Heaven, by the appearance of a miraculous image, testified to her persistent help and support to all who, with deep faith, rely on her.

Finding the image of Prince Vasily

In connection with this event, Prince Vasily Kostroma is most often mentioned. It is said that one day while hunting, he saw the image of the Mother of God in the branches of a tree. With great honor and accompanied by the clergy, the find was transferred to Kostroma and placed in the city church. There were those who immediately recognized in this icon an image that was considered to have died in the fire.

Soon another miracle happened, which served as a reason to name the icon as it is customary today. One day, the astonished inhabitants of Kostroma witnessed how a certain wonderful warrior in the form of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelit marched through the city, carrying in his hands a recently acquired icon. It was from that time on that she began to be called - the icon of the Mother of God Fedorovskaya.

New disasters and wonders

Further, church tradition tells of new disasters that befell the inhabitants of Kostroma, and of new manifestations of miraculous powers. So, it is mentioned that shortly after finding the icon, the wooden temple where it was located burned down, but when the inconsolable townspeople began to rake up the still smoking ashes, they suddenly discovered a completely intact and undamaged image. And this was not the last case when the icon of the Mother of God Fedorovskaya miraculously remained untouched by fire.

In those days in Russia, buildings were most often built of wood, and therefore fires were not uncommon. After some time, the newly rebuilt cathedral church flared up. When the townspeople rushed to save their shrine from the fire, they suddenly saw how the icon, slowly rising from the fire, hung in the air and was ready to disappear into the sky forever. It became clear to everyone that the Queen of Heaven was leaving them for the sins committed by people. Everyone fell on their knees and tearfully repented before the shrine. Only after that the icon, floating in the air, sank down on the city square.

Saving Kostroma from the Tatars

It is difficult to list all the miracles revealed by the Mother of God through this miraculous image of her. Suffice it to recall how in 1260, when hordes of Tatars again approached the city, the icon saved Kostroma from inevitable death. Carried out of the temple on the hands of the city's defenders, she blinded the enemies with a powerful radiance emanating from her. Enemies mad with horror rushed to run and did not return. By order of Prince Vasily, the icon was installed in the Assumption Cathedral in Kostroma and decorated with a precious riza. She stayed there until 1929. An akathist to the Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God was compiled.

Elevation to the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich

But the most striking event in Russian history, in which the Fedorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God played an important role, was the accession to the reign of the founder of the Romanov dynasty, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. It is known for certain that the embassy of the Zemsky Sobor, which arrived from Moscow in Kostroma, with the aim of declaring to young Mikhail about the great mission entrusted to him, brought with it two icons - the Mother of God of Vladimir and the icon of Moscow miracle workers.

Residents of Kostroma, having met the embassy with the Fedorov Icon, went to the nearby Ipatiev Monastery, where the future sovereign was at that time with his mother, nun Matryona. It is known how stubbornly mother and son opposed the adoption of the royal scepter, and only by the will of the Queen of Heaven, imprinted on the miraculous icon, their consent was obtained.

It was in front of the Feodorovskaya icon that nun Matryona fell to her knees, blessing her son Mikhail Fedorovich to the kingdom. It happened in the memorable year of 1613. He put an end to a difficult period in the history of the country - the Time of Troubles. From this year began the three-hundred-year countdown of the reign of the reigning house of the Romanovs.

Icon kept by God's providence

In the 20th century, with all its upheavals and troubles, the Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God was preserved by God's providence. How does the Blessed Virgin Mary help people? In what they ask her in fervent prayers. So the Most Pure One saved her image, heeding the prayers of many, many Orthodox Christians who suffered in the era of atheistic theomachism.

Now this miraculous image is kept in the Kostroma Cathedral, and in St. Petersburg, the restored and restored Church of the Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God opens its doors daily. It is located in the center of the city, not far from Nevsky Prospekt, and is always full of people. People come here to pray in front of one of the lists of the icon, also famous for miracles. As it is said in the Gospel, everyone receives according to his faith. The Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God also brings help to true believers.

How does she help and what is it customary to ask her for?

Before this image of hers, the Most Holy Theotokos can be addressed with any requests - the Lady of Heaven will hear them, and if it is her will, she will help. But most often, the prayer to the Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God is offered by women during pregnancy and childbirth. It is especially necessary to ask for her help in cases where, for one reason or another, childbirth can be difficult. As in all cases of life, there is no more reliable support and protection than the Protection of the Most Pure Mother of God and her help, revealed through miraculous icons, one of which bears the name of Fedorovskaya.

What does the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God help in? The miraculous Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God: prayer, akathist, photos, reviews of miracles, the history of the icon

Today there are a lot of well-known icons in the world that are miraculous and help people at their request and prayers. These include the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. This image has a rather ancient history of miracles, gains, 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 Feodorovskaya, what this image helps with, how they pray before it, as well as the history of its acquisition.

Legends about the appearance of the icon

The first mention of this image appeared around the middle of the XIII century. However, it was written by the Evangelist Luke. There are several legends about the second acquisition of this icon in Russia, and all of them are rather contradictory. But for the first time the image was found in an old wooden chapel near the city of Gorodets. This place was marked with grace, and after a while 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 way that in 1239 Yaroslav Vsevolodovich blessed his son Alexander Nevsky for marriage. He was married to Princess Bryachislava of Polotsk. A sign of this action is the second image, which contains on its back the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, namely St. torment. Paraskeva, which is also called Friday. She is considered the patroness of the Polotsk princely house.

Be that as it may, after 1238, when Batu Khan invaded the country, the chapel, like many other buildings, was looted and completely destroyed. She was just 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.

The Reacquisition of the Icon

The most popular legend, which mentions the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God (photo below) and its rediscovery, is the following. A warrior appeared in the city of Kostroma, who walked through all the streets with this image. The next day, Vasily Yaroslavovich, the younger brother of Alexander Nevsky, found her. It happened on the bank of the Zaprudnya river. This event took place in 1263. The found image was identified by the inhabitants of Gorodets. And the warrior who brought it was a martyr. Theodore Stratilates.

The second legend in terms of the scene of action differs only in that it was found in 1239 (a year after the loss), and Vasily Kvashnya, the then prince of Kostroma, found it. The image was found on a tree near the river, and then transferred to the temple. The icon immediately became revered and capable of performing miracles. In the future, more than one prayer before the icon of the Theodore Mother of God saved this city from various misfortunes.

The study of the icon and its iconography

It should be noted that there are some disputes among specialists about the origin of the icon. Some believe that it was painted to order from the icon of Vladimir (but disagree on for whom), since the iconography of these images is very similar. Both of them can be attributed to the “Tenderness” type, but the miraculous Feodorovskaya 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 Infant 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. Such an image is more typical for icons of the Hodegetria type. Further, the feet of the Infant are depicted in such a way that it seems that he is taking a step. Moreover, the hands of the Mother and the fabric of Maforius 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 are lowered and wine is poured during the Eucharist.

The clothes of the Virgin 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 clothes of the Child symbolize his incarnation. The cloak of Christ is covered with the golden rays of the assist. In ancient times, the golden color 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 whole image of the Feodorovskaya icon is not only caressing the Mother and Son, but also their farewell. This can be seen on the icons that refer 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 back there is another image of a saint, presumably Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. There are several options for the appearance of this image. According to one of them, the image was painted when Alexander Nevsky was getting married, and the saint was the patroness of the bride's house. According to the second version, the icon was considered to be an altarpiece, since it once had a staff 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 more than once saved the country from various misfortunes. 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, she 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 of the royal family, numerous lists were written from it, some have survived to this day. It should be noted that the icon of the Mother of God Feodorovskaya is still revered by believers. How it helps ordinary Christians, you can read below.

What does the icon help with?

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

Help in difficult childbirth or the opportunity to become pregnant for a woman - this is what the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God most often helps. Prayer to get pregnant is quite simple, you need to read it every day. You need to turn to the Mother of God humbly, with a pure soul and a great desire to give birth to a child. To date, there are many cases where such prayers actually helped. And besides this, women also got rid of their sores, 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 refer to the Feodorovskaya icon in different cases (as was written above). Most often it 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 Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God is located. Prayer before this image will bring more benefits, but at the same time 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, in order to be able to get pregnant, you need to read almost the entire Akathist to the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. And then a prayer. It is advisable to talk about this with the priest, so that he would give instruction.

Miracles associated with the icon

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

There were also less global miracles, but just as significant. People who began to go on pilgrimage to the miraculous icon began to receive healing (this was especially true for women). Numerous families who could not 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 and why they turn to it is now clear.

Icon veneration day

As can be seen, the miraculous Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God helps in various situations, and each is rewarded according to his prayers. A celebration in honor of this image takes place twice a year. The first time this happens on the twenty-seventh of March according to the new style (or on the fourteenth of March according to the old), and the second time - on the twenty-ninth of August according to the new style (the sixteenth according to the old).

In the first version, this is a tribute to tradition, a memory that the Time of Troubles was completed in 1613, and Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich ascended the throne. It should be noted that this number was fixed only from 1620, earlier the holiday was determined by fasting. It must also be said that an instruction was issued that this day is equated with the feast of the Annunciation and is celebrated with great pomp even on fasting days. And the second option is dedicated to the day of the miraculous acquisition 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 Theodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, whose prayer 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 honor of her. Consider a 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 Tsarskoye Selo and belonged to the royal family.
3. Feodorovsky Cathedral in the 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 it should be noted in which temples and cathedrals you can find the icon. The most important miraculous image is located in the city of Kostroma, in the Epiphany Cathedral. It was this icon for more than eight centuries, it was she who helped Alexander Nevsky, and after that she was the intercessor and patroness of the Romanov royal family. A list from 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, the list of the Feodorovskaya icon is located in the Kashinsky Klobukov Monastery, which is located in Tver. It has a rather ancient history, and for some time was in disrepair. In 1994, it was restored, and in 2004 the Feodorovskaya icon was brought to the monastery, thus consecrating the list from it, which was written specifically for the monastery. The last one was left there.

Also, the image can be found in other churches, for example, in the church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki, in the church of Elijah the Prophet, in Obydensky lane, in the small cathedral of the Don Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow.

In Russia, many icons of Byzantine origin received their own history, full of miracles, historical victories, tragedies. Such is the Feodorovskaya icon, which, according to the type of image, refers to the “Merciful” icon. Her patronage is not limited to any specific cases - it is truly a national shrine. She is resorted to as a protector from enemies, the patroness of the hearth, in sorrows and difficulties.

The iconographic type itself is very ancient; the Apostle Luke, one of the authors of the Evangelical texts, is considered to be its author. But the origin of the Fedorov icon is quite difficult to determine exactly, because there are several mutually exclusive versions. In any case, the image is closely associated with the princes of the Rurik family. The first mention of the icon in chronicles occurs in the 12th century. Here are the different origins:

• The image was painted by order of Andrei Bogolyubsky. He stayed in the Gorodetsky monastery until it burned to the ground. The icon itself later appeared in another place.

• Prince Yaroslav ordered the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God as a wedding gift.
• The icon was found by Prince Yuri in an old chapel, where a monastery was later built in memory of this.

After the disappearance of the Feodorovskaya icon, it was again found by Vasily, the younger brother of Alexander Nevsky. The inhabitants of the city saw how the image was carried around the city by St. Theodore Stratilat (by that time he had already gone to God). Shortly thereafter, the icon appeared in the forest on a tree in front of the astonished prince. And so it got its name - in honor of the miraculous phenomenon. It was possible to get it only after a prayer service led by the local bishop.

The second wave of veneration of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God began in the 17th century. The civil strife ended, the king was chosen. It was with this icon that Mikhail Romanov was blessed. On this day, a church holiday was also established in honor of the image. Since then, he has a special connection with the royal family. The first lists from Kostroma came to Moscow thanks to the nun Martha (the mother of the king). Already at the end of the 17th century. a legend was written about the miracles that took place thanks to the icon.

• In fact, the Fedorov icon is two-sided. On the back is written St. Paraskeva Friday. From here, apparently, a version appeared that the image was written as a wedding gift.

It is believed that the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God helps in arranging family life. People believed that a blessing on marriage in front of this image would certainly bring happiness. Many German aristocrats, wanting to make a good match in Russia, were forced to accept Orthodoxy. To keep the family strong, the princesses took the patronymic "Fedorovna" - like, for example, the wife of the last emperor. They also prayed to her during difficult childbirth.

The fate of the icon

For a long time the Feodorovskaya icon continued to be in Kostroma. The inhabitants of the city revered her very much, as evidenced by the presence of a heavy golden riza: rubies, diamonds, emeralds adorned the salary, trimmed with rings of precious metals. During the revolution everything was requisitioned. Fortunately, the icon itself remained in the temple. She was even restored, for which she was taken to Moscow.

• Under the salary, the front part of the ancient image, dating from the 13th century, has practically been erased from time to time. The robes of St. Paraskeva, written on the back, are best preserved.

Since the temple of the Theodore Icon was completely destroyed, it was transferred to the church of St. John, then to the Cathedral of Kostroma. After the war, the inhabitants of the city raised funds for a new salary in order to decorate the shrine in the way it deserves. Today the image is in the monastery of St. Anastasia. The revered list was presented to Nicholas, the last emperor of Russia, and was kept in Tsarskoye Selo. Now he is in the same place.

What does the image say

Although by some miracle the icon has survived to this day, its condition is rather average. The faces of the Virgin and Christ are practically invisible. The composition is very reminiscent of "Vladimir", with the difference that the left leg of Christ is ajar. After all, this sometimes happens when a baby clings to his mother - this very moment is shown on icons such as Eleusa (Tenderness).

The Feodorovskaya icon was of great importance for the royal family, therefore its feast was celebrated very magnificently, despite the fasting time (March). On this day, they even served the Liturgy of Basil the Great, which means that vegetable oil and wine were allowed. The modern Church does not distinguish this day in such a special way; indulgence in fasting is not done.

The shrine is closely connected with Russian history, but it is also considered miraculous. Twice the temples where the image was located were completely destroyed by fire, but nevertheless it remained intact. Another great miracle was revealed during the battle with the Tatars. The enemies who surrounded Kostroma could not withstand the radiance that began to emanate from the face of the Mother of God.

What can you ask for

As the patroness of brides, the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God will help you find a worthy match. The choice of the groom should be taken very seriously - after all, a church marriage is forever. It is necessary to pray earnestly that God will send a worthy person. Wise parents themselves talk with the applicant for the hand of their daughter. If the father has doubts, he can appoint a probationary period. Young people should not be offended by this - a real feeling will pass the test of time.

The Akathist to the Feodorovskaya Icon should be read if a woman cannot conceive a child. Of course, you need to visit doctors, take the necessary medicines - do everything that is in the power of the person himself. Leave the rest to God, be less nervous, because this is reflected in the future father. The Lord will surely send his blessing to those who show patience and perseverance.

Prayers must be constant. This shows God that the person is firm in his intention. Indeed, sometimes time passes, and he forgets to think about what he recently prayed at the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. In this case, perhaps one should only be glad that the desire did not come true. Therefore, one should not be offended or despair if it seems that the appeal has not been heard. Most likely, the Lord is preparing an option that will please the petitioner more.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Her "Feodorovskaya"

Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the only hope for us sinners! We resort to You and pray to You, as if you had great boldness before the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, who was born of You according to the flesh. Do not despise our tears, do not disdain our sighs, do not reject our sorrows, do not disgrace our hope in Thee, but with Thy motherly prayers implore the Lord God, may He grant us, sinful and unworthy, to be freed from sins and passions of the soul and body, die to the world and let Him alone live all the days of our life. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, travel and protect and guard them, deliver the captives from captivity, free those who suffer from troubles, comfort those who are in sorrow, sorrow and adversity, alleviate poverty and all bodily malice and grant everyone everything necessary for the stomach, piety and temporary life. Save, Mistress, all countries and cities and this city, even if this miraculous and holy icon of Yours is given as a comfort and protection, deliver me from famine, destruction, coward, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners, internecine strife and turn away all anger, rightly moved upon us. Grant us time for repentance and conversion, deliver us from sudden death and at the time of our exodus appear to us, appearing to the Virgin Mother of God, and deliver us from the airy ordeals of the princes of this age, vouchsafe the right hand at the terrible Judgment of Christ and make us heirs of eternal blessings, let us glorify forever the magnificent Name of Your Son and our God, with His Father without Beginning, and the Holy, and the Good, and His Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Akathist to the Feodorovskaya Icon

Theodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God - meaning, what helps was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub

The suffering and humiliation of the revolution were given to us so that we could see the abyss into which the pre-revolutionary seducers were dragging us, and so that we would desire God; so that we can be cleansed, reborn and weave the fabric of a new Russia. And therefore it is absurd for us to be proud of the fact that we “have not revised anything” and “have not learned anything”, and it is even more absurd for us to again “go begging under the windows” of Western culture, Western religiosity, philosophy and politics and beg for ourselves “for poverty” callous crusts of European rational inventions. Russia expects from us its vision, its faith, its thought and its state form. And we must prepare for the day when the dominance of the devil will collapse in Russia.

I. A. Ilyin

It was no coincidence that we began our story about the miraculous icon of the Mother of God Feodorovskaya with the words of the remarkable Russian philosopher Ivan Aleksandrovich Ilyin. The fate of this miraculous image was closely intertwined with the fate of Russia, for Feodorovskaya was a family icon of the Romanov dynasty.

The icon itself, painted by the Apostle Luke, was found by the holy noble prince Georgy Vsevolodovich in a chapel near the Volga Gorodets. In the middle of the 12th century, the Feodorovsky Grodetsky Monastery was founded at the place of acquisition, where the shrine was kept. But when the troops of Batu destroyed and burned the ancient Gorodets, all its inhabitants fled from these places, and it was believed that the icon died in the fire.

But in 1239, the Kostroma prince Vasily Georgievich, during a hunt, discovered an icon hanging on a pine tree in the forest. This was the missing Gorodets shrine. The prince tried to take it off, but the image rose into the air. In the meantime, the people of Kostroma saw a wondrous vision: before the appearance of the icon to the prince, a bright man in rich military clothes carried it around the city. This husband was very similar to the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates, as he is depicted on the icons. Only when the people of Kostroma, having learned about the miracle, came to this place in a procession and served a prayer service, were they able to remove the icon from the pine tree. The miraculous vision of the pious citizens of Kostroma, as well as the cathedral church in the name of the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates, in which the icon was placed, gave reason to name the icon of Our Lady of Feodorovskaya acquired by the prince.

On the site of the appearance of the icon, on the banks of the Zaprudnya River, a monastery was founded in the name of the Savior Not Made by Hands (now the Spaso-Zaprudnenskaya Church). The altar of the Kostroma Cathedral, which was demolished in the 1930s, was turned not to the east, as usual, but to the north - towards the Zaprudnya, to the place of the second miraculous appearance of the miraculous. In former times, there was a religious procession there every year on August 16.

In 1239, the Feodorovskaya Icon was brought to Vladimir, to the Assumption Cathedral. Then she became a prayer image of the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky and was with him in all campaigns. After the death of the prince in 1262, his younger brother, Vasily, returned the miraculous image to Kostroma. In 1272, the Tatars approached Kostroma and the city was threatened with complete ruin. Coming out against the Tatars, the prince took the Feodorovskaya icon with him, and the enemies, struck by the extraordinary radiance of the holy image, like a fire burning their hordes, fled in fear.

More than three centuries later, it was in front of the face of Feodorovskaya that nun Martha blessed her young son Mikhail Fedorovich to the royal throne. For a long time he did not dare to give his consent, and then Archbishop Theodoret, taking the icon in his hands, said to him and his mother: God. For truly from God you are chosen. Do not anger all the Lord and God. Nun Martha prostrated herself before the icon and prayed for a long time, then brought her son to Feodorovskaya, blessed him and said: “To you, Lady, I entrust my son! May Your holy will be over him." The chosen king was immediately enthroned. It was in 1613, on March 14, and therefore the celebration of the Feodorovskaya icon was established on this day. In Moscow - in the Grand Kremlin Palace, in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin "in the hallway" - since that time a revered copy of the genuine miraculous icon that was in the Kostroma Assumption Cathedral was kept. This list was brought to Moscow from Kostroma by Nun Marfa herself.

Other miraculous lists from Feodorovskaya were in the Ascension Monastery in Syzran, in Nizhny Novgorod in the church in the name of the holy Metropolitan Alexy, in the Feodorovsky Grodetsky Monastery of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, in the Trinity Church in Kazan (it was placed there by St. Hermogenes), in Morshansk, Yaroslavl and in many other places. In Moscow, in addition to the list in the palace church, there was also another, very ancient and accurate list from Feodorovskaya - in the church on Malaya Alekseevskaya Street in Rogozhskaya Sloboda.

The accession of Mikhail Fedorovich marked the end of the Time of Troubles in Russia. The Feodorovskaya icon was especially revered by the entire Romanov dynasty, and in the post-Petrine era, non-Christian brides of heirs to the Russian throne who converted to Orthodoxy were usually given the patronymic Feodorovna in her honor. Just as the installation of the first tsar from the Romanov dynasty took place before this icon, so it accompanied the last sovereign and his family until the very martyrdom. The Martyr Empress Alexandra Feodorovna especially honored the Feodorovskaya icon. In Tsarskoye Selo, she built the Feodorovsky Cathedral with the Feodorovsky Town around it. In the house of Ipatiev in Yekaterinburg, after the massacre of the royal family, the image of Our Lady Feodorovskaya was found, without which Alexandra Feodorovna did not go anywhere.

In the 1930s, the Assumption Cathedral in Kostroma - the place where the icon had been permanently located for many centuries - was destroyed. However, the icon did not fall into the hands of the atheists, but was transferred first to the Church of St. John Chrysostom, and then to the Church of the Resurrection on Debre, which for many years served as the cathedral of the Kostroma diocese. Before this image, the people's prayer never stopped. In 1991, the main shrine of Kostroma was solemnly transferred to the Kostroma Cathedral of the Epiphany and Anastasia, restored after a terrible fire in 1982 and returned to the church, where it remains today.

It is providential that when the "dominance of the devil" collapsed in Russia, the religious processions with the Feodorovskaya icon resumed. And, as His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Hands said, these moves "are now acquiring state all-Russian significance."

Until 2001, the Feodorovskaya icon never left the Kostroma land (with the exception of the 1940s, when it was restored by I.E. Grabar). At the beginning of the third millennium, the miraculous, long revered as the deliberate patroness of the Orthodox family and the younger generation, with the blessing of the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, visited Moscow and Yekaterinburg, where she consecrated large Orthodox youth forums. The Theodore Icon was accompanied on these long journeys by Archbishop Alexander of Kostroma and Galich, chairman of the Department for Youth Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate.

During the stay of the shrine in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, hundreds of thousands of Orthodox people were able to bow to her and receive grace-filled consolation. The icon was delivered to the capital of the Urals by air, and this procession was accompanied by miraculous signs. Despite very bad weather, the plane with the shrine on board - the only one of dozens of others - managed to land at Yekaterinburg airport. In Yekaterinburg, a penitential procession with the Feodorovskaya Icon took place to the places of the murder and burial of the holy royal martyrs. This event, given the historical and spiritual connection of the icon with the royal family, undoubtedly has a deep symbolic meaning.

Then, at the request of Bishop Tikhon of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory (a native of Kostroma), the shrine was brought to the North on the occasion of the celebration of the 320th anniversary of the Archangel and Kholmogory diocese. After the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Kostroma, the shrine solemnly left for Yaroslavl, where for about four hours it was in the Feodorovsky Cathedral: thousands of Orthodox came to bow to it. For the delivery of the shrine to Arkhangelsk, the management of the Northern Railway allocated two special wagons. On the embankment of the Northern Dvina in Arkhangelsk, a prayer service was held in front of the shrine. It is significant that this was the first religious procession through the streets of Arkhangelsk after 1917. In the Cathedral of St. Elijah's Cathedral, the Feodorovskaya Icon was located for two days, during which time more than one hundred thousand Arkhangelsk residents bowed to it. And then the miraculous was delivered by air to the Solovetsky monastery. As Bishop Alexander said on this occasion, “There is probably no place on Russian soil in which the lawlessness of the revolutionary element would be concentrated to such an extent. The Solovetsky land is a living antimension, stained with righteous blood. Society rejected the Solovetsky prisoners, and with them rejected those spiritual principles on which the Russian state was based for centuries, Christian principles. But time has clearly shown that without true spiritual values ​​it is impossible to build a prosperous society, it will be a "house on the sand." Therefore, the current stay of the miraculous patroness of the Russian state on Solovki can be regarded as an act of repentance, similar to last year's procession with a shrine in Yekaterinburg.

Hundreds of thousands of people took part in the religious processions with the Feodorovskaya icon. Truly, this was a genuine act of great national repentance. Russia is reborn - first spiritually, then, hopefully, economically. For Russia, the lot of the Most Holy Theotokos, the most important thing is to return to their spiritual roots and go out on their own path. The great Russian thinker I.A. wrote about this. Ilyin.

Troparion, tone 4

With the advent of Your honest icon, the Mother of God, the God-protected city of Kostroma, rejoiced today, like ancient Israel to the covenant, flows to the image of Your face and our God incarnated from You, and by Your motherly intercession to Him, intercession to all, under the shade of Your shelter, peace and great mercy.

Troparion, tone 4

Today, the most famous city of Kostroma and the whole Russian country are brightly flaunting, calling all the God-loving peoples of Christianity to rejoicing, to the glorious triumph of the Mother of God, the coming for the sake of Her miraculous and multi-healing image, the day of battle hanging on us the bright great sun, come, all God-chosen people, new Israel, to the well-bearing source, the Most Holy Theotokos exudes for us unjudgmental mercy and delivers all the cities and countries of Christianity unharmed from all the slander of the enemy. But, O All-Merciful Lady, Virgin Mother of God, Lady, save our country, and the bishops, and all the people of Your property from all troubles by Your great mercy, let us call You: rejoice, Virgin, praise to the Christian.

Prayer one

O Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the only hope for us sinners! We resort to You and pray to You, as if you had great boldness before the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, who was born of You according to the flesh. Do not despise our tears, do not disdain our sighs, do not reject our sorrow, do not disgrace our hope in Thee, but with your motherly prayers implore the Lord God, may we, sinful and unworthy, be freed from sins and passions of the soul and body, die to the world and life to Him alone for all the days of our life. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, travel and protect and protect those who travel, deliver the captives from captivity, free those who suffer from troubles, comfort those who are in sorrow, sorrow and adversity, alleviate poverty and all bodily malice and grant everyone everything that is needed for the stomach, piety and temporary life . Save, Mistress, all countries and cities, and this country and this city, even this miraculous and holy icon of Yours is given as a consolation and protection, deliver me from gladness, destruction, coward, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners, internecine warfare, and turn away every anger that is righteously moved against us. Grant us time for repentance and conversion, deliver us from sudden death, and at the time of our exodus appear to us, Virgin Mother of God, and deliver us from air ordeals, the princes of this age, vouchsafe the right hand at the Terrible Judgment of Christ, and make us heirs of the eternal good, let us glorify forever the magnificent name of Your Son and our God with His Father without Beginning and His Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer two

O Most Merciful Lady Queen Theotokos, accept our humble prayer, and do not reject us, Our Intercession and Refuge, and do not disdain us unworthy, but as Merciful, do not stop praying, Thou hast given birth to us, may she grant us forgiveness of many of our sins, may she save us image of the message of fate. Have mercy on us, Lady, have mercy on us, for there is no salvation for us from works. The same is true with the cry of Ty: have mercy on Thy servants, and show our barren heart fruitful of good deeds. Look down on us unworthy. You are our hope and cover, life and light to our heart. Like the Non-Evening Light from Thy womb, illumine our soul, Pure, and banish all the darkness of our heart. Grant us tenderness, repentance and contrition of the heart. Vouchsafe us for all the days of our belly to do the will of Your Son and our God and in everything to please Him alone. O Mother of God, do not stop praying to the One who was born from You for all who flow with faith to this miraculous image of Yours and give them quick help and comfort in sorrows, and misfortunes, and suffering, deliver them from slander and human malice, from enemies visible and invisible, and every need and sorrow. 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 wrath, driven by us, and deliver us from His proper and righteous rebuke. O God-loving Lady, Angels adornment, glory to the martyrs and joy to all the saints, pray with them to the Lord, may we in repentance end our life. In death, the hour, Blessed Virgin, deliver us from the power of demons and condemnation, and the answer, and the terrible trial, and bitter ordeals, and eternal fire, yes, having been granted the glorious Kingdom of God, we magnify Thee and glorify Christ our God, incarnated from You, Himself glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer three.

To whom shall I call, Mistress, to whom shall I resort in my sorrow, to whom shall I bring my tears and sighs, if not to Thee, Queen of heaven and earth. Who will tear me out of the mud of sins and iniquities, if not You, O Mother of the Belly, Intercessor and Refuge of the human race. Hear my groaning, console me and have mercy on my sorrow, protect me in troubles and misfortunes, deliver me from bitterness and sorrows and all sorts of ailments and diseases, from enemies visible and invisible, pacify the enmity of those who torment me, may I be delivered from human slander and malice; so free me from your own flesh of vile customs. Cover me under the shade of Your mercy, may I find peace and joy and cleansing from sins. I entrust myself to your maternal intercession: wake me Mother and hope, protection, and help, and intercession, joy, and consolation, and an ambulance in everything. O wonderful mistress! Everyone who flows to You without Your almighty help does not depart: for this sake, and I am unworthy, I resort to You, so that I will be delivered from sudden and fierce death, gnashing of teeth and eternal torment. I will receive the Kingdom of Heaven and I will be honored with you in the tenderness of the heart of the river: rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Intercessor and Intercessor, forever and ever. Amen.

According to legend, during the life of the Mother of God, the evangelist Luke painted about seventy of her images, one of which was later called the Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God.

Description of the icon

According to the iconography, it belongs to the “Tenderness” type: the Baby clung to the Mother’s cheek and hugs Her, but there is no smile on Her face, only grief and endless love for the Son, who will be sacrificed for all mankind. The color of the robe of the Mother of God is purple, which symbolizes royal power, and in the Christian tradition, the Passion of Christ. The bare legs of the Infant are reminiscent of His forthcoming suffering.

The Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God has one amazing feature that distinguishes it from other images of the Mother of God: on the reverse side of it is an image of St. martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, who in Russia was the patroness of brides and weddings.

The history of the icon goes back centuries, and over these centuries it has repeatedly shown its miraculous power.

The acquisition of the icon in Russia

From the 1st century AD, when the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Fedorovskaya was painted, and until its acquisition at the beginning of the 13th century in the small Russian town of Gorodets, its history is shrouded in darkness. It is only known that when the Mongols burned Gorodets in 1239, the icon disappeared, but after some time it was miraculously acquired by Prince Vasily Kostroma, the younger brother of Prince Alexander Nevsky.

It happened like this: while hunting, Prince Vasily noticed an icon on the branches of a tree, but when he tried to get it, she rose into the air. Surprisingly, at exactly the same time, many Kostroma residents saw an unknown warrior walking through the city with an icon in his hands. This warrior looked like St. Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates, in his honor a cathedral was erected in the city.

A huge procession headed by the clergy moved to the place where the icon of the Mother of God was found. After a long kneeling prayer, it was solemnly transferred to the cathedral church of Kostroma, and the icon was given the name Feodorovskaya in part of the appearance of Theodore Stratilates, the patron saint of warriors.

The meaning of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God

Shortly after finding the icon, Alexander Nevsky received from his father, Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, a blessing for marriage with Alexandra Bryachislavna, the daughter of the Polotsk Tsar.

During the seven centuries of its stay in Kostroma, the Feodorovskaya Icon has performed many miracles. So, the Kostroma Cathedral, where she stayed, twice engulfed the fire, and both times the flame did not affect the miraculous.

When in 1260 the Mongol army approached Kostroma, threatening the complete destruction of the city, the prince opposed the enemies with the Feodorovskaya icon, which was carried in front of his small squad. Suddenly, in the midst of the battle, the face of the Most Holy Theotokos began to radiate a dazzling radiance that forced the enemies to flee from the battlefield. The lake, not far from which the battle took place, was named St., and on the site of the miracle, the prince ordered to build a cross first, and then a stone chapel.

The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God played a special role in 1613, when the first representative of the Romanov dynasty was called to the kingdom. Only the appeal of the archbishop to her broke the resistance of the nun Martha, the mother of the future Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, and forced her to give her son a blessing for the reign. Falling to her knees, she turned to the image of the Virgin:

May Your will be done, Lady! I commit my son into Your hands: guide him on the true path, for the good of Yourself and the Fatherland!

Since then, Kostroma has been considered the "cradle of the Romanov dynasty", who regularly went there to bow to the icon, including in 1913, when the 300th anniversary of the royal dynasty was celebrated. It is noteworthy that many foreign brides of the heirs to the throne, who adopted the Orthodox faith, received the patronymic “Fedorovna” at baptism, as a sign that the Mother of God herself acts as their Receiver and Patroness.

Even during the years of Soviet power, the Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God was not touched, which became a unique phenomenon in the recent history of the Russian Orthodox Church, and in the new millennium, believers in many Russian cities were able to bow to her and ask for help.

What helps the Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God

It is traditionally believed that this icon patronizes girls who want to get married and expectant mothers, as well as peace in the family and overcoming disagreements between loved ones. There is especially a lot of information about the miraculous healings of women who could not get pregnant for a long time - after everyday sincere prayers before the Theodore Icon, they were granted the happiness of motherhood.

Prayer icon

To whom will I call, Lady, to whom will I resort in my sorrow; to whom I will bring my tears and sighs, if not to You, the Queen of Heaven and earth: who will cast me out of the mire of sins and iniquities, if not You, O Mother of the Belly, Intercessor and Refuge of the human race. Hear my groaning, console me and have mercy in my sorrow, protect me in troubles and misfortunes, deliver me from bitterness and sorrow, and all sorts of ailments and diseases, from enemies visible and invisible, die the enmity of those who torment me, may I be delivered from slander and human malice ; so free me from your own flesh of vile customs. Cover me under the shade of Your mercy, may I find peace and joy and cleansing from sins. I entrust myself to your motherly intercession; wake me Mati and hope, cover, and help, and intercession, joy and consolation, and an ambulance in everything Helper. Oh wonderful mistress! Everyone flows to You, without Your almighty help does not depart; for this sake, and I am unworthy of you, I resort to you, so that I will be delivered from sudden and fierce death, gnashing of teeth and eternal torment. I will receive the Kingdom of Heaven and I will be honored with you in the tenderness of the heart of the river: Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Intercessor and Intercessor, forever and ever. Amen.

FEODOROVSKAYA ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of Godfor three centuries she was the patroness of the Royal House of Romanovs, the sovereign Intercessor of the Russian state. It is this icon that personifies 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 Feodorovskaya icon was painted by the holy Evangelist Luke and is close in iconography to the Vladimir one, but unlike the latter, the left leg of the Infant Christ is naked to the knee.

The Feodorovskaya Icon received its name from Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, father of Saint Alexander Nevsky, who bore the name Theodore in honor of Saint Theodore Stratilates in holy baptism. According to legend, it was acquired 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 in this image of the Mother of God that Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich in 1239 blessed his son, the right-believing Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, to marry Princess Bryachislava of Polotsk. This is confirmed by the peculiarity of the Feodorovskaya icon: on its reverse side there is an image of the holy martyr Paraskeva, called Pyatnitsa - the heavenly patroness of the Polotsk princely house.

One of the most significant events in the history of our country is also associated with the name of the Feodorovskaya Icon. On February 21 (according to the old style), 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 Russia. The 16-year-old youth was the son of Fyodor Nikitich, (monastic Filaret, the future Patriarch of Moscow), and Xenia Ivanovna (monastic Martha) Romanovs. On March 14, 1613, an embassy from the Zemsky Sobor arrived at the Ipatiev Monastery in the city of Kostroma to notify Mikhail Feodorovich and his mother, nun Martha, of their election to the throne. At the same time, the Feodorovskaya icon was brought to the monastery from the Assumption Cathedral in Kostroma. After much persuasion, the ambassadors of the Zemsky Sobor managed to convince the young Mikhail Romanov and his mother to accept the 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 Hand, Lady, I commit my child, and if you wish, arrange for him useful and all Orthodox Christianity».

Since that time, the Feodorovskaya icon has become one of the main family relics of Russian sovereigns and their families. Since the end of the 18th century, German princesses, marrying Russian grand dukes and accepting Orthodoxy for this, according to tradition, in honor of the Feodorovskaya icon, received their patronymic Fedorovna. 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) and Elizabeth 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 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 Romanov dynasty" - and bow to the miraculous Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. The patroness was especially revered under Tsar Nicholas, and his whole family prayed before her. 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 martyrs, in the house of Ipatiev (Yekaterinburg), a list of the Theodore Icon of the Theotokos was discovered, which belonged to the martyr Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna.

Church history has preserved many miracles of updating icons. But with the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, the opposite miracle happened. Shortly before the abdication of the martyr Tsar Nicholas II, the image darkened and became almost black.

The celebration in memory of the miraculous acquisition of the icon has been known since the 13th century and had a local character. However, starting from 1620, which is associated with the return from captivity of Patriarch Filaret, the royal father, this holiday is fixed on March 14 and immediately becomes very solemn and significant in the royal family.

Under the first Romanovs, the date of the celebration, which fell on the days of Great 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 Great Lenten services and was equated with the feast of the Annunciation. It was performed in the Assumption Cathedral, dressed in white robes, served the all-night vigil and the liturgy of John Chrysostom. From the second half of the 18th century, the holiday began to be moved to the next Sunday, which already reduced its status. In the modern liturgical charter, the celebration of the icon is performed according to the usual Lenten rite.

Twice the Kostroma Cathedral survived the fire, and both times the icon was unharmed.During the second fire, the inhabitants of Kostroma could observe a miraculous phenomenon. When the flame of fire destroyed the temple, the face of the Mother of God was seen above the flame in the air.After these fires, Prince Vasily decided to build a special temple for the Icon of Our Lady Theodorovskaya - the Assumption Cathedral with a side chapel in the name of the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates. The altar was turned not to the east, but to the north - to the place where the icon was found. The Theodore Icon stayed in this cathedral until 1929.

The genuine Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, fortunately, has not been lost, which was confirmed, surprisingly, by the expedition of the People's Commissariat of Education in 1919. She never left the church walls, prayer never stopped before her. In the recent history of the Russian Orthodox Church, this case can rightfully be called unique. During the years of persecution against 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 Debre.On August 18, 1991, the icon was transferred to the cathedral Epiphany- Anastasiin the cathedral Kostroma diocese.

The icon was repeatedly decorated with precious salaries. At the beginning of the 19th century, at the expense of the inhabitants of Kostroma, a new gold setting was made for the icon, in which precious stones were placed from the previous one. Later, a golden riza weighing about 10 kg was made for the icon. She decorated the icon until 1922, when the riza was requisitioned as part of a campaign to confiscate church valuables. 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 setting for the icon. In 2003, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II gave his blessing for the development of the project and the production of an exact copy of the lost precious riza (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 list from the ancient Kostroma icon of the Theodore Mother of God. St. Righteous Alexy (Mechev) greatly honored this image, he used to perform a prayer service before him 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 fell from the eyes of the Queen of Heaven. St. rights. Alexis was shocked by this.

The Monk Ambrose of Optina blessed women who are expecting a child to resort to prayer before the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. And now women who carry a child in their womb pray before this image of the Mother of God, ask Her help in a safe resolution from the burden, andgirls pray for happiness in marriage e.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Her "Feodorovskaya":
Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the only hope for us sinners! We resort to You and pray to You, as if you had great boldness before the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, who was born of You according to the flesh. Do not despise our tears, do not disdain our sighs, do not reject our sorrows, do not disgrace our hope in Thee, but with Thy motherly prayers implore the Lord God, may He grant us, sinful and unworthy, to be freed from sins and passions of the soul and body, die to the world and let Him alone live all the days of our life. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, travel and protect and guard them, deliver the captives from captivity, free those who suffer from troubles, comfort those who are in sorrow, sorrow and adversity, alleviate poverty and all bodily malice and grant everyone everything necessary for the stomach, piety and temporary life. Save, Mistress, all countries and cities and this city, even if this miraculous and holy icon of Yours is given as a comfort and protection, deliver me from famine, destruction, coward, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners, internecine strife and turn away all anger, rightly moved upon us. Grant us time for repentance and conversion, deliver us from sudden death and at the time of our exodus appear to us, appearing to the Virgin Mother of God, and deliver us from the airy ordeals of the princes of this age, vouchsafe the right hand at the terrible Judgment of Christ and make us heirs of eternal blessings, let us glorify forever the magnificent Name of Your Son and our God, with His Father without Beginning, and the Holy, and the Good, and His Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. A min.

Troparion, voice 4:
With the advent of Your honest icon, the Mother of God, the God-protected city of Kostroma, rejoiced today, like ancient Israel to the Kivot of the Covenant, flows to the image of Your face and our God incarnated from You, and by Your Maternal intercession to Him, ever intercede to all under the shade of Your shelter, peace and great mercy .

Kontakion, tone 8:
Giving thanks to Thy servants, the Theotokos, about everyone, in the image you have done good to our city, from the depths of our souls we cry out to You, and have mercy on us: do not stop, Mistress, Maternal to Your Son and our God, with prayers, give all that is good and saving to everyone with faith and love crying Ty: Rejoice, Virgo, praise of Christians.