Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir meaning. Icon of Our Lady of Vladimir

Among Russian believers, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is considered the most beloved and revered. Its significance for Russia is enormous. She saved the country from enemy attacks more than once, thanks to her the Russians escaped enslavement.

History of the icon

Church tradition says that the Holy Face was written by the apostle and evangelist Luke after the Ascension of the Lord to Heaven on an ordinary board from the table at which Mary, Joseph and Jesus ate. Until 450, the image rested on Jerusalem land, and then was transferred to Constantinople. In the 12th century, the icon was presented as a gift by Patriarch Luka Khrysoverkh to Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky.

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

In the monastic monastery in the city of Vyshgorod, Lik became famous for many miraculous events. But in 1155 Andrei Bogolyubsky, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, moved the icon to Vladimir. On this occasion, the shrine became known as Vladimirskaya. The image was decorated with gold and silver, pearls and precious stones.

In 1164, during the military campaign of Prince Andrei against the Bulgarians, the Mother of God helped the Russians to defeat the enemy. Her Face was preserved even in the strongest conflagration that raged in the cathedral. She remained safe and sound during the ruin of the city of Batu in 1237.

In 1395, the icon began to be kept in Moscow, so that it would survive during the invasion of Tamerlane. He invaded the Ryazan lands, devastating them, and soon went to Moscow, destroying and ruining everything that was on his way. Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich gathered troops, at the same time Metropolitan Cyprian was blessed for the post and ministry. The Moscow prince and the metropolitan decided to use spiritual powers, so the image of the Blessed Virgin was transferred from Vladimir to Moscow. The icon was kept in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. A miracle happened and Tamerlane left Moscow. As it turned out, during the procession with the Vladimir Mother of God to Moscow, pilgrims and people standing on both sides of the road along the path of the procession prayed to the Mother of God for the granting of peace to the Russian Land.

In turn, Tamerlane had a vision: he saw a huge mountain, from its top saints descended, holding golden rods in their hands. The radiant Virgin towered above the saints, commanding him to leave the Russian borders. Later, he realized that the Wife is the Mother of God, the Christian protector and intercessor. He understood everything and ordered his army to go back. In memory of this event, a church celebration of the icon was established.

In 1480, the Mother of God saved Russia from the invasion of the troops of the Khan of the Golden Horde Akhmat. Russian troops met with the Tatars near the Ugra River. The fighters settled down on both sides of the river and waited for the attack to begin. Russian soldiers held the Vladimir icon in their hands and the Queen of Heaven put the Horde horde to flight. In honor of the miraculous event, a second celebration of the image was established.

In 1521, the Kazan Khan Makhmet Giray moved to Moscow. The area through which the Tatars passed was a terrible sight: ruins could be seen on the site of cities and villages, the property of the inhabitants was looted, old people and children were mercilessly beaten, and then killed or sold into slavery. The attack was unexpected and people were very afraid that Moscow would also be ruined. Meanwhile, the khan reached the limits of Moscow and began to burn the city. But suddenly a miracle happened and the enemy troops began to retreat from the capital. And again the Mother of God helped. On this occasion, the Church established a third celebration.

Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir

Important events in Russia took place before the Vladimir face:

• election of patriarchs;
• taking an oath of allegiance to the Fatherland;
• prayers before military campaigns.

And at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, people day and night begged the Queen of Heaven for the intercession of Christ. Even Stalin himself at night, furtively from prying eyes, came to the temple and prayed to the Mother of God for help, and then gave the order to load the Holy Face on a plane and personally flew with him around the capital.

Iconography of the image

The icon depicts the tender "communication" of the Mother of God with the Son - the human side of family relationships. The Mother of God and the Child are in close contact, Jesus embraces Mary by the neck.

A feature of the Vladimir icon is the image of the heel of the Infant.

The icon has two sides, the second depicts the throne and the symbols of passions. This idea is not accidental and means the forthcoming sacrifice of Christ and the mourning of the Son by the Mother.

It is interesting! Ancient icons similar to the Vladimir one have not survived to this day. Over the centuries, the image has been restored several times, several layers of paint have been applied to it. But what is surprising is that the faces of Christ and the Virgin Mary still remain in their original form.

During the entire existence of the image, none of the icon painters dared to tint or correct them.

What helps Vladimirsky Lik

The main thing is sincere faith in the power and mercy of the Queen of Heaven, which She reveals to humanity through the icon-painting. The Blessed Virgin helps:

• prayer before the icon affirms the Orthodox spirit and gives it steadfastness;
• saves the prayer book from heretical attacks;
• protects Russia from enemies, instilling courage and courage in the hearts of warriors;
• protects from military conflicts, external threats and internal unrest;
• promotes reconciliation with the enemy;
• admonishes before making a difficult decision;
• relieves uncertainty and doubt;
• gives peace and tranquility;
• protects marriage and family from contention;
• grants spouses love, unity, understanding and respect;
• heals diseases;
• grants spiritual and physical insight;
• helps in difficult childbirth;
• protects mothers and their children in a special way;
• heals from infertility and ailments of the female genital organs.

The image of the Mother of God of Vladimir is the greatest fruit of reflection on the life of Christ on earth, the great humility of His Most Pure Mother, the earthly path they traveled and sacrificial love.

Important! The Miraculous Face is kept in the Moscow church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. He is commemorated annually on June 3, July 6 and September 8.

Video about the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

Days of celebration of the icon:
June 3 - in honor of the salvation of Moscow from Khan Makhmet Giray in 1521.
July 6 - in memory of the deliverance of Russia from the Khan of the Golden Horde Akhmat in 1480.
September 8 - Meeting of the Vladimir Icon, in memory of the deliverance of Moscow from the troops of Tamerlane in 1395.

WHAT THEY PRAY FOR BEFORE THE VLADIMIR ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

Vladimirskaya Icon of the Mother of God always prayed for the preservation of the country, for help in defense against enemies. This icon is addressed during various disasters and asked for help in healing from illnesses.
The Mother of God through this image helps to reconcile warring people, softens human hearts, helps to make the right decision, strengthens faith.
There were cases when prayers to the Vladimir icon relieved infertility or diseases of the reproductive organs. The icon especially protects mothers and their children, promotes easy childbirth, gives health to babies, and helps with diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system.

It must be remembered that icons or saints do not "specialize" in any particular area. It will be right when a person turns with faith in the power of God, and not in the power of this icon, this saint or prayer.
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THE HISTORY OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF VLADIMIR

According to legend, the holy image of the Mother of God of this icon was created by the apostle and evangelist Luke right on the surface of the table at which the Savior and the Blessed Virgin served meals:

“Having written Your all-honorable image, the divine Luke, the divinely inspired writer of the Gospel of Christ, depicted the Creator of all in Your hands.”

Seeing the created image, the Mother of God said:

“From now on, all birth will please Me. The grace of Him who was born of Me, and Mine, be in this way.”

At the beginning of the 12th century, a special list was made of this icon, while the Vladimir icon itself was in Constantinople at that time. The list was given as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky, Grand Duke of Kyiv. The holy icon was brought to Kyiv and placed in the Theotokos Monastery.
Yuri Dolgoruky had several sons, they constantly quarreled with each other because of their father's inheritance. One of the sons, Prince Andrei, was tired of the quarrels of the brothers and in 1155, secretly from his father, taking an icon from the Mother of God Monastery, he went to the north of the state in order to create his own principality there, which would be independent from Kyiv.

They made a platform for the icon and took it on a special team. Throughout the journey, Prince Andrei fervently prayed to the Mother of God.
After a rest in Vladimir, the prince was about to continue moving, but having driven quite a bit from the city, his horses stopped. They tried to force them to go further, but all attempts were unsuccessful. Even after the change of horses, nothing had changed - the caravan did not move. Prince Andrei began to fervently pray to the Mother of God, and during the prayer, the Tsaritsa herself appeared to him, ordering the miraculous icon to be left in Vladimir, and the cathedral, which the prince would have to build, would become her home. So this image got its name - the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
To Moscow Vladimir icon was moved in 1480. It was placed in the Assumption Cathedral, and in Vladimir there was a list from the icon, written by the Monk Andrei Rublev.

The meeting place (or “meeting”) of the icon in Moscow is immortalized by the Sretensky Monastery, which was erected in honor of this event, and the street was named Sretenka.

Immediately after the revolution, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was closed. In 1918, the miraculous image of the Mother of God was transferred to the State Tretyakov Gallery, where the icon was until September 8, 1999. Then it was transferred from the Tretyakov Gallery to the church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi.

SOME MIRACLES THAT WERE CREATED BY THE ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF VLADIMIR

There is a lot of evidence in history about unusual miracles that happened to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
In 1395, Khan Tamerlane attacked Russia with his troops. At this time, in a religious procession, for more than ten days, they carried the icon from Vladimir to Moscow in their arms. People stood on both sides of the path and prayed to the Holy Image on the icon: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!”. Through these prayers, Tamerlane had a dream that Christian saints descended from the top of a high mountain, they held gold wands in their hands, and a Majestic Woman appeared above them and ordered him to leave Russia alone. Tamerlane woke up in alarm and sent for interpreters of dreams, who explained to the khan that the radiant Woman was the image of the Mother of God, the protector of all Christians. Stopping his campaign, Tamerlane left Russia.

In 1451, during the attack of the Tatars on Moscow, Metropolitan Jonah carried the icon in procession along the city walls. At night, the attackers heard a loud noise and decided that Prince Vasily Dmitrievich was coming to the aid of the besieged with his army, in the morning they lifted the siege and retreated from the city walls.

In 1480, the battle of the Russian troops with the Tatar-Mongols was to take place. Opponents stood on different banks of the river and prepared for battle, but it never took place. This “great standing on the Ugra River” ended with the flight of the Tatar-Mongolians, into which the Mother of God turned them through her Vladimir icon, which was in front of the Russian army.

In 1521, the Khan's troops once again approached Moscow, began to burn the settlements, but unexpectedly moved away from the city without causing significant harm to the capital. This event is also associated with the protection of the miraculous icon, in honor of which its third feast was established.

The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God has always taken part in the important events of our state. With her, the people went to the Novodevichy Convent to Boris Godunov to put him in the kingdom, this icon met the troops of Minin and Pozharsky, who in 1613 expelled the Polish invaders.

For our country, the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God is of great importance. In times of difficult trials, prayers to her more than once saved Russia from destructive enemy attacks, which were repelled thanks to the intercession of the Mother of God through Her holy icon.

Interesting fact

Part of the image of the icon of Vladimir (eye and nose) were taken for the logo of the Icon Productions film company created in 1989 by Mel Gibson. This studio has produced films such as The Passion of the Christ and Anna Karenina.

Magnification

We magnify, we magnify Thee, Blessed Virgin, and we honor Your image
holy one, bring healing to all who flow with faith.

VIDEO FILM

In Orthodoxy, there is an ancient tradition of icon veneration, which brings an undoubted benefit to believers and is associated with numerous and varied miracles. The icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir enjoys special reverence among Orthodox Christians, in which it helps and why it is so valued.

Who is the creator. There are a number of images that, according to legend, were written by the apostle Luke himself, the author of one of the books of the Gospel. This image received the blessing of the Blessed Virgin herself and is written on a board that used to serve Christ, as well as Mary and Joseph at the dinner table. Therefore, it has a special grace on it, and it has such great value.

Main historical milestones:

• until the middle of the fifth century, it remains in the territory of Jerusalem, then it is transported to Constantinople;
• remains in Byzantium until the 12th century, but the Patriarch of Constantinople gives the image to Yuri Dolgoruky, who brought the icon to Kyiv;
• a period of various miracles, which Andrei Bogolyubsky, the son of Dolgoruky, learns about. Having gone to the Vyshgorodsky monastery, the prince takes the sacred face, on the way he comes to Vladimir, where he sees a vision of the Virgin. Here he orders the construction of a new temple;
• the icon of Vladimir receives its current name, performs various miracles, saves Russia more than once;
• Andrei Rublev makes a list (in 1408), which remains in the temple of the city of Vladimir, the original was taken to Moscow in 1480 and placed on the territory of the Assumption Cathedral;
• In 1918 the image was transferred to the Tretyakov Gallery, in 1999 to the church of St. Nicholas.

This is the official history of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, which is more interesting for scientists. In addition, there is a completely different one, which is interesting for believers. This historical mosaic has been preserved in separate grains in the stories and testimonies of the people.

Description of the image

There are four main iconographic images of the Virgin: Hodegetria, Eleusa, Oranta, Akathist, which are used to create shrines. On the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, we see the type of Eleus or Tenderness, which is characterized by the Divine Infant and the Mother of God clinging to each other. They touch cheeks and embrace each other.

The formal and primitive level of understanding gives a completely understandable meaning - the relationship between mother and child, the tenderness of mother's love. Of course, such a symbol should not be neglected, since it in itself is very significant for understanding. Nevertheless, one should not forget about the role of the figures depicted: before us are not just people, but saints, although they are depicted in human form.

Note! A feature of the image is a small detail - the feet of the Savior. One of them is turned to the viewer, who can contemplate the heel of the baby Christ. This element distinguishes the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir.

Symbolic description:

• the depicted are pressed against their cheeks: the Blessed Virgin symbolizes humanity, and Christ represents the Lord, to whom every person aspires. Thus is depicted the divine love and intimate relationship between the Creator and His child;
• Mary's clothes: the lower part of the blue tint symbolizes heavenly purity, the upper one is red, indicating the regal position of Mary and the suffering of the Virgin;
• golden elements of clothing also indicate royalty, a symbol of divine grace.

The Mother of God can also symbolically represent not only humanity and man separately, but also the church. This emphasizes one detail: Mary has sleeves on her clothes that are worn by priests. The Mother of God is an Equal-to-the-Apostles Church, which allows humanity to go to the Lord.

Useful video: about the Vladimir icon of the Mother of God

Miracles

Before considering how this image helps, it is necessary to briefly describe the well-known miracles that took place throughout the long history of Russia. Wikipedia can tell about this, these facts are well known. Until now, the miracles associated with this icon help believers.

Note! The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is one of the key images for Russian Orthodoxy.

Hundreds of thousands of believers prayed before him for centuries, both ordinary people and aristocrats, great ascetics and worldly people comprehended the faith before him, through the prayers of the Russian people, the Virgin Mary worked miracles and protected her native land from all sorts of adversities.

Notable Miraculous Events:

1. In 1395, the Most Pure Virgin appeared in a dream to Tamerlane, who at that time conquered a huge amount of land, forced him to retreat and not capture Russia.
2. In 1451, the Tatars again stood under the walls of the city, but Jonah, who at that time was the metropolitan, carried the icon of the Mother of God to the glorification of God along the city walls in order to save the city. At night, the Tatars heard an incomprehensible noise and considered that this was the approaching army of Vasily Dmitrievich. The enemy hordes were seized with fear, they retreated from the walls of the city and went home.
3. Standing on the river Ugra in 1480. According to legend, the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was taken to the river before the start of the alleged battle. The troops of Russians and Tatars stood on opposite banks of the river for 9 months, not daring to launch an offensive. Before the battle, the Russians brought the icon to their shore and, after a short time, the Tatars retreated.
4. Saving Moscow. At the beginning of the 16th century, the invasion of the Tatars could completely destroy Moscow, but one of the nuns had a dream about the icon and the sins of the inhabitants of the capital. As a result, in the morning, the townspeople and priests gathered in the temple to pray to the Mother of God for help. As a result, the Tatars again retreated.
5. Finding a king. With the icon, under the leadership of the metropolitan, they went to Boris Godunov to become the new tsar.
6. Liberation from the Poles. In 1613, the liberation troops entered the city, who were greeted with this face.

In addition, the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God was actively used at the coronation of various monarchs. People noticed a variety of miracles that were achieved by praying before the image or washing with water, which previously washed it. These facts were recorded in various church books.

Informative! What is: when and how to pray correctly

How to pray

Many Orthodox have seen at least a photo or reproduction of this image. It is found in many temples. What they pray for the Vladimir Icon of God: believers ask for their own needs, do not forget about their own land and other Orthodox who will need the intercession of the Virgin.

We list the most common reasons:

• strengthening in faith in moments of doubt, when there is a need to strengthen faith, to deepen one's own religious feeling;
• for healing from mental and physical ailments, the Virgin Mary constantly prays to the Lord and is a great intercessor who helps those who ask for health;
• about getting rid of sin - this is where the image helps especially, every believer can come to repent and receive forgiveness;
• to ask for the country and the Orthodox faith - such a prayer is traditional and has been practiced for many centuries;
• before making a decision, when you need to think about something and get some valuable advice, after praying to the Mother of God, the best decision itself visits the mind of the believer.

In the red corner of the house, there are usually images of the Savior and the Virgin - this is an essential minimum. You can install the Vladimir Mother of God by Andrei Rublev or in an earlier icon-painting version. The face is highly versatile and can benefit the believer.

According to the previous description, it is known what the icon looks like: a distinctive feature is the foot of Christ, which is turned towards the viewer. From this detail, it is easy to see the desired image when you come to the temple and offer a prayer.

To do this, you need to come before or after the service in order to be able to light a candle and read the prayer the required number of times.

Cell prayer is also possible, that is, at home, in front of the image that is in the room. This practice is inalienable for the Orthodox, solitary prayer brings significant spiritual benefits.

Here are some tips for this practice:

• before starting, you should clear your own mind, tune in to prayer, renounce earthly worries;
• before the image, if possible, a candle or lamp is first lit;
• it is necessary to ensure solitude and complete calmness so as not to be distracted and concentrate on the words of prayer;
• it is best when the prayer is read from memory, but a prayer book or just a convenient printout can also be used;
• it is also allowed to pray in one's own words, which begins with the traditional appeal "O All-Merciful Lady Theotokos."

Useful video: the history of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

Conclusion

When the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God becomes part of a regular prayer practice, the believer acquires a special connection with this image. An invisible connection with the rest of the Orthodox world is being established, as it were, this face, as it were, permeates the centuries of the Orthodox faith and contains a kind of quintessence of this tradition. It contains deep archetypes, with the help of it grace descends into the world, it is a clear window through which believers can look into the spiritual world.

According to pious tradition, the image of the Mother of God of Vladimir was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Savior ate with the Most Pure Mother and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: “From now on, all birth will please Me. The grace of Him who was born of Me, and Mine, be in this way.”

Until the middle of the 5th century, the icon remained in Jerusalem. Under Theodosius the Younger, it was transferred to Constantinople, from where in 1131 it was sent to Russia as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverha. The icon was placed in a maiden monastery in the city of Vyshgorod, not far from Kyiv, where it immediately became famous for many miracles. In 1155, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, St. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, wishing to have a glorified shrine in his place, moved the icon to the north, to Vladimir, and placed it in the famous Assumption Cathedral erected by him. Since that time, the icon has received the name of Vladimirskaya.

During the campaign of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky against the Volga Bulgarians, in 1164, the image of the "Holy Mother of God of Vladimir" helped the Russians to defeat the enemy. The icon was preserved during a terrible fire on April 13, 1185, when the Vladimir Cathedral burned down, and remained unharmed during the ruin of Vladimir Batu on February 17, 1237.

The further history of the image is already entirely connected with the capital city of Moscow, where it was first brought in 1395 during the invasion of Khan Tamerlane. The conqueror with his army invaded the borders of Ryazan, captivated and ruined it and directed his way to Moscow, devastating and destroying everything around. While the Moscow Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich was gathering troops and sending them to Kolomna, in Moscow itself, Metropolitan Cyprian blessed the population for fasting and prayerful repentance. By mutual advice, Vasily Dmitrievich and Cyprian decided to resort to spiritual weapons and transfer the miraculous icon of the Most Pure Mother of God from Vladimir to Moscow.

The icon was brought to the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The chronicle reports that Tamerlane, having stood in one place for two weeks, suddenly became afraid, turned south and left Moscow. A great miracle happened: during the procession with the miraculous icon, heading from Vladimir to Moscow, when countless people knelt on both sides of the road and prayed: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!”, Tamerlane had a vision. Before his mind's eye appeared a high mountain, from the top of which saints descended with golden rods, and above them in a radiant radiance appeared the Majestic Wife. 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 ordered the regiments to go back.

Read also: Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir in the history of Russia

In memory of the miraculous deliverance of Russia from the invasion of Tamerlane, on the day of the meeting in Moscow of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on August 26 / September 8, a solemn church holiday of the Presentation of this icon was established, and a temple was erected at the very place of the meeting, around which the Sretensky Monastery was later located.

For the second time, the Mother of God saved Russia from ruin in 1480 (commemorated on June 23 / July 6), when the army of Khan of the Golden Horde Akhmat approached Moscow.

The meeting of the Tatars with the Russian army took place near the Ugra River (the so-called "standing on the Ugra"): the troops stood on different banks and waited for a reason to attack. In the front ranks of the Russian troops they kept the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, which miraculously put the Horde regiments to flight.

The third celebration of the Mother of God of Vladimir (May 21 / June 3) commemorates the deliverance of Moscow from the defeat by Makhmet-Girey, Khan of Kazan, who in 1521 reached the limits of Moscow and began to burn her settlements, but suddenly retreated from the capital without harming her.

Before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, many important events in Russian church history took place: the election and installation of St. Jonah - Primate of the Autocephalous Russian Church (1448), St. Job - the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1589), His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon (1917 .), as well as in all centuries, oaths of allegiance to the Motherland were taken before it, prayers were performed before military campaigns.

Iconography Mother of God of Vladimir

The icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir belongs to the type of “Carssing”, also known under the epithets “Eleusa” (??????? - “Merciful”), “Tenderness”, “Glycofilus” (?????????? ?? - "Sweet kiss"). This is the most lyrical of all types of iconography of the Virgin, revealing the intimate side of the communication of the Virgin Mary with her Son. The image of the Mother of God caressing the Infant, his deep humanity turned out to be especially close to Russian painting.

Read also: Queen of heaven and earth: why are there so many icons of the Virgin?

The iconographic scheme includes two figures - the Mother of God and the Infant Christ, clinging faces to each other. Mary's head is bowed to the Son, and He embraces the Mother by the neck with his hand. A distinctive feature of the Vladimir icon from other icons of the Tenderness type: the left leg of the Christ Child is bent in such a way that the sole of the foot, the “heel”, is visible.

In this touching composition, in addition to the direct meaning, there is a deep theological idea: the Mother of God, caressing the Son, appears as a symbol of the soul, which is in close communion with God. In addition, the embraces of Mary and the Son suggest the future sufferings of the Savior on the Cross; in the caressing of the Infant by the Mother, his future mourning is foreseen.

The work is permeated with a completely obvious sacrificial symbolism. From a theological point of view, its content can be reduced to three main themes: "the incarnation, the predestination of the Infant to sacrifice and the unity in love of Mary the Church with Christ the High Priest." This interpretation of the Mother of God Caressing is confirmed by the image on the back of the icon of the throne with the symbols of the Passion. Here in the 15th century they wrote an image of the throne (etimasia - “the throne prepared”), covered with an altar cover, the Gospel with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, nails, a crown of thorns, behind the throne - the Calvary cross, a spear and a cane with a sponge, below - the floor of the altar flooring. The theological interpretation of etimasia is based on Holy Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers. Etimasia symbolically marks Christ's resurrection and His judgment on the living and the dead, and the instruments of His torment - the sacrifice made for the atonement of the sins of mankind. The juxtaposition of Mary caressing the Child and the turnover with the throne clearly expressed the sacrificial symbolism.

Arguments have been put forward in favor of the fact that the icon from the very beginning was two-sided: this is evidenced by the same forms of the ark and the husks of both sides. In the Byzantine tradition, images of the cross on the back of the Virgin icons were not uncommon. Starting from the 12th century, the time of the creation of the “Vladimir Mother of God”, in Byzantine murals, etimasia was often placed in the altar as an image behind the altar, visually revealing the sacrificial meaning of the Eucharist taking place here on the throne. This suggests the possible location of the icon in antiquity. For example, in the Vyshgorod monastery church, it could be placed in the altar as a double-sided altar icon. The text of the Legend contains information about the use of the Vladimir icon as an altar and remote icon that moved in the church.

The luxurious attire of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which it had according to the chronicles, also does not testify in favor of the possibility of its location in the altar barrier in the 12th century. “And there are more than thirty hryvnias of gold on the nude, in addition to silver and in addition to expensive stone and pearls, and decorate it, put it in your church in Volodimer.” But many of the portable icons were later strengthened precisely in the iconostases, like the Vladimir icon in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow, originally placed to the right of the royal gates:<икону>to the blessed temple of her glorious Assumption, which is the great Cathedral and Apostolic Church of the Russian Metropolis, and put it in a kiot on the right land, where it still stands visible and worshiped by all ”(See Book of Power. M. 1775. Part 1. C 552).

There is an opinion that the "Vladimir Mother of God" was one of the lists of the icon of Our Lady of Caress from the Blachernae Basilica, that is, a list from the famous ancient miraculous icon. In the Tale of the Miracles of the Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir, she is likened to the Ark of the Covenant, like the Virgin Mary herself, as well as her Robe, which was kept in the rotode of Agia Soros in Blachernae. The Legend also speaks of healings that are performed mainly thanks to the water from the ablutions of the Vladimir Icon: they drink this water, wash the sick with it, and send it to other cities in sealed vessels to heal the sick. This miraculous work of waters from the washing of the Vladimir icon, emphasized in the Legend, could also be rooted in the rituals of the Blachernae sanctuary, the most important part of which was the chapel of the spring dedicated to the Mother of God. Constantine Porphyrogenitus described the custom of bathing in a font in front of a marble relief of the Mother of God, from whose hands water flowed.

In addition, this opinion is supported by the fact that under Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in his Vladimir principality, the cult of the Mother of God, associated with the Blachernae shrines, received special development. For example, on the Golden Gates of the city of Vladimir, the prince erected the Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God, directly dedicating it to the relics of the Blachernae Church.

Style

The time of writing the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, XII century, refers to the so-called Komnenos' revival (1057-1185). This period in Byzantine art is characterized by the extreme dematerialization of painting, carried out by drawing faces, clothes with numerous lines, whitewash engines, sometimes whimsically, ornamentally lying on the image.

In the icon we are considering, the most ancient painting of the 12th century includes the faces of the Mother and the Child, part of the blue cap and the border of the maforium with a gold assist, as well as part of the ocher, with a gold assist tunic of the Infant with a sleeve up to the elbow and a transparent edge of the shirt visible from under it, a brush left and part of the right hand of the Infant, as well as the remains of a golden background. These few surviving fragments are a high example of the Constantinopolitan school of painting of the Komnenos period. There is no deliberate graphic character characteristic of the time; on the contrary, the line in this image is nowhere opposed to volume. The main means of artistic expression is built on "the combination of insensible fluids, giving the surface the impression of miraculousness, with a geometrically clean, visibly built line." “The letter of the personal is one of the most perfect examples of “Komnin’s floats”, combining multi-layered successive modeling with the absolute indistinguishability of the brushstroke. The layers of painting are loose, very transparent; the main thing is in their relationship to each other, in the translucence of the lower ones through the upper ones.<…>A complex and transparent system of the correlation of tones - greenish sankire, ocher, shadows and highlights - leads to a specific effect of scattered, flickering light.

Among the Byzantine icons of the Komnenos period, the Vladimir Mother of God is also distinguished by the deep penetration into the realm of the human soul, its hidden secret sufferings, characteristic of the best works of this time. The heads of Mother and Son pressed against each other. The Mother of God knows that Her Son is doomed to suffer for the sake of people, and sorrow lurks in Her dark, thoughtful eyes.

In the church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi

The skill with which the painter was able to convey a subtle spiritual state, most likely, served as the origin of the legend about the painting of the image by the Evangelist Luke. It should be recalled that the painting of the early Christian period - the time when the famous Evangelist-icon painter lived, was the flesh of the flesh of the art of late antiquity, with its sensual, "vivid" nature. But in comparison with the icons of the early period, the image of the Vladimir Mother of God bears the stamp of the highest "spiritual culture", which could only be the fruit of centuries-old Christian thoughts about the coming of the Lord to earth, the humility of His Most Pure Mother and the path they have traveled of self-denial and sacrificial love.

Honored miraculous lists from the icon Mother of God of Vladimir

Over the centuries, many lists have been written from the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Some of them became famous for miracles and received special names depending on the place of origin. It:

Vladimir - Volokolamsk icon (commemorated Mr. 3 / 16), which was the contribution of Malyuta Skuratov to the Joseph-Volokolamsk monastery. Now it is in the collection of the Andrei Rublev Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art.

Vladimirskaya - Seligerskaya (memory D. 7/20), brought to Seliger by Nil Stolbensky in the 16th century.

Vladimirskaya - Zaonikievsky (memory M. 21. / In. 3; In. 23 / Il. 6, from the Zaonikievsky monastery) 1588.

Vladimirskaya - Oranskaya (memory M. 21 / John 3) 1634.

Vladimirskaya - Krasnogorskaya (Chernogorskaya) (memory M. 21 / In. 3). 1603.

Vladimir - Rostov (commemorates Av. 15/28) 12th century.

A miracle in our life - how to pray for a miracle?

Troparion to the Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir, Tone 4

Today, the most glorious city of Moscow flaunts brightly, / like the dawn of the sun, O Lady, Your miraculous icon, / to her now, flowing and praying to You, we cry out to you: / oh, wonderful Lady Theotokos, / pray from you to our incarnate God, / may deliver the city this and all the cities and countries of Christianity are unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, // and our souls will be saved, like Mercy.

Kondak. voice 8

To the chosen Voivode, victorious, / as if they were delivered from the evil ones by the coming of Your honest image, / Lady of the Mother of God, / we lightly create the feast of Your meeting and usually call Thee: / Rejoice, Bride Unbrideed.

Prayer Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir

O All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, Omnipotent Intercessor, our shameless Hope! Thanks to Thee for all the great blessings, in the generations of the Russian people from You who were, before Your most pure image, we pray to Thee: save this city (or: this whole, or: this holy abode) and your forthcoming servants and all the Russian land from gladness, destruction , land of shaking, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. Save and save, Madam, our Great Lord and Father Kirill, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and Our Lord (name of the rivers), His Grace Bishop (or: Archbishop, or: Metropolitan) (title), and all the Most Reverend Metropolitans, Archbishops and Orthodox bishops. Give them good governance of the Russian Church, keep the faithful sheep of Christ indestructible. Remember, Lady, and the entire priestly and monastic rank, warm their hearts with zeal for Bose and, worthy of your title, strengthen each and every one. Save, Lady, and have mercy on all Your servants and grant us the path of the earthly field without blemish. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for the Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, give us patience in adversity, abstinence in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for the enemy, prosperity in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensibility, on the terrible day of Judgment, vouchsafe us with Your intercession to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God. He deserves all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

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These long and numerous movements of the icon in space are poetically interpreted in the text of the Tale of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which was first found by V.O. Klyuchevsky in Milyutin's Chetia-Minei, and published according to the list of the collection of the Synodal Library No. 556 (Klyuchevsky V.O. Legends about the miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. - St. Petersburg, 1878). In this ancient description, they are likened to the path that the solar luminary travels: “When God created the sun, he did not set it to shine in one place, but, bypassing the entire Universe, it illuminates with rays, so this image of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is not on one place… but, bypassing all countries and the whole world, enlightens…”.

Etingof O.E. To the early history of the icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" and the tradition of the Blachernae cult of the Theotokos in Russia in the 11th-13th centuries. // Image of the Mother of God. Essays on Byzantine iconography of the 11th-13th centuries. - M. "Progress-Tradition", 2000, p. 139.

Ibid, p. 137. In addition, N.V. Kvilidze published the painting of the deacon of the Church of the Trinity in Vyazemy at the end of the 16th century. where on the south wall there is a liturgy in a temple with an altar, behind which is the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir (N.V. Kvilidze Newly discovered frescoes of the altar of the Trinity Church in Vyazemy. Report in the Department of Old Russian Art at the State Institute of Art Studies. April 1997.

Etingof O.E. To the early history of the icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" ...

Throughout its history, it was recorded at least four times: in the first half of the 13th century, at the beginning of the 15th century, in 1521, during alterations in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, and before the coronation of Nicholas II in 1895-1896 by restorers O S. Chirikov and M. D. Dikarev. In addition, small repairs were carried out in 1567 (in the Miracle Monastery by Metropolitan Athanasius), in the 18th and 19th centuries ..

Kolpakova G.S. Art of Byzantium. early and middle periods. - St. Petersburg: Publishing House "Azbuka-Klassika", 2004, p. 407.

The image of the Mother of God is especially revered by all Orthodox Christians. The Vladimir icon is notable for its special power: prayers before it more than once saved entire cities from inevitable death.

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 had a wonderful vision of the future of the Christian people, and he, taking a board from the table, began to write the image of the Mother of God with the Infant Jesus in her 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 located in the holy city of Jerusalem. In the middle of the 12th century, the image was donated to Kievan Rus and kept in the Bogorodichny Monastery in the city of Vyshgorod. A little later, Andrei Bogolyubsky moved the icon to Vladimir, where it remained 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 look of the Mother of God is directed directly at the person praying standing in front of the icon, the face is serious and full of sorrow for the sins of this world.

The Mother of God firmly presses the Infant Jesus to her, and His gaze is directed upwards, at the Mother of God. Thus, the image shows the great love of the Lord for His Mother, which all believers should be equal to.

What helps the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

The Vladimir image of the Mother of God saved Russia from invaders more than once. That is why the image is prayed 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 known 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, Protector and Protector! We humbly pray to You, bowing before You in tears: expel, Mistress, death, trampling the souls of the faithful servants of the Lord, turn the enemies and deliver our land from all evil! O Lady, we hope in You, and our prayer flies to You, for we trust only in You and pray to save our lives and 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 trouble, sickness and infirmity away from me. May my soul not turn away from the Lord, and prayer to the Most High will send grace on my forehead. Be merciful, Mother of God, and send miraculous healing to my soul and body. Amen".

Days of veneration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God - June 3, July 6 and September 8, according to 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 don't forget to press the buttons and

06.07.2017 05:36

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