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

29.09.2019

One of the most ancient and revered sacred images in Russia has always been the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir. It is believed that it was written by the evangelist Luke on a board that once served as a table at which Jesus, the son of God, ate with his parents, the Virgin Mary and the elder Joseph.

The image is written in the lyrical iconographic type "Tenderness". A similar style of depiction of the Mother of God with the Child personifies the tenderness, love and affection that the Immaculate Virgin shows to her Son. The infant Jesus sits on the right hand of the Mother of God, clinging to the face of the Queen of Heaven. Son Holy Mary reaches out to her with his right hand, the other gently hugging her neck. Vladimirskaya is the only image on which the heel of the Infant Jesus is turned outward so that it is clearly visible.

On the image you can also see two inscriptions - monograms, which mean those depicted on the icon - Jesus Christ and the Mother of God.

Journey Through the Ages

The icon of Our Lady of Vladimir dates back more than 2000 years. For all the time of its existence, this image has repeatedly saved the Russian people. Until the 5th century A.D. e. the icon was in Jerusalem, then transported to Byzantium. And only in the 12th century it came to the Russian land, having been donated by the Patriarch of Constantinople. In turn, the prince placed the icon in one of the monasteries, located not far from Kyiv. It is believed that since that time the image has performed real miracles - at night the icon changed its location, and even flew through the air. Andrei Bogolyubsky, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, soon learned about this. It was then that the young prince decided that this needed its own, separate place.

Andrei takes the image of the Mother of God and goes to the Suzdal land. On the way, the prince serves a prayer service before the icon. In response, the image of the Blessed Virgin shows many miracles: the servant of Andrei Bogolyubsky, having fallen into the abyss, remains unharmed, and the priest, who went on the road with him, survives after he was trampled by a horse.

The path of the prince lay through the Vladimir land, having passed which, he could not go further. The horses, as if rooted to the spot, stood up and did not move. When the prince and his travelers tried to harness other blacks, the same thing happened. Andrei Bogolyubsky took this as a sign from above. The prince began to earnestly pray to the Mother of God, who descended to him with a scroll in her hand, commanding him to leave the icon in Vladimir, and to found a church on the site of Her appearance.

Thus, the Queen of Heaven herself chose the place of residence of her image - not far from the city of Vladimir, since then the icon has become known as Vladimirskaya in honor of miraculous phenomenon Mother of God.

Assumption Cathedral

Construction of a temple in honor Holy Mother of God was completed in just 2 years. The erected cathedral amazed everyone with its splendor and surpassed even the St. Sophia Cathedral in its beauty.

During the construction of the Golden Gate in Vladimir, a misfortune happened: when laying stone wall fell on the workers. The prince, having learned about this, began to pray earnestly before the Vladimir icon, which saved him more than once. And then the Mother of God did not leave Andrei Bogolyubsky: when all the rubble was dismantled, the people under them turned out to be safe and sound.

This accident turned out to be a harbinger of future events that awaited the Assumption Cathedral - the temple burned to the ground 25 years later.

Campaign of Andrei Bogolyubsky

The further history of the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir is very interesting and full of miracles. She protected the prince until his death. So, once Andrei Bogolyubsky went on a campaign against the Volga Bulgars, taking with him a holy image. Before the battle, the prince and the soldiers performed a prayer service. Spiritualized, they went into battle, where they were able to win. After the battle, the prince and the soldiers read - and a miracle happened: from the icon and the Cross of the Lord a light descended, illuminating everyone. On the same day in Constantinople, Emperor Manuel saw the same divine phenomenon. After a miraculous vision, he was able to defeat the army of the Saracens. In honor of this manifestation heavenly powers a holiday was established in honor of Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, celebrated on August 14.

When Andrei Bogolyubsky was killed in 1175, a rebellion broke out in Moscow. It was possible to stop him only by the mercy of the Almighty forces: the rector of one of the temples took the image of the Vladimir Mother of God and carried it around the city, after which the unrest subsided.

Patronal feast - September 8

The memory of this image is celebrated 3 times a year. The first date is September 8 according to the new style. On this day, the monastery was founded and began to be erected in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon by the Russian troops. At that time, Russia was subjected to Tatar raids. Tamerlane, who led them, was a strong opponent. Russian troops could only hope for a miracle. Grand Duke Vasily asked the Metropolitan of Russia to transfer the sacred image from Vladimir to Moscow. While the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir was on the road, Tamerlane, confident in his victory, had a dream: as if a shining maiden was coming at him with 12 angels piercing him with a sword. In fear, waking up from what he saw, the warrior told about his dream to the wise men who were with him on the campaign. They explained to Tamerlane that the dreaming Virgin is the Mother of the Christian God and the Intercessor of the Russian land. At that moment, the Tatar commander realized with horror that his campaign was doomed to failure. He ordered to leave Russia and left with his troops.

"Silent" victory

The next holiday dedicated to the Vladimir Icon is celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church on July 6. On this day, an event occurred that was long awaited - hordes of Tatars fled after 9 months of standing on the river. Acne. As you know, before the battle, Russian troops came ashore with the Vladimir icon. On the opposite side were the Tatars, who did not dare to move. So for a long time, both sides were inactive. As a result, the Tatars fled. The Russian people attributed this "quiet" victory not to themselves, but to the Queen of Heaven, thanks to whom the last battle with the Tatar hordes cost no casualties.

Amazing dream of a nun

But the enemies did not calm down for long. Already 40 years later, in 1521, the Tatars again rushed to Moscow. Tsar Vasily went with his army to the Oka River. In an unequal battle, the Russians began to retreat. Tatars besieged Moscow. On the same night, one of the nuns of the Resurrection Monastery had an amazing dream - as if Saints Peter and Alexei rushed through closed door Assumption Cathedral, taking the icon with him. Having overcome the Kremlin gates, the metropolitans met on their way Sergius of Radonezh and Varlaam Khutynsky. The saints asked where Alexei and Peter were going. They answered that they needed to leave the city along with the Vladimir icon, since the inhabitants of Moscow had forgotten the commandments of the Lord. Hearing this, the saints fell at the feet of the saints, tearfully begging not to leave the city. As a result, Alexei and Peter returned to the Assumption Church through the closed door.

In the morning, the nun hurried to tell everyone about the dream she had seen. People, having learned about the prophetic vision, gathered in the temple and began to pray incessantly, after which the Tatar troops retreated. The great day of the salvation of Moscow is now imprinted for centuries - the Orthodox Church celebrates this day on June 3 in a new style.

What to pray for in front of the Vladimir Icon?

It is believed that this image should be in every home. Praying before the Vladimir icon, we ask for the reconciliation of enemies, the strengthening of faith, protection from the split of the country and the invasion of foreigners.

Akathist before the icon

In prayer before the Vladimir Icon, we ask for peace in our country and in all cities, for the strengthening of Orthodoxy and deliverance from wars, hunger and disease. “Be our Intercessor and intercede for us before the Lord,” we say, reading the akathist. In prayer, we acknowledge that the Blessed Virgin is our only Hope and Salvation, whose requests are always heard by Her son. Before the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, we ask you to soften our evil hearts and deliver us from sin. At the end of the prayer, we glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal God.

Lists from the image

Vladimir icon The Mother of God has come a long way in time. At the moment, it is in the Tretyakov Gallery, and only on holidays it is taken out for the procession. However, during its existence, the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, the photo of which you can see in this article, was used to create miraculous lists, each of which received an additional name. For example, the Vladimir-Volokolamsk icon was presented to the monastery of this city by Malyuta Skuratov. Now the image is in the Andrei Rublev Museum. Also among the miraculous lists can be noted Vladimir-Seligerskaya, transferred to Seliger by Nil Stolbensky.

Temple in honor of the Vladimir Icon

This cathedral is located in Moscow, in the village of Vinogradovo. This building is unique because the temple has a triangular shape. Many attribute the creation of the cathedral to the famous Russian architect Bazhenov.

The Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was erected in 1777. An interesting fact is that even during the years of persecution, the cathedral was never closed.

During the Great Patriotic War the temple of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God protected within its walls a true shrine - the head of Sergius of Radonezh. After the victory, she was returned to the monastery of the saint, where she remains to this day. For the preservation of the relic, the Temple of the Vladimir Mother of God was presented with a particle of the relics of the reverend.

Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon in St. Petersburg

This temple was built in the 18th century on the site of a former wooden church. The main shrines of its decoration today are the image of Our Lady of Vladimir, the icon of Seraphim of Sarov with a particle of his relics and the image of our Lord "Savior Not Made by Hands". The Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God functions to this day. A few centuries earlier, F. M. Dostoevsky was its regular parishioner.

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, whose history goes back to distant centuries, has always protected Russia, and now Russia, from enemies and troubles. After all, that is why our country is sacred and God-chosen.

In Orthodoxy, the Mother of God is honored on a par with Christ himself, and there are quite a few images of her. One of the most popular and interesting is Vladimir image which is of great importance for Russia.

It is believed that the Evangelist Luke painted the first icon, and in the 5th century it passed from Jerusalem to Constantinople to Emperor Theodosius. The icon came to Russia already from Byzantium in the 12th century, approximately in 1131 - it was a gift from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverg to Prince Mstislav. Delivered the image of the Greek Metropolitan Michael who arrived the day before, in 1130.

Story

Initially, the Mother of God was kept in Bogorodichnoye convent in the city of Vyshgorod near Kyiv - hence its Ukrainian name Vyshgorod Mother of God. In 1155, the icon was taken by Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky and moved to Vladimir - hence it follows Russian name. The prince adorned the image with an expensive salary, but after his death, on the orders of Prince Yaropolk, the jewelry was removed, and the icon was handed over to Prince Gleb of Ryazan. Only after the victory of Prince Michael, the Mother of God and the precious dress was returned back to the Assumption Cathedral.

In 1237, after the devastation of the city of Vladimir by the Mongol-Tatars, the Assumption Cathedral was also plundered, and the image again lost its decoration. The cathedral and the icon were restored under Prince Yaroslavl. After that, at the end of the XIV century, Prince Vasily I, during the invasion of Tamerlane's army, ordered the icon to be transported to Moscow to protect the capital. She was placed in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin right side from royal doors. At the meeting place of the image with the Muscovites (“candlemas”), the Sretensky Cathedral was founded, and later the street of the same name was laid.

At the same time, Tamerlane's army suddenly, without any reason, turned back, reaching only the city of Yelets. It was decided that the Mother of God stood up for Moscow showing a miracle. But the miracles did not end there: similar sudden retreats occurred in 1451 during the invasion of the Nogai prince Mazovsha and in 1480 while standing on the Ugra River.

Experts believe that between the retreat of Tamerlane and standing on the Ugra, the icon was transported several times to Vladimir and back, since 1480 was especially marked by the return of the Vladimir icon to Moscow.

Later, the icon was taken away from the capital in 1812 to Vladimir and Murom, after the victory it was returned to the Assumption Cathedral and was not touched until 1918. This year the cathedral was closed Soviet power, and the image was sent for restoration. After 8 years, she was transferred to Historical Museum, and after 4 years - to the Tretyakov Gallery.

Since 1999, the icon has been in the church-museum of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi. This is a home church at the Tretyakov Museum, where services are held for believers, and the rest of the time the church is open as a museum hall.

In 1989, part of the icon (the eye and nose of Our Lady) were used in the logo of Mel Gibson's Icon Productions. This company released the film The Passion of the Christ.

Wonders

In addition to the incredible salvation of Moscow from enemies, other miracles performed by the Mother of God have been preserved in history:

Unfortunately, to find out which icon is involved in miracles(original from Constantinople or its copy), it is impossible, but many noted that almost all images work miracles.

Description

The Vladimir icon of the Mother of God belongs to the type (“Eleusa”), which is easy to identify. In contrast to the Kazan image, where the Infant is primarily the Son of the Lord and blesses people, and the Mother of God sees his fate in advance, the Vladimir one is more “human”, a mother with a child and her love for him are clearly visible in it. Widespread image received in the XI century, although it was known in early Christian times. The description of the image and its meaning are given below:

The first icon that came to Russia dates back to the 12th century, researchers believe that it was painted in Constantinople, that is, it was originally a list from the original of the Evangelist Luke. However, it is a monument of Byzantine painting of 1057-1185 (Comnenos' revival), which managed to be preserved.

The size of the icon is 78*55 cm. Over the centuries of its existence, it has been rewritten (redrawn in the same place) at least 4 times:

In the first half of the XIII century;
At the beginning of the XV century;
In 1514, during the alteration in the Kremlin's Assumption Cathedral;
In 1895-1896 before the coronation of Nicholas II.

Also, the icon was partially updated in:

1567 by Metropolitan Athanasius in the Miracle Monastery;
In the XVIII century;
In the 19th century.

In fact, today only a few fragments remain from the original icon:

Faces of the Mother of God and the Child;
Full left and part of the right hand of the Child;
Part of a blue cap and border with gold;
Part of the golden-ocher tunic of the Child and the visible transparent edge of his shirt;
Part of the general background.

The precious salary also suffered: the first salary ordered by Andrey Bogolyubsky (about 5 kg of gold alone, not counting silver and precious stones) was not preserved at all. The second was commissioned by Metropolitan Photius at the beginning of the 15th century and was also lost. The third was created in the middle of the 17th century by order of Patriarch Nikon from gold and is now stored in the Armory.

Copies

Today, the Vladimir icon is a very common image and is found in a large number of churches around the world. Of course, to consider each Vladimir icon as a creation Luke is impossible: the very designation "Vladimirskaya" means a certain pose of the Mother of God and the Child, the expression of their faces. In fact, today all icons of this type are lists (copies) from the original, which has not reached us.

The most significant lists are:

All of the above icons although they are lists, they are revered as miraculous. Also, the Vladimir Mother of God became the basis for the creation of other images: “The Legend of the Vladimir Icon”, “The Presentation of the Vladimir Icon”, “The Vladimir Icon with the Akathist”, the Igorevskaya Vladimir Icon (an abbreviated version of the original), “Praise of the Vladimir Icon” (“The Tree of Russian Sovereigns” , author Simon Ushakov).

honor days

The icon has only 3 dates:

June 3: gratitude for the victory in 1521 over Khan Mahmet Giray;
July 6: gratitude for the victory in 1480 over the Mongol-Tatars;
September 8: gratitude for the victory in 1395 over Khan Tamerlane. This also includes the meeting (meeting) of the icon in Moscow.

These days, the same services are usually held, especially in churches with miraculous lists.

What helps

“The icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir helps in what way?” - ask the people who came to the temple. Most often, she was prayed for the protection of Russia from enemies, but this is not the whole list of her "opportunities". The icon is also used in more “small” situations:

For prayer, it is not necessary to come to the miraculous list, although, if possible, it should be used. You can also pray to the Mother of God at home, saying a ready-made prayer (easy to find on the Internet) or expressing a wish in your own words. No special rituals are required, and there is no need to come to the temple. The only condition is that thoughts must be pure. You can’t wish someone harm or say a prayer, thinking about an outsider.

Conclusion

The miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God with the Child is not only one of the most popular images in Orthodoxy, but is also considered extremely emotional. It depicts not the Son of the Lord, but a mother protecting her child, whose fate was foreshadowed to her in advance.

The holy image has repeatedly helped the Russian army to win decisive battles - this is one of the most revered shrines of the Russian Orthodox Church, which established a three-time celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

How the Holy Image ended up in Russia

According to legend, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Mother of God on the board of the table at which the Savior ate with the Most Pure Mother and righteous Joseph.

The Virgin Mary, seeing Her image, said: “From now on, all births will please Me.

The icon of the Mother of God remained in Jerusalem until 450, then it was transferred to Constantinople. At the beginning of the 12th century, Patriarch Luke Chrysoverg of Constantinople sent a special list (copy) of it to Kyiv as a gift to the Holy Prince Mstislav.

After arriving in Russia, since 1131, the icon was in the Bogorodichny Monastery, which was located in one of the northern suburbs of Kyiv - Vyshgorod. Rumors about her wonderful creations circulated throughout Russia.

How did the icon get its name?

Vyshgorod became the inheritance of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, son of Yuri Dolgoruky, in 1155. Deciding to move to his native Suzdal land, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky took the icon with him and fervently prayed before it on the way.

After a rest in Vladimir, the prince was about to continue moving, but having driven quite a bit from the city, his horses stopped. All attempts to force them to go further were unsuccessful. Even after changing horses, nothing has changed.

The surprised prince began to fervently pray to the Mother of God, and during the prayer, the Mother of God appeared to him, who ordered him to leave the miraculous icon in Vladimir and build a cathedral that would become her home. The prince placed the icon in Vladimir and since then the image has been called the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

Patroness of the Russian people

The icon was first brought to Moscow in 1395, when the conqueror Khan Tamerlane (Temir-Aksak) with his hordes invaded Russian lands, took the city of Yelets and headed for Moscow.

Moscow prince Vasily Dmitrievich, who ruled from 1389 to 1425, went out with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka.

The Grand Duke prayed to the Hierarchs of Moscow and St. Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Cyprian, so that the coming Dormition Fast would be dedicated to fervent prayers for mercy and repentance.

Clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the glorified miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, the clergy received the icon and carried it to Moscow with a procession of the cross. Countless people on both sides of the road, on their knees, prayed: "Mother of God, save the Russian land!"

According to legend, at the very hour when the inhabitants of Moscow met the icon on Kuchkovo Field, Tamerlane was dozing in his tent - in a dream he saw a great mountain, from the top of which saints with golden rods were walking towards him, and above them in a radiant radiance the Majestic Wife appeared , which ordered him to leave the borders of Russia.

Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision, to which those in the know replied that the radiant Wife is the Mother of God, the great Protector of Christians. Then Tamerlane ordered the regiments to turn back.

In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, on the Kuchkov field, where the icon was met, the Sretensky Monastery was built, and on September 8, a celebration was established in honor of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

One of the greatest shrines of Russia

The icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir has always taken part in important events of the Russian state and is considered one of the greatest shrines in Russia.

So, during the attack of the Tatars on Moscow in 1451, 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.

And in 1480, the battle of the Russian troops with the Tatar-Mongols was to take place - the opponents stood on different banks of the river and prepared for the 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.

Once again, the enemy hordes approached Moscow in 1521, 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, which is celebrated on June 3.

With the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir, the people went to the Novodevichy Convent to see Boris Godunov in order to install him as king. With this icon, the troops of Minin and Pozharsky met, who in 1613 expelled the Polish invaders and so on.

The most important events of Russian church history also took place before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Including 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).

On the day of the celebration in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Russia was enthroned on June 3, 1971.

Moving to a new home

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was transferred for permanent storage to the Moscow Assumption Cathedral in 1480. In Vladimir, there was an exact list from the icon, written Reverend Andrew Rublev.

Horse of the artist Andrei Rublev "Vladimir Mother of God" (1408)

In 1918, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was closed, and the miraculous image was transferred to the State Tretyakov Gallery. On September 8, 1999, the miraculous icon was transferred from the Tretyakov Gallery to the church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, connected to the museum by a small corridor.

Description of the Holy Image

According to art historians, the icon was painted in the 12th century, presumably in Constantinople. The icon belongs to the ancient type of images of the Virgin, which is called "Eleusa", that is, "Merciful, Tenderness".

These are the most tender icons of the Mother of God, on them the Blessed One clung to her Son, and He to Her. They seem to be leading some internal dialogue among themselves, and the one who prays becomes, as it were, a participant in this conversation between the Mother and the Divine Infant.

Double-sided icon: on front side- the image of the Mother of God with the Child, on the back - the throne and the instruments of the Passion of Christ. The background is light ocher, the manure is lilac, with marbling brown stains, the margins are dark ocher, the inscriptions (IC XC. NI KA) are red.

Lists were often written from the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, some of which received special names and are miraculous.

An exact copy of the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is also located in the Sameba Cathedral ( Holy Trinity). The gift of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia was delivered to Georgia in September 2009.

What helps

The Mother of God of Vladimir helps every believer who turns to Her with sincere prayer - She is an intercessor and protector, protects the house and helps in many everyday needs.

The Blessed Virgin Mary helps to find the true path, make the right decision, gives strength to overcome the difficult period of life, strengthens faith, protects from enmity, delivers from sinful thoughts and confusion.

The Mother of God also heals from physical ailments, especially often they pray to Her for the healing of diseases of the heart and eyes, which symbolizes insight not only bodily, but also spiritual.

Our Lady also contributes happy marriage because strong family ties, without quarrels and strife, are the key to a strong country.

Prayers

Prayer one

Oh, the All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, the Heavenly Queen, the Almighty Intercessor, our shameless Hope!

We thank Thee for all the good deeds that have been from You by the Russian people, from ancient times to the present day from Your miraculous icon of perishable. And now, favoring the Lady, look upon us sinful and unworthy Thy servants, show us Thy mercy and pray to Thy Son, Christ our God, that we be delivered from all evil and be saved to every city and village, and to our whole country from gladness, destruction , coward, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. Ask an Orthodox Christian for prosperity and peaceful life, health, long life, good haste and salvation in everything. Preserve and make wise the pastors of the Church, who are worthy to shepherd the flock of Christ and the right to rule the word of truth; strengthen the Christ-loving All-Russian army, give the spirit of advice and reason to the military commander, the mayor and everyone who is in power; Send down Your holy blessing to all Orthodox Christians who worship Thee and pray before Your whole-bearing icon. Be our Intercessor and Intercessor before the Throne of the Most High, where you stand. To whom shall we resort, if not to Thee, O Lady? To whom shall we bring tears and sighs, if not to Thee, Most Holy Theotokos? Not imams for other help, not imams for other hope, except for You, Heavenly Queen. We flow under Your protection, with Your prayers send down to us peace, health, fruitful land, good air dissolution, deliver us from all troubles and sorrows, from all ailments and diseases, from sudden deaths and from all the embitterment of enemies visible and invisible.

Enlighten and teach us, O All-Merciful Intercessor, how sinlessly to pass the path of this earthly life; You are all our weakness, weigh and our sins, but you also weigh faith and see hope; grant us the correction of sinful lives and soften evil heart our.

Strengthen the right faith in us, put in our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, patience and love, in good deeds prosperity; deliver us from temptations, from pernicious soul-harming teachings, from unbelief, corruption and eternal death. We ask you, Most Pure Lady, and bowing down before Your holy icon, we pray, have mercy on us and have mercy on us, on the terrible day of judgment, by intercession and intercession by Your, we are worthy to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God, and all glory, honor is due to Him and worship, with His Father without beginning, and His Most Holy and Good and Consubstantial Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer two

To whom shall we cry, Lady? To whom shall we resort in our sorrow, if not to Thee, Queen of Heaven? Who will receive our weeping and sighing, if not You, immaculate, the hope of Christians and the refuge of us sinners? Who is more in mercy to You? Incline Your ear to us, Lady, Mother of our God, and do not despise those who demand Your help: hear our groaning, strengthen us sinners, enlighten and teach us, Queen of Heaven, and do not depart from us, Your servant, Lady, for our grumbling, but be our Mother and Intercessor, and entrust us to the gracious cover of Your Son: arrange for us, whatever your holy will will, and lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life, let us cry for our sins, but we will always rejoice with You , now and ever and forever. Amen.

Material prepared on the basis of open sources

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God depicts the Mother of God. It is one of the most revered relics of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God: Tradition

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, captured and ruined it and directed his way to Moscow, devastating and destroying everything around. While Moscow Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich gathered troops and sent them near 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 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.

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.

Third celebration Vladimir Mother God's (May 21 / June 3) recalls 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 of 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 of the Mother of God of Vladimir

The icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir belongs to the “Carssing” type, also known under the epithets “Eleusa” (ελεουσα - “Merciful”), “Tenderness”, “Glycofilus” (γλυκυφιλουσα - “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.

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

In this touching composition, in addition to its 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 painted 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 symbolizes 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 was two-sided from the very beginning: 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 she 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: decorate yu, put in the c (e) rqui of yours in Volodimer. But many of the portable icons were later strengthened precisely in 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 pp. 552).

There is an opinion that the "Vladimir Mother of God" was one of the lists of the icon of the Mother of God "Carssing" 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 rotunda 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 of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

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 right hand Baby, 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 Komnenian period, the Vladimir Mother of God also highlights 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.

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, "life-like" 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 traveled of self-denial and sacrificial love.

Honored miraculous lists with icons of the Vladimir Mother of God

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. This is:

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 / In. 3), 1634.
Vladimirskaya - Krasnogorskaya (Chernogorskaya) (memory M. 21 / In. 3). 1603.
Vladimir - Rostov (commemorated Av. 15/28), XII century.

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.

Kontakion to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, Tone 8

To the victorious Chosen Governor, / 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 to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

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 monastery) and your coming 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 diligence to Orthodox Church, put in 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 that 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 in 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 a painting by 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 the 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 Church of the Trinity 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 the 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.

Ibid, p. 407-408.

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For a long time, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has been considered the patroness of Russia.

Its history dates back to the 1st century, when, according to legend, the Evangelist Luke wrote it on a board from the table at which they ate Holy Family when Jesus was still a child.

The history of the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir

The original place of residence of the icon was Jerusalem, in the 5th century it was transferred to Constantinople. It is known how the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir came to Russia: the Patriarch of Constantinople presented it to Prince Mstislav at the beginning of the 12th century. It was placed in the Vyshgorod Monastery near Kyiv and soon became famous as miraculous.

Having heard about this, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky decided to transport it to the north, but a real miracle happened on the way: not far from Vladimir, the horses with the cart on which the icon was being transported suddenly stopped, and they could not be moved by any means. Deciding that it God's sign, they spent the night there, and at night, during a prayer, the prince had a vision: the Mother of God herself ordered to leave her icon in Vladimir, and to build a monastery with a temple in honor of Her Nativity at the parking lot. So the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos got its name.

Presentation of the Vladimir Icon

In 1395, the hordes of Tamerlane attacked Russia, advancing towards Moscow, taking one city after another. At the request of Grand Duke Vasily I Dimitrievich, who was expecting an attack by the Tatars, they sent to Vladimir for the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, and in 10 days it was brought to Moscow in a procession. Along the way, and in Moscow itself, the icon was met by hundreds and thousands of kneeling people, who offered her a prayer for the salvation of the Russian land from enemies. The solemn meeting (candlemas) of the Vladimir Icon took place on September 8.

On the same day, Tamerlane, who stopped with an army on the banks of the Don, had a vision: he saw a Majestic Wife, hovering over the saints, who ordered him to leave Russia. The courtiers interpreted this vision as the appearance of the Mother of God, the great protector of the Orthodox. The superstitious Tamerlane carried out her order.

In memory of how the Russian land was miraculously delivered from the enemy invasion, the Sretensky Monastery was built and on September 8 the celebration of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was established.

The meaning of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

The significance of this icon for Russia and all its Orthodox cannot be overestimated - it is our national shrine. In front of her, in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, the anointing of sovereigns to the kingdom and the election of the primates took place. More than once, the Queen of Heaven, the patroness of Russia, saved her: in 1480 she delivered from the Horde Khan Akhmat (celebration on June 23), and in 1521 from the Crimean Khan Mahmet-Girey (celebration on May 21).

The Mother of God saved not only the state, but also many people with her power.

The fact that the Vladimir icon was miraculous was widely known, and people flocked to it with their prayers from all over Russia.

There are many stories of miraculous healings and other help in troubles and misfortunes. Moreover, not only the icon itself, located in Moscow, had miraculous power, but also its numerous copies, such as the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God of Orange, which saved Nizhny Novgorod from the plague in 1771, or the Vladimir Zaonikievskaya Icon of the Mother of God, famous for numerous healings, etc.

Currently, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is located in the Tretyakov Gallery, namely in the church-museum of St. Nicholas at the Tretyakov Gallery.

Description of the icon

Before characterizing the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, it should be noted that from the point of view of iconography, it belongs to the type of "Eleus", which developed in Byzantine icon painting in the 11th century. This is translated from Greek as "merciful", but in Ancient Russia It was called “Tenderness”, which conveys the essence of the image much more accurately.

Indeed, the image of the Mother with the Child would only express Her tenderness, if it were not for the eyes filled with incredible tragedy in anticipation of the torments to which Her Child is doomed. The Infant, in His innocent ignorance, embraces the Mother, leaning her cheek against Her cheek. A very touching detail is the bare left leg, peeking out from under His robe, so that the sole is visible, which is typical for all lists from the Vladimir icon.

What helps the Vladimir icon

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God saved Holy Russia more than once. In hard times religious processions and popular prayers with this icon brought deliverance from enemy invasions, unrest, schism, epidemics; before this image, the wedding of Russian monarchs to the kingdom took place, they took an oath of allegiance.

Prayer to the Mother of God in front of Her Vladimir icon will strengthen the spirit and faith, give determination and help choose the right path, drive away bad thoughts, calm anger and bad passions, bring healing from physical ailments, especially the heart and eyes. She is also prayed for the strengthening of family ties and the well-being of the family.

Prayer icon

To whom shall we cry, Lady? To whom shall we resort in our sorrow, if not to Thee, Queen of Heaven? Who will receive our weeping and sighing, if not You, Immaculate One, the hope of Christians and our refuge sinful? Who is more to You, in mercy? Incline Your ear to us, Lady, Mother of our God, and do not despise those who demand Your help: hear our groaning, strengthen us sinners, enlighten and teach us, Queen of Heaven, and do not depart from us, Your servant, Lady, for our murmuring, but wake us Mother and Intercessor, and entrust us to the merciful cover of Your Son. Arrange about us, whatever your holy will, and bring us sinners to quiet and serene life May we weep over our sins, may we rejoice with Thee always, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.