The Church celebrates the day of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God: the day of celebration, prayers, temple of the icon

On August 10, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the day of the Smolensk Icon Mother of God"Hodegetria". People prayed before it during wars, and there are more than thirty miraculous lists from this image alone.

The type of this icon is called “Pointing the Way” (“Hodegetria”): the Mother of God and Christ look directly at the viewer, and the Mother of God herself seems to point with her hand at her son, as the only way for humanity to salvation. It is believed that the first "Hodegetria" was written during the life of the Mother of God by the Evangelist Luke.

On August 9, 2016, the Orthodox Youth Cross Procession arrived in Smolensk, the procession “Our common path is Hodegetria”, which began its procession in Vitebsk of the Republic of Belarus. Already 14 times the participants of the procession come to Smolensk for celebrations dedicated to the main shrine of Smolensk - the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria.

The procession was attended by residents of the cities of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova. The crusaders brought to Smolensk revered images of their lands - Saints John of Kronstadt, Euphrosyne of Polotsk, Alexander Nevsky and others. The curator of the Odigitrievsky procession is the head of the brotherhood in the name of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt of the city of Vitebsk, the head of the Department of the Vitebsk diocese for work with youth, Archpriest Alexander Kovalev.

The first temple visited by the participants of the procession was, according to tradition, the temple of the XII century in honor of the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul. Then the participants of the international procession continued their way to the Smolensk Holy Dormition Cathedral, where they offered up their prayers at miraculous icon Mother of God Hodegetria of Smolensk.

St. Demetrius of Rostov suggests that the image was painted at the request of the ruler of Antioch, Theophilus. From Antioch, the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there in the 5th century. Empress Eudoxia, wife of the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius, sent her to Constantinople. When Blachernae Church was built near the imperial palace near the Golden Horn, the icon, along with other relics associated with the Mother of God, was placed there.

In 1046, Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh, giving his daughter Anna as Prince Vsevolod, son of Yaroslav the Wise, blessed her with this icon, and then she passed to his son, Vladimir Monomakh, who at the beginning of the 12th century. brought it to Smolensk, where he founded the cathedral church in honor of the Assumption of the Mother of God, where the shrine was placed. So she sent "Smolenskaya". The inhabitants of the city believed that it was to her that they owed their salvation from the invasion of Batu in 1239.

And when at the beginning of the XV century. the last Prince of Smolensk Yuri brought it as a gift to Grand Duke Vasily, the eldest son of Dmitry Donskoy, and the icon was transferred to the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, Smolensk was taken by the Lithuanians and for 110 years became the center of the Smolensk Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

In 1456, at the request of the inhabitants of Smolensk, headed by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly procession returned to Smolensk, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was placed in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - "measure in measure" - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was set up on the Maiden's Field, where Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk "with many tears". In 1602, an exact list was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon new list were taken to Moscow for renovation), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper gates, under a specially arranged tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 a stone one.

The new list took on the grace-filled power of the ancient image, and when the Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them to protect it from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers to a great feat. ancient image Smolenskaya Hodegetria, temporarily taken to the Assumption Cathedral, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, along with Iverskaya and Vladimir icons The Mother of God was carried around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was taken to Yaroslavl. Play at the casino only on the site - http://frankcasino1.su

So reverently our ancestors kept these icons-sisters, and the Mother of God, through Her images, guarded our Motherland. After the victory over the enemy, the Hodegetria icon, together with the glorified list, was returned to Smolensk.

The celebration in honor of this miraculous image on July 28 was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.

The ancient image of the Smolensk Mother of God was kept in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk even after it was closed in 1929: in August 1941, after the capture of the city by the Germans, their quartermaster services informed the command that “a very ancient icon attributed by legend to the Evangelist Luke (...) is in its original position and undamaged. But when Smolensk was liberated two years later, the icon was no longer there. Nothing is known about her fate so far.

Its place in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk after 1945 was taken by a list of the beginning of the 17th century, which once stood above the Dnieper Gates of the city, and in 1812 was located at the location of the Russian army. Before this image, thanksgiving prayers served after each victory, in front of him Kutuzov with the whole army prayed to the Mother of God for the help and salvation of Russia.

In general, the lists of the Smolensk icon Holy Mother of God, from ancient times, revered in Russia as a miraculous, there are a great many throughout the country - only at least 30 are known to be especially revered.

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On August 10, the 10th week after Pentecost, on the day of the celebration of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called the Hodegetria, His Grace Seraphim, Bishop of Belevsky and Aleksinsky, committed Divine Liturgy in the Holy Assumption Cathedral Church of the city of Aleksin, co-served by the rector cathedral church- Archpriest Gennady Stepanov and the clergy of the temple. Following the prayer behind the ambo, the bishop performed the glorification before the icon of the Smolensk Icon of the Most Holy Lady, after which he addressed the worshipers with the words of archpastoral instruction.

“Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, unless You, the Lady, help us, we hope in You and boast in You, Your servants, for we are, let us not be ashamed”

(En kontakion of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Hodegetria, tone 6)

The Smolensk icon of the Mother of God, called "Hodegetria", which means "Guide", according to Church tradition, was painted by the holy evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos. Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the ruler of Antioch, Theophilus. From Antioch, the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there the Empress Eudoxia, the wife of Arcadius, transferred it to Constantinople to Pulcheria, the emperor's sister, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae church. The Greek emperor Constantine IX Monomakh (1042-1054), giving his daughter Anna in 1046 to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise, blessed her on her journey with this icon. After the death of Prince Vsevolod, the icon passed to his son Vladimir Monomakh, who transferred it at the beginning of the 12th century to the Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. Since that time, the icon has been called the Hodegetria of Smolensk. In 1238, at the voice of the icon, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury entered the camp of Batu at night and killed many enemies, including their strongest warrior. Having accepted a martyr's death in battle, he was canonized by the Church as a saint (Comm. 24 November). In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vitovt Sofia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398-1425). In 1398, she brought with her to Moscow the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, according to right side from royal doors . In 1456, at the request of the inhabitants of Smolensk, headed by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was placed in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - "measure in measure" - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was set up on the Maiden's Field, where Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk "with many tears". In 1602, an exact list was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon, a new list was taken to Moscow for renewal), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gates, under a specially arranged tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 a stone one. The new list took on the grace-filled power of the ancient image, and when the Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them to protect it from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers to a great feat. The ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, temporarily taken to the Assumption Cathedral, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, along with the Iveron and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, was carried around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was taken to Yaroslavl. So reverently our ancestors kept these icons-sisters, and the Mother of God, through Her images, guarded our Motherland. After the victory over the enemy, the Hodegetria icon, together with the glorified list, was returned to Smolensk. The celebration in honor of this miraculous image on July 28 was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. There are many revered lists from the Smolensk Hodegetria, which are supposed to be celebrated on the same day. There is also a day of celebration of the Smolensk icon, which became famous in the 19th century - November 5, when this icon was returned to Smolensk by order of the commander-in-chief of the Russian army M.I. Kutuzov. In memory of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland in Smolensk, it was established to celebrate this day every year. The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church. Believers have received and continue to receive abundant grace-filled help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we appeal to Her: “You are the faithful people - the All-good Hodegetria, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands - affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation of the Christian!

Any ancient miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a rich history. It certainly contains cases of magical salvation of the people from terrible events, grace-filled help granted to people through prayers before the holy canvas. One of the main shrines of the Russian land, whose age is calculated in centuries, is. The Church decided to celebrate the feast in her honor on August 10 of each year. And to this day the icon gives healing and consolation to all those who suffer.

Features of iconography

The Smolensk icon of the Mother of God belongs to the Hodegetria icon-painting type. It is assumed that this holy miraculous image is a list from another icon - the Hodegetria of Blachernae. The image of the Virgin on the canvas of interest to us is half-length. Left hand The Virgin Mary supports the Infant Jesus. The last one in turn right hand creates a blessing, and in the left holds a scroll. back side The prototype is decorated with a crucifix with an inscription made on it that reads "The King is crucified" and the image of Jerusalem. In 1666, this composition was supplemented with the figures of the Mother of God and John the Theologian. There is a strong similarity between the Smolensk and Iveron icons of the Mother of God. However, the first one is more rigorous in the arrangement of the figures and the expressions of the faces of the Virgin Mary and the Divine Infant.

The Evangelist Luke is considered the author of the Smolensk Icon.. The miraculous image gained its fame in the 11th century. The icon ended up in Russia as a result of the blessing of the bride of the Russian prince. There are two versions of this account. The first claims that the blessing of the icon of the Mother of God on her marriage with the ruler of Chernigov was received by Princess Anna, the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenic, from her own father. The second version points to another tsarina Anna, who was married to the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir. In any case, no matter which of the historical hypotheses discussed above is true, it is the fact of accompanying and moving that explains the name of the holy image: “Hodegetria” means “Guide” in Greek. However, if we start from the assumption described earlier that the Smolensk icon is a list from that of the Hodegetria of Blachernae, then assigning the name “Guidebook” to it is connected with the legend of how the Mother of God brought two blind men to her own image in the Blachernae Church, who immediately received healing . Thus, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Guide to salvation for all Orthodox Christians.

History of the icon

I must say that most scientists and researchers adhere to the first version of the appearance of the holy image in Russia. After the emperor of Byzantium in 1046 blessed his daughter Anna with this icon for a marital union with the prince of Chernigov Vsevolod Yaroslavich, it turned into a tribal religion of Russian rulers, as well as a symbol of the closeness of Russia and Constantinople. 51 years later, according to other sources, at the beginning of the 12th century, Prince Vladimir Monomakh contributed to the transfer of the miraculous holy image to the city of Smolensk. There he founded the temple of the Assumption of the Mother of God, where, when it was erected, they placed the princely shrine. It is clear that the latter received its name by the name of the settlement in which it ended up at the behest of the ruler of Russia. At the same time, Smolensk was dubbed the city of the Most Holy Theotokos, while her temple was called the House of the Virgin Mary.

In 1239, a miraculous image saved the inhabitants of Smolensk from the invasion of the Tatars. One of the detachments of Batu entered the Smolensk region, as a result of which this territory was under the threat of plunder by the enemy. The inhabitants of the city, in despair and impotence, turned with a tearful plea for protection to the Mother of God. The Blessed Virgin heard the people's prayer and granted people salvation for the sake of her miraculous icon. How did it happen? The stop of the Tatars was 24 versts from the city. There, the enemies were preparing to launch a surprise attack on Smolensk. In the squad of the princely army there was a man named Mercury, whom the Mother of God chose as her instrument for saving the inhabitants of the city. On the night of November 23-24, the specified subject received from the sexton of the cathedral a command from the Virgin Mary to appear, dressed in military equipment, to the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk. Mercury obeyed. When he arrived at the indicated place, he heard a voice saying: “Mercury! I am sending you to protect my house. The ruler of the Horde secretly wants to attack My city with his army this night, but I begged the Son and My God for My house, so that he would not betray him into enemy work. Go out to meet the enemy secretly from the people, the saint and the prince, who are ignorant of the attack of the military; I myself will be with you, helping My servant. But there, along with the victory, the crown of martyrdom awaits you, which you receive from Christ.

The warrior immediately fulfilled the will of the Mother of God. He made his way to the camp of the enemy at night and killed the strongest of the Tatar fighters. After Mercury was severely attacked by enemies, but fearlessly repelled their blows. The Mother of God herself helped him, and the Horde minions saw her face in horror. In the end, the Russian warrior was killed. Later he was buried with honors in the cathedral church, and an obelisk was erected outside the Malakhov Gate in memory of the feat he had accomplished. The hero, whose shoes and iron cone are kept today in the Smolensk Epiphany Cathedral, was canonized. Every year on November 24, these events are remembered by arranging cathedral Smolensk all-night vigil and performing a thanksgiving service before the miraculous icon of Hodegetria.

At the beginning of the 15th century, the Smolensk image of the Mother of God was transferred to Moscow, where it was placed in the Cathedral of the Annunciation. On whose instructions this happened and who turned out to be the performer of this action, historians still do not know for sure. Some say that the holy image found itself in the capital in 1455 as a result of the sack of Smolensk by the Lithuanian prince Yurga, pan Svilkoldovich, who was heading to the great Moscow prince Vasily Vasilyevich and presented the stolen shrine as a gift to the Russian ruler. Others are inclined to believe that the Hodegetria icon was received in 1398 from Vitovt of Smolensk by his daughter Sophia, the wife of Moscow Prince Vasily Dmitrievich. According to the third version, the holy image was brought to the capital of Russia by the prince of Smolensk, who was expelled from Smolensk in 1404.

Be that as it may, in 1456, representatives of the embassy of Bishop Misail of Smolensk turned to Grand Duke Vasily the Dark with a request to return the holy image. The petition was granted: the icon was transferred to Smolensk with a procession on January 18, 1456 (according to other sources - July 28, 1456).

The journey of the holy image did not end there. During Patriotic War In 1812, he was again taken to Moscow and, along with other revered icons, was surrounded around the Kremlin. Apparently, after the icon was returned to Smolensk, since there is evidence that it was kept there until the Great Patriotic War.

After the city was occupied by the Germans, the holy image disappeared. Its place in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk in the post-war period was occupied and occupied to this day by an icon of the early 17th century from the temple above the Dnieper Gates of the Smolensk Kremlin.

July 28 / August 10 Russian Orthodox Church established a feast in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called Hodegetria.

Smolensk icon of the Mother of God, called "Hodegetria", what does the “Guidebook” mean, according to Church Tradition, was written by the holy evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos. Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the ruler of Antioch, Theophilus. From Antioch, the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there the Empress Eudoxia, the wife of Arcadius, transferred it to Constantinople to Pulcheria, the emperor's sister, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae church.

The Greek Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh (1042–1054), giving his daughter Anna in 1046 to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise, blessed her on her journey with this icon. After the death of Prince Vsevolod, the icon passed to his son Vladimir Monomakh, who transferred it at the beginning of the 12th century to the Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. Since that time, the icon has been called the Hodegetria of Smolensk.

In 1238, at the voice of the icon, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury entered the camp of Batu at night and killed many enemies, including their strongest warrior. Having accepted a martyr's death in battle, he was canonized by the Church as a saint (Comm. 24 November).

In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vitovt Sofia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398–1425). In 1398, she brought with her to Moscow the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the royal gates. In 1456, at the request of the inhabitants of Smolensk, headed by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was placed in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - "measure in measure" - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was set up on the Maiden's Field, where Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk "with many tears". In 1602, an exact list was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon, a new list was taken to Moscow for renewal), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gates, under a specially arranged tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 a stone one.

The new list took on the grace-filled power of the ancient image, and when the Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them to protect it from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers to a great feat. The ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, temporarily taken to the Assumption Cathedral, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, along with the Iveron and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, was carried around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was taken to Yaroslavl.

So reverently our ancestors kept these icons-sisters, and the Mother of God, through Her images, guarded our Motherland. After the victory over the enemy, the Hodegetria icon, together with the glorified list, was returned to Smolensk.

The celebration in honor of this miraculous image on July 28 was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.

There are many revered lists from the Smolensk Hodegetria, which are supposed to be celebrated on the same day. There is also a day of celebration of the Smolensk icon, which became famous in the 19th century - November 5, when this icon, by order of the commander-in-chief of the Russian army M.I. Kutuzov was returned to Smolensk. In memory of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland in Smolensk, it was established to celebrate this day every year.

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church. Believers have received and continue to receive abundant grace-filled help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we appeal to Her: “You are the faithful people - the All-good Hodegetria, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands - affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation of the Christian!

Troparion of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Hodegetria, tone 4

TO The Mother of God is now diligently a parishioner, / sinful and humble, and we fall down, / calling in repentance from the depths of our souls: / Lady, help us, having mercy on us, / pandering, we are perishing from many sins, / do not turn away Your servants of vanity, / / ​​Thee and Imams have only one hope.

Kontakion of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Hodegetria, tone 6

P the intercession of Christians is shameless, / an immutable intercession to the Creator, / do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, / but precede, as if Good, to help us, who faithfully call Ty: / hasten to prayer and plead for supplication, / / ​​intercession ever, Mother of God, honoring You .

Prayer of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Smolensk

TO to whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to Thee, Queen of Heaven? Who will hear my cry and take a sigh, if not You, Immaculate, Hope of Christians and Refuge to us sinners? Who will protect you more in misfortune? Hear my groaning and incline Your ear to me, the Lady and Mother of my God. Do not despise the one who seeks Your help and do not reject me a sinner, Queen of Heaven! Teach me to do the will of Your Son and grant me the desire to always follow His holy commandment. For my murmuring in illnesses, labors and misfortunes, do not depart from me, but wake up the Mother and Patroness of the faint-hearted me, my Queen of Benevolent, Intercessor Zealous! Cover my sins with your intercession, protect from visible and invisible enemies, soften the hearts of those who are at war with me and warm them with Christ's love. Grant me, the weak, Your all-powerful help to overcome my sinful habits, so that, cleansed by repentance and the subsequent virtuous life, in communion with the Holy Church, I would spend the rest of the days of earthly wandering. Appear to me, Hope of all Christians, at the hour of my death and strengthen my faith in the hour of death. Offer up for me, who sin a lot in this life, Your all-powerful prayers after my departure, may the Lord justify me and make me a partaker of His endless joys. Amen.

St. Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the ruler of Antioch, Theophilus. From Antioch, the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there the Empress Eudoxia, the wife of Arcadius, transferred it to Constantinople to Pulcheria, the emperor's sister, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae church.

The Greek Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh (1042–1054), giving his daughter Anna in 1046 to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise, blessed her on her journey with this icon. After the death of Prince Vsevolod, the icon passed to his son Vladimir Monomakh, who transferred it at the beginning of the 12th century to the Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. Since that time, the icon has been called the Hodegetria of Smolensk.

In 1238, at the voice of the icon, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury entered the camp of Batu at night and killed many enemies, including their strongest warrior. Having accepted a martyr's death in battle, he was canonized by the Church as a saint (Comm. 24 November).

In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vitovt Sofia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398–1425). In 1398, she brought with her to Moscow the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the royal gates. In 1456, at the request of the inhabitants of Smolensk, headed by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was placed in the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and the other - "measure in measure" - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was set up on the Maiden's Field, where Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk "with many tears". In 1602, an exact list was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon, a new list was taken to Moscow for renewal), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gates, under a specially arranged tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 a stone one.

The new list took on the grace-filled power of the ancient image, and when the Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them to protect it from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers to a great feat. The ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, temporarily taken to the Assumption Cathedral, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, along with the Iveron and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, was carried around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was taken to Yaroslavl.

So reverently our ancestors kept these icons-sisters, and the Mother of God, through Her images, guarded our Motherland. After the victory over the enemy, the Hodegetria icon, together with the glorified list, was returned to Smolensk.

The celebration in honor of this miraculous image was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.

There are many revered lists from the Smolensk Hodegetria, which are supposed to be celebrated on the same day. There is also a day of celebration of the Smolensk icon, which became famous in the 19th century, - November 5, when this icon, by order of the commander-in-chief of the Russian army M.I. Kutuzov was returned to Smolensk. In memory of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland in Smolensk, it was established to celebrate this day every year.

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church. Believers have received and continue to receive abundant grace-filled help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: “You are the faithful people - the All-good Hodegetria, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands - affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation of the Christian!