How to choose a personalized icon by date of birth. Find out by date of birth which icon you need! Adversity will bypass your house ...

Turning to icons is one of the ways to reach directly to God or the heavenly saints who are close to him. It is through these hand-made products that we can ask for intercession, participation and help from those who are at an unattainable height. That is, where there is no entrance to any worldly person. It is interesting that the patron icon, chosen by date of birth, helps the best. Everyone has it, like the guardian angel, just not everyone thinks about it.

Do you have a guardian angel?

It is believed that a guardian angel appears in every person immediately after baptism in the Orthodox Church, including yours. If, of course, you passed the Christian sacrament in the temple. If this really happened, you should know: the heavenly patron almost always walks next to you, literally step by step. It protects against troubles, warns against reckless actions, helps to deal with piled-up problems. May warn of various health or money problems, as well as those arising in relationships. Able to appear in a dream. But usually it appears as an ordinary person, albeit a stranger or already deceased. To summon a guardian angel, you just need to pray.

From whom to seek the intercession of the "winter" people?

The patron icon by date of birth is different for each person. So, people who issued the first cry in the period from November 23 of any year to can pray to the icons of the Mother of God "Tikhvin" (helps to make an important decision and get rid of various diseases, including infertility) and "Sign" (helps to find peace and rest). The heavenly protectors of any person born during this period are Saint Barbara and Nicholas the saint.

People born from December 22, inclusive to January 22, should go to the icon of the Mother of God "Reigning". She will help them find a true life partner, heal their mental trauma, pacify enemy anger and get rid of financial difficulties. In addition to the icon, a person born during this period will also be helped by the Monk Seraphim of Sarov and Saint Sylvester.

A person born from January 23 to February 20 should seek intercession from Athanasius. Icon-patrons for them will be "Vladimirskaya" and "Burning Bush". They can resort to prayers at any time.

From whom to seek the intercession of the "spring" people?

You can look at the photo of the patron icon by date of birth for a long time, but the fact remains: a person who was born in the period from February 21 to March 20 should fervently pray near the church image of the Iberian Mother of God. She will help him find inner purity, be comforted in troubles, overcome destructive desires and calm hearts. You can also turn to Saints Milentius of Antioch and Alexis for help, who are guardian angels for such people.

Those who first saw the world from March 21 to April 20 should go to the icon of the Mother of God called "Kazan". It promotes healing from various diseases, overcoming serious obstacles, calming down and acquiring happiness in the world. such people are Saints Innocent and Sophronia of Irkutsk, as well as George the Confessor.

The patron icon of the date of birth for people who first uttered their cry from May 20 to 20 is considered the "Assistant of Sinners". It helps to strengthen faith, spiritual insight, healing from serious illnesses, as well as getting rid of depression. Everyone who was born at this time should pray to the Apostle or Saints Tamara and Stepan. They are their guardian angels.

From whom to seek intercession for "summer" people?

"Recovery of the Dead", "Vladimirskaya" and "Burning Bush" are icons-patrons by date of birth for people born from May 21 to June 21. The first can help in overcoming ailments and finding the best partner for life, the second - in strengthening faith and getting rid of sinful thoughts, the third - in the protection of the believer from various injuries. Guardian angels for such people are Saint Constantine, as well as Alexei of Moscow.

Separately, it should be said about the patron icon by date of birth and the guardian angels of the person who issued his first cry from June 22 to July 22. After all, the "Kazan" Mother of God protects them. Prayer for her helps people find their true path, heal bodily ailments, make the right decisions, become happier in family life and live long in fidelity and harmony. Saint Cyril acts as the heavenly patron for a person who was born during this period.

If you want to know which patron icon is by date of birth on August 21, then this is the one that bears the name "Pokrov Holy Mother of God". She is also considered the protector of all people born from July 23, inclusive, to August 23. Protects them from ailments, serious problems, troubles and all evil. As the guardian angel of such a person, two saints act at once - Elijah the Prophet and Nikolai the Pleasant.

From whom to seek the intercession of the "autumn" people?

Those people who were born from August 24 to September 23 should tirelessly pray to such icons as "Passionate" and "Burning Bush". We have already talked about what the second helps with in the article. It is worth resorting to first aid if you have any problems in your personal life, loss of faith, or the appearance of any mental trauma. She will certainly contribute to the elimination of such problems. Paul, John and Alexander can also become patron saints for people born at this time.

A person who saw God's light from September 24 to October 23 must seek protection from the "Burning Bush" and "Pochaevskaya" Mother of God, who helps to heal from diseases, avoid quarrels and misfortunes, and get rid of impure thoughts. Also, in his prayers, he can turn for intercession to Saint Sergius of Radonezh.

Anyone who was born from October 24 to November 22 should seek protection from St. Paul and the intercessor icon "Quick to Hearken". They, as well as people born at any other time of the year and date, need to have at home an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos called "Iverskaya". She can protect the home from enemies, bad people and ill-wishers.

As a conclusion

After you find out which patron icon by date of birth and name protects you, do not forget to thank your heavenly intercessors and pray to them tirelessly. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Be happy and healthy!

All parents who are going to baptize a child are interested in determining the patron saint. Now a new tradition has appeared among Orthodox believers - nominal icons by date of birth. A Christian can have many patron saints, and the church approves of the faithful desire of the parishioners.

When my daughter and I approached the church shop, our eyes fled from the number of images. It is extremely difficult to navigate directly when buying a holy image, so you need to inquire in advance about your patron saint. In this article I will tell you about the images of the Mother of God and the saints that can be made personalized.

In Russia, they learned about the heavenly patrons in the IV century. The babies were specially named as a saint, so that he would protect and guide the baby along the path of truth. However, the saints are mistakenly confused with the guardian angel. The angel is acquired after baptism, and the patron saint can be chosen.

Angels are incorporeal beings who help the believer, and the saints are just people in the flesh. They are also sometimes called angels, but still they were people. In the Orthodox Church there are saints, all the saints and martyrs for the Christian faith are recorded in them.

The church honors the saints on a certain day of the year, but sometimes the dates for the veneration of the saints coincide. And then the parents have a choice of which saint to take as the patron of their child. After that, you must definitely buy an icon of your saint and constantly pray to him. First, parents pray for their child, and then the child himself, as he grows up, can pray to his saint.

The tradition of naming a child by the name of a saint has ancient roots and special significance. It is believed that the name of the saint has positive influence per person, since it belonged to a righteous Christian. The name, as it were, leads a person through life, determining the choice of the right path. As the saint was God-fearing during his life, so the namesake he takes care of will also be an exemplary Christian.

If there is no icon of your patron in the church kiosk, you can order it from the icon painting workshop.

How to determine the day of the name day, if at baptism the name of another saint was given (not the one who was honored on this date)? Then you need to look at the calendar of the day of veneration of your namesake, following the day of baptism. For example, if a girl was baptized by Anna on 11.21, then her name day should be celebrated on 3.12 - the day of veneration of St. Anna. And on 21.11 they celebrate the day of the angel.

Icons by date of birth and person's name will be constant companions, a talisman against diseases and difficult circumstances.

Such icons have a powerful force that can protect against terrible life events and sudden death. With a personalized icon, the believer must spend his life until last minute. Named icons differ from others in that the saints are depicted on them to the waist... The images are designed in wooden frame, attached to them prayer appeal to your patron.

A short prayer to your saint:

Measured icons

For baptized babies, measured icons are sometimes ordered. The patron saint is drawn in full height, and the size of the icon corresponds to the growth of the baby. These are also named icons by date of birth and name. The image is placed over the baby's cradle so that he is under the constant protection of the heavenly patron.

When the child grows up, parents should tell about his patron. After all, it is necessary that a child, from childhood, establish a spiritual connection with his saint and establish a trusting relationship. Reading the stories about the life of the saint is intended to guide the child's feet along the path of righteousness and holiness.

Date of birth and icons

The tradition of choosing an icon by date of birth has appeared recently. It seems closer and dearer to a Christian exactly that icon, the day of veneration of which coincides with his physical birthday. Which patroness icon is considered the strongest by date of birth? The church fathers advise you to choose the image that you like the most.

The people especially revered the image of the Mother of God, because the believer intuitively feels support from her and trusts more.

Winter months

• 23.11 - 21.12: Tikhvin. The Omen. (St. Pleasant, St.).
• 22.12 - 20.01: Sovereign. (Blessed Sylvester and Venerable Sarov).
• 21.01 - 20.02: Burning Bush. Vladimirskaya. (St. and Athanasius).

Icon Sign helped the Novgorodians to save the city from the invasion of the enemy. This happened in 1170. The arrow hit the eye of the Mother of God, from which blood flowed. Seeing this miracle, Novgorodians with faith in their hearts were able to drive the enemies away from the city walls. The second time the icon saved the city from the Swedes in 1611. She surrounded the city walls with an invisible shield, which the enemy troops could not overcome.

The image of Tikhvin was written during the life of the Virgin by the Evangelist Luke. This image can be chosen to protect children and heal diseases. They say that the icon was transported by plane over Moscow, when the Nazis stood at the walls of the city. Thanks to the protection of Tikhvin, the enemy was defeated, and Moscow was saved from the invaders.

Icon of Our Lady Sovereign traces its history from the moment of the renunciation of Nicholas II from the reign. It depicts the Mother of God with the attributes of royal power, seated on the throne. This image was found in basement churches in the city of Kolomna exactly on the date of abdication. Believers found protection in the person of the Mother of God, who announced that she would not leave the Russian people and would protect them.

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God very revered in Russia. According to legend, the prototype was painted on a tablet from the table at which the Mother of God herself, her faithful husband and the Divine Infant ate. The evangelist painted the image. When the Most Pure Virgin saw her image, she blessed everyone who looked at it.

Image of the Burning Bush since ancient times it has been revered as a talisman against fires and lightning strikes. Also, the icon can protect from any natural Disasters and diseases. The symbolism of the image is rooted in Old Testament times, when Moses saw a bush blazing with heavenly fire. This bush is symbolically depicted in the form of paired four-pointed stars, in the center of which is written St. with the Divine Infant.

Spring months

• 02.21 - 03.21: Iverskaya. (Venerable Milentius of Antioch and St.).
• 21.03 - 20.04: Kazanskaya. (Innokenty of Irkutsk, Confessor, St. Sophrony).
• 21.04 - 20.05: Iverskaya. The guarantor of sinners. (St. and, the Theologian).

The image of the Iberian Mother of God was painted by the evangelist during the life of the Mother of God. This icon is distinguished by a wound on the face of the Most Pure One. Tradition says: this wound appeared when a pagan warrior pierced the image with a spear. Then they threw Saint Face into the river, and the current brought him to the Iberian monastery. This monastery is located on the holy Mount Athos in Greece. The icon became the patroness of the monastery and repeatedly defended the monastery from troubles.

The image of Our Lady of Kazan survived after the great conflagration in Kazan. The Virgin Mary appeared to little Matrona and indicated that it was necessary to find her image under the rubble. The discovered icon was transferred to the Assumption Cathedral of the city. Unfortunately, the prototype of the icon has not survived to our time. But numerous lists possess the same miraculous powers as the original. The image of Kazanskaya helps to overcome not only external, but also internal enemies. The image is holistic.

Face the Assistant of Sinners has its own history. Once, many believers from the Oryol province began to have the same dreams that the face of the Mother of God, forgotten by all, was in a dilapidated chapel. The image was tracked down and updated. The icon brings deliverance from serious illnesses, on its account there are many recovered Orthodox Christians.

Summer months

• 21.05 - 21.06: Recovery of the dead. Burning bush. Vladimirskaya. (St. and Moscow).
• 06.22 - 07.22: Joy to all who sorrow. Kazan. (St. Cyril).
• 23.07 - 23.08: Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. (Prophet, Nicholas the Wonderworker).

Icon of the recovery of the dead takes care of parishioners in desperate situations. There is overwhelming evidence to describe the avoidance of premature death. The icon conquers the dark forces that haunt the soul.

Image Joy to all those who grieve helps everyone who is in difficult living conditions. This applies to disease, sorrow, poverty, addiction. The Mother of God sees every heart and will not leave anyone to perish.

The image of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos especially honored by the Orthodox. The history of the icon dates back to the beginning of our era, when, through the prayer of Christians, the Protection of the Mother of God was thrown over the city of Constantinople. This cover protected the city from enemy invasion (Sergei of Radonezh).

Image of Our Lady Passionate teaches humility and obedience to the will of the Creator. On the list, we see that the Mother of God humbly carries her child to suffering. Among the symbols of the icon, one can single out the instruments of torture that Christ has to endure.

The image of the Pochaev Mother of God revered as miracle workers. The prototype is in the Pochaev Lavra, pilgrims come to him for deliverance from the terrible life situations and disease. According to the stories of believers, the icon raised dead people.

Image of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross captured the fact of finding the tree on which he received the crucifixion. The image helps to receive healing, to find inner harmony, strengthen faith.

The image of the Jerusalem icon was written by the evangelist Luke after the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This image is considered miraculous, since many Christians received healing through it. Also, the icon saves from black magic and the affairs of sorcerers.

The prototype of the Quick-Listening Icon located on Athos. According to legend, a monk with a torch made his way in the dark to have a meal and suddenly heard the order "not to smoke near the icon of the Virgin". Not paying attention to what he had heard, the monk instantly lost his sight. Only the fervent prayer of the Mother of God healed his eyes. The image is called the Quick-Hearing One, since the Mother of God promises an ambulance to all the sufferers.

Outcome

Now you know how to choose personalized icons. I would especially like to note that we must not forget about the dates of honoring our patron saints. Write it down in a notebook, mark with a circle on the calendar. These days should not be confused with the day of the angel - this is the date of your baptism. The day of the namesake coincides with the time of honoring the saint, whose name you were named at baptism. If the day of baptism coincides with the time of honoring the saint whose name you were named after, then the name day and the name day are celebrated on the same day.

There are many misconceptions even among believers about Angels. This is due to the fact that from the theological point of view, not everything is clear here, because these creatures are inaccessible to direct human observation. Nevertheless, in Orthodoxy there is a tradition to acquire an icon of the Guardian Angel, to pray before it to your heavenly patron.

Who are the angels

There is a canonical teaching about Angels, which, however, is replete with various gaps. But these creatures are often mentioned in Holy Scripture directly participating in human history since paradise times. God placed the Cherubim at the heavenly gates so that Adam could not return there. The Lord commanded to depict angels on the Ark of the Covenant, then in the Jerusalem temple.

The depiction of Angels was not only not forbidden, but also encouraged since the time of the Old Testament. According to the opinion Orthodox Church, each person has a personal Angel, which is given after Baptism, although many believe that immediately after birth. The Guardian Angel icon can be presented to a baby for a birthday or christening.

There are several complex hierarchies in Judaism angel ranks, but after the appearance of the New Testament, Christians developed their own. Gregory the Theologian, for example, gives the following order, starting with the lowest dignity:

• Angels.
• Archangels.
• Thrones.
• Dominance.
• Beginnings.
• Authorities.
• Strength.
• Armies.
• Century.
• Cherubs.
• Seraphs.

As a rule, in many such systematizations, the angels proper are the smallest ranks. Maybe that's why it was they who most often appeared to the biblical righteous, then to the saints. According to the teaching of the Church, Angels are personalities, but their nature is more similar to the Divine. However, it is very different from her: for example, angels cannot be in two places at the same time.

Today the church adheres to such a hierarchy, where the highest order is the Seraphim, the lowest (ninth in a row) - the angels. From God, the Angels are endowed with a number of abilities inaccessible to man:

• Invisibility to the human eye.
• Ability to fly.
• The ability to manifest in the human world and influence it (in the Old Testament story, Angels, for example, destroyed cities).
• Ability to speak with people in their language.
• The ability to read human thoughts.

Why does a man need an Angel

God gives angels different responsibilities, uses them as intermediaries between Himself and people. It is believed that the Lord sends them because people simply cannot bear to meet with Him. Even the sight of an angel can terrify a person, although outwardly they look like people, only with wings. It is difficult to say how the heavenly creatures actually look (there are various descriptions in the Bible). The icon of the holy Guardian Angel depicts only the canonical image, approved by the rules of the Church.

According to church tradition, the Guardian Angel should instruct a person in comprehending God's ordinances, protect him from the attacks of dark forces. A person does not see these battles, they are hidden in order not to frighten the weak in spirit. But he can feel supported higher powers... Many have experienced inexplicable events in their lives - for example, when they miraculously managed to avoid a car accident, inexplicable coincidences took place, and meetings with the right people took place. In such cases, you need to thank your Angel.

Prayers near the icon of the Guardian Angel can also be of the nature of a request: first of all, you must ask for help in the spiritual aspects of your life. It is believed that in afterlife The angel will be available for human perception, it will be possible to communicate with him and even be friends. During the earthly journey, one must ask him to instruct in faith and in every good deed that will contribute to the salvation of the soul.

Image history

In art Ancient East often seen images of winged creatures: they are decorated, for example, the altar in Megiddo. Figures of winged angels have been found in Samaria. Old Testament calls whole line items depicting seraphim that were in the Temple.

In the Russian icon-painting tradition, familiar images began to appear at the end of the 16th century. As attributes, the Angels had a cross (for blessing) and a sword (for protection from dark forces). Their clothes resemble the deacon's vestments - of course, the angels, being disembodied spirits, do not need it, it is just a symbol of their service in heaven. The color of the cloak is usually green, the chiton is red, or the robe can be white.

• The image can be either half-length or full, in which case the Angel usually stands on a cloud. The meaning of the Guardian Angel icon is to remind of the eternal existence of the soul. The hovering figure, as it were, summons a person to the heavenly abodes, from where he was torn out by sin.
• Although outwardly the Angel has a human appearance, its unearthly origin is emphasized by the presence of large wings folded behind its back.
• One hand can be raised in a blessing gesture, sometimes both hands are folded for prayer. The gaze is usually directed directly at the viewer, but it can be directed to the side, and the head is tilted slightly in reverence, as if an Angel bowed before the Lord.
• On the images of modern masters, the heavenly guardian can hold a small soul (in the form of a child) in his arms.

How to find "your" icon of the Guardian Angel

At baptism, the child receives a name, a certain saint is considered his patron. Usually he is chosen on Christmastide, but you can do this arbitrarily, especially if a person is baptized as an adult. If life path some particular saint inspires - you can safely choose him as a heavenly patron. Mistakenly, such a saint is called a "guardian angel."

For example, if a child's name is Cyril, he is presented with an icon of St. Cyril. But the Guardian Angel is not a saint, not a man, but a heavenly being in the service of the Lord! You can buy an icon of any saint - Paul, John, Nicholas, there are no restrictions on the name or date of birth - and there cannot be. The saints do not reject people's prayers just because they were born on the wrong day. Prayers can only be rejected if they are not from a pure heart.

An error will also be the "binding" of some icon Mother of God as a guardian angel by date of birth. Such a classification is inappropriate; it has nothing to do with the Orthodox tradition. The Queen of Heaven is the patroness of all people, without exception. It is rather a kind of modern paganism, which appeared due to the general illiteracy in matters of religion.

The church holiday is common for all angelic ranks - it is celebrated on November 8 (Cathedral of Heavenly Forces). The names of each specific angel are hidden from people, only a few of them are named in the Bible. Nevertheless, there is a tradition according to which the icon of the guardian angel is selected by the name of the person. In fact, it will be an image of a saint who bore the same name, but not an Angel.

How the Angel will help

People have a special feeling inside, called intuition. After making another mistake, many had to say: "Eh, because an inner voice prompted to do the opposite ..." In such cases, the icon "Guardian Angel" helps. She warns against annoying blunders, bad deeds. It also dispels the gloom of bad thoughts when everything seems hopeless.

People cannot directly communicate with their Guardian Angel, but the icon will help focus their thoughts on prayer. Although some saints have seen angels with their own eyes, how many can claim holiness today? Of course not. Therefore, the answers to vital questions that should be asked in prayer, for the majority, come precisely as a kind of inner voice.

If there is no answer for a long time, there is no need to despair. One should continue to pray - the Lord never leaves a person. Perhaps the answer will come a little later, or the believer himself is simply not yet ready to receive the answer. Sometimes events in life themselves can be interpreted as warnings. In this case, you must immediately change your behavior, try to get on the right path. If it does not work out on your own, seek help from a priest.

Where to place the holy image

The Guardian Angel Icon can be found anywhere home iconostasis, the main thing is that the central belongs to the image of the Savior. According to the pious tradition, it is customary to place the icon near the baby's cradle - there is nothing wrong with that. It will be good if the child witnesses how the parents say prayers. The baby's soul is very responsive to everything - the task of the parents is to give her the right food. It would be quite appropriate to place an icon of the saint at home, who is considered the guardian of the baby by date of birth.

Drivers often hang holy images in their cars. This is not done because icons have some miraculous power of their own. They are designed to turn a person's mind's eye to Heaven. So that in the hustle and bustle of life he does not "run around" so much that he forgets about the most important thing. Sometimes it's easy, especially under pressure from circumstances or unbelievers.

Many people prefer to carry the Guardian Angel icon with a written prayer with them - there are small images intended for storage in wallets. This is already something like an amulet, but it is not directly condemned by the Church. The main thing is that a person should put in the first place not a piece of paper, but communication with the Lord.

The meaning of the "Guardian Angel" icon is the same as that of other holy images - it should help to focus on God. The veneration of angels is so great in Orthodoxy that special prayers are composed for them. It is good to learn some by heart and read on the road, during monotonous work, so that thoughts do not wander anywhere.

It is believed that the Angel accompanies a person until his death, after which he is called to lead the soul to heaven. But evil godly deeds and words turn this pure creature away from man. Therefore, you should carefully observe yourself throughout the day. Send, Lord, Guardian Angel to all Christians!

Prayers to the Guardian Angel

Prayer to the Guardian Angel, which can be repeated in all cases, for example, before starting any important business.

To the angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from God from heaven to keep! I earnestly pray to you: you enlighten me today, and save me from all evil, instruct me in every deed, and direct me to the path of salvation. Amen.

Prayer from the "Morning Prayers" in the prayer book (read in the morning)

Holy Angel, stand before my accursed soul and my passionate life, do not leave me a sinner, step back below me for my intemperance. Give no place to the wicked demon to possess me, the violence of this mortal body; Strengthen my poor and poor hand and guide me on the path of salvation. She, holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my cursed soul and body, forgive me all, for those who have offended you in all the days of my life, and even if those who sinned in this past night, cover me in the present day, and save me from every temptation of the opposite Yes, in no sin I will anger God, and pray for me to the Lord, may he establish me in His passion, and worthy to show me a servant of His goodness. Amen.

Each has its own guardian angel and its own patron icon, which is given from birth. Pray to your icon, ask the Lord through it for healing, and it will certainly be there.

Each profession, each direction has its own unspoken heavenly patron. According to tradition, in ancient times, all believers had an icon of their saint at home. All icons are sacred. Many of them emanate a radiant light, others emanate myrrh or scent. Icons have repeatedly saved cities from fires, capture and destruction. There are countless icons in temples, and all of them are venerated. First of all, icons give people help - they heal, save from death, destruction. All icons in some way manifest miracles, with their help we find peace and strength.

For every person a word"faith" means something of your own.

Someone goes to church and prays, someone just believes in their souls and believes that going to church every week is not at all necessary.

And everyone is right in their own way.

After all, faith is in our soul, in our heart. Almost every believer has Orthodox icons in his home, and if someone does not, then these people go to church and pray there. Although for prayer, the icon is not at all required. Icons play a huge role in the history of Christianity.

In fact, an icon is a form of Divine revelation.

And its purpose is to purify the souls of people who contemplate it and pray before it. They pray in front of the icons. And prayer can be different. Sometimes people ask for help, sometimes they thank for it. At the same time, the icon is revered, but not worshiped, since only God should be worshiped.

The past is an endless distance, and the more we look into it, the better we see how deeply the roots of human history go back into the centuries.

But there are events that unite all centuries, all peoples, and then time, mercilessly, at first glance, measuring out the earthly human path, as if ceases to exist.

Of those who were born from December 22 to January 20, will protect the icon of the Mother of God "Reigning", and their guardian angels are Saint Sylvester and the Monk Seraphim of Sarov.

Before Your Sovereign Icon
I stand, embraced in prayer trembling,
And Thy royal face, crowned with a crown,
My affectionate glance attracts to Himself.
In a time of turmoil and glorious cowardice,
Treason, lies, disbelief and evil,
You showed us Your Sovereign Image,
You came to us and meekly uttered:
"I myself took the scepter and the orb,
I myself will hand them over to the King,
I will give the Russian kingdom greatness and glory,
I will nurse, comfort, reconcile everyone. "
Repent, Russia, unfortunate harlot ...
Wash your defiled shame in tears,
Your Intercessor, Heavenly Queen,
He regrets and keeps you and the sinner.

S. Bekhteev

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Reigning" they pray for truth, heartfelt joy, unhypocritical love for each other, for peace in the country, for salvation and preservation, for the protection of the throne and the state, for deliverance from aliens and for the granting of bodily and mental healings.

Births from January 21 to February 20 Saints Athanasius and Cyril are guarded, and the icons of the Mother of God "Vladimirskaya" and "Burning Bush" will protect them. The "Vladimir" icon of the Mother of God has been revered as miraculous for several centuries. Before her, the Mother of God is prayerfully asked for healing from bodily ailments, in particular, diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system. They turn to her for help during disasters, when they need protection from enemies. Front Vladimir icon The Mother of God in all ages prayed for the preservation of Russia. Every home should have this icon, because it reconciles warring people, softens people's hearts, and helps to strengthen faith.

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table, at which the Savior ate with the Most Pure Mother and righteous Joseph. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: "From now on, all generations will bless Me. Let the grace of the One born of Me and Mine be with this icon." and was placed in the Maiden Monastery of Vyshgorod - the ancient appanage city of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga.

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Burning Bush" they pray for deliverance from fire and lightning, from dire troubles, and healing of ailments. The Icon of the Mother of God "The Burning Bush" is depicted in the form of an octagonal star, consisting of two sharp quadrangles with concave ends. One of them is red, resembling a fire that announced the bush seen by Moses; the other is green, indicating the natural color of the bush, which it has retained, enveloped in a fiery flame. In the middle of the octagonal star, as if in a bush, is depicted the Most Pure Virgin with the Eternal Child. At the corners of the red quadrangle are depicted a man, a lion, a calf and an eagle, symbolizing the four evangelists. In the hands of the Blessed Virgin there is a ladder, with the upper end leaning against Her shoulder. The staircase means that through the Mother of God the Son of God descended to earth, raising all those who believe in Him to Heaven.

Happened: gray church
Burning Bush,
In a blizzard of white squatting,
Flashes to me from the silence;
Before the brooding icon case -
An inextinguishable flashlight;
And falls lightly
Pink snow under the light.
Neopalimov Lane
Blizzard pearl barley boils;
And the Mother of God in the lane
Looks like a pensive tear.

A. Bely

The icon of the Iberian Mother of God is the intercessor of those who were born with February 21 to March 20. Their guardian angels are Saint Alexis and Milentius of Antioch. The history of the Iberian icon can be seen from the first century, when, out of inexpressible love for people, the Mother of God blessed the holy apostle and evangelist Luke to paint her image even in the days of her earthly life. The Monk John Damascene wrote: “The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, at the time when the Most Holy Mother of God still lived in Jerusalem and dwelt in Zion, painted Her Divine and honest image on the blackboard with pictorial means, so that subsequent generations and births could contemplate her as in a mirror. » When Luke presented this image to her, she said: “From now on, all generations will please Me. Grace and power born of Me and Mine be with you "... Tradition attributes to the brush of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke from three to seventy icons of the Mother of God, including the Iberian one.

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Iverskaya" they pray for deliverance from various misfortunes and for consolation in troubles, from fire, for increasing the fertility of the earth, for deliverance from sorrow and sorrow, for the healing of bodily and mental ailments, under difficult circumstances, for help to farmers.

Born with March 21 to April 20 it is necessary to ask for protection from the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, and they are guarded by Saints Sophrony and Innocent of Irkutsk, as well as George the Confessor. We do not know by whom and when the icon of the Russian Mother of God Hodegetria was written, which in Greek means "Guide". It is to this type of icons that the image of the Kazan Mother of God belongs. An ancient Russian icon-painter, inspired by the image of the Byzantine Hodegetria, written, as it is believed, by the Evangelist Luke during the life of the Virgin, writes his own version of this icon. Its iconography, in comparison with the Byzantine, is slightly changed. The Russian version can always be recognized by its subtle warmth, softening the regal severity of the Byzantine originals.

The Kazan Mother of God and her holy, miraculous, saving icon (it returns sight to the blind, gives strength to the weak) are considered almost official intercessors, defenders of Russia from external and internal enemies. It is also popularly believed that prayer in front of the Orthodox icon of the Mother of God protects and frees the praying person from his visible and invisible enemies, i.e. from evil people and from evil spirits ..

The icons "The Assistant of Sinners" and the Iberian Mother of God will protect those born with April 21 to May 20. Saints Stephen and Tamara, the Apostle John Bogosolov are their guardian angels. The icon got its name from the inscription preserved on it: "I am the Assistant of sinners to My Son ...". Many miraculous healings have occurred from the miraculous image. The surety of sinners means the surety for sinners before the Lord Jesus Christ. Before the miraculous image of the Mother of God, the "Assistant of Sinners" pray for the granting of repentance, in despondency, despair and spiritual sorrow, for the healing of various ailments, for the salvation of sinners.

For the first time, this image became famous for miracles in the Nikolaev Odrin monastery of the Oryol province in the middle of the last century. The ancient icon of the Mother of God "The Assistant of Sinners" because of its decrepitude did not enjoy proper veneration and stood in the old chapel at the monastery gates. But in 1843, it was revealed to many inhabitants in dreams that this icon was endowed, by God's Providence, with miraculous power. The icon was solemnly transferred to the church. Believers began to flock to her and ask for the healing of their sorrows and illnesses. The first to receive healing was a relaxed boy, whose mother fervently prayed in front of this shrine. The icon became especially famous during the cholera epidemic, when it brought many mortally sick people flowing to it with faith, it brought back to life.

If the birthday falls on the period from May 21st to June 21st, it is necessary to ask for protection from the icons of the Mother of God "Seeking the Dead", "Burning Bush" and "Vladimirskaya". Protected by the saints Alexei of Moscow and Constantine. According to legend, the icon of the Mother of God "The Catching Up of the Dead" became famous in the 6th century in the Asia Minor city of Adana, having saved the repentant monk Theophilos from eternal death, who later reached the highest spiritual perfection and was glorified by the Church as saints. The name of the icon arose under the influence of the story "On the repentance of Theophilus, the housekeeper of the church in the city of Adana" (7th century): praying before the image of the Mother of God, Theophilus called it "The Seeking of the Perished."

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Seeking the Lost" they pray for the blessing of marriage; people come to her with a prayer for liberation from vices, Mothers come with a petition for dying children, for the health and well-being of children, for the healing of eye diseases and blindness, for toothache, for fever, Orthodox faith and the return of the lost to the Church.

Icons "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and the Kazan Mother of God - the patron of those born with June 22 to July 22. Saint Cyril is their guardian angel. "Joy of All Who Sorrow" is one of the most popular and widely revered miraculous icons of the Mother of God in imperial Russia, which has a number of iconographic options that differ significantly from one another. Many sick and grieving, prayerfully addressing the Mother of God through Her miraculous image, began to receive healing and deliverance from troubles.

According to custom, the Mother of God is depicted in accordance with the words of the prayer addressed to her. “The helper of the offended, not hopeful of hope, the wretched intercessor, the sad consolation, the hungry nurse, the naked garment, the sick, healing, the salvation of sinners, all Christians help and intercession” - this is how we call the image embodied in the icons “Joy of All Who Sorrow”.

Queen of heaven and earth, consolation of grieving,
Heed the prayer of sinners: in You are hope and salvation.

We are mired in the evil of passions, wandering in the darkness of vice,
But ... our Motherland ... Oh, bow the all-seeing eye to it.

Holy Russia - your bright house is almost dying,
We call to You, Intercessor: no one else knows about us.

Oh, do not leave Your children grieving Hope,
Do not turn your eyes away from our sorrow and suffering.

Saint Nicholas the Pleasant and Elijah the Prophet guard those born with July 23 to August 23 , and the icon "The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos" protects them. In Orthodox Russia, the word "veil" is understood as a veil and patronage. On the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Orthodox people ask the Queen of Heaven for protection and help. In Russia, this holiday was established in the XII century by the holy prince Andrey Bogolyubsky. Learning that Saint Andrew, fool for Christ's sake, saw the Mother of God holding Her veil over the Orthodox, he exclaimed: "Such a great event cannot remain without celebration for him." The holiday was established and immediately accepted by all the people in the joyful conviction that the Mother of God tirelessly keeps her cover over the Russian land. All his life the Grand Duke Andrei fought against the discord and disunity of his land. Piously believed that the veil of the Mother of God would protect Russia "from arrows flying in the darkness of our division."

The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos is a great Orthodox holiday in memory of the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God in the Blachernae Church in 910 during the siege of Constantinople. The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos is a sign of the covering, strengthening, preserving the grace of God. The icon depicts a procession to heaven through the clouds, to the Savior. The procession is headed by the Mother of God, holding a small veil in her arms, and behind Her are the host of saints. The icon symbolizes the prayer of the entire Heavenly Church for the human race.

Those who were born with August 24 to September 23. Their guardian angels are Saints Alexander, John and Paul. The Passionate Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos got its name from the fact that near the face of the Mother of God two Angels are depicted with the instruments of the Lord's passions - a cross, a sponge, a copy. The holy image was glorified during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich.

"When you pray before that image with faith, you will receive healing, and many others."

Those who were born with September 24 to October 23. They are guarded by Saint Sergius of Radonezh. The honest and life-giving Cross of the Lord was found in 326 in Jerusalem near the place of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In memory of this event, the Church established a holiday on September 14/27. The tradition of the acquisition of the Cross of Christ is closely connected with the life of Saints Equal to the Apostles Helena and Constantine. The Savior showed the life-giving power of His Cross through the revival of the deceased, to whom the Cross was attached. Upon obtaining the Cross, in order to enable all those who had gathered for the celebration to see the shrine, the patriarch erected (raised) the Cross, turning it to all sides of the world.

Now for us the cross is sacred, the most important and most expensive symbol. More than two billion people on earth (more precisely - 2 billion 100 million - there are so many Christians on the planet) wear it on their chests as a sign of their involvement in the true God. Two thousand years ago in Palestine, and in many other places, the cross was only an instrument of execution - like the electric chair is now in America. And Mount Calvary near the city walls of Jerusalem was a common place for executions.

About three hundred years have passed since death on the cross and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity, in spite of fierce persecution, more and more spread throughout the earth, attracting to itself both the poor and the rich, and the powerful and the weak. The Roman emperor Constantine the Great, his father was a pagan, his mother, Queen Helen, was a Christian. After the death of his father, Constantine had a war with the ruler of the city of Rome. On the eve of the decisive battle, when the sun began to set, Constantine and all his army saw a cross in the sky, with the inscription - "With this you will win." In a dream, at night, Constantine also saw Christ with a cross. The Lord ordered him to make crosses on the banners of his troops and said that he would defeat the enemy. Constantine fulfilled the command of God, and having won a victory and entering Rome, he ordered to erect a statue with a cross in his hand on the city square. With the accession of Constantine, the persecution of Christians ceased, and the emperor himself was baptized shortly before his death, because he considered himself unworthy to accept this sacrament earlier.

Saint Paul is the guardian angel of those born with October 24 to November 22. The icons of the Mother of God "Quick to Hearken" and "Jerusalem" protect them. The history of the icon of the Mother of God "Quick to Hearken" has more than a millennium. According to legend, it is a contemporary of the founding of the Athos Docharian monastery and was written in the 10th century with the blessing of the founder of the monastery, the Monk Neophytos. The icon is believed to be a copy of the revered image of the Mother of God located in the city of Alexandria. The icon received its name, now known to the entire Orthodox world, later - in the 17th century, when a miracle happened from it. In Russia, they have always enjoyed great love and veneration of the miraculous Athos icon "The Quick to Hearken", because it became famous for miracles. Cases of healing from an epileptic illness and demonic possession were especially noted; it provides first aid and consolation to all who come with faith to Her.

Before this icon they pray for spiritual enlightenment, for various infirmities, for oncological diseases, for help in childbirth and for feeding with milk, for children. And first of all, they pray to the Quick-Hearing Woman, when they do not know how best to act, what to ask for, in confusion and bewilderment.

According to the pious Tradition of the Church, some of the ancients miraculous images The Mother of God was painted by the first icon painter, the holy apostle and evangelist Luke, even during the earthly life of the Ever-Virgin. These include Vladimir, Smolensk and other icons. It is believed that the image of the Jerusalem icon was also painted by the Apostle Luke, and this happened in the Holy Land, in Gethsemane, in the fifteenth year after the ascension of the Savior to heaven. In 453 the image was transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople by the Greek king Leo the Great. In 988, Tsar Leo VI presented the icon as a gift to Grand Duke Vladimir when he was baptized in the city of Korsun (present-day Kherson). Saint Vladimir bestowed the Jerusalem icon of the Mother of God to the Novgorodians, but in 1571 Tsar Ivan the Terrible transferred it to Moscow in the Assumption Cathedral. During the invasion of Napoleon in 1812, this icon of the Mother of God was stolen and taken to France, where it remains to this day.

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Jerusalem, they pray in sorrow, sorrow and despondency, for healing from blindness, eye diseases and paralysis, during an epidemic of cholera, for deliverance from the death of livestock, from a fire, during relaxation, as well as when enemies attack.

Born with November 23 to December 21 should ask for intercession from the icons of the Mother of God "Tikhvin" and "Sign". Saint Nicholas the Pleasure and Saint Barbara are their guardian angels. The Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God is considered the patroness of babies, it is called the nursery. She helps children with illnesses, calms the restless and disobedient, helps them in choosing friends, protects them from the bad influence of the street. It is believed to strengthen the bond between parents and children. Helps women during childbirth and pregnancy. They also turn to the Mother of God in front of Her Tikhvin icon when there are problems of conception.

One of the most revered shrines in Russia. It is believed that this image was created by the holy Evangelist Luke during the life of the Most Holy Theotokos. Until the XIV century, the icon was in Constantinople, until in 1383 it suddenly disappeared from the Blachernae church. According to the chronicle, in the same year in Russia the icon appeared before fishermen on Lake Ladoga near the town of Tikhvin. The miraculous Tikhvin icon from the Tikhvin monastery is currently kept in Chicago, USA.

The Icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" became famous in the XII century, at a time when the Russian land groaned from civil strife. The Vladimir-Suzdal prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in alliance with the princes of Smolensk, Polotsk, Ryazan, Murom and others (72 princes in total) sent his son Mstislav to conquer Veliky Novgorod. In the winter of 1170, a huge militia laid siege to Novgorod, demanding its surrender. After fruitless negotiations, the Novgorodians refused to surrender, and the battle began. The defenders of Novgorod, seeing the terrible strength of the enemy and exhausted in an unequal struggle, placed all their hope on the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos, since they felt the truth on their side.

In every house, it is desirable to have the Iberian Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (Goalkeeper), which protects the house from enemies and ill-wishers. The Iberian icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the most famous and revered in Orthodox world... According to legend, Iberian was written by the Evangelist Luke, for a long time was in the Asia Minor Nicaea, and from the beginning of the XI century. permanently resides in the Iversky Monastery on Mount Athos (after which it got its name).

Not far from the Iberian monastery on the seashore, it has survived to this day miraculous source who scored at the moment when the Mother of God stepped onto the Athonite land; this place is called the Klimentov pier. And it was to this place that miraculously, in a pillar of fire, the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God, now known to the whole world, appeared by sea. The veneration of this image is evidenced by the fact that only the Monk Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain wrote four canons to the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God.

Here is what the famous Russian pilgrim-pedestrian of the 18th century Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky writes about the "Goalkeeper": “In this beautiful church, created at the inner gates of the monastery, in the iconostasis, instead of the local ordinary Mother of God, there is a certain saint and miraculous icon, named from the ancient monks of Portaitissa, that is, the Goalkeeper, is extremely terrifyingly transparent, with great hair, holding Christ the Savior on her left hand, blackened on her face for many for the sake of the years, completely showing everything, but she is covered with silver-plated, gilded clothes, and besides, it is dotted with precious stones and gold coins, from various kings, princes and noble boyars bestowed for many of her miracles, where Russian kings, queens and princesses, emperors and empresses, princes and princesses, I saw gold coins and other gifts hanged by my own eyes ".

The family icon is an icon depicting the namesake saints of all family members. The family icon is a shrine that binds all family members, unites their spirit. The family icon is part of the ancestral heritage that is passed down from generation to generation. The presence of a family icon in the house unites the family, strengthens their faith, and helps in various family matters. The spiritual strength of such an icon lies in its conciliarity, offering up their prayers, each member of the family prays not only for himself, but also for his parents, children and loved ones.

Recently, the tradition of the family icon has been reviving everywhere. The family icon depicts the patron saints of family members all together. Here, as it were, outside of time, the saints gather who pray for this clan, for this family. Among them there may be patron saints of parents who have already passed away - the founders of the family. To paint such an image, each saint is selected by name, and rare saints are also found.