An icon is a picturesque image of God himself, the Mother of God, the Holy Saints or scenes from Holy Scripture. The image of the icon is sprinkled with holy water, and then special prayers are read. Only after the rite of consecration does the icon acquire blessed energy and spiritual recognition.
The icon is a conductor between God and man. Any prayer will be heard by the Lord, just thanks to the icon it will ascend to him much faster.
"Savior Almighty" occupies the dominant image in Orthodox icon painting, therefore it is always placed in the central dome of every Orthodox church - in the most honorable place. The icon depicts the son of God Jesus Christ in the image of a judge and Heavenly king, therefore the icon is also called “Pantokrator”, which is translated from Greek as “the ruler of everything”. The main healer of souls and bodies, who knows about everything. It is to the Almighty that our prayers should be addressed in the first place. Sometimes despondency and despair penetrate into the very heart, but the Savior always gives a helping hand, and faith and hope revive again.
In Russia, the icon appeared around the 12th century and served as a prayer icon for Russian princes. The icons of the Almighty Savior often streamed myrrh and cured many diseases.
Icon "Holy Trinity" (Old Testament)
The icon of the Holy Trinity is valued as one of the most important images that must be present in every Orthodox church. The Trinity is the greatest and most mysterious icon of humanity. The pictorial image was painted according to all the canons of icon painting in the workshop at the temple. He talks about the unity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity icon was created so that every believer could visualize the three-solar light of Orthodoxy. The Lord is one in three persons - it is difficult to comprehend and understand, but you need to sincerely believe in this, taking this for granted. For Russia, the image of the Trinity is confessional, and before it they repent of the forgiveness of their sins.
One of the most important shrines of the Russian Orthodox Church is the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Through this image, the Lord sends all believers help in strengthening their faith, in healing mental and physical suffering, in softening evil hearts, in liberation from enemy invasions, in reconciling warring parties and preserving the unity of Russia.
According to the pious tradition, this image was painted by the Evangelist Luke during the lifetime of the Virgin. The shrine was brought to Russia from Byzantium as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky. The icon has been glorified for its miracles more than once. For example, while in Kiev, she more than once went to church from her seat and found herself hanging in the air. More than once she healed and even resurrected. Generals and warriors turned to her for help before important battles. And she did not leave them, showing her miracles, it would seem, in the most desperate situations. Once, after the won battle against Bulgaria, when a thanksgiving service was served to the Mother of God, a light shone from her icon, illuminating the entire astonished regiment. Another wonderful story with this icon happened immediately after it was brought to Moscow to protect the city from the invasion of Tamerlane. On the very day when the icon was delivered to the city, Tamerlane unexpectedly ordered his army to retreat.
This miraculous icon of the Mother of God appeared after a fire in Kazan in the 16th century in a rather mysterious way. The Mother of God appeared to the nine-year-old girl Matrona in a dream, telling her to find her icon in the ashes. This dream was repeated over and over again, until the girl decided to go with her mother in search of the icon. Indeed, the shrine was found there.
This image of the Mother of God is the most revered and beloved, it is the "Great intercessor of Russia." The icon has helped the people more than once in the most difficult times. By her appearance, she symbolizes the victory over the Time of Troubles. It is she who is thanked for ridding Moscow of the invasion of the Poles. Before the Battle of Poltava, Peter the Great with his army prayed to the image of the Kazan Mother of God. The icon was the main patroness of the Romanov dynasty. During the Great Patriotic War, this icon was the spiritual guide of the Russian people.
Since Epiphany, all the most significant events in life pass with her. She gives a blessing for marriage, helps in work, in everyday problems.
Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Pleasant)
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker or otherwise Nicholas the Pleasant, as they began to call him in baptized Russia, in Orthodoxy is perhaps the most revered saint after the Mother of God. The fate of this saint was not easy, perhaps thanks to the trials and difficulties of life, he chose the religious path. As a child, he was already fond of reading the Divine Scriptures, and, having matured, he became an archbishop. Then they began to call Nicholas the Wonderworker. Throughout his life, many miracles and deeds were attributed to him. According to one legend, he resurrected a sailor who fell from the mast, according to another, he saved three young girls, whose beauty was "sold" by their own father as the only way to pay off numerous debts. And such stories are countless. Nikolai has always been the personification of justice and nobility.
In front of the icon of St. Nicholas, they pray for any seemingly even the most insoluble problems. He helps wanderers, sailors, women in labor, and even students. The icon is able to heal from any ailments, protect from adverse events and ill-wishers, protect from temptation and work miracles. Turning to Nicholas with sincerity and faith, people more than once noticed that everything in their life happened exactly as they asked.
The "seven-arrow" icon is the most powerful protector of the house and its inhabitants. The Mother of God, depicted in this icon, is pierced with seven swords, symbolizing the heartache that the Saint was in charge of during her lifetime. The seven swords are the main mortal human sins that bring spiritual suffering to the Mother of God.
The icon first appeared in the 17th century. Once a peasant with a lameness and thirsting for recovery from this disease, in a dream, a divine voice ordered to find a wonderful image in a nearby monastery and pray with faith in front of this image. It turned out that a wooden board with the face of the Mother of God served as a step of the stairs leading to the bell tower. After the icon was washed and restored, a prayer service was served, after which the peasant was completely healed.
The icon of the Most Holy Mother of God of the Seven-shot is of great importance in the life of every believer. Before this powerful icon, they pray for the protection of their home, from ill-wishers, from quarrels within the family, and to soften the heart. The icon is usually placed opposite the front door so that Seven Arrows can see the eyes of those entering. Before placing the icon, you need to read a prayer. If someone close or familiar stopped visiting you, then we can conclude that his thoughts were not pure in relation to the members of this house living. So, the Most Holy Mother of God Seven-shot gives birth to mercy and kindness in the souls of believers.
The image of the Iberian Mother of God is also considered one of the most revered in Orthodoxy. and his appearance is completely enveloped in mysticism.
In the 19th century, when the persecution of Orthodox icons began, one pious widow secretly kept the icon of the Mother of God. But once soldiers broke into her house and one of them, seeing the image of the Mother of God, pierced it with a spear. But then, in front of the frightened eyewitnesses, blood poured out of the Mother of God’s Lanita. Distraught with fear, the soldiers, falling to their knees, began to pray for forgiveness for their sin, and then, saving the shrine, they let it go through the waves. And then a miracle happened again. The icon got up and floated away. After some time, the guests of the Iversky Monastery noticed a luminous pillar over the sea. Approaching him, they found the holy image of the Virgin, floating on the water and emitting a glow. It was decided to place the icon in the chapel, but in the morning it was found above the monastery gates. Attempts to take her to her original place were each time in vain, until one day in a dream Elder Gabriel dreamed of the Blessed Virgin, who told that she did not want to be protected, she herself should be the Keeper. So, the icon was placed over the gates of the monastery for many years, and began to be called the Goalkeeper. Many times she miraculously saved the monks from fires, enemies and hunger.
The Most Holy Theotokos of Iveron has been showing people her miracles to this day. Before her icon, they pray for repentance of sins, for cure of ailments, for deliverance from sorrows and sorrows. The Mother of God of Iverskaya keeps the family hearth, patronizes all women and is the intercessor before the Almighty. With the help of this icon, the "celibacy wreath" is also removed.
Holy Blessed Matrona is the most revered Moscow saint. Matronushka, as many affectionately call her, lived a hard life full of hardships. She was born into a poor peasant family and was completely blind from birth. Already at the age of eight she began to predict and heal all those who were suffering, and at the onset of 18, she lost the ability to walk. During the revolutionary years, she had to wander around Moscow a lot, without a roof over her head.
Throughout her life, she helped everyone in need. It was she who predicted the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, and said that the Russian people would win. She predicted her death in three days, but continued to receive people. Even today Matronushka helps all believers who turn to her with prayer in healing from ailments, in financial matters, in preserving the family, in the well-being of children and much more.
The whole life of this strong woman became an example of a great spiritual feat of love, patience, and self-denial.
Xenia of Petersburg is one of the most beloved Russian saints. An icon with her image is not uncommon in an Orthodox home. The gift of foresight and healing came to her after the death of her husband. Widowed early, Xenia fell into deep despair. She distributed all her property to the poor, donated a house to her friend, put on the clothes of her late husband and began to call herself by his name. These oddities are by no means related to the loss of reason, it is just that Xenia decided to devote herself entirely to serving God, protecting herself from earthly joys and blessings. The years of wandering began. She spent most of her time near the Churches. She spent the night in the open air in fervent prayers addressed to God, deliberately did not wear warm clothes, forcing her body to suffer from the cold. At first, people made fun of Xenia, but soon they began to notice that after communicating with her, even a fleeting one, their lives began to change for the better. Local merchants tried to treat her to food, then all the goods were quickly sold out. If the Blessed One kissed children, then they grew up healthy. For her righteousness, Xenia acquired the gift of foresight. She predicted the death of Elizabeth I the day before her death. She once sent her friend to the cemetery, saying that there she would find a child. She, frightened, ran to the indicated place and on the way saw how the pregnant woman was hit by a horse. The woman in labor died, but managed to give birth to a baby, which was adopted by Xenia's friend. And there were a great many such cases of foresight. Even after her death, she appeared in visions to people in difficult life circumstances, warning them of danger. Prayer addressed to her always finds a response and helps even in the most difficult matter.
"Angel" is translated from Greek as a messenger, messenger. " Serving as a guide between man and the Lord, the Guardian Angel is called to express God's unconditional love for people through his care. Church ministers assure that a person receives his Angel only after the sacrament of Baptism. So a person has his own protector, who is always there. The more faith a person has, the closer the Guardian Angel is to him.
Each element of the icon depicting an Angel has its own symbolism. The slightly tilted head of the Saint means readiness to help his ward at any time, a green tunic and a pink shirt - serving people in the name of good, a sword and a cross - the ability to see and warn of danger, wings - the ability to move from the real world to the divine.
The miraculous salvation of people who survived disasters, intuitive insights or prophetic dreams - this is how the Angels invisibly take part in the lives of people, protecting each of their wards.
The icon of the Guardian Angel must be in the house, you need to pray in front of it in a secluded place with sincerity in your heart. People turn to this image when they need spiritual strength to overcome difficult periods in life. A prayer appeal to the Guardian Angel should always be done when you leave your home, so that God's Messenger will save you from unexpected misfortune and unkind intentions of people.
Icons are a kind of conductor between the human and divine worlds. Orthodox icon painting is famous for the variety of a huge number of faces that are capable of healing diseases, as well as mental ailments.
Many believers are well versed in icons and their purpose. For those who have recently decided to let faith in their hearts, we offer a selection of the most powerful icons with a detailed description of each image.
Strong icons
Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
From legends it is known that this icon was painted by the Evangelist Luke himself. She began to be called miraculous after she three times withdrew enemy troops from Moscow.
For an ordinary person, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is able to help in making the right decision, in healing physical ailments (they often pray to her for a cure for diseases of the heart and eyes), in getting rid of sinful thoughts and confusion. 
Smolensk Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos
This is one of the most common images in the Byzantine and Russian art of painting icons. Christians associate this icon with a symbol of peace and health. Before the Smolensk Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, believers pray for the protection of their native land from enemies, for the health of those who went to the front, as well as for those who travel or are simply far from home. 
Iberian Icon of the Mother of God
This face can also be found under the name Gatekeeper, Goalkeeper or Portaitissa. It received its first name in honor of the monastery, which is located in Georgia, Iveria.
Often, believers turn to the icon with requests for consolation in troubles, increasing the fertility of the earth, saving from adversity. Also, you can ask the Mother of God not only for yourself, but also for your loved ones and even enemies. 
Ugreshskaya icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Even in ancient times, people in Russia treated Nicholas the Wonderworker with special reverence. The moral ideal of the saint of God was consonant with the moral order of the Russian people. Nicholas had a meek, humble and merciful character, which greatly impressed people.
Today believers turn to the saint with requests for help in seemingly desperate situations. It is impossible to accurately determine the special area of his patronage, but one thing is certain - all human needs and suffering are close to him. 
Icon of the Mother of God of the Seven Arrows
Also, the icon can be found under the name "Softening Evil Hearts" or "Simeon's Prophecy". The face depicts the Mother of God pierced by seven arrows.
The number seven in Christianity symbolizes fullness or excess. In this case, we are talking about the endless pain and bitterness of the mother. Believers often turn to the Mother of God for help in case of outbursts of quarrels and enmity, anger and anger. 
Icon of Blessed Xenia of Petersburg
Xenia of Petersburg is one of the most revered Russian saints. The grave of the blessed one is in St. Petersburg at the Smolensk cemetery, surprisingly, it is always crowded there.
Believers turn to Xenia with prayers for a happy marriage, for the successful completion of affairs and undertakings. Also, often childless couples ask the blessed one for the appearance of babies. 
Icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord
The Transfiguration of the Lord is one of the most important events in the gospel history. On this day, on Mount Tabor, Christ taught three of his disciples the dignity of being the sons of God. Often times, people ask the Lord for protection from anything that might shake their faith. Also, in front of the icon, they pray for the strengthening of their strength and the salvation of the soul. 
Icon of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky
It was for his virtuous disposition that Saint Spyridon was made a bishop from a simple farmer. The miracle worker led the ordinary life of a peasant: he himself worked in his fields, helped the poor, and also healed the weak. Today, prayers to Saint Spyridon lead to material well-being, success in endeavors and work. 
Icon of St. Basil the Blessed in prayer to Christ
The icon was painted at the end of the 16th century for the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed. Believers pray to Saint Basil for the granting of humility, patience in persecution and ridicule. They also turn to him for help in healing various ailments, in particular drug addiction and drunkenness.
The article uses materials from the works of Metropolitan Veniamin (Fedchenkov) and materials from the Internet (sites pravoslavie.ru, pravmir.ru).
Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
This icon (based on the book of Archpriest Debolsky) is “the most famous in our country. It was written by the holy Evangelist Luke and was brought to the Blessed Virgin. "
The Mother of God uttered Her dictum: "From now on they will bless Me all and give birth" and added: "Grace born of Me and Mine be with this icon!" In the middle of the 12th century, the icon was presented to the Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky and placed in the city of Vladimir. It is celebrated three times a year: May 21, June 23, August 26.
Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
The Kazan Mother of God was discovered in Kazan in 1579, on June 28, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. She appeared three times in a dream to the nine-year-old girl Matryona. The icon was in the ground. Mother and daughter went to the authorities on July 8, and the girl talked about her dream: this day is celebrated to this day. The second holiday is set for October 22 for the deliverance of Russia from the Poles in 1613.
Iberian Icon of the Mother of God
The Iberian icon (which is now kept on Mount Athos) in the 9th century was owned by a pious widow who lived near the city of Nicaea. Under the emperor Theophilos (829 - 842), iconoclasts, destroying holy icons, came to the house of this Christian woman, and one soldier struck with a spear in the image of the Mother of God. Blood immediately flowed from the affected area. The widow, fearing the destruction of the shrine, promised the imperial soldiers money and asked them not to touch the icon until morning. When they left, the woman, along with her son (later an Athonite monk), lowered it into the sea to preserve the holy icon.
The icon, standing on the water, sailed to Athos. The Athonite monks, seeing a pillar of fire in the sea rising to the sky for several days, came to the shore and found the holy image standing on the water. After a prayer service for the granting of the shrine that had appeared to the monastery, the pious monk of the Iveron Monastery, Saint Gabriel Gruzin (Comm. 12 July), at the behest of the Mother of God, who appeared to him in a dream, walked on the water, received the holy icon and placed it in the church.
However, the next day, the icon was found not in the church, but above the gate of the monastery. This was repeated several times, until the Most Holy Virgin revealed to Saint Gabriel Her will in a dream, saying that she did not want to be kept by the monks, but wanted to be their Keeper. After that, the image was placed over the monastery gates. Therefore, the holy icon is called Portaitissa, the Goalkeeper.
Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch, was first bishop of Sebastia in Armenia (c. 357), and later was summoned by the emperor Constantius to Antioch for protection from the Arian heresy and received the Antioch see.
Saint Meletios very zealously fought against the Arian delusions, and by the intrigues of the heretics was three times expelled from the pulpit, since the Arians surrounded Constantius and persuaded him to their side. The Saint of Antioch was distinguished by his extraordinary meekness, tirelessly instilling virtues and good morals in his flock, believing that in such a field the seeds of true doctrine would more easily sprout.
Saint Meletios ordained the future Saint Basil the Great as deacon. By the same Saint Meletios, another great lamp of Orthodoxy, Saint John Chrysostom, was baptized and grew up with him, who later wrote a praiseworthy word to his archpastor.
After Constance the throne was taken by Julian the Apostate, and the saint was again exiled, he had to hide in secret shelters. Returned by the emperor Jovian in 363, Saint Meletios wrote the Theological Treatise "Statement of Faith", which contributed to the conversion of many Arians to Orthodoxy.
In 381, under the Emperor Theodosius the Great (379 - 395), the II Ecumenical Council took place. In 380 the saint went to the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople and was its chairman. Before the beginning of the Council, Saint Meletios raised his hand and showed three fingers, then joined two fingers, and one bent down and, blessing the people, proclaimed: “We understand three hypostases, we talk about one being,” while the saint was overshadowed by fire like lightning. During this Council, Saint Meletios departed to the Lord. Saint Gregory of Nyssa paid tribute to the memory of the deceased.
Preserved are the conversation of Saint Meletius about the consubstantiation of the Son of God with God the Father and his letter to the Emperor Jovian about the confession of the Holy Trinity. The relics of Saint Meletius were transferred from Constantinople to Antioch.
Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God
The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is one of the most revered shrines of the Russian Church. She is known to the entire Slavic world: she is revered in Russia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria and other places. Along with the Orthodox Christians of other confessions come to worship the miraculous image of the Most Holy Theotokos. In the Pochaev Lavra, the ancient stronghold of Orthodoxy, the miraculous icon has been in existence for about 400 years. (Information about the transfer of the icon to the Pochaev monastery was posted on September 8). The miracles that flow from the holy icon are numerous and are attested in the monastic books by the records of believers who prayed for deliverance from incurable ailments, deliverance from captivity and admonition of sinners.
The celebration in honor of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God on July 23 was established in memory of the deliverance of the Dormition Pochaev Lavra from the Turkish siege on July 20-23, 1675.
In the summer of 1675, during the Zbarazh war with the Turks, during the reign of the Polish king Jan Sobieski (1674-1696), regiments consisting of Tatars, led by Khan Nurredin, approached the Pochaev monastery through Vishnevets, encircling it on three sides. The weak monastery fence, like several stone buildings of the monastery, did not represent any protection for the besieged. Hegumen Joseph Dobromirsky persuaded the brethren and laity to turn to the heavenly intercessors: the Most Holy Theotokos and the Monk Job of Pochaev (Comm. 28 October). Monks and laity prayed fervently, falling to the miraculous image of the Mother of God and to the shrine with the relics of the Monk Job. On the morning of July 23, at sunrise, the Tatars held the last advice on the storming of the monastery, while the abbot ordered to sing the Akathist to the Mother of God. With the first words to the "Climbed Voevoda", the Most Pure Mother of God herself suddenly appeared over the temple, "the white-shining omophorion dissolving," with heavenly angels holding drawn swords. The Monk Job was near the Mother of God, bowing to Her and praying for the protection of the monastery. The Tatars mistook the heavenly army for a ghost, in confusion they began to shoot at the Most Holy Theotokos and the Monk Job, but the arrows returned and wounded those who fired them. Horror gripped the enemy. In a stampede, without taking apart their own people, they killed each other. The defenders of the monastery rushed in pursuit and captured many. Some of the captives subsequently adopted the Christian faith and remained in the monastery forever.
In 1721 Pochaev was occupied by the Uniates. However, even in this difficult time for the Lavra, the monastery chronicle recorded 539 miracles from the famous Orthodox shrine. During the reign of the Uniates, in the second half of the 18th century, for example, the Uniate Count Nikolai Pototsky became a benefactor of the Pochaev Lavra for the following miraculous circumstance. Accusing his coachman that the furious horses turned the carriage over, the count pulled out a pistol to kill him. The coachman, turning to Pochaev Mountain, raised his hands up and exclaimed: "Mother of God, manifested in the Pochaev Mountain, save me!" Pototsky tried several times to fire a pistol, which never betrayed him, but the weapon misfired. The coachman survived. Pototsky immediately went to the miraculous icon and decided to devote himself and all his property to the construction of the monastery. At his expense, the Assumption Cathedral and the fraternal building were built.
The return of Pochaev to Orthodoxy in 1832 was marked by the miraculous healing of a blind girl Anna Akimchukova, who came to worship the shrines with her seventy-year-old grandmother 200 miles away from Kremenets-Podolsk. In memory of these events, Archbishop of Volyn, Holy Archimandrite of the Lavra Innocent (1832-1840) established a weekly, on Saturdays, reading of the Cathedral Akathist in front of the miraculous icon. During the management of the Lavra, Archimandrite Agafangel, Archbishop of Volyn (1866-1876), a special chapel was erected in the choir of the Holy Trinity Church in memory of the victory over the Tatars, consecrated on July 23, 1875.
Kiev-Pechersk (Blakhernskaya) Icon of the Mother of God
Kiev-Pechersk, or Blakhernskaya, icon of the Mother of God; memory - May 3. This is "the icon of the Mother of God is the oldest of the icons revered in Orthodox Russia." She was awarded "from the Mother of God herself to the four Greeks, chosen by Her as the builders of the Kiev-Pechersk Church." The Mother of God, according to legend, appeared to them "sensually, in the form of the Queen, in the Blaherp" church, in Constantinople (1073). And in 1085 it was brought "to Kiev I was given to the Monks Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves." From this year on, she is celebrating.
Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God
The Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God, according to legend, is one of the icons painted by the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke. In the V century. from Jerusalem was transferred to Constantinople, where the Blachernae temple was built for her. In 1383, 70 years before the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, the icon disappeared from the church and appeared in a radiant light over the waters of Lake Ladoga.
Wonderfully worn from place to place, she stopped near the town of Tikhvin. On the site of the appearance of the icon, a wooden temple was built in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin. By the diligence of Grand Duke Vasily Ivanovich (1505 - 1533), a stone church was erected instead of a wooden one. In 1560, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, a monastery was built at the temple, surrounded by a stone wall. In 1613-1614, the Swedish troops, capturing Novgorod, more than once tried to destroy the monastery, but the monastery was saved by the intercession of the Mother of God. So, once, in view of the approaching Swedish army, the monks decided to flee from the monastery, taking the miraculous icon, but could not move it from its place. This miracle stopped the faint-hearted, and they remained in the monastery, hoping for the protection of the Mother of God.
The defenders of the monastery, insignificant in number, successfully repelled the attacks of the enemy forces much superior to them. The advancing Swedes either imagined a large army of Russians coming from Moscow, or some kind of heavenly army, and they fled. After a miraculous victory over the Swedes, the royal ambassadors arrived at the monastery. Having removed the copy from the miraculous icon, they went to the village of Stolbovo, 50 versts from Tikhvin, where peace was made with the Swedes on February 10, 1617. The main pledge of peace on the Russian side was the list brought from the miraculous icon. Subsequently, this list was brought to Moscow and placed in the Assumption Cathedral, and then, at the request of the Novgorodians, participants in the war with the Swedes, was sent to Novgorod and placed in the St. Sophia Cathedral. The All-Russian celebration of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, glorified by innumerable miracles, was established by the Church in memory of her miraculous appearance and the defeat of her enemies by the intercession of the Mother of God.
Czestochowa Icon of the Mother of God
The icon was in Jerusalem. Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine, was transferred to Constantinople (326). From there it was transferred by Prince Lev to Lvov (formerly Lemberg). After the establishment of the Poles there, it was subsequently transferred to the city of Vilna and placed above the wall above the gate, which is why it is called Ostrobramskoy (brama - gate). She is venerated by Orthodox Christians and Catholics.
Don icon of the Mother of God
The icon was “brought by the Don Cossacks, who came to the aid of the Grand Duke Dimitri Ivanovich Donskoy, and was approved on the staff like a banner” when the prince fought against the Tatar Khan Mamai (1380). After the defeat of the Tatars, she was taken to Moscow. Then in 1591 the Crimean Tatars attacked Moscow, but were driven away. At the place where the Russians met with the Crimeans, the Donskoy Monastery was created, where the image of the Donskoy Mother of God is placed. She is a copy of the Smolensk icon "Hodegetria". Its copies are still read. Holiday on August 19.
November 20 - the day of the appearance of the icon of the Mother of God "Leaping of the Infant" Ugreshskaya. Before the Battle of Kulikovo, the icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared to Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy. The prince took this appearance as a special sign of God and exclaimed: "This is my whole heart!" and made a vow to build a monastery if he won. After a while, the Ugreshsky Monastery was built, and a little later an icon of the Mother of God appeared there, which was named "Leaping". Despite all the assertions and speculations of skeptics, the appearance of icons remains an unexplored and mysterious manifestation of superhuman strength. Today we will focus on the most famous icons in Russia.
The icon of the Kazan Mother of God was found on July 8, 1579 in Kazan. 25 years have passed since Ivan the Terrible conquered the Kazan Khanate. And there was a terrible fire in Kazan, which turned into ashes half of the Kazan Kremlin and part of the city. Muslims gloatingly declared that the Almighty was angry with Christians, but it turned out that the Kazan fire was an omen of the irrevocable establishment of the Orthodox faith in the land of the Golden Horde.
A few days after the fire, the archer Daniil Onuchin decided to start a new construction site on the site of the burnt house. But his 10-year-old daughter Matrona said that the Mother of God appeared to her in a dream and ordered to announce that they would find her at the site of the recent fire. The girls did not attach any importance to the words of the girl, then the Mother of God appeared to her both the second time and the third. The girls heeded the insistence and, raking the ashes, they found the icon of the Kazan Mother of God.
The icon healed the sick (it all began with the insight of the blind men Nikita and Joseph), inspired the Russian army in the Time of Troubles, Peter I prayed in front of it on the eve of Poltava, and in 1812 - Mikhail Kutuzov.
In 1904, the Kazan miraculous icon of the Mother of God was stolen and, having removed the precious vestments from it, destroyed. Numerous ancient copies of this icon have spread all over the world. Today, the Russian Orthodox Church is making great efforts to return these shrines to their homeland. The earliest copy of this icon can be seen today in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Another very revered icon in Russia is the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God. According to legend, the icon was painted by Luke. The chronicles say that in 1383 an icon of the Mother of God with the Infant God appeared over the lake, and an unknown force carried it through the air. The icon stopped near Tikhvin. There they built a temple of stone, and later on this place appeared the Tikhvin Mother of God-Assumption Monastery.
In 1944, the icon was exported to Europe, and then to the United States. In 1982, Archbishop John ordered Archpriest Sergius Garklavs to return the icon to Russia when the country's attitude towards the Church changed and the Tikhvin Monastery was restored. In June 2004, the icon returned to Russia.
The icon is especially revered among mothers who pray to the icon to instruct their foolish children on the true path and protect them from harm.
Another legendary icon is the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. The first mention of it dates back to Byzantine sources dating back to the 9th century. Then the icon was in the house of a pious widow who lived near the city of Nicaea (today it is Turkey). At that time, vicious heretics destroyed the holy icons of the Mother of God by order of the authorities. When they came to the widow's house, she begged them to leave the shrine to her for a reward. The greedy people agreed, but when leaving, one of them struck the face with a spear, and blood flowed from the icon. The widow hurried to the sea with the icon and lowered it into the water, but it did not lie down on the water, but moved along the sea, standing upright.
After 200 years, monks on Athos saw a pillar of fire reaching the sky, at the base of which this icon was. According to legend, after the prayer service, Elder Gabriel walked on the water, as the Mother of God commanded him in a dream, took the icon and hung it in the church.
The miraculous Iveron Icon of the Mother of God was well known in Russia. In the 17th century Nikon, archimandrite of the Novospassky monastery, who later became the Patriarch of All Russia, asked for blessing on Athos to send a copy of this icon. The icon was painted for Russia by the priest Iamblikh Romanov. After a great prayer service from evening until dawn, in which 365 monks took part, the legendary icon was sprinkled with holy water, and then - a new board made of cypress wood. They painted the icon with paints mixed with particles of relics.
The icon was kept in the Iverskaya chapel at the Resurrection Gate, and the Russian sovereigns, before entering the Kremlin, always prayed in front of this miraculous icon. In 1929 the chapel was destroyed and the icon disappeared. Only a mobile icon has survived, which is now in Sokolniki, in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.
This icon appeared to the residents of Kursk after the city was devastated by the troops of Khan Batu in 1295. According to legend, the icon was found by hunters, not far from the city under a tree stump in the roots. Several times they brought her to the city temple, but she miraculously disappeared and again ended up in the same place where she was found. Then a chapel was built on the site of the appearance of the icon.
The next time the Kursk Root Icon is mentioned in 1383. Then the icon fell into the hands of the Horde, they cut it in half. The priest, who found the icon, folded the halves with faith, and they grew together. The chapel was rebuilt, and the icon remained there. Later, a monastery appeared on this place - the Root Hermitage.
Another attempt to destroy the icon took place in 1898. The intruders blew up the temple, but the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God remained unharmed. Even the glass in the icon case was not damaged.
During the October Revolution, the miraculous image was taken out of Russia, and today it is one of the main shrines of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad.
Another very famous icon, painted by Luke himself, allegedly on the board of the table of the Holy Family. For a long time the icon was in Kiev, but in 1155 it was taken to Vladimir by Andrey Bogolyubsky. This is where the name of the icon comes from.
The icon is revered as especially valuable in several cities of the Russian lands. The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is especially famous for the fact that it saved Moscow from the invasion of Tamerlane. Today the icon is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery.
It is not known by whom this icon, painted by the Evangelist Luke, was brought to Russia, but already in 1164 it was in a chapel near the town of Gorodets and was revered as miraculous. During the invasion of Batu, the chapel burned down. They thought that the icon had also perished. But in 1239 the Kostroma prince Vasily Yurievich saw this icon on a tree while hunting. She did not fall into his hands, rising into the air. After the common prayer, the icon was removed from the tree.
With the Feodorovskaya icon, Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov ascended to the reign in 1613, and from that time it began to be revered by the imperial House of the Romanovs. All foreign princesses, who were taken as wives by Russian grand dukes and emperors, after baptism received the patronymic Feodorovna.
Today the icon is in the Epiphany-Anastasin Cathedral in Kostroma.
Orthodox icons, their names and meanings are an important aspect of the study of Christian science. It is very difficult to imagine any Christian dwelling without a variety of icons, each of which has its own meaning. As the history of religion says, many of them became known to believers many centuries ago. The religious beliefs of people have been forming for a very long time, but the icons from this do not lose their special cultural and historical significance for the parishioners of many churches and temples. Orthodox icons, photos and their names play an important role in the human and its approach to the Lord.
It is believed that every saint can invisibly help even in the most seemingly hopeless situation. It is worth turning to some of the saints for help in any serious life situation. The names of Orthodox icons and their meanings will be presented in this article. In addition to descriptions and stories about the miraculous properties of each image, there will also be photos of the most revered of them.
This material will tell about the significance of each icon presented, as well as the rules of prayer and the miracles that a particular holy face can create. It also happens that the names of the icons from the photo already carry information about what troubles this image can save from. Each described icon in the heading will be allocated a special place. The greatest authority among believers both in Russia and throughout the world is the icon of the Mother of God, written and kept for a long time within the walls of the temples of the city of Kazan. This majestic and large-scale icon is considered the main protector of the inhabitants of our country. Any significant holiday in the life of a Russian person cannot do without the ritual of worshiping this image, be it baptism or the sacred ceremony of the wedding of loving hearts.
The revered icons of the Mother of God will be described below. Photo and title, and their meaning will also be revealed.
It is known that the icon of Our Lady of Kazan helps single believers to soon find family happiness, and long-established couples to overcome discord in relationships and begin to live happier. Since it protects families, in any home it is customary to hang it near a crib so that the baby is under the protection and protection of the Lord.
In order to quickly find out which image of the Mother of God to pray in a given situation, it is better to learn in advance the icons of the Mother of God with the names. Speaking about the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, it is worth noting that it is considered no less revered among many believing citizens. There is evidence that the most influential tsars in the Russian Empire were awarded this icon at the coronation. This icon can be prayed to become kinder, to find a family and heal from serious ailments, as well as to make peace with those with whom there was a serious conflict. Also, this image invisibly protects from the misfortunes and sorrows of mothers and young children who are in a difficult life situation. On top of that, this icon helps with infertility and other disorders of the reproductive organs, as well as pregnant women and nursing mothers. These are the most popular icons of the Virgin. Photos and names of other images will also be presented in this article.
As it already became clear even from the description of these two icons, the power of the Mother of God is practically omnipotent, however, like many other icons of the Orthodox Church. That is why it is so important for every believer to know the icons of the Most Holy Theotokos with their names. Every Christian needs to know at least some facts about the meaning of certain images, as well as a little information about the life of this or that Orthodox saint.
As you know, the Lord hears those people who follow Him, observing all church and spiritual laws. Believe in God and be happy. Below will be given the most revered icons of the Virgin, the names and meaning of each of them.
Icon of the Mother of God "Blessed Sky"
Prayers are presented to this miraculous icon to take the true path, as well as that the dead people in the next world be calm and good. Praise this icon in the old way, and on March 19 in a new style.Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Desperate One Hope"
Some names of icons can rarely be heard in church use, but this does not deprive them of their power. Despite the fact that testifies to the little popularity of this image, there is even an akathist for it in the Orthodox Church. Prayers before this icon can heal despondency, mental decline and sorrow. Those believers who are disappointed and have lost their divine attitude pray to the Almighty to perk up, forgive offenders and make peace with enemies. In addition, they pray to the icon for deliverance from envy and reconciliation of warring people, including neighbors.
Modern addictions (gambling addiction, drug addiction, alcoholism, smoking, computer addiction) are subject to healing when referring to this image of the Mother of God.
Bogolyubskaya icon of the Mother of God
This icon helps in the healing of plague, cholera, pestilence and other serious diseases. Revered in this image either 18 or 1 June.
Icon of the Mother of God "Seeking the Lost"
This famous icon is prayed for to cure toothaches and headaches, vision problems, fever and epilepsy, for well-being in marriage, for the return of faith in the Lord to the heart, as well as for very serious, almost incurable childhood ailments. In addition, the same icon is approached with a request for a cure for alcohol addiction. The date of the day of praise is 18 or 5 February.
Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God
This icon is known primarily for the fact that the most noble lords and tsars were crowned with it during the time of ancient Russia. It is also known that with the participation of this image, elections of chief hierarchs were held. People pray to this icon to become kinder, to be healed from serious diseases, to drive demons out of the body. Mothers and their young children can fully hope for the patronage of the Mother of God in this image, and for those who are just waiting for the appearance of a baby, this face will grant an easy birth and health to a newborn baby. Infertile women can turn to the icon with a request to bestow long-awaited children.
The Vladimir and Kazan Mother of God are the most beloved icons of the Mother of God. Photos and names of these shrines can be found in the homes of even not too pious people.
Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow"
Sometimes the names of the icons speak for themselves. This icon is popular among people who have suffered severe resentment, suffering, severe seizures and diseases of the respiratory organs, tuberculosis patients. In addition, here you can pray for the healing of a sick person's hands. The icons are celebrated on the 6th or 24th of October.
Icon "Tsaritsa"
There are quite rare, but very powerful icons of the Mother of God, photos with the names of which will be presented below.
The icon of Our Lady "The Tsaritsa" helps those people who suffer from cancer and undergo a number of courses of chemotherapy and radiation.
They offer their prayers to this icon during epidemics of plague, fever, ulcers, blindness, hearing impairments. The name day of the holy image is celebrated on August 6 or 22.
People pray to this icon for the normalization of relations in the country, for justice, for finding joy in the heart, for the absence of hypocrisy in love. The day of this icon is celebrated on March 15 or 2.
This image of the Holy Mother of God is prayed in the presence of severe vices of the soul and body, as well as after an important matter has ended. The name of this icon is celebrated on June 11 or 23.
This image is offered by those who are suffering at the moment serious ailments of the soul and body, as well as those who are possessed by weakness. When true believers turn to this wonderful icon, they receive complete healing for an indefinite period. The name day of the Life-Giving Spring icon is celebrated on the day of Bright Week.
This holy image is prayed for against cholera, visual impairment and other similar ailments. It is customary to celebrate the name of this icon on September 8 or 21.
Name days are celebrated on the Tuesday of Bright Week, and she helps with severe fires, as well as with various problems and when you need comfort in mental troubles. Memorial Day 12 or 25 February.
Orthodox citizens are accustomed to turn their prayers to this icon in case of mass death of livestock, plague, cholera, as well as in the presence of blindness and problems of the musculoskeletal system. Treatment in a huge number of cases guarantees a complete recovery.
This icon, endowed with miraculous properties, is prayed for with pronounced paralysis, with smallpox infection, with diseases of the legs, with suspicions of attacks by "evil spirits", as well as guarding against sudden death. The days of commemoration of the icon are celebrated on March 16 or 29.
in cases where there is a danger of the invasion of foreigners, as well as the return of sight to blind people and the successful entry into God's union for people who love each other. In addition, such a prayer helps to survive cataclysms. The icon celebrates its birthday on June 8.21 and on October 4 and 22.
Those who suffer from significant impairments to the functioning of the hearing organs, as well as other similar ailments, worship and pray to this image. This icon celebrates its birthday on September 2 and 15.
"Kozelshchanskaya" icon of the Mother of God
A prayer appeal to this wonderful, life-giving icon is useful for any injuries to the limbs, serious injuries and upcoming serious surgical interventions. This icon of the Mother of God celebrates its birthday on February 6 and 21.
Icon of Our Lady "Mammal"
This divine face is worshiped as usual by women in labor, pregnant and nursing mothers. This icon celebrates Memorial Day on January 12 and 25.
Before this majestic icon, they pray in the name of piety, the triumph of truth, for the revival of mercy and compassion in people's hearts, for the acquisition of a healthy physical body and mind, for the preservation of the Christian faith throughout the country. The glorification of this icon and its name day takes place on April 12 and 25.
This icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is designed to save people who sincerely pray to Her from fires, floods and other damage to property. Memorial Day is celebrated on September 4 and 17 every year.
The icon helps to stay on the right path of life, to preserve a righteous lifestyle, and helps lonely believers to find true love. By sincerely praying before this image and asking for help and advice, you can solve any of the most difficult problems in family life and relationships between spouses. In addition, the icon helps seriously ill believers to heal as quickly as possible. Memorial Day is celebrated on April 3 and 16.
People who are deaf and hard of hearing usually stand in lines to this icon. The name day of the icon is December 9 and 22.
All sinful people pray to this icon, and relatives of gambling addicts, drug addicts and alcoholics also turn with hope. This icon appeals to the education of mercy and kindness, as well as to the feeling of joy from every day. The saying on the icon reads: "It will be given to all who ask by faith!"
Those who want to be healed from the most serious ailments offer their prayers to this icon. Name days are celebrated on January 21 or 3.
From time immemorial, in mi-well-you-a-hundred-tea-sih-d-ni-t-ni-d-ni-t-d-t-e-t, when death is so close, wives- shchi-us come-be-ha-yut with special-ben-but-go-ry-whose prayer to Spa-si-te-lyu and His Ma-te-ri. In the good of the families and in our time, you can see the icon-well Bo-go-ma-te-ri, na-zy-va-e- my "Help in the family." and all pregnant women who wish to give birth to healthy children without problems pray to the unusually blessed icon of the Mother of God.
They pray to this truly miraculous icon for the prevention of wars and schisms, for protection from various heresies, for protection from the invasion of foreigners and strangers, for protection from spiritual and physical blindness. Days of honor 23 and 5 July.
This image of the Mother of God is intended to protect believers from cholera and complete loss of sight. The name day of this wonderful image of the Virgin is celebrated on September 16 or 29.
This icon better than any other can protect from the evil eye, damage and unkind thoughts of passing people. It is customary to place this icon in the left corner of the hallway so that every person entering the house can be seen at a glance. This icon feels envy and curses like no other, therefore, where there is this image, it does not take root. The best location for such an icon is opposite the front door.
Before this image, sailors who have suffered a shipwreck pray, as well as in the presence of blindness, weak legs, deafness, problems with their hands, as well as those who have unwittingly become hostages of terrorists. Celebrate the day of veneration of the icon on November 9 or 22.
This icon is prayed for if there is a suspicion of fetal pathology, so that childbirth is successful and the child is born healthy. The icon's birthday is celebrated on March 9 and 22.
This icon is prayed for by those who work in professions that are associated with immersion in water. Name days are celebrated on December 20 or 2.
It is customary for this icon to offer prayers in the name of deliverance from drought, disease and general hunger. Name days of this holy image are celebrated on October 15 and 28.
This uplifting icon is prayed for in case of terrible despondency, grief and powerlessness. Also, a darkened state of mind will become a reason for praying to this icon. The name of this icon is celebrated on March 7 and 20.
"Passionate" icon of the Mother of God
This icon is able to give a miracle of healing from cholera, vision problems, muscle weakness, to protect from the impending "big fire". Name days are celebrated on 13 and 26 August.
This icon is worshiped in the healing of the blind and possessed by demons, in epilepsy, in muscle weakness, in the healing of young children, in the paralysis of the lower and upper extremities. You can also pray to this icon when attacking foreigners. This icon celebrates the name day on June 26 and 9.
To this image, the faithful parishioners pray for the elimination of drought and craving for vices, including atheism. The memorable day is celebrated on August 8 and 21.
They pray to this icon for the return of lost or stolen valuables, for the acquittal of knowingly innocent people and for the release of hostages from captivity. The day of this icon is celebrated on December 26 or 8.
This icon belongs to Saint Seraphim of Sarov and gives seriously ill people quick relief from suffering and strengthening their faith in the Lord. The birthday of this masterpiece of icon painting is celebrated on 28 and 10, as well as on 19 and 1 July.
They pray to this icon to temper the ardor of sinful passions, to interrupt a series of harmful addictions. The memorial day for the icon is celebrated by Orthodox believers on January 25 and 7.
Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God
This icon has long been held in high esteem by believers because it protects happy families and the health of young children. On top of that, this icon can help with long and difficult childbirth. This image of the Virgin is kept in the Epiphany Cathedral in the city of Kostroma, and it appeared in 1613 and fell into the disposal of the Tsar of the Russian State Mikhail Fedorovich.
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Healer"
This icon speaks for itself. Usually seriously ill Christians turn to her for help. The icon celebrates its birthday on September 18 or 1.
Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God
Those who are possessed by demons, as well as blind or visually impaired people come to pray to this icon. Name days are celebrated on September 1st and 14th.
Icon of the Mother of God "Three-handed"
This icon can very easily heal diseases of the hands and feet, as well as severe mental and spiritual suffering. The date of celebration of the name day of the icon is June 28 or 11.
The most revered icons of the Mother of God were presented above. Photos with names will help you quickly find a particular image and find out its meaning.
Icon "Holy Trinity"
The most famous version of the image of the icon "Holy Trinity" belongs to the brush of the famous master of icon painting Andrei Rublev. There are also images painted by the hands of other equally famous icon painters. The icon shows the faces of the members of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) soaring in heaven. This icon must be present in every home, since its action is universal. At the moment, the main copy is located within the walls of the Trinity Church in the city of Kaluga.
Other holy icons are also venerated in the Orthodox Church. Their name and meaning, of course, should be known.
Icon named after the Holy Great Martyr Pantileimon
The image of the Great Martyr is known for its miraculous healing properties. Parishioners who put candles next to this icon and ask for healing receive the real Grace of the Lord. At the moment, the most important copy of the Pantileimon icon is in the temple of St. John the Baptist.
Holy Blessed Matrona of Moscow
This saint is one of the most revered in the world of religion. The main monastery, where her relics are to this day, is located in the capital of our country on the Taganskoye highway. The monastery in which the relics of Matrona rest is purely female. Every day, crowds of believers come to the monastery to turn to Matronushka with a prayer for help or with gratitude. In the vicinity of Moscow, namely in Kaluga, there is also an icon of the Matrona, and it is located in the temple of the wives - the Myrrh-bearers.
Peter and Fevronia
In the same church there is an icon of the Holy couple Peter and Fevronia, who are asked for help in love and family life.
Unfortunately, all the icons are Orthodox, their photos and their names cannot be described within the framework of one article, because there are a huge number of them. But nevertheless, the main shrines were still consecrated.