Almost every icon has its own origin and its own, sometimes not very clear, history. And the most interesting and unusual are the stories about ancient images, which, moreover, have worked wonders more than once. This is exactly what the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Fadeless Color" is.
The history of the icon's origin
How and when this image appeared in Russia is unknown. This is a mystery that many have tried to unravel. Maybe that's why the icon has overgrown with so many stories and legends? True, the 17th century is considered the time of the appearance of the image in Russia, when the pilgrims brought it with them. But it is known for certain how and why it acquired its name. The icon began to be called so thanks to the hymns in honor of the Mother of God. And besides, since ancient times, the Mother of God has been compared to a flower that blooms forever and never loses its freshness and beauty.
The Most Holy Theotokos "Fadeless color": the meaning of the icon
The meaning of this image is truly great. It symbolizes purity and integrity. Perhaps that is why girls come to the icon with prayers, wishing to preserve innocence for their future spouse. By the way, with requests for the Mother of God to help choose a husband, they also turn to her. Most often, when blessing the young, it is the "Fadeless Color" that is used. The value of the icon in the family life of a woman is also very great - it helps to cope with all the hardships that fall on a heavy woman's lot.
Interesting!
There is an opinion among the people that if you pray to the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unfading Color", then youth and beauty will not leave you for many years. She also helps to get love and recognition from others. But this opinion was kept in strict secret, passed down from mother to daughter.
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Fadeless Color"
What is it remarkable for? The canvas depicts the Mother of God holding a baby in her left hand, and a white lily flower in her right. It is considered a sign of the virginity and eternal beauty of the Blessed Virgin, who is addressed in prayers: "You are the root of virginity and the unfading flower of beauty." Of course, there are interpretations where instead of a lily in the hand of the Mother of God there are roses or some other flower. By the way, many are very different from each other. But they all have one common motive - flowers. The Mother of God herself on all the icons, like the baby, is dressed in royal clothes.
"Fadeless icons. Legends
As you know, the origin of the icon is shrouded in mystery, but you can look into the chronicles or the Orthodox calendar. They have a plot according to which the image is associated with Mount Athos. Immortelles grew on its slopes. But then there is a fair question: "Why are lilies written on the icon?" According to the same sources, earlier the image of the Most Holy Theotokos "Fadeless Color" was written in a slightly different way. She was depicted on a throne and with a scepter, wrapped in flowers, in her hands. But over time, the complex parts disappeared from the canvases, and only the image itself remained, which amazes with its beauty and tranquility.
Miracles done in a way
The icon of the Mother of God "The unfading color", the most miraculous value has. After all, it is not in vain that she helps to preserve youth, get married or save a family. And many more authors tell stories in their works about how miracles happened, performed by a flower on an icon. For example, the monk Meletius writes about how the healing of the lily of the Mother of God took place in 1864. He tells about this in detail in his "Legend of the miracles of the Mother of God, recently performed on the holy Mount Athos".
And finally
This image has been revered since antiquity by women of all ages. The Mother of God "Unfading Color" (the meaning of the icon is not known to everyone) causes genuine awe and delight among the fair sex. At the subconscious level, women are drawn to her. And for good reason! Her miracles are truly immeasurable.
One of the brightest and most colorful images of the Most Holy Theotokos is the "Fadeless Color" icon. The Mother of God is always depicted on it among flowers and plants. And it is not surprising that this image is loved not only by Orthodox believers, but also by people who do not identify themselves with religion. The Green Party initiated the construction of a chapel in honor of this image in Moscow on the territory of the Alekseevsky Monastery. On their initiative, the icon "Fadeless Color", the photo of which is in front of you, has become a symbol of the struggle for the ecology of Russia.
Image from the chapel of the Alekseevsky monastery
The choice of the Alekseevsky Monastery for the construction of the chapel is quite justified. The fact is that in ancient times the most revered icon of the Mother of God "The Unfading Color" was kept here in the Orthodox world. However, even during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, it was lost. Now it is difficult to say what exactly was the reason why the monastery lost such an important shrine. But since then, there have been numerous confirmations of the miracles manifested in this wonderful way.
At present, the chapel displays another icon "Fadeless Color", but according to the worshipers, it also works miracles. And this shouldn't come as a surprise. The fact is that "Unfading Color" is an icon, the meaning, prayer and even iconographic style of which are filled with special content. They go beyond the traditional image of the Mother of God. The image of the Virgin Mary and the Child surrounded by flowers alone carries a powerful positive charge.
The miraculous icon from Voronezh
Among the existing icons of this type, the miraculous icon from the city of Voronezh, kept in the Nativity of the Mother of God Church, is widely known in Orthodox circles. Its history is remarkable. During the years of the revolution, she disappeared. Information about her has survived only in archival documents of that period.
But at the beginning of the 2000s, when they began to return to the believers everything that had been illegally taken away in a hard time, the Nativity of the Mother of God Church was returned to the parishioners. However, the miraculous appearance of the very icon, which was considered irretrievably lost, became a real holiday. Now it can be seen in Voronezh in the left border of the Intercession Church. Already in our days, many testimonies of her miracles have been collected.
Icon of the Virgin from Saratov
Another icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color", which cannot be ignored, is located in Saratov. It is kept in a church built and consecrated in honor of another well-known icon of the Mother of God - "Satisfy my sorrows." This icon is remarkable in that it was painted by a Greek master on the holy Mount Athos in the St. Andrew's skete. It was not possible to establish the exact dating of the creation of the image, according to the researchers, it was written no later than the middle of the 19th century.
The Arzamsk image, lost and recreated again
In the Intercession Convent near Arzamas, before the revolution, there was also an icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" revered by all. But in the fire of the revolution, the monastery suffered greatly, and the shrine itself was irretrievably lost. There are only memories of the miracles sent down through her by the Queen of Heaven. In 2010, one of Ardatov's businessmen initiated the reconstruction of the image based on the surviving photographs and testimonies of old parishioners who remember the icon. Specialists were invited, with their help the image was restored.
Favorite image of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov
Another icon "Fadeless Color" famous for its miracles is located in the city of Kadom. It once housed the Merciful Bogorodsky Monastery. Today it has not yet been restored and lies in ruins, but on its territory there is a temple in which there is an icon "Fadeless color" brought from Georgia.
For many years of fighting against God, it was kept in a private house, only during the period of church revival was it transferred to the temple. This icon is remarkable, first of all, because it was once with the holy Reverend Seraphim of Sarov and enjoyed his special love. A characteristic feature of the iconography of the image is the half-length figure of John the Baptist, depicted above the head of the Savior.
In 2006 in the village of Ivankovichi in the Kiev region was built a temple of the icon "Fadeless color". It is remarkable that during its construction, despite the scale of the work carried out, not a single tree growing around was damaged. This is also a kind of miracle. In the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery (as well as a number of other museums) there are several such miraculous images.
Help sent through the icon
The icon "Fadeless Color" helps, first of all, in solving all kinds of family problems. Usually these are cases, years in the marital relationship, discord occurs, and help is needed to strengthen them. Also, when conflicts arise and between all other household members, prayers are offered in front of her image. It was noted more than once that the Mother of God helped young girls in search of a worthy life partner.
It is widely believed that during a prayer appeal, help is given not only to the soul, but also to the body of the prayer, helping to preserve beauty and youth. The icon "Fadeless Color", the meaning of which is very wide, renders very important help to people who have experienced strong life dramas. Her support is invaluable when people suffer from loneliness and mental breakdown as a result of their grief. In such cases, prayer in front of the image instills new strength in a person, helps to survive a difficult period in life, to get rid of anxieties and gloomy thoughts.
Numerous Testimonies of Gracious Help
Currently, there are many testimonies of those who personally, in prayers, turned to the Most Holy Theotokos for help in front of her miraculous image. Prayer to the icon "Fadeless Color" helped many unmarried women find their chosen one and arrange family happiness. Those who have experienced mental suffering talk about the gift of peace of mind, about the gracious help in gaining strength for later life, in getting rid of worries and gloomy thoughts.
The miraculous phenomenon of the icon in the village of Chernovka
The Russian Orthodox Church knows many examples of miraculous manifestations of the icons of the Most Holy Theotokos. This usually happens at times when people especially need Her holy help. Such phenomena often occur at turning points in history. But even today, there have been cases of miraculous appearances of the icons of the Mother of God. One of them happened quite recently in the Samara region.
In the spring of 2012, in the village of Chernovka, Sergievsky district, an icon appeared miraculously on the window of an elderly woman. It is noteworthy that this happened exactly on April 16, that is, on the day of the celebration in honor of the "Fadeless Color" image. On this day, the hostess of the house decided to remove the oilcloth from the window, which covered it from the cold winds in winter. Imagine her amazement when, in the window, freed from the protective layer, she saw the face of the Most Holy Theotokos and Her Child. A quiet glow emanated from her. Before the amazed gaze of the woman was the icon "Fadeless color".
Not yet fully understanding the meaning of what had happened, the woman burst into tears of joy. But the miracle did not end there. Since then, every evening with the onset of darkness, the wonderful image disappears and reappears in the morning. Each time it happens very slowly and gradually. The image cannot be taken and carried away. He seems to live in the window of the house. The hostess says that both the ministers of the church and just curious people came to her many times. Many tried to convict her of deception. But no matter how hard they tried, each time they left the house in embarrassed silence. And in the window the icon "Fadeless Color" was still glowing quietly. Unfortunately, the photo of the icon never appeared in print, although there were many representatives of the press among the visitors.
A fertile spring in the Yeisk region
For a long time, on the outskirts of a small village in the Yeysk region, a miraculous source gushed out of the ground. He became famous for the fact that many sufferers received healing from his blessed waters. He healed many hopeless patients. And no one could say for sure when his glory began, who was the first to know his strength on himself. A wooden church was built over the source and consecrated in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Many of those who came to the source later recalled that they clearly saw in its waters the outlines of the Mother of God and the Son, surrounded by flowers. According to their descriptions, the icon "Fadeless Color" was exactly recreated. The significance of such a miracle for the suffering was enormous. Their faith from what they saw was immeasurably strengthened and their prayers became gracious, and this brought healing. After the revolution, the church was destroyed, the spring was covered with earth. And only in 2008, during construction work, it was accidentally dug up. And again he brings healing to people, and again a prayer to the icon "Fadeless color" sounds over him.
We should also remember the image that is currently located in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the Kherson region. This is another great icon "Fadeless Color". Its meaning is that it is myrrh-streaming. Not only from all over Ukraine, but from other states, pilgrims come to her to bow down and ask for deliverance from everyday troubles in prayers.
The history of the creation of the holy image
The history of the creation of the icon is remarkable. In Greece, on Mount Kefalonia, a miracle occurs every year, which many pilgrims witness. According to the tradition that has developed over many centuries, on the day of the Annunciation, white flowers are brought to the festive service, in memory of the flower that was in the hands of the Archangel Gabriel at that great hour. These flowers are carefully placed in the icon case under glass and kept there without water until the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, that is, for five months. And every year, on the same day, the dry stems of flowers are filled with life-giving power, fresh snow-white buds appear on them. The sight of these flowers inspired the Athos icon painters to create the image of "Fadeless Color".
The power of the icon is in our faith
Many pilgrims come to the monastery on Mount Athos to bring their prayers to the wonderful icon and in return receive healing from diseases and deliverance from troubles. But sometimes people forget that the Lord brings healing and deliverance, and the "Fadeless Color" is an icon. Prayer will have meaning only on condition of deep faith. "According to your faith it will be for you!" - Jesus Christ commanded his disciples. The Everlasting Color icon helps only those who keep these words in their hearts.
In their sermons, the priests of the Athos monasteries very poetically say that the stems of flowers in the icon case of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos are like the souls of people. As flowers devoid of moisture and life juices dry up, so human souls, deprived of the grace-filled communion with God, mired in sins, languish in moral desolation. And just as those white buds, which have been touched by the breath of God's mouth, are able to revive, to be filled with fragrance.
Nothing is so capable of influencing a person and the world around him as prayer, ascended to God from the depths of our hearts, filled with faith. The Holy Fathers teach us that words devoid of confidence in the all-embracing mercy of God will never acquire grace-filled power. They will always remain just an empty and worthless set of sounds.
The wealthiest, most successful and beautiful person needs support, a sense of wholeness in the presence of his significant other - a spouse. While we are children, support is provided by the family, but having matured, a person “will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will be one flesh,” with the blessing of Christ. The Holy Church names two main auspicious paths to salvation: Orthodox marriage and a monastery. Therefore, the Lord blesses dreams of a happy marriage. Many people fail to meet their love soon. This is natural, because a person should be ready for a serious relationship psychologically, be able to love, find compromises, be faithful. There are many factors in communication: probabilistic, psychological, social, even mystical, because a person who is not protected by the weapon of prayer and church Sacraments easily falls under the influence of evil forces and deception. “Don't be afraid, just believe,” says the Lord. Look to the saints who have the special grace to deliver from loneliness with faith. Ask for a meeting with your soul mate, and you will feel peace of mind, you will be able to let God's grace into your life. Saints are faithful helpers of believers. With a prayer for an early marriage or marriage and a happy marriage, it is customary to turn to the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "The Everlasting Color". The difficulties of family life are covered by the help of God. After all, the head of the family is the husband, and the head of the husband is Christ. Turn to the Mother of God as the Patroness of your future or existing family.
ICONOGRAPHY AND FEATURES OF THE MOTHER OF GOD ICON "THE UNFADERABLE COLOR"
- The icon is easy to recognize by a white lily or a flowering branch in the right hand of the Virgin. It is thanks to this attribute that the icon got its name. Also, the image can be called "Fragrant Color". The roots of the image of the icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" go back to ancient times and are associated with the historical icon of the Praise of the Mother of God, where the Queen of Heaven sits on the throne, showing the Infant Christ to people and looking at those praying to her, surrounded by saints and angels. This image can be perceived as a less solemn (without a throne and a host of saints), more close to people, the image of the Praise of the Virgin.
- The first mentions of the veneration of the Icon of Praise in the Byzantine Empire date back to the 9th century. In Constantinople, the first Christian emperor, Constantine the Great, created a temple dedicated to the Mother of God, and a holiday in Her honor. Over the centuries, the spiritual meaning of the holiday was reflected in icon painting - this is how the icon of the Praise of the Virgin appeared.
- The Virgin has interesting clothes; although they are traditional for icon painting - a red underwear and a blue cloak - they are very bright both on the original of the icon, and on its copies, and on reproductions. The head of the Virgin is covered with a dark blue maforium (head covering), which lies over a white scarf. The traditional colors of the clothes of the Virgin on ancient icons are usually darker: the tunic is blue, the upper omophorion is red-brown.
- The Divine Infant also has bright, dazzling white or gold clothes on the icon. A long tunic of ocher or golden color, in which Christ is dressed, is a sign of God's acceptance of human nature, and the golden assist threads on it are a symbol of Divine energies, that is, Jesus also remained God by nature.
- Obviously, through the clothes and postures of the Holy Family, the icon painter wanted to convey Their simplicity, responsiveness to prayers and at the same time strength.
- Like every miraculous image of the Mother of God, the icon "Fadeless Color" has many copies created in various styles while preserving the details of the iconography. So, on some versions of the image of the Baby Jesus' clothes, they are gold or white with the addition of green or brown shades. The background of the icon is also different: on the original image it is of a heavenly color, but sometimes the traditional icon-painting gold background is also made.
- In the 18th century, many versions of the icon appear: many additional details appear, most often with crowns on the heads of the Mother of God and the Child, with a large number of flowers around the Mother and the Divine Son. Sometimes the figure of the Virgin is framed with whole garlands of flowers, vases with bouquets and, of course, flowers appear in the hands of the Infant.
MEANING OF THE ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD "THE UNFADERABLE COLOR"
Each image of the Most Holy Lady of Heaven carries an important theological and edifying meaning. The icon "Unfading Color" shows both the praise of the Mother of God - she appears in a solemn pose, and the spiritual unity of God in the image of the Infant Christ and man - the Virgin Mary, because the Most Holy Virgin was chosen from ordinary people for her purity and holiness. A beautiful flower or a blossoming branch in the hands of the Mother of God arose as a symbolic embodiment of the words of the Akathist, where the Virgin Mary is called "the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity." This is the first akathist, which gave rise to the religious-poetic, prayer tradition of akathists, which are now written for almost every icon of the Mother of God and every saint. Akathist "Rejoice, Unmarried Bride" is a masterpiece of literature and theology. He is best known among others and is the only one of all akathists, which is inscribed in the liturgical charter: it is read by the whole Church on the Sabbath of the Akathist of Great Lent, which is also called "Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos." The name "akathist" means "a song performed while standing," that is, especially solemn. It is divided into kontakion - small prayer texts - and ikos, where the greeting “Hail” (in Greek “haire”, as the Greeks greeted each other) is repeated twelve times with the end of “Hail, Unmarried Bride”. These words refer to the greeting on the day of the Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel to the Most Pure Virgin: “Rejoice, Blessed One! The Lord is with You. " With a lily in his hands, the Archangel Gabriel is also depicted, who announced to the Most Holy Theotokos the news of Her future birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The icon "Fadeless Color" can also depict other attributes of the Mother of God, sung in the akathist and clearly showing the feelings of admiration and admiration for the Queen of Heaven, described in the words of Christian hymnography:
- Candle,
- Censer,
- Heavenly staircase
- A pedestal for the Infant God, who in this case stands on it, and does not sit in the hands of the Mother, the Moon and the Sun.
MIRACLES FROM THE ICON OF THE "UNFADERABLE COLOR"
To this day, a miracle happens every year on Mount Kefalonia, in the holy places of Greece. On the day of the feast of the Annunciation, the Greeks bring any white flowers, more often lilies, to the icon of the Virgin. All of them are in the church before the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, that is, from April to August, they are not watered. Naturally, the flower heads dry up. However, it is by the holiday of the Assumption that each flower regains life, new buds appear on the stems. Thus, the Mother of God Herself confirms with this miracle the truth of the name of the icon and its title "Fadeless Color". The Mother of God performed many miracles of healings after praying in front of this icon. The most important of them are:
- Healing children from dumbness,
- Saving families,
- Finding a soul mate for women who have not been able to get married for a long time.
WHAT TO ASK FOR THE ICON OF THE UNFADED COLOR
Through this icon, the Mother of God especially helps in family matters. Can:
- ask for marriage to a good person;
- to ask with sincere faith for a good choice of a spouse, for avoiding mistakes;
- to ask for protection from dangers, from an unhappy marriage to a tyrant, adulterer, wicked person, deceiver;
- pray for peace and peace of mind;
- ask for the preservation of the family and home well-being;
- prayer to protect yourself and your child for conception, healthy pregnancy, childbirth, baby's health.
HOW TO PRAY THE MOTHER OF GOD ICON "UNFADERABLE COLOR" ON MARRIAGE
Girls and women often dream of getting married as soon as possible. Men are usually determined to be successful in business. Realization of her talents, wealth in money are important for a woman, but in her heart she worries about loneliness, looking for a loving protector and patron. A woman needs love for harmony with herself and fullness of life. However, girls should get rid of the belief that "the main thing is to get married." You need to take a closer look at a potential spouse, see the man's inner world, try to see his shortcomings and decide whether you are ready to accept them. Pray for the right choice to the Most Holy Theotokos: she will give advice in your heart, because while it is blind from love, it is difficult for you to decide yourself. A happy marriage is the result of studying the psychological differences between men and women, the peculiarities of communication in marriage, working on oneself, as well as the fruit of prayer. Read the morning and evening prayers, which the Church blesses to read daily, attend the temple and pray during the services. Receive Holy Baptism, if you have not yet been baptized, so that the Lord and the saints can help you more. You need to read the prayer of the Mother of God for a happy marriage, family, soon marriage
- with the faith of the Lord and that He will do all the best for you;
- realizing that you are asking God not for entertainment, but for creating a family;
- realizing that sex outside of marriage is a sin of fornication (if you have committed it, confess it along with other sins in the Sacrament of Confession and then partake);
- after thinking it over and thanking God for the successes and happened thanks to the help of God.
WONDERFUL LISTS OF THE MOTHER OF GOD ICON "THE UNFADERABLE COLOR" IN RUSSIA
- Until 1757, the original image resided in the Svyato-Alekseevsky monastery in Krasnoe Selo (Moscow region). Then many lists were made from it, but the image itself was lost.
- Another icon resides in the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin in the city of Voronezh
- The icon in front of which the Monk Seraphim of Sarov himself prayed is in the church of the village of Kadom, in the Ryazan region.
- In 2012, in the Samara region, at the window of one of the houses owned by a believing woman, a miraculous image "The Fadeless Color" appeared.
WHAT DOES THE ICON OF THE "UNFADING COLOR" HELP
If your family has problems, misunderstandings or even betrayal, it is important to pray more to the Lord and the Mother of God. Prayer is help in any difficult situation. Pray also in case of poverty, misfortune, material difficulties - after all, the Lord is the first Helper for every person in any difficult circumstances. Long-term relationships often have crises. Sometimes it seems that the family is crumbling, people want to disperse and never see each other. Alas, violation of fidelity in marriage, betrayal, deception - all these sins are inherent in people. Sometimes, not because of malicious intent, but through negligence, your spouse can inflict such a wound on you. However, it is easier to destroy than to create. Try to keep the family together with your prayers together. Traditionally, they pray to the patron saints of the family: Blessed Ksenyushka of Petersburg, Saint Matrona of Moscow and, of course, the Mother of God. Read the morning and evening prayer of the Mother of God for your family. “My Most Holy Lady Theotokos, take my family under Your Protection. Instill in the hearts of my wife (spouse) and our children peace, love and all that is good. Help, Mother of God, that together we glorify Thy name and Thy Son of Thy Lord Jesus Christ always, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen"- with these words you turn to the Blessed Virgin with a request to take you under your Protection. The prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of the icon "Fadeless Color" can be read online in Russian according to the text below: “Oh, Most Holy and Immaculate Mother of God, Virgin Mary, the hope of Christians and the refuge of sinners! Protect all who come to You in misfortune, hear our sad groans, bend down from Heaven and hear our prayer. O Lady and Mother of our God, do not turn away from those who demand Your help, do not push us away, sinners, but give us reason and teach us: do not leave us, your servants, in Your spirit, because of our murmur and despair. Be our own Mother and Patroness, we entrust ourselves to You and hope to remain under Your merciful protection. Lead us, people who are careless and inattentive, to a quiet and peaceful life and repentance for our sins. Oh, Virgin Mary, our Good and quick Intercessor, with Your intercession for the mercy of God, protect us from the enemies of the visible - evil people and invisible - the spirits of darkness, soften the hearts of evil people who attack us. Oh, Mother of our Lord and Creator! You are the foundation of virginity and chastity, the unfading and fragrant color of purity, give help to us, the weak and obsessed with the passions of the flesh, with a lost heart. Enlighten our souls so that we can see the ways of God's truth. By the grace of Thy Son, strengthen our weak will so that we fulfill the commandments and get rid of spiritual troubles and misfortunes, so that upon our departure from earthly life we might be justified by Thy miraculous intercession at the Last Judgment of Thy Son, Whom we may be worthy to forever praise and honor in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen". The Orthodox Church blesses the desire to find love and create a good family. Christ said: "A man will leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife (unite with his wife), and there will be two - one flesh (that is, one whole)." It is not for nothing that the husband and wife are officially "in the zero degree of kinship." Therefore, pray to the Most Holy Theotokos and do not give up hope for God's help. May the Lord Jesus Christ and the Most Holy Theotokos protect you and your family!
Icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" ...
16 april
Day of Remembrance
Icons of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color"
The celebration in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "The Fadeless Color" takes place on April 3/16, and in honor of the sister image "Fragrant Blossom", which is almost completely close to it today, on November 15/28.
In more ancient images, the difference was as follows. On the icon "Fadeless Flower" the Infant God sat on the right hand of the Mother of God, and on the icon "Fragrant Color" - on the left. In modern icons, these distinctions are often not respected.
How does the icon help?
The image of the Mother of God "Unfading Color" is the iconographic embodiment of chastity and purity, first of all, as spiritual properties, therefore, the Mother of God gives help to those who pray before her in acquiring and preserving these wonderful and saving qualities for each of us. Chastity is the integrity of wisdom, inner peace, peace of mind, humility and meekness, they give the woman's nature that fortitude that cannot be found anywhere else.
Prayer in front of this image helps in preserving marriage, strengthening the family, in resolving family problems, in overcoming the sorrows that sometimes happen in our everyday life.
Sincere and zealous prayer in front of the icon "Fadeless Blossom" guides the spiritually suffering on the right path, helps to find strength to endure deep sorrows, not to be exhausted from disappointment, relieves despondency and heavy thoughts.
First prayer
C my beloved ariza, my hope, the Mother of God, the friend of the orphaned and strange to the Representative, the grieving Joy, offended by the Patroness! Behold my misfortune, behold my sorrow; help me as I am weak, feed me as strange. My grievance is weighing, resolve that, as if you will: as if there is no other help for You, not for another representative, not for a good comforter, only for You, O Bogomati, as if you have preserved and covered for ever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
O, Most Holy and Most Immaculate Mother Devo, hope of Christians and refuge for sinners! Protect all those who come running to You in adversity, hear our groaning, incline Your ear to our prayer. Lady and Mother of our God, do not despise those who demand Your help and do not reject us sinners, give us reason and teach us: do not depart from us, your servants, for our murmuring. Wake us Mother and Patroness, we entrust ourselves to Your merciful protection. Lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life; let us pay for our sins.
Oh, Mother Mary, our good and fast Intercessor, cover us with His intercession. Protect from enemies visible and invisible, soften the hearts of evil people who retaliate against us. Oh, Mother of our Lord our Creator! You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity and chastity, send help to us who are weak and overwhelmed by carnal passions and wandering hearts. Enlighten our spiritual eyes, so that we can see the paths of God's righteousness. By the grace of Thy Son, strengthen our weak will in the fulfillment of the commandments, so that we may get rid of all misfortune and misfortune and be justified by Thy wonderful intercession at the terrible judgment of Thy Son. To him we give glory, honor and worship, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Troparion icon
R Rejoice, God-bride, secret rod, Fadeless flourishing color, rejoice, Lady, with her joy we are filled and we inherit life.
About the history and meaning of the icon
 Our Lady of Fadeless Color, 18th century, Tretyakov Gallery | The history of the origin of the icon of the Mother of God "Unfading Color" is touching and at the same time majestic. For a long time, on the island of Kefalonia, located near Athos, a very beautiful and largest island in the Ionian Sea, there is a tradition - it is preserved now: on the day of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, white flowers are brought here, like a lily, with which the archangel appeared in the hand of the Most Pure. Gabriel to show her the will of God for her. Flowers are tenderly and carefully placed under the icon case, to Her face, and there they remain until the very feast of Her Assumption without water and without sunlight. But a miracle happens: after almost five months, their stems, dried up, being in the twilight, are incredibly filled with moisture, come to life, instead of dried inflorescences new buds appear and bloom into white lush flowers - here it is, "unfading color"! |
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 Brought from about. Rhodes Greece. Located in Moscow | It is believed that from the first Athos list, which spread in the Orthodox world, three main ones arose - Greek, Russian, Bulgarian. From them, in turn, the subsequent variants originated, which gave rise to this amazing iconographic diversity. In terms of time, the creation of the first, Greek original of this icon is attributed to the XVI-XVII, and its appearance in Russia - to the XVII-XVIII centuries. One of the first revered lists came through pilgrims to the Moscow St. Alexeevsky Monastery, the first mention of which dates back to 1757, and it is in her honor that the celebration of April 3/16 is performed. Where the iconography of the image came from is not known for certain, but there is an assumption that it is from the Balkans. |
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 Moscow, Armory Chamber, end of the 17th century Salary - silver | Around the same time, other lists appear in Central and Southern Russia, and their variety is simply grandiose, they are all magnificent, and their indispensable attribute is white, pink, red flowers in flowerpots, garlands, trellises, on other images these are magnificently blossomed rods in the hand of the Mother of God. Sometimes flowers are woven into halos around the head of the Infant Jesus or make up a pedestal on which the Most Pure One stands with the Infant in her arms. In the marvelous inflorescences stylized to some extent, one can guess roses, lilies, immortelles, abundantly growing on the slopes of the Sacred Mount Athos and considered a symbol not only of immortality, but also of purity. |
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 Mother of God "Fadeless Color" from the Church of the Intercession in Fili, Moscow, 18th century | Also, this image arose from the Orthodox iconographic heritage: in the Benaki Museum, Athens, there is an icon of St. Anne with little Mary, dating back to the 15th century. The Blessed Virgin has a white flower in her hand, and in this symbolism the prototype of the white lily, which the archangel Gabriel will once present to Her, is clearly read. The State Historical Museum houses an icon of the 16th century "The Mother of God with the Child with a Flower", where the flower is in the hand not of the Mother of God, but of Jesus, as in the icon of the first half of the 17th century "The Mother of God with the Child", created in Belarus. It is believed that this list became the starting point for the images of the crown on the heads of the Mother of God and the Infant of God and organically fit into the canonical principles of Orthodox icon painting. |
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 Yaroslavl regional public organization artists, icon painters, restorers -Sofia- | By the 19th century, the most complex compositions of the icon are simplified, the abundance of attributes disappears, except for the crown, flowers are often indicated by one branch in the hand of the Mother of God, the icon becomes less colored both in composition and in color, therefore, according to historians and art historians of church painting, later lists are inferior ancient. From this point of view, the icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color", created by the icon painter Marina Filippova, continues the original, ancient tradition, although the image is based on a late canon, not overflowing with attributes. |
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unfading Color"
In the icon, the Most Holy Theotokos holds Her Divine Son on her right hand, and in Her left hand is a white lily flower. This flower symbolically marks the unfading color of virginity and purity of the Most Pure Virgin, to whom the Holy Church addresses: "You are the Root of virginity and the unfading Color of purity." Lists of this icon became famous in Moscow, Voronezh and other places of the Russian Church.
Kontakion 1
Oh, Blessed Virgin Mary, is the joy and refuge for all Christians: worshiping Your Most Pure Image, we sing a song of praise to You, We bring our needs, sorrow and tears to You. You, oh, our meek Intercessor, All our earthly sorrows and sorrows are close to You, accept our sighs in prayers, help us and save us from troubles, tirelessly and with tenderness we call Ty: Rejoice, Mother of God, Unfading Color.
Ikos 1
Like God's blessing and like a heavenly gift, long-awaited, by constant prayer requested from God, you were sent down to the Mother of God, Your righteous and rejoicing parent - Joachim and Anna. You, O God-Chosen Young Woman, have left your parental womb and, like an inextinguishable lamp of faith, like a fragrant censer, in humility you appeared at the threshold of the Lord, and the power of the Most High ascended You to the very entrance, enter into the Holy of Holies and open all the secret heavens. Oh, Merciful Virgin Mary! Open our hearts also to Thy praise and lift up our prayer to Thy Son and our God, so we call Ty this: Rejoice, inaccessible purity and inexpressible meekness; Rejoice, exalted in Your humility. Rejoice, love is an inexhaustible source; Rejoice, vessel chosen by God. Rejoice, our zealous intercessor. Rejoice, Mother of God, unfading color.
Kontakion 2
Oh, Blessed Virgin Mary, sinful thoughts and cold deeds, the esmas bowed down, our heart is embraced by the cold of life, our eyes are burdened with sinful sleep. But you, oh, Fadeless Color, washed us with the morning dew, warm us with the sun of love and mercy. Raise us, O Lady, from the dust of the earth to the Lord, let us bring Him this humble prayer and cry to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to the city of Galilee Nazareth and bring Ti, O Most Pure Virgin, the holy gospel, saying: “Rejoice, Graceful, the Lord is with You! Thou hast found grace with God. " We, unworthy, behold such greatness, in humility of heart we cry out: Rejoice, Grace in women; Rejoice, you who have found grace from God, and even more an angel exalted. Rejoice, for you have conceived a Son, Who will inherit the throne of David - His father; Rejoice, unquenchable Light in the darkness that kindled your hearts. Rejoice, opening the eternal door of happiness to us. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 3
In sorrow we restlessly, in vanity and sorrow of our life we spend our days. But you, O Blessed One, illuminate our souls with Your gospel, fill our hearts with humility. Let us bow our heads, saying: "Behold the servant of the Lord, let it be done to us according to Thy will!" To Thee, O Fadeless Color, and from Thee born of the hour we sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
In the days of you, Miriam flowed into the city of Judah, and into the house of Zacharias, and Elizabeth the whole family. And hearing Elizabeth kissing Maryino, and fill Elizabeth with the Holy Spirit, and cry out with a great voice of the verb: "Whence do I have this, so that Mother of My Lord may come to me!" Oh, Blessed Virgin! Visit us, the weak and the wretched, and lift up our sighs like incense smoke to the throne of the Most High, but from the fullness of a grateful heart we sing to you: Rejoice, as the Lord looks upon the humility of His servants; Rejoice, as they will please you and give birth to you. Rejoice, for create Th the greatness of the Strong; Rejoice, Source of life and immortality. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 4
Oh, Fadeless Color! Oh, fragrant beauty! Visit us in our sorrowful earthly vale, pray Thy Son, may he keep us from all misfortune and sorrow, anger and sighing, may he send us peace in our hearts; let him grant us, we ask Him greatly, whenever he wants, and will cover us with His inexhaustible mercy. But we, longing for Your all-powerful intercession, magnify with the soul of our Lord and cry to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
The Angel of the Lord is a shepherd, watching the night watch, great joy of the gospel: as if Christ the Lord was born in the city of David, Bethlehem, pitched and laid in a manger. Oh, Most Pure Mother, who gave birth to Your Son, Your Firstborn, accept from us the nipple: Rejoice, Virgin Mary, as by Thee the ascent of the world is the Light of reason unapproachable;
Rejoice, star, showing us the way in the darkness. Rejoice, Dawn, mysterious day; Rejoice, revival of our souls. Rejoice, in sorrow a faithful refuge and an ambulance to the Helper; Rejoice, Lily of Paradise. Rejoice, all-chanting Virgin; Rejoice, meek Dove, giving birth to the Merciful. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 5
Behold, the King of the world is coming: Behold the Secret Sacrifice is performed; Angels sing in heaven: "Glory to God in the highest!" The Savior of the world is born. Christ comes - a great Divine mystery. God appeared in the flesh, and we are unworthy of a rabbi, putting aside all everyday care, with Angels we theologize in passion and joy, like shepherds and like magicians, we worship You, O Bogomati, and constantly call Your Divine Son: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Behold, righteous Simeon came in spirit to the church and received the Child of Jesus in his hands, and bless God, and say: "Now let go of Thy servant, Master, according to Thy verb, in peace!" And to You, O Mother Mary, the weapon will penetrate the soul, as if thoughts of many hearts will open. We, who were saved by You, cry: Rejoice, Blessed One, bringing great sorrow to joy; Rejoice, Mother's eternal Well of love and tenderness. Rejoice, Mother of our God, who endured the greatest joy and the greatest sorrow for His Son; Rejoice, Queen of the world. Rejoice, Crying Hope and Consolation. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 6
Oh, Abiding Mother Mary! The sea of life rises with storm and anger, deep abysses have opened and are ready to swallow us: our heart trembles, our joy is darkened, but Thou, O Meek and Merciful, pray Thy Son; let him help us, mournful and sire, in our sorrows; let him tame the rebellious waves of sinful passions; let him turn away from us all misfortune and danger; may he teach us how to keep His eternal righteousness. And at the end of our life, show us a quiet pier and grant us with Simeon the God-Receiver to cry out: "Now let go of Thy servant, Master!" Help us, O Unfading Color! Do not leave us and save those who call to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Growing out stretched and strengthened in spirit and grace; and You, O His Mother, lovingly composed all the verbs about the Son in Your heart. Mournful and sad looking for Him both in the squad, and in relatives and the known, when you return from the feast of Jerusalem and find Him with great joy, sitting in the church among the teachers, who amazed and horrified about His Divine mind. Oh, our Most Pure Meekness! Oh, the sweetest heart, warming the whole world with love! Hear us crying Ti is like this: Rejoice, O thou who didst increase the love of the Divine Son. Rejoice, sweetest heart, warming our cold souls with love. Rejoice, wise leader of parental hearts; Rejoice, Wall unbreakable by our child and youth. Rejoice, sire and helpless Cover and Refuge in sorrow; Rejoice, Guardian of chastity and virginity. Rejoice, for a meek husband you guide an honest and right way; Rejoice, softening of evil hearts. Rejoice, tenderness of the good. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 7
"Child! What can you do for us? " - Tako asking His Son - Jesus and wondering; seeing Him sitting in the temple in the midst of the proud and super-wise high priests of the Jews, Divine Reason, Divine revelation to them revealing. Oh, descend, O All-merciful Mother, and to our children: pray for them to Thy Son and our God, that the Light of the true knowledge of God may reveal to them; cover them with the edge of Your fragrant veil; enlighten our sons and daughters with the light of reason; strengthen their physical and mental strength; observe them in the passion of God, in obedience to your parent and in the purity of your soul, make them grow to the glory of God and to the happiness of the land in our father. O Luminous love, inextinguishable, anoint them with the oil of Thy mercy; warm them with the meekness of your eyes; their autumn with the robe of His Motherhood. Oh, Fadeless Color! With strong faith, unshakable hope and great contrition of heart, falling at Your feet, ceaselessly crying to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Warm intercessor for an adulterous and sinful generation! According to your verb at the marriage in Cana, your Son of Galilee, and our God, create the firstfruits with a sign and turn the water into wine. Ask, O Mother of God, and now Thy Son, may he perform a miracle on us, may he transform our sorrowful days, overwhelmed by lies, resentment and tears, - into the joy of rebirth, in the happiness of love and righteousness; may the beginning of the Divine Light strengthen in us - the source of the pure Spirit - the Holy God, the Triad. Yet all that is wicked and unclean, let it be stamped out of our hearts. Oh, Unattainable Purity and Inexpressible Mercy! Incline Thy ear to our prayer and grant us a call: Rejoice, radiant Light of love and forgiveness; Rejoice, divine vessel of eternal bliss. Rejoice, fervent prayer book for all of us before the Lord; Rejoice, quickly lifting up our needs to the throne of God. Rejoice, for, according to Thy verb, Thy Son creates signs, giving joy to man. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 8
There is no love, truth has disappeared, lies and enmity, anger and hatred are sown in the human heart. Brother rises up against brother, children against parents and parents against children. Oh Merciful God! Who defile Thy marvelous harvest, who are all tares and thistles among the wheat? Thy anger is righteous, the ax is already at the root, but behold, Thy Mother, the zealous Intercessor of the world, falls to Thee. Oh, the greatest Love and the most fragrant heart! Turn away from us the wrath of God, for our sins, righteously moved against us; Strengthen the one who loves us, so that neither persecution nor fierce time will shake them; give reason to those who hate us and who create to attack us; forgive our enemies who do not know what they are doing, soften their angry hearts and illuminate their darkness with the light of Christ's love, and turn their anger and hatred into shame and repentance. Oh, fragrant color! Our vessels are empty, we have no oil of good deeds, and the lamps of our faith are extinguished from the storm of life. Have mercy on us: fill our hearts with the joy of pure joys, renew us spiritually, and with grateful lips we constantly sing to God with affection: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All that was in the lower and the Highest in no way backsliding, Divine to the Teacher; Healed the sick, resurrected the dead, cleansed the leper, filled the whole world with love, Meek Suffering! Behold, hang nailed to the cross among villains; and all the people standing, swearing at you and with them princes and soldiers. And you, oh sorrowful Mother, drooped your head at the cross of Your Son, and you will pass through Your Mother's heart. We, honoring the sorrows of Thy Mother's heart, cry out from the depths of our souls to Ty sice: Rejoice, sweetest Virgin Mary, as Thy sorrow will become joy and no one will take this joy from You; Rejoice, knowing the greatest torment, Thy Son in vain, bleeding on the cross, humiliated, crucified, spat upon. Rejoice, for you are called the Queen of the world and sit at the right hand of the throne of your Son and God, our Lord Jesus Christ; Rejoice, for in the sorrow of Your heart - You washed the sorrow of the whole world and the sins of all people with tears. Rejoice, Meek One, Thy Son will rise again, trampling the sting of death, and the Light of His Resurrection will shine for ever; Rejoice, Mother of God, the heavenly image of purity and goodness. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 9
God love the world in such a way that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, then have eternal life. And behold, ungrateful and malevolent people, like a villain, nailing Him to the Cross. We are such a sight, the horror of the embrace was a cry: God, be merciful, wake us sinners! For our sins, endure terrible torment. Oh, Sorrowful Mother, do not turn Thy face away from us, break our sinful bonds, cleanse our hearts from crafty passions and lusts; Yes, in spiritual burning, as if the light of repentance, let us kneel before the cross of Your Divine Son, constantly praying with a prudent robber: Remember us, Lord, in Your Kingdom! By Thy prayers, Mother of God, correct our feet for doing the commandments of the Lord; washed us from sin, make us the best, rise to the Radiant Nearest Light, let us call God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
“Done! Father, in Thy hand I commend My Spirit. " Oh, Blessed Mother! Do you hear how the earth shudders with sorrow, her chest disintegrates, the coffins open, the dead rise and the church veil is torn? You see, as if a great darkness enveloped the earth and people in the strasse and trembling of its own beating, verbally: "Truly, the Son of God is this!" We are wondering at such a miracle and truly confessing Thy Son of God, faithfully crying to Ty: Rejoice, Mother of God, for all the verbs you have already composed in Thy heart, having been accomplished; Rejoice, Blessed Virgin, unfading Dawn, Unsettled Day, Golden-bearing Light. Rejoice, Dawn of the non-flickering non-evening Light; Rejoice, Sanctuary of the great mystery. Rejoice, Source of our immortality; Rejoice, Giver of Divine Goodness. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 10
Let all human flesh be silent, and let it stand with fear and trembling, and let nothing earthly in itself think. Behold, a great sacrifice is offered for the sins of the world, behold, the Savior of the world by the graceful Joseph in a new tomb is relied upon and wrapped in a clean shroud. With his soul he ascends into hell, crush eternal faiths and bring him to freedom from the ages containing the bound: from his grave he proclaims to his mother: “Do not weep to Me, Mother, you see in the grave, you have given birth to a Son: glory as God, by faith and love magnify Thee. " Let us put aside everything earthly and vain and with a pure heart let us fall to the throne of the King of Glory, constantly crying: Holy. Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts! Oh, Mother of our salvation! Make us partakers of the radiant Resurrection of Thy Son to eternal bliss, may we call God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Unified from Saturdays, very early, the wife came to the coffin, carrying aromas, and they see that who has come: the stone is rolled away from the coffin and carry the Body of the Lord Jesus. An angel shining brightly towards them, saying: “Oh, wives! Do not be afraid and do not look for Zhivago with the dead: Christ is risen, as well as the speech! " To you, O Lady, teach everyone to invite: Rejoice, Blessed Virgin Mary, and pack the river; Rejoice, Thy Son is Risen three days from the grave. Rejoice, for the whole earth is rejoicing and all the angels are singing in heaven: "Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling death on death, and giving us all the life in the grave!"; Rejoice, Giver of eternal life. Rejoice, for through your love and through your prayers, you will get rid of the eternal darkness; Rejoice, for by Thee you have raised a bright holiday for us. Rejoice, as you insist on a bright day for us, in it we will embrace each other, forgive all with the resurrection, we will rejoice and rejoice with eternal joy. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 11
Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who beat the prophets! Your grievous crime has been forgiven by the Lord, and the sun of righteousness has shone over the world. Cleanse our souls too, Meek Virgin! Cleanse our senses, so that we will see Christ coming out of the grave; Dress us in wedding clothes, so we will gladly enter the decorated palace of Christ, singing to Him who is Risen: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
When the hour of Your departure to God, O God-maiden, packs the angel of the Lord Gabriel, shining brightly, appearing before You, giving You a bright, unfading lily of paradise, and behold You with humility and joy accepted the will of the Lord and quietly departed to Your Divine Son ... Oh, our tireless prayer book! Oh, Fadeless to the Light of the heavenly paradise! Send us also, Merciful, a quiet and painless withdrawal from this vale of weeping, sighing and sorrow, and crying to You this: Rejoice, ascended to Heaven by Your Son, Queen of Heaven; Rejoice, speedy and faithful before Him, our Helper and Intercession. Rejoice, Omnipotent Virgin, for Thy name unfadingly flaunts and delights from generation to generation; Rejoice, in the storms of everyday life our reliable and quiet haven. Rejoice, Delighted, in Thy Assumption, she does not leave us. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 12
Oh, our terrible last hour! The heart and all the ouds tremble when we only think about it! How can we leave our loved ones and loved ones sire? How can the unwashed mortals go to a new life in the midst of darkness and canopy? How will we stand before the terrible judgment of the Creator and God? O our Comforter! Oh our good Helper! Help us, when this comes, put your loving Mother's hand on our forehead, may our sufferings subside and our soul be reborn, pacify the anguish of our separation from this world, and let the light of eternal truth shine before our eyes. Oh, Blessed Mother! We hope in You, we pray to You and cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Oh, my soul, my soul! Rise up, write off? The end is drawing near! Why are you richer in sins? Why not get ready? The Lord is at the doors, do you put hope in the world? Cue answer speak the Lord, when He comes - the formidable Judge to judge the earth; do not weigh an hour or a day, the Arkhangelsk trumpet sounds from the edge of the earth to the edge; and the dead rise up and all the tongues gather. And behold, the Son of Man is coming in the cloud with His power, in all His glory. Where are our good deeds? Where is the mercy? Where is Love? Our inexhaustible many sins have closed the sky. Oh, All-Merciful Mother of God! On this terrible day, appear to us and be an Intercessor for us before Your Son. We hope as one on You, do not leave us sinners. Become us protection and strengthening, with warm faith and undoubted hope we fall to Your Most Pure Image and with tears we call this: Rejoice, lightning illuminating our darkness; Rejoice, intercessor for us at the terrible judgment of Christ. Rejoice, covering the whole world from troubles and sorrows with your omophorion; Rejoice, for this world will be adopted by you as a single mother. Rejoice, for you have been given the One ineffable grace to pray for us; Rejoice, for you prepare eternal joy for all your faithful children. Rejoice, fragrant with your Unfading Color of us sinners forever. Rejoice, Mother of God, Fadeless Color.
Kontakion 13
Oh, Fadeless Color! Oh, all-chanted Mother Mary, who gave birth to all the saints, the Holy Word! Accept our present offering, save everyone from every misfortune. Warm with Mother's love, amuse us with eternal joy. Save us from eternal torment by ceaseless prayer to Thy Son and the heavenly Kingdom of us, Queen, grant us those crying about Thee: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
The meaning and history of the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Fadeless Color"
The history of the origin of the icon of the Mother of God "Unfading Color" is touching and at the same time majestic. For a long time, on the island of Kefalonia, located near Athos, a very beautiful and largest island in the Ionian Sea, there is a tradition - it is preserved now: on the day of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, white flowers are brought here, like a lily, with which the archangel appeared in the hand of the Most Pure. Gabriel to show her the will of God for her. Flowers are tenderly and carefully placed under the icon case, to Her face, and there they remain until the very feast of Her Assumption without water and without sunlight. But a miracle happens: after almost five months, their stems, dried up, being in the twilight, are incredibly filled with moisture, come to life, instead of dried inflorescences new buds appear and bloom into white lush flowers - here it is, "unfading color"!
Presumably, it was this wonderful tradition that inspired the Athonite monks to paint a unique image, from which, in turn, many iconographic versions were born, very different from each other, but in the type of going back to the Hodegetria the Guide. According to other sources, the first appearance of this image took place in Constantinople, however, fewer researchers of the diverse iconography of the "Fadeless Color" are inclined towards this.
But, probably, in addition to the miraculous resurrection of dried flowers in the image of the Mother of God on the island of Kefalonia, epithets from the texts of divine services, where the Most Pure One was compared to a flower - “unfading, fragrant”, became the inspirational basis for the pictorial embodiment of the indispensable and distinctive attribute of the icon "Fadeless Color". From the second epithet, another common list arose - "Fragrant color", its first appearance is considered later. The epithet "unfading" is taken from the "Canon of a grateful to the Most Holy Theotokos" by Joseph the Hymnographer. The canon became a part of the existing liturgical literary meetings of the Orthodox Church, and its spiritually sublime, delighting and touching the soul with sincere love for the Intercessor became a source for writing a new icon.
The Monk Joseph the Hymnographer created many canons that have been preserved in the prayer heritage of Russian Orthodoxy. As nun Ignatius writes about him in the article “Church Songwriters” (chapter “The Liturgical Legacy of St. Joseph the Hymnographer”): “The canons of St. Joseph are distinguished by the thoughtfulness of the images that he used as the basis of each of his works, exceptional elegance of expression, and often a special form of presentation of that idea. which he wants to emphasize in canon e. Working on the form, the holy Hymnographer often turned to those stylistic devices that were developed by ancient Greek rhetoric. "
It is believed that from the first Athos list, which spread in the Orthodox world, three main ones arose - Greek, Russian, Bulgarian. From them, in turn, the subsequent variants originated, which gave rise to this amazing iconographic diversity. In terms of time, the creation of the first, Greek original of this icon is attributed to the XVI-XVII, and its appearance in Russia - to the XVII-XVIII centuries. One of the first revered lists came through pilgrims to the Moscow St. Alexeevsky Monastery, the first mention of which dates back to 1757, and it is in her honor that the celebration of April 3/16 is performed. Where the iconography of the image came from is not known for certain, but there is an assumption that it is from the Balkans.
The Russian icon painting of the 17th century was restrained, but nevertheless, significantly influenced by the Western tradition during the decade and a half of the Time of Troubles, which ended in 1613. It penetrated into Russia from the side of Catholic Poland and Lithuania, where attributes uncharacteristic for the Byzantine tradition have long been used - royal crowns, flowers, etc. But their depiction in Russian icon painting was sanctified by the hymnography of Orthodoxy, where the epithet "unfading color" was awarded in various prayer creations both Christ and His Mother. For example, on the Alekseevsky list, a flowering branch in the hand of the Mother of God is entwined with a ribbon, and on it is written the irmos of the First Canto “The Canon of the Thankful”: “In Fadeless Flower! Rejoice, One fragrant apple that has vegetated: Rejoice, the fragrance of the One King! "
Around the same time, other lists appear in Central and Southern Russia, and their variety is simply grandiose, they are all magnificent, and their indispensable attribute is white, pink, red flowers in flowerpots, garlands, trellises, on other images these are magnificently blossomed rods in the hand of the Mother of God. Sometimes flowers are woven into halos around the head of the Infant Jesus or make up a pedestal on which the Most Pure One stands with the Infant in her arms. In the marvelous inflorescences stylized to some extent, one can guess roses, lilies, immortelles, abundantly growing on the slopes of the Sacred Mount Athos and considered a symbol not only of immortality, but also of purity.
Also, this image arose from the Orthodox iconographic heritage: in the Benaki Museum, Athens, there is an icon of St. Anne with little Mary, dating back to the 15th century. The Blessed Virgin has a white flower in her hand, and in this symbolism the prototype of the white lily, which the archangel Gabriel will once present to Her, is clearly read. The State Historical Museum houses an icon of the 16th century "The Mother of God with the Child with a Flower", where the flower is in the hand not of the Mother of God, but of Jesus, as in the icon of the first half of the 17th century "The Mother of God with the Child", created in Belarus. It is believed that this list became the starting point for the images of the crown on the heads of the Mother of God and the Infant of God and organically fit into the canonical principles of Orthodox icon painting.
By the 19th century, the most complex compositions of the icon are simplified, the abundance of attributes disappears, except for the crown, flowers are often indicated by one branch in the hand of the Mother of God, the icon becomes less colored both in composition and in color, therefore, according to historians and art historians of church painting, later lists are inferior ancient. From this point of view, the icon of the Mother of God "Unfading Color", created by the icon painter Marina Filippova, continues the original, ancient tradition, although the image is based on a late canon, not overflowing with attributes.
As if the vestments of the Mother of God and the Child woven from flowers, a halo lined with the same ornamental flower field around the central composition - everything is clearly felt by the author's appeal to the Russian tradition, and so even a hint of the original influence of Western culture in the iconography of the image "Fadeless Color" is leveled out. ... The style of Kuznetsov's writing is based on the history of Russian ornament, its fundamental connection with our native nature, and the icon painter Marina Filippova fully applies this wonderful creative legacy to the new presentation of the beautiful Orthodox icon. On the one hand, this image is now seen as genuinely Russian, originating in the Byzantine school, and on the other, in a new incarnation, the 21st century “Fadeless Color” icon continues to inspire and admire the Mother of God and Christ as “an unfading, fragrant color”. It brings back the joyful, life-affirming meaning of the first copies, partially lost in the century before last, reflecting the feelings of the Monk Joseph, the Athos monk, the creator of the original, and those who observe the miracle on the island of Kefalonia from year to year ...
The meaning of the icon
Epithets characterizing the Mother of God, the source of which are the inherent qualities of Her as the Mother of the One Who will come through Her to give True Life to all mankind, beautiful poetic and sublime comparisons that sound in the words of divine services, make up the fullness of the spiritual meaning of this image. If you look at this image, rejoicing and admiring, they simply arise in the soul from the prayers that we offer Her. She is a "life-giving garden", She is "the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity", She is "a fertile land that has grown the Bread of Heaven." The Bread of Heaven means the image of Christ, who, as we remember from the Gospel story of the Last Supper, breaking bread and distributing it to the disciples, said: “This is My Body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me ”(Luke 22, 19, Matthew 26, 26; Mark 14:22), therefore, in some images in the hand of the Most Pure One we see not flowers, but an ear.
Thanks be to God that, by His will, we can now fall in prayer to the images so beloved by us, and it is not for nothing that the first hand-made icon that came out from under the apostle's hand was the Most Pure Icon, Which "took the whole world into adoption." Her face on the icon "Unfading Color", the whole icon is a combination of joy and peace, so sought after by our souls eternally troubled in the daily bustle, and the entire Russian Orthodox iconography is an amazing treasure given to us by the Lord for salvation, admonition and the acquisition of spiritual joy and grace ...
Miracles from the icon
This image, full of tenderness, affectionate compassion and love for us, tired of the imperfections of this world, is often resorted to for saving help. Then those who prayerfully turned to Her in front of Her icon "Fadeless Color" talk about how the soul is enlightened, what consolation descends on it, inner balance returns, and the world is seen full of new hopes, unexpected solutions are found to get rid of problems and strength for action. Anxieties and sorrows disappear, and in gratitude to Her, a strengthening in faith is born, which, it would seem, is ready to be shaken. Is this not a miracle of spiritual resurrection, when the soul of a person who has fallen into despondency, dries up like a sprout, is reborn to life again like flowers at the icon case of the Mother of God in Kefalonia? Well, it is known that many of the revered and miraculous icons of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" have caused many miracles associated with finding a life partner for girls and women who wanted to find their other half and live in good harmony with her.
But there are also modern miracles. Here are just two of them noted in our century.
In 2012, in the village of Chernovka, Sergievsky District, Samara Region, on the window of the house of an elderly woman, a believer and virtuous, on April 16 - just on the day of the celebration of the icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" - the image of this image appeared. The owner of the house, Ekaterina Ivanovna Malygina, saw him when on that day after the warming she removed the oilcloth from the window, which she used to protect the house from the winter cold. It was in the morning, and in the bright morning light, the amazed woman saw the image of the Mother of God and the Child, in which at first she did not recognize the "Fadeless Color", but then she looked into the reference books and found this image.
By the evening, the image disappears, and with the onset of daylight, it gradually appears. Both priests and laity came to the image, completely unbelievers tried to rub and scratch the amazing glass, but the image remained intact. And so they left home, amazed, making a prayer to themselves.
In the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Novovoskresenovka, Novovorontsov district, Kherson region, in 2007, the icon of the Mother of God "Unfading Color" began to stream myrrh. At the same time, miracles began from her. The fame of the icon quickly spread throughout the area and beyond. According to the testimony of those who came here, through prayers, family relations were restored to this image, conflicts between household members were settled. There are known cases of healings of adults and children, especially those suffering from speech problems - the children began to speak.
All these and other miracles that give us solutions to many, many problems are wonderful. But one more conclusion can be drawn: no matter what skeptics say and those who do not trust the obvious, albeit incredible, miracles from God are in our life and are given by our faith not only, figuratively speaking, for pragmatic purposes. Also - to be seen and remembered: Where the Throne of God is, all of us who raise the words of prayer and thanksgiving to Heaven are seen and remembered. We will receive an answer to every word, every movement of the soul to God, to every thought addressed to Him, if they are honest and sincere, if imbued with trust and love. Therefore, icons are streaming myrrh and miraculously acquired, healings are performed from life-giving holy sources - these are all evidences that God is with us here and now, and if we decide to follow Him, we constantly live in His presence, and this fact becomes extremely important for one who considers himself a believer and an Orthodox person.
Before the Mother of God image "Fadeless Blossom", Mother of Heaven is asked to protect the family from troubles between loved ones, from empty temptations that may visit one of the family members. For girls who have not yet found their betrothed, but want to start a family, a prayer appeal to this icon will protect them from premature temptations, from the wrong choice of their future spouse. If an adult woman cannot find her "half" for a long time, her personal life does not work out, an appeal to the Most Pure One in front of the icon Her "Fadeless Color" will protect from loneliness.
It is curious that since 1999 this truly blooming and fragrant image has been proclaimed by Russian ecologists as an Orthodox symbol of the ecology of Russia. Thus, the Mother of God now patronizes the Russian Ecological Party "Greens", which in our country unites in itself many movements for the preservation of native nature.
Prayer in front of this image helps in preserving marriage, strengthening the family, in resolving family problems, in overcoming the sorrows that sometimes happen in our everyday life.
For girls who want to get married, a prayer in front of the "Fadeless Flower" icon helps not to make a mistake in choosing a life partner, to find someone who will become a caring head of the family, a loyal and reliable support and protection, and this marriage will withstand and remain unbreakable in any everyday collisions ... Unmarried girls of adolescence, who are brought up in the faith from an early age, entering adulthood, ask the Mother of God in Her image "Fadeless Color" to protect them from the temptations of the world, to help nurture in themselves a semblance of the prototype - the Most Pure, in order to convey this wonderful experience over time to my children.
Sincere and zealous prayer in front of the icon "Fadeless Blossom" guides the spiritually suffering on the right path, helps to find strength to endure deep sorrows, not to be exhausted from disappointment, relieves despondency and heavy thoughts.
There is evidence that prayer in front of the image helps to preserve health and youth for a long time - mental and physical.
Second prayer
Oh, Most Holy and Most Immaculate Mother Devo, the hope of Christians and a refuge for sinners! Protect all those who come running to You in adversity, hear our groaning, incline Your ear to our prayer. Lady and Mother of our God, do not despise those who demand Your help and do not reject us sinners, give us reason and teach us: do not depart from us, your servants, for our murmuring. Wake us Mother and Patroness, we entrust ourselves to Your merciful protection. Lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life; let us pay for our sins.
Oh, Mother Mary, our good and fast Intercessor, cover us with His intercession. Protect from enemies visible and invisible, soften the hearts of evil people who retaliate against us. Oh, Mother of our Lord our Creator! You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity and chastity, send help to us who are weak and overwhelmed by carnal passions and wandering hearts. Enlighten our spiritual eyes, so that we can see the paths of God's righteousness. By the grace of Thy Son, strengthen our weak will in the fulfillment of the commandments, so that we may get rid of all misfortune and misfortune and be justified by Thy wonderful intercession at the terrible judgment of Thy Son. To him we give glory, honor and worship, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Troparion icon
Rejoice, God-bride, secret rod, Fadeless flourishing Color, Rejoice, Lady, with her joy we are filled and we inherit life.
In more ancient images, the difference was as follows. On the icon "Fadeless Flower" the Infant God sat on the right hand of the Mother of God, and on the icon "Fragrant Color" - on the left. In modern icons, these distinctions are often not respected.