Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God meaning. Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God - what it helps with

22.08.2019

For a long time, the Vladimir Icon Mother of God considered the patroness of Rus'.

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

History of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God

The original location of the icon was Jerusalem; in the 5th century it was transported to Constantinople. Known as an icon Our Lady of Vladimir came to Rus': the Patriarch of Constantinople gave it to Prince Mstislav at the beginning of the 12th century. It was placed in the Vyshgorod monastery near Kyiv and soon became famous as miraculous.

Having heard about this, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky decided to transport it to the north, but on the way a real miracle happened: not far from Vladimir, the horses with the cart on which the icon was being transported suddenly stopped, and no force could move them. Deciding what it is God's sign, they spent the night there, and at night during prayer the prince had a vision: the Mother of God herself ordered to leave her icon in Vladimir, and on the site of the parking lot to build a monastery with a temple in honor of Her Nativity. So the Vladimir Icon Holy Mother of God got its name.

Meeting of the Vladimir Icon

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

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

In memory of how the Russian land was miraculously delivered from enemy invasion, it was built Sretensky Monastery and on September 8, the celebration of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established.

The meaning of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

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

Our Lady saved not only the state, but also many people with her power.

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

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

Currently, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is in Tretyakov Gallery, namely in the Church-Museum of St. Nicholas at the Tretyakov Gallery.

Description of the icon

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

And indeed, the image of the Mother with the Child would only express Her tenderness, if not for the eyes, filled with incredible tragedy in anticipation of the torment to which Her Child is doomed. The baby, in His innocent ignorance, hugs the Mother, pressing his cheek to Her cheek. A very touching detail is the bare left leg peeking out from under His robe, so that the sole is visible, which is typical for all copies from the Vladimir Icon.

What does the Vladimir Icon help with?

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God saved Holy Rus' more than once. In difficult times, religious processions and national prayer services with this icon brought deliverance from enemy invasions, unrest, schism, and epidemics; Before this image, the Russian monarchs were crowned kings and took the oath of allegiance.

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

Prayer to the icon

To whom shall we cry, Lady? To whom shall we resort in our sorrow, if not to You, Queen of Heaven? Who will accept our tears and sighs, if not You, Most Immaculate, the hope of Christians and our refuge? sinful? Who is in mercy more than You? Incline Your ear to us, Lady, Mother of our God, and do not despise those who require Your help: hear our groaning, strengthen us sinners, enlighten and teach us, O Queen of Heaven, and do not depart from us, Thy servant, Lady, for our grumbling, but Be our Mother and Intercessor, and entrust us to the merciful protection of Your Son. Arrange for us whatever Your holy will pleases, and lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life, may we weep for our sins, may we rejoice with You always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God helps

What does the Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God help with: how to pray correctly Vladimir Icon, Meaning Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and how it helps

What does the Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God help with: how to pray to the Vladimir Icon correctly

The Lord’s favor and disposition towards our sinful, suffering world is great, and it is hard not to notice this. You need to take a closer look, and you can see it in the ordinary confession of every Christian, in the humble shine of immaculate faces, in the course of our history and the fate of leaders. And the goodwill and favor of God are presented to us in the form of sacred icons, of which ours is so rich Orthodox church. As before, so today it has a special significance and respect among people who believe in God has a face.

The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God is the patroness Russian people and herself Russian Federation. According to legend, this appearance was described by the Evangelist Luke during the period of Her earthly existence. And seeing her own image, the Virgin Mary said:

From now on, everyone will please me. The grace of the one born from me, and mine will arrive with this face.

Throughout the entire history of the appearance of the Most Holy One, a lot of amazing deeds and amazing incidents have been recorded that affected not only the Russian Federation, but also thousands of people who believe in the Lord the Creator. The significance, how the Vladimir image of the Immaculate can help, how to offer prayer and beg for her support - our publication will tell you about absolutely everything.

The meaning of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and how it helps

Prayer before any of the revered images of the Most Holy Guardian and Patroness of the human race before our Creator is of great importance. After all, it can protect each of us and our souls from misfortune. The population of the earth saw a lot of it miraculous icons, and the stories of their acquisition indicate that in various everyday moments we can rush to its diverse forms.

The Most Pure Mother of God of Vladimir can help any person who believes in God and turns to her with a sincere prayer. She is a patron and protector, protects the home and can help in resolving a large number of everyday matters. Any pious Christian is simply obliged to have this miraculous face in his own home.

And about the history and significance of the icon for the Russian people, many cases have been recorded that happened in ancient times and are happening right up to the present day.

In addition to the fact that the icon saved Russian lands from enemy invasions three times, Blessed Virgin expressed her will with the help of her own appearance. So, for example, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, at the moment of prayer, received information about where the image was supposed to be located on the territory of Vladimir.

Also on the territory of Vyshgorod, in the cathedral, the icon independently moved from one place to another. As a result, Prince Andrei, at the end of the prayer, took the icon with him to the Rostov lands.

Subsequently, a fairly large number of miraculous cures of Christians were witnessed. Eye and heart ailments were especially susceptible to frequent healing.

A clergyman named Mikula had a pregnant wife. She miraculously managed to escape from a horse that went berserk after offering prayers.

Parishioner Mary was able to be healed from an eye ailment after she prayerfully drank water from her immaculate appearance.

Once upon a time, in a city called Vladimir, a misfortune happened. Golden Gate travel tower fell and killed twelve people. The ruler of the city continuously offered prayers before the face of the Mother of God, and all the people not only remained alive, but also got out without a single scratch.

The newborn was saved from the evil eye after he was washed with holy water.

Christian Efimiya was diagnosed with a heart disease. As soon as she was told about the miraculous cures from the face of the Most Pure One, she, together with the clergyman Lazarus, sent a large number of gold items to the cathedral to the image. And later he brought her holy water. She offered a prayer, drank it and recovered.

There are many similar stories. They relate both to the original appearance of the Most Holy Patroness, and to a large number her lists and prayers directed towards her.

How does the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God help?

The icon bears witness to the most important incidents in the history of the Russian Federation. Namely: military campaigns, appointments of patriarchs, before the face Holy Mother of God the coronation of the monarch and the oath of allegiance to the fatherland were carried out. Prayer directed towards the shrine is salvation in troubled times and a split in the state. It helps eliminate hostility, anger, and calm passions.

Numerous people who believe in God flock to the Immaculate One for support in accepting important decisions, in the presence of ailments, in order to strengthen the spirit. If you are wondering what help can be provided Orthodox Christian icon the answer will be as follows:

Assists in the search true path, making the right decision.

Gives strength in the most difficult moments of existence, helps strengthen faith.

Heals from physical illness. In particular, prayers are often offered to her to cure heart and eye ailments.

Protects against attacks from enemies, sinful thoughts and despondency.

The patroness helps the marriage remain happy, as well as maintain the strength of family ties, eliminating quarrels and discord. After all, this is precisely the key to a strong state.

Prayer before the Vladimir icon

**“O Mother of God, Heavenly Queen, All-Powerful Patroness, our shameless Hope! Thanking you for all your great blessings, throughout the generations of generations the Russian people who were from you, before your immaculate appearance, we send up a prayer: protect this city and your servants and all the Russian lands from floods, fires, destruction, earthquakes, internecine wars, alien invasions. Protect and help, Most Holy One, our Almighty (name of rivers), His Holiness Patriarch Moscow and all the Russian land, and our Lord (name of the rivers), Pre His Holiness Bishop(title), and all His Eminence metropolitans, archbishops and Orthodox bishops. Give them the Russian Church as a good steward, the faithful sheep of Christ bend down to keep. Remember, Lady, all the priestly and monastic rank and preserving them, warm their hearts with zeal for God and strengthen each one to walk worthy of his calling. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on all your servants and grant us the path of the earthly field to pass without blemish. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for the Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, endow us with patience in adversity, in prosperity - abstinence, understanding towards our neighbors, forgiveness towards the enemy, in good deeds prosperity. Deliver us from every sinful act and from petrified insensibility, on the terrible day of Judgment grant us, through Your intercession, to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God, and to Him belongs all glory, respect and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Let it be so".**

The original of the Most Pure Image is located on the territory of the city of Tolmach in the Tretyakov Gallery of the Cathedral - Museum of St. Nicholas. You are allowed to travel to the miraculous list that is located in the cathedrals, named in honor of the Most Holy Mother of God:

In the village of Novovasilyevka, Berdyansk district,

The village of Bykovo, which is located in the Ramensky district,

You can also see lists in the village of Vilna in the Moscow region,

South Butovo has lists of icons,

City of Vinogradovo,
and of course in the capital.

On the territory of Ukraine, you can pray in the temple named in honor of Our Lady of Vladimir in the capital.

May our almighty creator and patron be with you!

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

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God: legend

According to pious tradition, the image of the Mother of God of Vladimir was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Savior ate with the Most Pure Mother and righteous Joseph Betrothed. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: “From now on, all my people will please Me. May the grace of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with this image.”

Until the middle of the 5th century, the icon remained in Jerusalem. Under Theodosius the Younger, it was transferred to Constantinople, from where in 1131 it was sent to Rus' as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverkh. The icon was placed in a nunnery in the city of Vyshgorod, not far from Kyiv, where it immediately became famous for its many miracles. In 1155, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, St. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, wanting to have a famous shrine, transported the icon to the north, to Vladimir, and placed it in the famous Assumption Cathedral, which he erected. From that time on, the icon received the name Vladimir.

During the campaign of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky against the Volga Bulgarians, in 1164, the image of the “Holy Mother of God of Vladimir” helped the Russians defeat the enemy. The icon survived during the terrible fire on April 13, 1185, when it burned down St. Vladimir's Cathedral, and remained unharmed during the destruction of Vladimir by Batu on February 17, 1237.

The further history of the image is entirely connected with the capital city of Moscow, where it was first brought in 1395 during the invasion of Khan Tamerlane. The conqueror with an army invaded the borders of Ryazan, captured and ruined it and headed his way to Moscow, devastating and destroying everything around. While Moscow Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich gathered troops and sent them to Kolomna; in Moscow itself, Metropolitan Cyprian blessed the population for fasting and prayerful repentance. On mutual advice, Vasily Dmitrievich and Cyprian decided to resort to spiritual weapons and transfer the miraculous icon of the Most Pure Mother of God from Vladimir to Moscow.

The icon was brought into the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The chronicle reports that Tamerlane, having stood in one place for two weeks, suddenly became afraid, turned south and left the Moscow borders. A great miracle happened: during procession with a miraculous icon, heading from Vladimir to Moscow, when countless people were kneeling on both sides of the road and praying: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!” Tamerlane had a vision. Before his mind's eye appeared high mountain, from the top of which saints with golden rods descended, and above them the Majestic Woman appeared in a radiant radiance. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. They answered him that the radiant Woman is the Mother of God, great Protectress Christian. Then Tamerlane gave the order to the regiments to go back.

In memory of the miraculous deliverance of Rus' from the invasion of Tamerlane, a solemn ceremony was established on the day of the meeting in Moscow of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on August 26 / September 8 religious holiday The meeting of this icon, and at the meeting place itself a temple was erected, around which the Sretensky Monastery was later located.

For the second time, the Mother of God saved Rus' from ruin in 1480 (commemorated on June 23 / July 6), when the army of the Khan of the Golden Horde, Akhmat, approached Moscow.

The meeting of the Tatars with the Russian army took place near the Ugra River (the so-called “standing on the Ugra”): the troops stood on different banks and were waiting for a reason to attack. In the front ranks of the Russian army they held the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, which miraculously put the Horde regiments to flight.

Third celebration Mother of Vladimir Bozhei (May 21 / June 3) recalls the deliverance of Moscow from the defeat of Makhmet-Girey, Khan of Kazan, who in 1521 reached the borders of Moscow and began to burn its suburbs, but suddenly retreated from the capital without causing harm to it.

Many events took place before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. major events Russian church history: the election and installation of St. Jonah - Primate of the Autocephalous Russian Church (1448), St. Job - the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' (1589), His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon (1917), as well as oaths were taken before her in all centuries for loyalty to the Motherland, prayers were held before military campaigns.

Iconography of the Vladimir Mother of God

The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God belongs to the “Caressing” type, also known under the epithets “Eleusa” (ελεουσα - “Merciful”), “Tenderness”, “Glycophilus” (γλυκυφιλουσα - “Sweet kiss”). This is the most lyrical of all types of iconography of the Virgin Mary, revealing the intimate side of the Virgin Mary’s communication with Her Son. The image of the Mother of God caressing the Child, his deep humanity turned out to be especially close to Russian painting.

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

In this touching composition, in addition to direct meaning, contains a deep theological idea: the Mother of God caressing the Son appears as a symbol of the soul in close communion with God. In addition, the embrace of Mary and the Son suggests the future sufferings of the Savior on the cross; in the Mother’s caressing of the Child, his future mourning is foreseen.

The work is permeated with completely obvious sacrificial symbolism. From a theological point of view, its content can be reduced to three main themes: “the incarnation, the predestination of the Child to the sacrifice and the unity in love of Mary the Church with Christ the High Priest.” This interpretation of Our Lady of Caress is confirmed by the image on the back of the icon of the throne with the symbols of the Passion. Here in the 15th century. painted an image of the throne (etimasia - “prepared throne”), covered with an altar cover, the Gospel with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, nails, crown of thorns, behind the throne is the Calvary cross, a spear and a cane with a sponge, below is the floor of the altar flooring. The theological interpretation of etymasia is based on Holy Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers. Etymasia symbolizes Christ's resurrection and His judgment over the living and the dead, and the instruments of His torment are the sacrifice made to atone for the sins of mankind. The juxtaposition of Mary caressing the Child and the turnover with the throne clearly expressed sacrificial symbolism.

Arguments have been put forward in favor of the fact that the icon was double-sided from the very beginning: this is said identical shapes the ark and the husks of both sides. In the Byzantine tradition there were often images of a cross on the back Mother of God icons. Starting from the 12th century, the time of the creation of the “Vladimir Mother of God,” in Byzantine murals, the etymasia was often placed in the altar as an altar image, visually revealing the sacrificial meaning of the Eucharist, which takes place here on the throne. This suggests the possible location of the icon in antiquity. For example, in the Vyshgorod monastery church it could be placed in the altar as a double-sided altar icon. The text of the Legend contains information about the use of the Vladimir icon as an altar icon and as an outside icon that was moved in the church.

The luxurious attire of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which she had according to the news of the chronicles, also does not testify in favor of the possibility of its location in the altar barrier in the 12th century: “And there were more than thirty hryvnias of gold on it, in addition to silver and in addition to expensive stones and pearls, and Having decorated it, put it in your church in Volodymeri.” But many of the external icons were later strengthened precisely in iconostases, like the Vladimir Icon in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow, originally placed to the right of the royal doors: “And having brought in<икону>to the successor temple of her glorious Dormition, which is the great Catholic and Apostolic Church of the Russian Metropolis, and put it in an icon case on the right side, where to this day it stands visible and worshiped by all" (See: Book Degree. M., 1775. Part 1 . P. 552).

There is an opinion that the “Vladimir Mother of God” was one of the lists of the icon of the Mother of God “Caressing” from the Blachernae Basilica, that is, a list with the famous ancient miraculous icon. In the Legend of the Miracles of the Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, she is likened to the Ark of the Covenant, like the Virgin Mary herself, as well as her Robe, which was kept in the rotunda of Agia Soros in Blachernae. The Legend also speaks of healings that are accomplished mainly thanks to the water from the ablutions of the Vladimir Icon: they drink this water, wash the sick with it, and send it to other cities in sealed vessels to heal the sick. This miracle-working of waters from the washing of the Vladimir icon, emphasized in the Legend, could also be rooted in the rituals of the Blachernae sanctuary, the most important part of which was the chapel of the spring dedicated to the Mother of God. Constantine Porphyrogenitus described the custom of washing in a font in front of a marble relief of the Mother of God, from whose hands water flowed.

In addition, this opinion is supported by the fact that under Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in his Vladimir principality, the cult of the Mother of God, associated with Blachernae shrines, received special development. For example, on the Golden Gate of the city of Vladimir, the prince erected the Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God, directly dedicating it to the relics of the Blachernae Temple.

Style of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

The time of painting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the 12th century, refers to the so-called Komninian revival (1057-1185). This period in Byzantine art is characterized by the extreme dematerialization of painting, carried out by drawing faces and clothes with numerous lines, whitening slides, sometimes whimsically, ornamentally placed on the image.

In the icon we are considering, the most ancient painting of the 12th century includes the faces of the Mother and the Child, part of the blue cap and maforium border with a gold assist, as well as part of the ocher chiton of the Child with a gold assist with sleeves to the elbow and the transparent edge of the shirt visible from under it, a brush left and part right hand The baby, as well as the remains of the golden background. These few surviving fragments represent a high example of the Constantinople school of painting of the Komnenian period. There is no deliberate graphic quality characteristic of the time; on the contrary, the line in this image is nowhere opposed to volume. The main remedy artistic expression built on “the combination of insensible fluids, giving the surface the impression of not being made by hands, with a geometrically pure, visibly built line.” “The personal letter is one of the most perfect examples of “Comnenian floating”, combining multi-layered sequential modeling with the absolute indistinguishability of the stroke. The layers of painting are loose, very transparent; the main thing is in their relationship with each other, in the transmission of the lower ones through the upper ones.<…>A complex and transparent system of tones – greenish sankira, ocher, shadows and highlights – leads to a specific effect of diffused, flickering light.”

Among the Byzantine icons of the Komnenian period, the Vladimir Mother of God is also distinguished by its characteristic the best works this time deep penetration into the area human soul, her hidden secret suffering. The heads of Mother and Son pressed against each other. The Mother of God knows that Her Son is doomed to suffer for the sake of people, and sorrow lurks in Her dark, thoughtful eyes.

The skill with which the painter was able to convey the subtle spiritual state, most likely, served as the origin of the legend about the painting of the image by the Evangelist Luke. It should be recalled that the painting of the early Christian period, the time when the famous evangelist icon painter lived, was flesh and blood of the art of late antiquity, with its sensual, “life-like” nature. But, in comparison with icons early period, the image of the Vladimir Mother of God bears the stamp of the highest “spiritual culture,” which could only be the fruit of centuries-old Christian thoughts about the coming of the Lord to earth, the humility of His Most Pure Mother and the path they traversed of self-denial and sacrificial love.

Revered miraculous lists with icons of the Vladimir Mother of God

Over the centuries, many copies have been written from the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some of them became famous for their miracles and received special names depending on their place of origin. This:

Vladimir - Volokolamsk icon (memory of Mr. 3/16), which was the contribution of Malyuta Skuratov to the Joseph-Volokolamsk monastery. Nowadays it is in the collection of the Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art named after Andrei Rublev.
Vladimirskaya - Seligerskaya (memory D. 7/20), brought to Seliger by Nil Stolbensky in the 16th century.
Vladimir - Zaonikievskaya (memory M. 21. / John 3; John 23 / Ill. 6, from the Zaonikievsky monastery), 1588.
Vladimirskaya - Oranskaya (memory M. 21 / John 3), 1634.
Vladimirskaya - Krasnogorskaya (Montenegorskaya) (memory M. 21 / John 3). 1603
Vladimir - Rostov (memory Av. 15/28), XII century.

Troparion to the Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir, tone 4

Today the most glorious city of Moscow is shining brightly, / as the dawn of the sun has received, O Lady, Your miraculous icon, / to which now we flow and pray to You we cry out to You: / O, most wonderful Lady Theotokos, / pray to You, our incarnate God, / may He deliver the city this and all Christian cities and countries are unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, // and our souls will be saved by the Merciful.

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

To the chosen victorious Voivode, / as those who were delivered from the evil ones by the coming of Your honorable image, / Lady Theotokos, / we brightly celebrate the celebration of Your meeting and usually call You: // Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.

Prayer to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

O All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, All-Powerful Intercessor, our shameless Hope! Thanking Thee for all the great blessings that the Russian people have received from Thee throughout the generations, before Thy most pure image we pray to Thee: save this city (or: this whole, or: this holy monastery) and Thy coming servants and the whole Russian land from famine, destruction , land of shaking, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. Save and save, O Lady, our Great Lord and Father Kirill, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and our Lord (name of the rivers), His Eminence Bishop (or: Archbishop, or: Metropolitan) (title), and all Your Eminence metropolitans, archbishops and Orthodox bishops. May they govern the Russian Church well, and may the faithful sheep of Christ be preserved indestructibly. Remember, O Lady, the entire priestly and monastic order, warm their hearts with zeal for God and strengthen them to walk worthy of their calling. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on all Thy servants and grant us the path of the earthly journey without blemish. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for More Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, give us patience in adversity, abstinence in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for our enemies, success in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensibility, and on the terrible day of Judgment, grant us through Your intercession to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God. To Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

______________________________________________________________________

These long and numerous movements of the icon in space are poetically interpreted in the text of the Legend of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which was first found by V.O. Klyuchevsky in Milyutin’s Chetya-Minea, and published according to the list of the collection of the Synodal Library No. 556 (Klyuchevsky V.O. Tales of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. - St. Petersburg, 1878). In that ancient description they are likened to the path that the sun's luminary takes: “When God created the sun, He did not make it shine in one place, but, going around the entire Universe, illuminates with its rays, and so this image Holy Lady Our Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary is not in one place... but, going around all countries and the whole world, she enlightens..."

Etingof O.E. TO early history icons of the “Vladimir Mother of God” and the traditions of the Blachernae cult of the Mother of God in Rus' in the 11th-13th centuries. // Image of the Mother of God. Essays on Byzantine iconography of the 11th-13th centuries. – M.: “Progress-Tradition”, 2000, p. 139.

Ibid., p. 137. In addition, N.V. Kvilidze unveiled the painting of the deacon of the Trinity Church in Vyazemy late XVI century, where on the southern wall there is a liturgy in a church with an altar, behind which is an icon of the Vladimir Mother of God (N.V. Kvilidze. Newly discovered frescoes of the altar of the Trinity Church in Vyazemy. Report in the Department of Ancient Russian Art in State Institute art history April 1997).

Etingof O.E. To the early history of the icon “Our Lady of Vladimir”...

Throughout its history it was recorded at least four times: in the first half of the 13th century, at the beginning of the 15th century, in 1521, during alterations in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin and before the coronation of Nicholas II in 1895-1896 by restorers O. S. Chirikov and M. D. Dikarev. In addition, minor repairs were carried out in 1567 (at the Chudov Monastery by Metropolitan Athanasius), in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Kolpakova G.S. Art of Byzantium. Early and average periods. – St. Petersburg: Publishing house “Azbuka-Classics”, 2004, p. 407.

Ibid., p. 407-408.

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From the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos
in honor of the icon of Her Vladimir

The city of Moscow and the miraculous image of the Mother of God of Vladimir are inextricably and forever fused. How many times did She save the white-stone from enemies! This image connected with itself the apostolic times and Byzantium, Kievan and Vladimir Rus, and then Moscow - the Third Rome, “but there will not be a fourth.” So providentially it was formed Moscow state, having absorbed a mystical connection with ancient empires, historical experience, traditions of other Orthodox lands and peoples. The miraculous image of Vladimir became a symbol of unity and continuity.

This amazing icon is difficult to describe in words, because they all seem empty before the gaze that looks at us. Everything is in this gaze: life and death, and resurrection, eternity, immortality.

By ancient legend, the holy evangelist, physician and artist Luke painted three icons of the Virgin Mary. Looking at them, the Most Pure One said: “Let the grace of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with the holy icons.” One of these icons is known to us under the name of Vladimir.

Until 450, this image of the Lady remained in Jerusalem, and then was transferred to Constantinople. In the first half of the 12th century, Patriarch of Constantinople Luka Chrysoverkh sent the icon (together with another image of the Mother of God, known as the “Pirogoshchaya”) as a gift to Grand Duke Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky, who placed the image in the Vyshgorod nunnery near Kiev, in an area that once belonged to the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga. In 1155, Vyshgorod became the inheritance of Prince Andrei, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky.

Having decided to move to his native Suzdal land, Prince Andrei, without his father’s knowledge, took the icon with him. On the way, he constantly served prayers before her. The residents of Vladimir-on-Klyazma greeted their prince with zeal and joy; From there the prince went further to the city of Rostov. However, having driven no more than ten miles from Vladimir, the horses stood on the banks of the Klyazma and, despite urging, did not want to go further. They harnessed the fresh ones, but even those did not go. Struck, Prince Andrei fell in front of the icon and began to pray tearfully. And then the Mother of God appeared to him with a scroll in her hand and commanded him to leave Her image in the city of Vladimir, and on the site of this appearance to build a monastery in honor of Her Nativity.

The prince placed the icon in Vladimir, and from that time - from 1160 - it received the name Vladimir.

In 1164, this icon accompanied Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky on a campaign against the Volga Bulgars. Before the battle, the prince confessed and took communion; Having fallen before the image of the Mother of God, he exclaimed: “Everyone trusts in You, Lady, and will not perish!” The entire army, following their prince, kissed the miraculous woman with tears and, calling for the intercession of the Most Pure One, moved into battle. The wicked were defeated.

After the victory on the battlefield, a prayer service was performed before the holy icon. During it, in full view of the entire Russian army, a miracle was revealed: from the image and from Life-giving Cross A wondrous light began to dawn, illuminating the entire area.

And at the other end of the Christian world, but exactly on the same day and hour Byzantine emperor Manuel saw the light from the Cross of the Lord and, supported by this sign, defeated his Saracen enemies. After the relationship of Prince Andrew with the Emperor of the Second Rome, the Feast of the Origin (Death) was established on August 1 Honest Trees The Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, popularly known as the First Savior.

Many other miracles were revealed from the miraculous image.

In 1395, Tamerlane with hordes of Tatars approached Moscow. The Christian people had only hope for God's help. And then the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dmitrievich ordered to bring the icon from Vladimir to Moscow. The Lady’s journey from the banks of the Klyazma lasted ten days. On both sides of the road, kneeling people stood and, stretching out their hands to the icon, cried out: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!” A solemn meeting awaited the Vladimir Icon in the white stone: a religious procession with all the city clergy, the family of the Grand Duke, boyars and ordinary Muscovites came to the city walls on Kuchkovo Field, met and escorted the miraculous one to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin.

It was August 26th. “The whole city came out in front of the icon to meet it,” the chronicler testifies. Metropolitan, Grand Duke, “husbands and wives, young men and virgins, children and babies, orphans and widows, from young to old, with crosses and icons, with psalms and spiritual songs, moreover, saying everything with tears, who cannot find a person, not crying with silent sighs and sobs.”

And the Mother of God heeded the prayer of those who trusted in Her. At the very hour of the meeting of the miraculous on the banks of the Moscow River, Tamerlane had a sleepy vision in his tent: saints with golden staves were descending from a high mountain, and above them in indescribable grandeur, in the radiance of bright rays, the Radiant Woman was hovering; countless hosts of Angels with fiery swords surrounded Her... Tamerlane woke up, trembling with horror. The wise men he convened, elders and Tatar fortune-tellers, explained that the Wife he had seen in a dream was the Intercessor of the Orthodox, the Mother of God, and that Her power was invincible. And then the Iron Lame ordered his hordes to turn back.

Both the Tatars and the Russians were amazed by this event. The chronicler concluded: “And Tamerlane fled, driven by force Holy Virgin!»

Grateful Muscovites built the Sretensky Monastery at the site of the meeting of the miraculous August 26, 1395: “let people not forget the deeds of God.” So, after a 242-year stay on the banks of the Klyazma, the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir moved to Moscow and was placed in the Kremlin Cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Most Pure One. Moscow owes its blessings for deliverance from the raids of Khan Edigei in 1408, the Nogai prince Mazovshi in 1451, and his father, Khan Sedi-Akhmet in 1459.

In 1480, the Horde Khan Akhmat moved to Moscow and already reached the Ugra River in Kaluga. The Grand Duke of Moscow John III was waiting on the other side of the river. Suddenly the Tatars were attacked by such strong and unreasonable fear that Akhmat did not dare to go to the Russian army and turned back to the steppe. In memory of this event, a religious procession from the Assumption Cathedral to the Sretensky Monastery began to be held annually in Moscow. And the Ugra River has since been known as the Belt of the Virgin Mary.

In 1521, the Kazan Khan Makhmet-Girey led the Kazan and Nogai Tatars to Moscow. Metropolitan Varlaam and all the people prayed earnestly before the face of Vladimir. Grand Duke Vasily Ivanovich barely had time to gather an army to meet the Tatars at the far frontier, on the Oka River. Holding back their onslaught, he slowly retreated to Moscow.

On the very night of the siege, the nun of the Kremlin Ascension Monastery saw the saints coming out through the locked doors of the Assumption Cathedral, carrying the miraculous Vladimir in their hands. These were the holy metropolitans of Moscow Peter and Alexy, who lived two centuries earlier. And the nun also saw how the Venerable Varlaam of Khutyn and Sergius of Radonezh met the procession of saints at the Spasskaya Tower - and fell prostrate before the icon, praying to the Most Pure One not to leave the Assumption Cathedral and the people of Moscow. And then the Intercessor returned through the locked doors.

The nun hastened to tell the townspeople about the vision. Muscovites gathered in the temple and began to pray fervently. And the Tatars again saw a vision of “a great army, shining with armor,” and they fled from the walls of the city.

So more than once our Fatherland was saved by the people's prayer before miraculously Vladimirskaya. In memory of these deliverances, the celebration of the Vladimir Icon was established: May 21 - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of the Crimean Khan Makhmet-Girey in 1521; June 23 - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Akhmat in 1480; August 26 - in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Tamerlane in 1395.

A special edition of the Vladimir Icon is called the “Tree of the Moscow State”. The first such icon was painted at the end of Ancient Rus', in 1668, by the royal icon painter Simon (Pimen) Ushakov for the Trinity Church in Nikitniki in Kitai-Gorod. It depicts Saints Peter and Alexy watering a lush tree growing from behind the Kremlin wall; on the branches there are medallions with a host of Russian saints, and in the center there is an oval image of Vladimirskaya. As in the icon “Praise of the Mother of God” biblical prophets are written with unfolded scrolls, on which the words of the akathist are inscribed, and on this image heavenly patrons The Russians glorify and praise the Most Pure One, praying to Her for intercession for the Russian state.

Troparion, tone 4

Today the most glorious city of Moscow brightly flaunts, as if we had received the dawn of the sun, O Lady, Thy miraculous icon, to which we now flow and pray to Thee, we cry out to thee: O Most Wonderful Lady, Mother of God, pray from Thee to the incarnate Christ our God, that He may deliver this city and all Christian cities and countries are unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, and our souls will be saved by the Merciful.

Prayer

O All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, All-Powerful Intercessor, our shameless Hope! Thanking Thee for all the great blessings that the Russian people have received from Thee throughout the generations, before Thy most pure image we pray to Thee: save this city (or: all this; or: this holy monastery) and Thy coming servants and the whole Russian land from famine, destruction , land of shaking, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. Save and save, Madam, our Great Lord and Father (name of rivers), His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and our Lord (name of rivers), Most Reverend Bishop (or: Archbishop; or: Metropolitan) (title), and all the Most Reverend Metropolitans , archbishops and Orthodox bishops. May they govern the Russian Church well, and may the faithful sheep of Christ be preserved indestructibly. Remember, O Lady, the entire priestly and monastic order, warm their hearts with zeal for God and strengthen them to walk worthy of their calling. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on all Your servants and grant us the path of the earthly journey without blemish. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for the Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, give us patience in adversity, abstinence in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for our enemies, success in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensibility; on the terrible day of judgment, grant us, through Your intercession, to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

According to pious tradition, the image of the Mother of God of Vladimir was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Savior dined with the Most Pure Mother and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: “From now on, all my people will please Me. May the grace of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with this image.”

During the campaign of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky against the Volga Bulgarians, in 1164, the image of the “Holy Mother of God of Vladimir” helped the Russians defeat the enemy. The icon survived the terrible fire on April 13, 1185, when the Vladimir Cathedral burned down, and remained unharmed during the destruction of Vladimir by Batu on February 17, 1237.

The further history of the image is entirely connected with the capital city of Moscow, where it was first brought in 1395 during the invasion of Khan Tamerlane. The conqueror with an army invaded the borders of Ryazan, captured and ruined it and headed his way to Moscow, devastating and destroying everything around. While the Moscow Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich was gathering troops and sending them to Kolomna, in Moscow itself, Metropolitan Cyprian blessed the population for fasting and prayerful repentance. On mutual advice, Vasily Dmitrievich and Cyprian decided to resort to spiritual weapons and transfer the miraculous icon of the Most Pure Mother of God from Vladimir to Moscow.

The icon was brought into the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The chronicle reports that Tamerlane, having stood in one place for two weeks, suddenly became afraid, turned south and left the Moscow borders. A great miracle happened: during a procession with a miraculous icon, heading from Vladimir to Moscow, when countless people were kneeling on both sides of the road and praying: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!”, Tamerlane had a vision. A high mountain appeared before his mental gaze, from the top of which saints with golden staffs were descending, and above them the Majestic Woman appeared in a radiant radiance. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. They answered him that the radiant Woman is the Mother of God, the great Defender of Christians. Then Tamerlane gave the order to the regiments to go back.

Read also: Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir in the history of Russia

In memory of the miraculous deliverance of Rus' from the invasion of Tamerlane, on the day of the meeting in Moscow of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on August 26 / September 8, the solemn church holiday of the Presentation of this icon was established, and at the meeting place itself a temple was erected, around which the Sretensky Monastery was later located.

For the second time, the Mother of God saved Rus' from ruin in 1480 (commemorated on June 23 / July 6), when the army of the Khan of the Golden Horde, Akhmat, approached Moscow.

The third celebration of the Vladimir Mother of God (May 21 / June 3), remembers the deliverance of Moscow from the defeat of Makhmet-Girey, Khan of Kazan, who in 1521 reached the borders of Moscow and began to burn its suburbs, but suddenly retreated from the capital without causing harm to it.

Before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, many of the most important events in Russian church history took place: the election and installation of St. Jonah - Primate of the Autocephalous Russian Church (1448), St. Job - the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' (1589), His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon (1917 .), and also in all centuries, oaths of allegiance to the Motherland were taken before her, prayers were performed before military campaigns.

Iconography Vladimir Mother of God

The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God belongs to the “Caressing” type, also known under the epithets “Eleusa” (??????? - “Merciful”), “Tenderness”, “Glycophilus” (?????????? ?? – “Sweet kiss”) This is the most lyrical of all types of iconography of the Virgin Mary, revealing the intimate side of the Virgin Mary’s communication with Her Son. The image of the Mother of God caressing the Child, his deep humanity turned out to be especially close to Russian painting.

Read also: Queen of heaven and earth: why are there so many icons of the Mother of God?

The iconographic scheme includes two figures - the Virgin Mary and the Child Christ, with their faces pressed to each other. Mary's head is bowed towards the Son, and He puts his hand around the Mother's neck. A distinctive feature of the Vladimir Icon from other icons of the Tenderness type: the left leg of the Infant Christ is bent in such a way that the sole of the foot, the “heel,” is visible.

This touching composition, in addition to its direct meaning, contains a deep theological idea: the Mother of God caressing the Son appears as a symbol of the soul in close communion with God. In addition, the embrace of Mary and the Son suggests the future sufferings of the Savior on the cross; in the Mother’s caressing of the Child, his future mourning is foreseen.

The work is permeated with completely obvious sacrificial symbolism. From a theological point of view, its content can be reduced to three main themes: “the incarnation, the predestination of the Child to the sacrifice and the unity in love of Mary the Church with Christ the High Priest.” This interpretation of Our Lady of Caress is confirmed by the image on the back of the icon of the throne with the symbols of the Passion. Here in the 15th century. they painted an image of the throne (etimasia - “prepared throne”), covered with an altar cloth, the Gospel with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, nails, a crown of thorns, behind the throne there is a Calvary cross, a spear and a cane with a sponge, below is the floor of the altar flooring. The theological interpretation of etymasia is based on Holy Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers. Etymasia symbolizes Christ's resurrection and His judgment over the living and the dead, and the instruments of His torment are the sacrifice made to atone for the sins of mankind. The juxtaposition of Mary caressing the Child and the turnover with the throne clearly expressed sacrificial symbolism.

Arguments have been put forward in favor of the fact that the icon was double-sided from the very beginning: this is evidenced by the identical shapes of the ark and the husks of both sides. In the Byzantine tradition, there were often images of a cross on the back of Mother of God icons. Starting from the 12th century, the time of the creation of the “Vladimir Mother of God,” in Byzantine murals, the etymasia was often placed in the altar as an altar image, visually revealing the sacrificial meaning of the Eucharist, which takes place here on the throne. This suggests the possible location of the icon in antiquity. For example, in the Vyshgorod monastery church, it could be placed in the altar as a double-sided altarpiece icon. The text of the Legend contains information about the use of the Vladimir icon as an altar icon and as an outside icon that was moved in the church.

The luxurious attire of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which it had according to the chronicles, also does not support the possibility of its location in the altar barrier in the 12th century. “And you bought more than thirty hryvnias of gold, besides silver and besides expensive stones and pearls, and decorated it, and placed it in your church in Volodymeri.” But many of the external icons were later strengthened precisely in iconostases, like the Vladimir Icon in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow, originally placed to the right of the royal doors: “And having brought in<икону>to the supreme temple of her glorious Dormition, which is the great Cathedral and Apostolic Church The Russian Metropolis, and placed it in an icon case on the right side of the land, where to this day it stands visible and worshiped by all” (See Book Degree. M. 1775. Part 1. P. 552).

There is an opinion that the “Vladimir Mother of God” was one of the copies of the icon of the Mother of God “Caressing” from the Blachernae Basilica, that is, a copy of the famous ancient miraculous icon. In the Tale of the Miracles of the Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, she is likened to the Ark of the Covenant, like the Virgin Mary herself, as well as her Robe, which was kept in the rotode of Agia Soros in Blachernae. The Legend also speaks of healings that are accomplished mainly thanks to the water from the ablutions of the Vladimir Icon: they drink this water, wash the sick with it, and send it to other cities in sealed vessels to heal the sick. This miracle-working of waters from the washing of the Vladimir icon, emphasized in the Legend, could also be rooted in the rituals of the Blachernae sanctuary, the most important part of which was the chapel of the spring dedicated to the Mother of God. Constantine Porphyrogenitus described the custom of washing in a font in front of a marble relief of the Mother of God, from whose hands water flowed.

Style

In the icon we are considering, the most ancient painting of the 12th century includes the faces of the Mother and the Child, part of the blue cap and maforium border with a gold assist, as well as part of the ocher chiton of the Child with a gold assist with sleeves to the elbow and the transparent edge of the shirt visible from under it, a brush the left and part of the right hand of the Child, as well as the remains of the golden background. These few surviving fragments represent a high example of the Constantinople school of painting of the Komnenian period. There is no deliberate graphic quality characteristic of the time; on the contrary, the line in this image is nowhere opposed to volume. The main means of artistic expression is built on “the combination of insensible flows, giving the surface the impression of not being made by hands, with a geometrically pure, visibly built line.” “The personal letter is one of the most perfect examples of “Comnenian floating”, combining multi-layered sequential modeling with the absolute indistinguishability of the stroke. The layers of painting are loose, very transparent; the main thing is in their relationship with each other, in the transmission of the lower ones through the upper ones.<…>A complex and transparent system of tones – greenish sankira, ocher, shadows and highlights – leads to a specific effect of diffused, flickering light.”

Among the Byzantine icons of the Komnenian period, the Vladimir Mother of God also distinguishes the deep penetration into the area of the human soul, its hidden secret sufferings, characteristic of the best works of this time. The heads of Mother and Son pressed against each other. The Mother of God knows that Her Son is doomed to suffer for the sake of people, and sorrow lurks in Her dark, thoughtful eyes.

In the church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi

The skill with which the painter was able to convey a subtle spiritual state most likely served as the origin of the legend about the painting of the image by the Evangelist Luke. It should be recalled that the painting of the early Christian period - the time when the famous Evangelist-icon painter lived, was flesh and blood of the art of late antiquity, with its sensual, “life-like” nature. But in comparison with the icons of the early period, the image of the Vladimir Mother of God bears the stamp of the highest “spiritual culture”, which could only be the fruit of centuries-old Christian thoughts about the coming of the Lord to earth, the humility of His Most Pure Mother and the path they traversed of self-denial and sacrificial love.

Revered miracle-working lists from icons Vladimir Mother of God

Vladimir - Volokolamsk icon (memory of Mr. 3/16), which was the contribution of Malyuta Skuratov to the Joseph-Volokolamsk monastery. Nowadays it is in the collection of the Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art named after Andrei Rublev.

Vladimirskaya - Seligerskaya (memory D. 7/20), brought to Seliger by Nil Stolbensky in the 16th century.

Vladimir - Zaonikievskaya (memory M. 21. / John 3; John 23 / Ill. 6, from the Zaonikievsky monastery) 1588.

Vladimirskaya - Oranskaya (memory M. 21 / John 3) 1634.

Vladimirskaya - Krasnogorskaya (Montenegorskaya) (memory M. 21 / John 3). 1603.

Vladimir - Rostov (memory Av. 15/28) 12th century.

A miracle in our life - how to pray for a miracle?

Troparion to the Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir, tone 4

Kontakion. voice 8

Prayer Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir

O All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, All-Powerful Intercessor, our shameless Hope! Thanking Thee for all the great blessings that the Russian people have received from Thee throughout the generations, before Thy most pure image we pray to Thee: save this city (or: this whole, or: this holy monastery) and Thy coming servants and the whole Russian land from famine, destruction , land of shaking, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. Save and save, O Lady, our Great Lord and Father Kirill, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and our Lord (name of the rivers), His Eminence Bishop (or: Archbishop, or: Metropolitan) (title), and all Your Eminence metropolitans, archbishops and Orthodox bishops. May they govern the Russian Church well, and may the faithful sheep of Christ be preserved indestructibly. Remember, O Lady, the entire priestly and monastic order, warm their hearts with zeal for God and strengthen them to walk worthy of their calling. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on all Thy servants and grant us the path of the earthly journey without blemish. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for the Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, give us patience in adversity, abstinence in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for our enemies, success in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensibility, and on the terrible day of Judgment, grant us through Your intercession to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God. To Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

______________________________________________________________________

These long and numerous movements of the icon in space are poetically interpreted in the text of the Legend of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which was first found by V.O. Klyuchevsky in Milyutin’s Chetya-Minea, and published according to the list of the collection of the Synodal Library No. 556 (Klyuchevsky V.O. Tales of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. - St. Petersburg, 1878). In this ancient description, they are likened to the path that the sun's luminary takes: “When God created the sun, he did not make it shine in one place, but, going around the entire Universe, illuminates with its rays, so this image of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is not on one place... but, going around all countries and the whole world, it enlightens...".

Etingof O.E. On the early history of the icon “Our Lady of Vladimir” and the tradition of the Blachernae cult of the Mother of God in Rus' in the 11th-13th centuries. // Image of the Mother of God. Essays on Byzantine iconography of the 11th-13th centuries. – M. “Progress-Tradition”, 2000, p. 139.

Ibid., p. 137. In addition, N.V. Kvilidze unveiled the painting of the deacon of the Trinity Church in Vyazemy at the end of the 16th century. where on the southern wall there is a liturgy in a church with an altar, behind which is an icon of Our Lady of Vladimir (N.V. Kvilidze Newly discovered frescoes of the altar of the Trinity Church in Vyazemy. Report in the Department of Ancient Russian Art at the State Institute of Art History. April 1997.

Etingof O.E. To the early history of the icon “Our Lady of Vladimir”...

Throughout its history it was recorded at least four times: in the first half of the 13th century, at the beginning of the 15th century, in 1521, during alterations in the Assumption Cathedral Moscow Kremlin, and before the coronation of Nicholas II in 1895-1896 by restorers O. S. Chirikov and M. D. Dikarev. In addition, minor repairs were carried out in 1567 (at the Chudov Monastery by Metropolitan Athanasius), in the 18th and 19th centuries..

Kolpakova G.S. Art of Byzantium. Early and middle periods. – St. Petersburg: Publishing house “Azbuka-Classics”, 2004, p. 407.