Miraculous Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God. Which icon of the Mother of God to pray for
Icons of the Virgin for Orthodox Church are of great value, because each of them contains not only the reinforcing power of mercy and love for everyone Orthodox Christian but also miraculous power that responds to the needs of parishioners real miracles. One of these values is the icon of the Mother of God - Chernihiv, which was nicknamed by the people of Gethsemane. It is a list from the Ilyinsky image of the Virgin Mary according to legend.
The history of the holy image
The image of the Mother of God of Ilyinsky, kept near Chernigov, Ukraine in the Trinity Eliinsky Monastery is known for many miracles. Many books have been written about it and several copies made, and the miraculous power of the original manifested itself in each of them.
Icon of the Mother of God of Chernihiv-Gethsemane
The Chernihiv-Gethsemane copy was created in the 18th century, while its author is unknown. According to legend, it was written by one of the monks Kiev Pechersk Lavra, and then donated to the clergyman John Alekseev. The priest once gave it to the girl Alexandra Filippova, after she received healing from the holy image through trembling and fervent prayer for several days. Alexandra, in turn, in 1852 presented the icon to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
Viceroy Anthony decided to place the icon in a new church, which was named after St. Michael the Archangel and consecrated in 1851. The Chernigov-Gethsemane icon thus received many blessings and absorbed all the juices of the Orthodox Russian Church.
According to legend, many saints blessed her:
- Anthony Pechersky;
- St. Sergius of Radonezh with his parents;
- monks Cyril and Maria;
- ascetics of the 19th century.
Being so blessed, the Chernigov-Gethsemane icon of the Mother of God showed its miraculous powers.
The first miracle that was officially recorded occurred in September 1869, when Fyokla Adrianov was completely healed from complete paralysis. She spent a month in the Lavra and was completely healed. There are records of this not only in the annals of the Lavra, but also in the notes of the Metropolitan of Moscow, who personally spoke with Thekla.
In the same year, Saint Innocent arrived at the Gethsemane Skete and tearfully prayed before the icon, during the performance of a prayer of thanksgiving in her honor. In the same month, several more miracles occurred through prayers to the icon. A pilgrimage to the relic began, and crowds of needy and sick Christians went to the skete for prayer.
On a note! Until the beginning of the 20th century, more than 100 miracles were recorded by the monks of the skete.
The monks of the skete highly venerated the precious image and petitioned the Holy Synod to allocate the day of the feast, which was originally scheduled for April 16th. But then the date was moved to September 1st. Today in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra there are lists from the precious image of the Chernigov-Gethsemane icon.
Icon of the Mother of God in the Gethsemane Chernihiv Skete
The original itself was moved to the Moscow church in 1922, as the Gethsemane Skete was closed by the communists. But the new location of the relic did not stand for long - in 1938 the temple was closed, and the precious images were burned.
The Chernigov-Gethsemane icon was miraculously saved by a Christian family. But after that, the trace of the image is lost, and it has not yet been found.
On a note! The list can be seen today in the Trinity Cathedral, but the monks pray for the return of the original image.
Description of the icon
The icon belongs to the Hodegetria type - the Mother of God is depicted with Christ in her arms in royal robes. This type of icon speaks of the majestic status of the Mother of God and her high position in the heavenly hierarchy.
On the heads of the Virgin Mary and Christ are royal crowns, which serve as a symbol of the Kingship. The Christ Child blesses everyone from the hands of the Mother with a finger directed towards the beholder. The image is painted on a small canvas in bright golden colors, which, as it were, complement the royal image of the Mother and Child.
How does the image help?
Christians, coming to the images of the Mother of God with different needs, believe that the Mother of God will be able to protect and help, because she has a loving and compassionate maternal heart.
Icon Holy Mother of God Chernihiv-Gethsemane
What can you pray for the Chernigov-Gethsemane Mother of God? It helps in the following cases:
- salvation of parental souls;
- salvation and decent living of children;
- successful marriage;
- salvation of one's own soul;
- help in trials and difficulties;
- fight against severe diseases;
- healing from paralysis, blindness;
- strength to resist temptation and sin.
You can read prayers every day during the regular morning and evening prayer rule, but you should definitely remember the Mother of God on the day of her memory - September 1. On this day, you can also make a pilgrimage to the Trinity Lavra.
Prayer before the icon Mother of God "Chernihiv-Gethsemane"
Oh, Heavenly Lady, Holy Mother and Queen of Heaven, we beg you, hear and save me, a sinful servant (your name). Deliver my life from vain lies, evil, various disasters, misfortunes, sudden deaths. Have mercy on my life in the hours of morning, evening and night. May every hour lived on earth pass under Your protection. Keep me sleeping, sitting, lying and walking, and cover me with your mercy as if with a cover. Only you, the Queen of Heaven, are a strong and indestructible wall that separates me from the nets of the devil, so do not let me get bogged down in this. Protect my soul and my body from enemies visible and invisible, like a shield, cover me. Oh, Lady and Lady, save me from death in vain and give me humility until the end of my days. Only You are our guardian and the hope of every believer. We teach at Your feet, do not turn away from us, deliver us from troubles and suffering. May you be praised and blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Icon of the Mother of God of Chernihiv-Gethsemane
The Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God was kept in the Gethsemane Skete, not far from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. This Orthodox icon of the Mother of God was donated by Alexandra Filippova, who received it in 1826 from John Alekseev, a priest of the Khotkovo Monastery. The icon, painted on canvas in the 18th century, is an enlarged copy of the famous Chernigov Ilyinsky Icon of the Mother of God, located in the Trinity Ilyinsky Monastery on Boldina Hill not far from Chernigov. The first healing from the icon was recorded on September 1, 1869.
In total, about a hundred healings were documented from the Chernigov Gethsemane Icon of the Mother of God, the image enjoyed great reverence in Russia, many pilgrims flocked to it. Made from this Orthodox icon of the Chernigov Mother of God a large number of lists, many of which were also glorified as miraculous. Until 1922, the icon was kept in a skete, then it was transferred to the church in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Rogozhskaya Sloboda in Moscow. In 1938 the temple was closed and further fate The Chernihiv Icon of the Mother of God is unknown. The celebration of the icon takes place on September 14th.
Chernihiv Gethsemane Icon of the Mother of God - Helper in Sorrows
The Most Holy Theotokos is the first Intercessor and Prayer for the human race. Prayer before the Chernihiv Icon of the Mother of God softens the heart, sets one to repentance. They pray to the Most Holy Lady and for deliverance from sorrows, troubles, and various diseases. The Chernihiv Gethsemane icon does not have any specific "direction" of healing - it helps everyone who comes to her with fervent prayer and faith in the heart, and heals from completely various diseases. The holy icon of the Mother of God of Gethsemane is very much loved by the Orthodox for its many miracles.
Before the icon of the Chernigov Mother of God, you can pray not only in the temple, but also at home
It is quite natural for believers to want to buy an icon of the Mother of God of Chernihiv for a home iconostasis. Before her, they pray not only for health, but also for the forgiveness of sins. Orthodox icon Chernihiv Mother of God can be easily bought in an online store, ordered in an icon-painting workshop, embroidered with beads yourself. Decorated with amber, pearls or enamel, dressed in precious riza, the icon of the Chernihiv Mother of God will become an expensive memorable gift for relatives, friends, colleagues.
A particularly revered copy of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Chernigov-Gethsemane" has been in the St. Nicholas Monastery since 2004 (see photo). This is a temple icon, but it is not known from which church it was taken. The image was damaged during the persecution: in the upper left part there is a chopped crack from an ax, three bullet wounds - one of them is through, with a torn part on the back of the image. The icon, being in a private apartment, long years"cried" - traces of lacrimation stretch from the eyes in the image.
The revered icon of the Mother of God of Chernigov-Gethsemane was acquired by the brethren, headed by the rector Abbot Bartholomew (Chupov).
The history of the acquisition of the icon (from a report to the ruling bishop):
"The initiator of the transfer of this image was a parishioner of Nikolsky monastery. It is at hisatheistically inclinedrelatives had this icon. In the summer of 2003, he began to negotiate with relatives about the transfer (or sale) of this image. And only in the month of January, after lengthy negotiations, we literally released this image.
The dimensions of the image are as follows: 127.5 X 97.5 cm. But what we saw upon careful examination of the image amazed and saddened us: the icon has 5 serious damages:
In the upper left part, near the crown, there is a chopped crack, obviously from an axe.
3 bullet wounds, one through, with a torn part on the back of the icon.
The crack is about 35 cm long - most likely, from improper storage of the image.
And, finally, on January 10, 2004, we delivered the icon to the Cathedral of the Nativity of John the Baptist, installed it in its rightful place, consecrated it, and served a moleben to the Mother of God.
This icon is a copy of the famous Chernigov-Ilyinsky Icon of the Mother of God, which was located in the Trinity Ilyinsky Monastery near Chernigov, on Boldina Hill, where in the 11th century. for some time the Monk Anthony of the Caves labored. Describing the miracles from this icon, which began on April 16-24, 1662, Saint Dimitry of Rostov devoted the book Irrigated Fleece, finishing which he wrote: “The end of the book, but not the miracles of the Most Holy Theotokos, for who can count them.” The grace-filled power of this icon was also manifested in its lists.
The icon of the Mother of God of Chernigov-Gethsemane was painted on canvas in the 18th century. and transferred in 1852 to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra by Alexandra Grigoryevna Filippova, who reverently kept it for a quarter of a century. This icon passed to her as a blessing from the Khotkovo priest John Alekseev, who, in turn, inherited it from one of the monks of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. On the advice of Archimandrite Anthony († May 1, 1877), the abbot of the Lavra, the icon was placed in a newly built cave church in honor of the Holy Archangel Michael, who was consecrated on October 27, 1851 by Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow (+ November 19, 1867), who took an active part in the construction of the Gethsemane Skete. Thus, the icon absorbed the grace-filled currents of the entire history of the Russian Church, it acquired the blessings of St. Anthony of the Caves, St. Sergius of Radonezh, his parents, schemamonks Cyril and Mary (+ 1337; the funeral liturgy for them with the reading of a special prayer is performed on September 28 and on Thursday of the week of the publican and Pharisee), and, finally, the ascetics of the nineteenth century. These spiritual connections were providentially revealed through the Chernigov-Gethsemane icon of the Mother of God.
It is significant that the first miracle from this icon was witnessed on the day of the church new year - September 1, 1869, when the 28-year-old peasant woman of the Tula province Fekla Adrianov was healed from complete relaxation, which lasted for 9 years. Having lived in a hotel near the caves, and then in the Lavra until the celebration of the repose of St. Sergius (September 25), Thekla completely recovered. Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow (1797-1879; Comm. 23 September and 31 March), learned about the miracle from his daughter, treasurer of the Borisov Hermitage, nun Polyxenia. At the feast of St. Sergius, he himself met with Thekla and asked her about all the circumstances of the healing.
On September 26, 1869, Saint Innocent arrived at the Gethsemane Skete and gave his blessing to perform prayer singing before the glorified icon, and he himself prayed with tears. Until September 26, there were three more grace-filled healings and whole line miracles in November of that year. The glory of the icon of the Mother of God spread with extraordinary speed. Exhausted by suffering and illness, thirsting for bodily and spiritual healing, people of various classes with firm faith went to miraculous icon and the mercy of God did not leave them. By the beginning of the twentieth century. over 100 miracles have been witnessed. The icon was highly venerated by the ascetics of the Gethsemane Skete: Schemamonk Philip († May 18, 1868), who founded the caves, and his three sons, Hieroschemamonks Ignatius († 1900), Porfiry († 1905?) and Basil († April 1, 1915). Information about the deep love, which was shown to the Chernigov-Gethsemane icon by the elder hieromonk Isidore († February 3, 1908). Initially, the celebration of the icon was set on April 16, on the same day as the celebration of the Chernigov-Ilyinsky icon, and then moved to the day of glorification - September 1. Nowadays, in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, revered lists are known from the Chernigov - Gethsemane icon in the church in honor of St. Sergius, in the monastery refectory and in the vestibule of the Trinity Cathedral, written by the elders of the Gethsemane Skete and Zosima Hermitage.
More information about the holy image can be found in the article in
The Chernigov-Gethsemane Icon of the Mother of God is a copy of the famous Chernigov-Ilyinsky Icon of the Mother of God, which was located in the Trinity Eliinsky Monastery near Chernigov, on Boldina Hill, where in the 11th century. for some time the Monk Anthony of the Caves labored. Describing the miracles from this icon, which began on April 16-24, 1662, Saint Dimitry of Rostov devoted the book Irrigated Fleece, finishing which he wrote: “The end of the book, but not the miracles of the Most Holy Theotokos, for who can count them.” The grace-filled power of this icon was also manifested in its lists.
The icon of the Mother of God of Chernigov-Gethsemane was painted on canvas in the 18th century. and transferred in 1852 to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra by Alexandra Grigoryevna Filippova, who reverently kept it for a quarter of a century. (This icon passed to her as a blessing from the Khotkovo priest John Alekseev, who, in turn, inherited it from one of the monks of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.) On the advice of the Lavra’s vicegerent, Archimandrite Anthony († May 1, 1877), the icon was placed in a newly built cave church in honor of the Holy Archangel Michael, who was consecrated on October 27, 1851 by Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow († November 19, 1867), who took an active part in the construction of the Gethsemane Skete. Thus, the icon absorbed the grace-filled currents of the entire history of the Russian Church, it acquired the blessings of St. Anthony of the Caves, St. Sergius of Radonezh, his parents, schemamonks Cyril and Mary (+ 1337; the funeral liturgy for them with the reading of a special prayer is performed on September 28 and on Thursday of the week of the publican and Pharisee), and, finally, the ascetics of the nineteenth century. These spiritual connections were providentially revealed through the Chernigov-Gethsemane icon of the Mother of God.
It is significant that the first miracle from this icon was witnessed on the day of the Church New Year - September 1, 1869, when the 28-year-old peasant woman of the Tula province Fyokla Adrianov was healed from complete relaxation, which lasted for 9 years. Having lived in a hotel near the caves, and then in the Lavra until the celebration of the repose of St. Sergius (September 25), Thekla completely recovered. Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow (1797–1879; Comm. 23 September and 31 March), learned about the miracle from his daughter, treasurer of the Borisov Hermitage, nun Polyxenia. At the feast of St. Sergius, he himself met with Thekla and asked her about all the circumstances of the healing.
On September 26, 1869, Saint Innocent arrived at the Gethsemane Skete and gave his blessing to perform prayer singing before the glorified icon, and he himself prayed with tears. Until September 26, there were three more healings of grace and a number of miracles in November of that year. The glory of the icon of the Mother of God spread with extraordinary speed. Exhausted by sufferings and illnesses, thirsting for bodily and spiritual healing, people of various classes with firm faith went to the miraculous icon, and the mercy of God did not leave them. By the beginning of the twentieth century. over 100 miracles have been witnessed. The icon was highly venerated by the ascetics of the Gethsemane Skete: Schemamonk Philip († May 18, 1868), who founded the caves, and his three sons, Hieroschemamonks Ignatius († 1900), Porfiry († 1905?) and Basil († April 1, 1915). Information has been preserved about the deep love that Elder Hieromonk Isidore showed for the Chernigov-Gethsemane Icon († February 3, 1908). Initially, the celebration of the icon was set on April 16, on the same day as the celebration of the Chernigov-Ilyinsky icon, and then moved to the day of glorification - September 1. Nowadays, in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, revered lists are known from the Chernigov-Gethsemane icon in the church in honor of St. Sergius, in the monastery refectory and in the vestibule of the Trinity Cathedral, written by the elders of the Gethsemane Skete and Zosima Hermitage.
The Chernihiv Icon of the Mother of God is known for its power and miracles of healing. In particular, the holy face helps if a person has mental disorders. Even Ambrose of Optina pointed out such properties of the face of the Chernihiv icon. An article will be devoted to the description of this shrine.
About the history of creation
The Chernihiv Icon of the Mother of God was painted in 1658. The author of the work is a monk living in the Boldin Monastery. The creation of the canvas is mentioned in the work written by St. Dmitry. She is also mentioned in the books of St. John. The event is described when tears appeared on the icon. Moreover, this situation continued for 8 days.
This incident made it necessary to establish the day on which the icon was venerated. Shortly after that, the Tatar hordes attacked the land where the holy face was kept. They plundered the city. But the Chernihiv Icon of the Mother of God was not damaged; it even remained in its precious framework.
Miraculous power is dense
Brothers - monks, who hid the icon from the horde, were also able to escape. Since that time, memories of twenty-four miracles that happened to the Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God have been preserved. They were collected and recorded by Saint Dmitry. The incidents are connected with the facts of the healing of the townspeople and visiting pilgrims.
I had to reprint the book, as the number of miracles constantly increased. Soon the list was replenished with the facts of healing such ailments:
- blindness - five cases;
- diseases of the lower extremities - three facts;
- rheumatism - three cases;
- possession - fifteen healings;
- blurred mind - thirteen cases;
- chronic diseases of different course - fifteen facts.
There are also cases when the Chernigov Gethsemane Icon of the Mother of God healed people from a strong fever, accompanied by fever.
The power of the image of the Virgin
How does the Chernihiv Icon of the Mother of God help? Orthodox especially revere such images because of the miraculous power, love and mercy that they radiate. There is a version of the writing of this icon in the image of the Ilyinsky Mother of God. Researchers cannot provide historical confirmation of this fact. But it is known for sure that the icons with the image of the Mother of Jesus have the strongest protection. This is also proved by the fact described above, when the icon wept.
Change storage location icon
Ilinsko- Chernihiv icon The Mother of God came to the territory of the Gethsemane Skete as a donation from the noblewoman Filippova.
Not much time passed, when this holy face again began to amaze the parishioners with its miraculous work. These facts are documented. People who came with prayers to the image received help and felt it in the very near future. Regardless of financial capabilities and position in society, everyone in need could count on the help of the icon.
What do they pray to the Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God? People ask the holy face to grant bodily and spiritual healing. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, you can find facts about more than a hundred miracles that happened to believers after turning to the Mother of God.
What does the image look like
The icon depicts the Mother of God, in whose arms little Jesus sits. Both of them are dressed in beautiful majestic robes. The holy family has crowns on their heads. This symbolizes that the Mother of God and Jesus have the power of world kingship.
The baby's hand shows a gesture of blessing directed at all who look at the holy face. The other hand of the baby holds a scroll with God's commandments.
Here is the text of the prayer with which Christians turn to the Chernihiv Icon of the Mother of God.
Oh, Heavenly Lady, Holy Mother and Queen of Heaven, we beg you, hear and save me, a sinful servant (your name). Deliver my life from vain lies, evil, various disasters, misfortunes, sudden deaths. Have mercy on my life in the hours of morning, evening and night. May every hour lived on earth pass under your protection. Keep me sleeping, sitting, lying and walking, and cover me with your mercy as if with a cover. Only you, the Queen of Heaven, are a strong and indestructible wall that separates me from the nets of the devil, so do not let me get bogged down in this. Protect my soul and my body from enemies visible and invisible, like a shield, cover me. Oh, mistress and mistress, save me from death in vain and give me humility until the end of my days. Only You are our guardian and the hope of every believer. We fall at your feet, do not turn away from us, deliver us from troubles and suffering. May you be praised and blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Christians ask the Mother of God:
- finding peace of mind;
- deliverance from sins;
- victory over incurable ailments;
- protection from sudden death;
- curing smallpox, blindness, paralysis.
And the holy image helps those who sincerely ask for help.
Chernihiv temple
The Church of the Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God was created in the village of Sanino, not far from Chernigov. Boldina Mountain became the place of writing the holy canvas. In honor of the Trinity Ilyinsky Monastery, the icon is also called Ilyinsky.
In 1924 the monastery was closed and the image disappeared. The day of memory of the icon of the Chernigov Mother of God is considered the 16th day of April. Christians pray to reproductions of the icon, which also have great power.
The Power of Prayer
One of the greatest weapons God has given to the church is the power of prayer.
Scripture reminds us, "It is appointed for one man or woman to die, and they will be judged." Today, all sorts of transgressions abound everywhere. God will forgive sin if we repent by despising such actions:
- Lies.
- Greed.
- Lack of compassion.
- Child abuse.
- Ruthlessness.
Sin is spreading like a plague. There is no accountability or discipline.
In salvation or redemption, Jesus brought to mankind the power to free people from sin. When the church spreads it throughout the world, as Jesus commanded, sin will be forgiven and cleansed by the power of his blood. Sinners are set free no matter what sin they have committed. When one prays in the church, salvation again spreads throughout the world.
Only the power of God can change the human heart, open the way to the light.
Formation Christian faith It was stormy times for the church. There were many obstacles in the way of believers. King Herod, ruling Rome at that time, killed James, one of the apostles. The next day, to please the people, he put Peter in jail.
The Angel of the Lord entered the casemate and freed Peter. The prayer for salvation was answered and God came in and brought Peter right to the door where the church was praying for him. God has proven that he is in control. He, not kings or political leaders.
Therefore, Christians should remember the need to communicate with the Lord, thank him for every day of their lives and ask for help. Then sincere requests will surely reach the ears of the Creator.
Summing up
The Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God was created at the end of the seventeenth century in a monastery near Chernigov. Its author was Saint Dmitry. The miraculous power of the icon manifested itself at a time when people discovered that the Face of the Virgin began to shed tears. Since that time, dozens of cases of assistance to those who ask have been recorded. Believing Christians worshiped the Holy Face and turned to the Mother of God for help until 1924. After the closing of the monastery, the icon was gone.
People who pray in front of reproductions of the icon also feel the power of protection and support of the Mother of God. After all, it is the faces depicting the mother of Jesus that are considered the most powerful. People expect from the icon the healing of mental and bodily ailments, protection and support. And the Mother of God heeds their prayers, bringing hope to better days. The power of prayer is described in the Bible. Christians should not only turn to the Lord and the saints for help, but also give thanks for the days they have lived.