Revered icons of the mother of God in alphabetical order. Orthodox Icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Icon of the Mother of God Indestructible Wall

_________________________________________________

The image of the Mother of God with hands raised in prayer and without a baby is called “Oranta” (lat. Praying).

The image of the Mother of God with hands raised in prayer and without a baby is called “Oranta” (lat. Praying). Such images in full height on ancient tradition placed in the conch - the upper part of the altar.

The figure of the Mother of God, depicted in full growth with the Divine Infant, is called " Great Panagia", which means "Holy One".

This image is already found in the catacombs of the first Christians. The Mother of God is depicted on the icon from the front, usually to the waist, with her hands raised to the level of her head, spread apart and bent at the elbows. (Since ancient times, this gesture means prayer appeal to God). In Her bosom, against the background of a round sphere, Spas Emmanuel.
Icons of this type are also called "Oranta" (Greek "praying") and "Panagia" (Greek "all-holy"). On Russian soil, this image was called "The Sign",

and that's how it happened. On November 27, 1169, during the assault on Novgorod by the squad of Andrei Bogolyubsky, the inhabitants of the besieged city brought an icon to the wall. One of the arrows pierced the image, and the Mother of God turned her face to the city, shedding tears. Tears fell on the phelonion of the Novgorod Bishop John, and he exclaimed: "O wondrous miracle! How do tears flow from a dry tree? Queen! You give us a sign that you are praying before Your Son for the deliverance of the city."

Encouraged Novgorodians repulsed the Suzdal regiments...
In an Orthodox church, images of this type are traditionally placed at the top of the altar.

Half-length images of icons of the Great Panagia type in ancient Russian icon painting became widespread and became known as The Sign. One of the values Slavic word a sign is a miracle. And indeed, the image of the infant Christ in the bosom of the Virgin is a symbol of the greatest miracle, the miracle of the Incarnation, when the Beginningless and Incomprehensible God fit into human body. The word sign is akin to the Slavic verb I sign - I convene, I call to worship. This reveals the second deep meaning of this iconography: the raised hands of the Mother of God, as a symbol of prayer; the infant Christ in a circle as a symbol of the Eucharist; the entrustments in the hands of the Mother of God are a symbol of the co-service of the entire Church to its Heavenly Primate.

The most common icons of this type are:

* Icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" Kursk
* Icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" of Novgorod

* icon of the Mother of God "Indestructible Wall"
* Icon of the Mother of God "Inexhaustible Chalice"
* Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God
* Mirozh Icon of the Mother of God
* Nicene Icon of the Mother of God
* Seraphim-Ponetaevskaya Icon of the Mother of God
* Tsarskoye Selo Icon of the Mother of God
* Yaroslavl Oranta

Since pagan times, our ancestors have asked for the intercession of Mother Beregini, the goddess of the forces of the earth, raising their hands to heaven in a prayer pose. Later, with the spread of Christianity, the images of the Proto-Slavic beliefs faded, changed their appearance, new symbols of faith arose, but people still raised their hands to heaven and asked for help. This is how the image of the Christian Mother Goddess was formed - the patroness of a person with his fears, sorrows, and prayers, the Intercessor, who lifts up a prayer through raised hands from an earthly person further to heaven and to God.

Our Lady of Oranta: the origins of the image

This gesture, traditional in iconography and monumental art, dates back to the period of early Christianity and is a symbol of intercessory prayer, stamina, indestructible spiritual strength, and spiritual warriors. It has been known since ancient times, when Moses gave strength to his people in the battle with Amalekites holding hands up to God.

Since early Christianity 2nd-4th centuries in the Roman catacombs, images of women were found (presumably the first images of the Virgin) with their hands raised in prayer, they are far from the canonical image of Oranta, but they stand at the origins of one of the most common traditions of the image of the Virgin.

The image of Oranta in the "cubicule of the five saints" - a small room with burials in the walls, found in the Catacomb of St. Callistus (Rome, early 4th century). Source - Wikipedia.

Our Lady of Oranta in Latin means "praying". Since ancient times, her image has been associated with intercession, protection of the city, and church hymns organically gave the image of Oranta the epithet “the kingdom is an indestructible wall” (akathist to the Mother of God).

In the Byzantine system of church painting, the image of Our Lady of Oranta was traditionally placed at the top of the altar. Oranta is majestic and monumental, calm and harmonious.

The appearance of Oranta in St. Sophia of Kyiv

At the beginning of the 11th century, with the appearance of a Greek metropolitan in Kyiv Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise began the construction of a large cathedral Hagia Sophia- in honor of the long-awaited victory over the Pechenegs, at the site of the decisive battle. The central mosaic, located in the semicircular part of the Temple above the altar, was made by Greek masters in accordance with the canons of the capital's churches of Constantinople. It's about about the mosaic of Our Lady Protector Oranta, or the “Indestructible Wall”, raising her hands to the Almighty Savior in the dome of the Temple. In accordance with the canons of the Byzantine model, the Mother of God began to be perceived not only as a patroness, wise, a guide from earthly people (prayers) to God (to heaven, to the dome of the Temple), a source of Grace, but also began to be considered patroness of the city, the defender of its fortress walls. The perception of the city as "protected by God" had great importance also for secular life, as it strengthened people's faith in invincibility and chosenness, gave strength in the fight against enemies, encouraged the development of society, construction, and the adoption of laws.

View of St. Sophia Cathedral from the inner monastery courtyard

Symbols of Kyiv Oranta

The central mosaic of the Temple immediately catches the attention of the incoming one. The simplicity of the image characteristic of early Christianity makes it close common man, harmonious, natural and as if alive. Oranta is adamant, strong, confidently standing, while her face is clear and serene. The Mother of God seems to shine against the background of the golden smalt framing her. Blue chiton- Byzantine tradition - symbolizes heavenly perfect purity, virginity. Golden Armlets(detail of the vestments of priests) - a symbol of co-service to the High Priest Christ. Behind the red belt we see a piece of fabric ( lention) - according to beliefs, the Mother of God wipes the tears of those who pray with it. Cover, falling on the shoulders and covering the hair - a symbol of mercy and protection. The cover of gold color is a symbol of light, purity, glory. Three stars on the shoulders and forehead - traditional elements of the iconography of the Virgin - a symbol of ever-virginity - the Virgin before the birth of Christ, during and after. Shining halo. The combination of gold and red colors in the clothes of the Virgin ( purple boots, red belt) is a sign of her Royalness, since in ancient times these were the colors of the rulers. Red color in the Eastern Christian tradition, it is also a symbol of the human principle.

Mosaic "Our Lady of Oranta" in Hagia Sophia (source - Wikipedia)

Our Lady of Oranta stands on a quadrangular golden stone - an unshakable foundation. Interestingly, in the ancient Christian perception, along with the interpretation of the angle as a figure of stability and foundation (remember the meaning of the concept of “cornerstone”), the angle was considered at the same time as a figure vulnerable, in need of cover or protection.

Along the curve of the arch framing Oranta, there is an inscription in Greek:

God is in his midst; he will not hesitate: God will help him early in the morning. Psalter. Psalm 45:6.

It is about opposing the world chaos of the indestructible City in which God dwells.

All icons of the Mother of God can be divided into 6 types. Five differ in the way the Mother of God holds the Child, the sixth type is the icons of the Holidays.

Prayer, Oranta

The icon of the Mother of God Oranta is translated from Latin as “praying”. This icon is so called because the Mother of God is depicted on it in prayer with her hands raised to heaven. The image of the Virgin can be waist-deep, as well as full-length.

Story

The image of the Mother of God, with her hands raised to heaven in prayer, has been known since ancient times. It is found in the paintings of the catacombs of ancient Christians, in the decoration of Byzantine churches and in medieval Russian icon painting. The very image of hands raised to the sky has its origin from the Old Testament prayers, which also corresponds to the name of this image of the Mother of God Praying. In Russian Orthodox tradition the image of Orant, Praying, includes such icons as the Sign, the Kursk, the Indestructible Wall, the Inexhaustible Cup, the Life-Giving Spring. Among the iconography of the Sign, Kursk-Root is widely known. The Kursk icon has always been highly revered in Russia.

Miracles

The icon of Orant, Praying, has long been known for its miracles. In Russia, this image is called "The Sign". There is such a miracle associated with it. On November 27, 1169, when Andrei Bogolyubsky's squad stormed Novgorod, the Novgorodians carried the icon onto the city wall, and then one of the arrows hit this icon. And suddenly everyone saw that the Mother of God turned her face to the city and began to cry. Her tears fell on the priestly robe of Bishop John of Novgorod, who exclaimed: “Oh, wondrous miracle! How can it be that tears flow from a dry icon tree? It is You, the Mother of God, who gives us Your sign that you pray for us before Your Son for the deliverance of Novgorod-grad. And then, inspired by the Novgorodians, they repulsed the Suzdal regiments ...

This image, through the prayer of believers, protects them from misfortunes and troubles, from enemies and ill-wishers. Miraculous cases and healings tell us that the Mother of God listens to our prayers, pronounced before the icon of Orant. Wherein different type iconography helps with various requests for help.

What helps, days of celebration

Our Lady of Oranta

Oramnta (from Latin orans - praying) is one of the main types of the image of the Mother of God, representing Her with her arms raised and outstretched to the sides, palms open, outward, that is, in the traditional gesture of intercessory prayer.

A similar prayer posture has been known since biblical (Old Testament) times. The first images of the Virgin Oranta (without the Child) are already found in the Roman catacombs. This iconographic scheme was most widely used in the post-iconoclastic period. So, in the church of Nea in Constantinople, built under Basil I in the period from 867 to 886 (not preserved), there was an image of Oranta in the conch of the apse. The upper register of the apse murals becomes a traditional place for a mosaic or fresco image of the Virgin Oranta. In the apse of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv (XI century) there is one of the most famous mosaic images of Oranta (the height of the figure is 5 m 45 cm). One of the epithets assigned to this image is "Indestructible Wall".

From other iconographic types of the image of the Virgin, Oranta is distinguished by majesty and monumentality. Her posture is extremely static, the composition is symmetrical, which corresponds to the ideas of wall paintings and mosaics, decorative and applied art. In iconography, however, independent images of the Mother of God Oranta without the Child are used extremely rarely. This image is part of complex compositions, for example, in the iconography of the holidays of the Ascension or the Intercession.

In Byzantine and ancient Russian church art, the image of the Virgin Orans with the Christ Child was popular in the iconography of Emmanuel (God is with us (Heb.) - one of the prophetic names of God the Son, used in the prophecy of Isaiah (Is VII, 14), represents Christ the Child ). Usually Christ is depicted in a round medallion, or slightly visible (translucent) at the level of the Mother's chest. In the Russian tradition, this type of iconography received a special name - "The Sign". The main meaning of the "Sign" icons moved from the intercessory intercessory prayer of Our Lady Oranta to the Incarnation of Christ. A sign is, in a certain sense, an image of the Annunciation and an omen of the Nativity and the gospel events following it, up to the Second Coming.

On the icons in the iconography of the Sign, the Mother of God can be depicted in full growth, as, for example, on the Yaroslavl Oranta (Great Panagia - from the Greek RbnbgYab - All-Holy) and the Mirozh icon, or waist-high, as on the Novgorod icon "The Sign" and the Kursk Root icon.

The development of the iconography of the Sign was the composition of such icons as the Inexhaustible Chalice.

Oranta, which means “praying” in Latin, unites different types images of the Virgin, also known as "Panagia" (Most Holy), "Great Panagia" or "Sign". Excerpts widespread in Russia, such as the "Inexhaustible Chalice" and complex genre compositions, including images of the Ascension and Intercession holidays, represent the development of the orant icon-painting type. The common thing that unites them all is the very principle of depicting the Mother of God, which is written full face, full-length or waist-high, with her hands raised to heaven in a prayerful gesture. oranta virgin iconography jesus

Due to tradition and Orthodox dogma, independent images of the praying Mother of God were little used in icon painting. Much more common here is a variety of the “Sign” orant, which differs in that against the background of the breast of the Virgin there is an image of Christ Emmanuel, who is written with arms outstretched in prayer, translucent, or in a special environment - a cartouche. In this interpretation, the meaning of the icon shifts from intercessory prayer to the idea of ​​the Incarnation as the main motif of the iconography of the Virgin as a whole.

The name “The Sign” goes back to the legend about the miracle of the myrrh flow of the icon “The Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos”, which took place on November 27, 1169, during the assault on Free Novgorod by the troops of Vladimir Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. After the time of accomplishment procession one of the arrows hit the ancient icon of the Mother of God, she turned her face to the city and began to shed tears. According to legend, Bishop John of Novgorod then exclaimed: “Oh, wondrous miracle! How do tears flow from dry wood? Queen! You give us a sign that you are praying before your son for the deliverance of the city. Inspired by the miracle, the Novgorodians recaptured the city, and the icon, called "The Sign", began to be revered as miraculous and served as the basis for many lists.

The image of the Praying Mother of God with Jesus Christ is a common plot in Orthodox icon painting. The signs of Abalak, Narva, Tsarskoye Selo, Kursk-Root are known and widely revered in Russia. A special place in this series is occupied by miraculous icon Mother of God "The Inexhaustible Chalice", which differs in that Christ is depicted here not in a cartouche, but in a golden goblet. The icon was found in 1878 in the Vvedensky Vladychny Monastery in the city of Serpukhov and became the basis for two revered miraculous lists that have survived to this day. Every year, the Serpukhov Monastery receives thousands of new pilgrims who pray before the "Inexhaustible Chalice" for deliverance from alcoholism and other addictions.

Oranta. Mosaic. Kyiv. 11th century

Oranta (Roman catacombs, first half of the 4th century)

Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign. Novgorod the Great. First half of the 12th century

Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God.

Inexhaustible Chalice. Serpukhov. 19th century