Smolensk icon Mother of God is one of the most revered images of the Virgin throughout Russia. Praying at this miraculous icon, the blind received their sight; following her call, great warriors won great victories; Kutuzov blessed his troops with it during the war of 1812, and the number of revered lists from it is incalculable ...

1. The prototype of the icon: the Evangelist Luke, the blessing of the Virgin and further history

According to legend, the prototype of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, from which all revered lists were made, was written by the Evangelist Luke during the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that is, before the year 45 AD.

When the Evangelist Luke humbly presented this and two other images to the gaze of the Mother of God, She said: “The grace of Him Who was born from Me and My mercy be with these icons.”
And so it happened. The image, which subsequently received - approximately at the beginning of the XII century - the name of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, became miraculous.

The further fate of the icon was no less interesting: before getting to Smolensk - and in general to Russia - the icon managed to visit Jerusalem and perform its first miracle - about it a little lower - in the Blachernae Church of Constantinople.

In Russia, the icon appeared at the time Kyiv prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, who married the daughter of the Greek Emperor Constantine Monomakh Anna. It was with this icon that Emperor Konstantin blessed his daughter - and with it Anna Konstantinovna blessed her son - Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh.

Detail: in the photo above - the prototype (!) of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, lost after 1941, in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin. The photograph was taken in 1912 by the pioneer of color photography, Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorsky (1863 - 1944).

2. The first miracle. Hodegetria

The first miracle associated with the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God happened at a time when the image painted by the Evangelist Luke was still kept in the Blachernae Church in Constantinople and, of course, was not called the Smolensk Icon.

According to legend, once the Mother of God appeared to two blind men and ordered them to go and bow to this icon in the Blachernae Church. The blind did not dare to disobey the Blessed Virgin and did everything as they were commanded. On the same day, both blind men received their sight, and since then the miraculous image has been called Hodegetria, which means “Guide” in Greek.

Detail: in the photo above - modern church on the site of the legendary Blachernae Cathedral, destroyed by fire in 1434.

3. The appearance of the icon in Russia. The first miracle in Smolensk and forced “moves” from the city

So, in Russia, the icon appeared during the time of the Kyiv prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich (1030 - 1093, in the miniature above).

It is known that the wedding of Vsevolod Yaroslavich and the daughter of Emperor Constantine Monomakh Anna took place in 1046, which means that the icon appeared in Kyiv at the same time - it was with it that Emperor Constantine blessed his daughter.

Half a century later, in 1097, the son of Vsevolod Yaroslavich and Anna Konstantinovna, Vladimir Monomakh, became Prince of Smolensk, and in 1101, on his orders, the Assumption Cathedral was erected in the city - the icon was placed there. It was from this moment that the image of the brush of the Evangelist Luke began to be called the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.

In Russia, the voice of the icon first sounded in 1238. According to legend, the image of the Mother of God turned to the Russian warrior Mercury with a command to protect the city from Batu Khan's detachments approaching Smolensk. A brave warrior, under cover of night, made his way to the camp of opponents and killed many enemies, among whom was the strongest warrior of the detachment. Mercury himself could not return from the battle alive and was glorified as a saint.

The icon was kept in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk for 300 years, and only at the beginning of the 15th century left its place for the first time - the city was captured by Lithuanian troops, and it was decided to transport the miraculous icon to the Moscow Cathedral of the Annunciation. The icon returned to Smolensk in 1455, and the next time it left the city a century and a half later - in 1609, during the Russian-Polish war.
During the war of 1812, the icon was also transported from Smolensk to Moscow. On the day of the Battle of Borodino, she, along with two other revered icons of the Mother of God - Iveron and Vladimir - were surrounded around the White City and the Kremlin. Also, on the personal order of Kutuzov, the icon of the Smolensk Mother of God was surrounded around all the ranks of the troops.

4. The disappearance of the icon

The prototype of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God disappeared from the Assumption Cathedral immediately after the capture of the city Nazi German troops. In 1943 the city was liberated, but the icon was never found and its further fate is unknown. Today, in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk, a copy of the miraculous icon, made in the 16th century, is kept. Apparently, the author of this work was the artist Postnik Rostovets.

Among other well-known lists of the miraculous image is an icon by Dionysius painted in 1482 (pictured above).

5. Iconographic features of the image

It is likely that the prototype of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God is a list from an earlier Blachernae Icon, also attributed to the brush of the Evangelist Luke and considered the first image in the world of the Hodegetria type - “Showing the Way”, “Guide”.

Icons of this type are characterized by a half-length depiction of the Mother of God holding the Christ-child in one hand and pointing at Him with the other hand. The center of the composition is Christ, and the Blessed Virgin, pointing to Him, bears the main meaning of this image - it speaks of the appearance of the “heavenly king and judge” into the world.

Prayer to the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God:

Oh, the Most Wonderful and Exceeding all creatures, the Queen of the Mother of God, the Heavenly King Christ our God Mother, the Most Holy Hodegetria Mary!

Hear us, sinful and unworthy, at this hour praying to You with sighs and tears before Your most pure image, falling down, and saying tenderly: lead us from the ditch of passions, Good Hodegetria, deliver us from the wind of sorrow and sorrow, protect us from all misfortunes and evil slander and from the unrighteous slander of the enemy.

May you, O our Gracious Mother, not only save Your people from all evil, but also provide and save with all good deeds, unless You have other intercessors in troubles and situations and warm intercessors for us sinners to Your Son, Christ our God, not imams .

Begged him, Mistress, to save us and vouchsafe the Kingdom of Heaven, and by Your salvation we glorify Thee in the future, as if the culprit of our salvation, and exalt the All-Holy and Magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity of the glorious and worshiped God, forever and ever . Amen.

Dmitry Merkulov

THE SMOLENSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD NAMED "HODEGETRIA"

The miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, called the Hodegetria of Smolensk, has been known in Russia since ancient times. "Hodegetria", translated from Greek, means "Guide". There are several versions of the origin of this name, but the fact that the Most Holy Theotokos for all Orthodox Christians is a guide to eternal salvation is an undeniable truth.

According to Church tradition, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called "Hodegetria", was painted by the holy evangelist Luke during earthly life. Holy Mother of God at the request of the ruler of Antioch, Theophilus, for whom he wrote an essay on the earthly life of Christ, known as the Gospel of Luke. When Theophilus died, the image was returned to Jerusalem, and in the 5th century, the blessed Empress Eudoxia, the wife of Arcadius, transferred Hodegetria to Constantinople to the emperor's sister, Queen Pulcheriawho placed the holy icon in Blachernae Church.

The image came to Russia in 1046. The Greek Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh (1042-1054), passing off his daughter Anna to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise, blessed her on her journey with this icon. After the death of Prince Vsevolod, the icon passed to his son Vladimir Monomakh, who transferred it at the beginning of the 12th century to Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary . Since that time, the icon has received the name Hodegetria Smolenskaya .

Assumption Cathedral (Smolensk)

History of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God

In 1238 Batu Khan's army approached Smolensk. In that rati was a giant warrior, who, according to legend, alone was worth almost a whole rati. All Smolensk people came out to pray in front of the image of the Smolensk Hodegetria the Guide. The Tatars had already come very close to the city, by today's standards there were no more than 30 kilometers left, when a sexton in the Pechersky Monastery outside the city saw in a vision the Mother of God, who ordered him to bring a warrior named Mercury to Her. Entering the Caves Church, Mercury saw with his own eyes the Mother of God, sitting on a golden throne with the Child in her arms and surrounded by angels. The Mother of God said that Mercury must save Her own inheritance from desecration, which once again indicated Her special protection over the Smolensk land. She also told him about his imminent martyrdom, and that she herself would not leave him, but would be with him to the end.

Following the command of the Mother of God, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury raised all the townspeople, preparing them for a siege, and he himself penetrated the camp of Batu at night and killed many enemies, including their strongest warrior. Then, in an unequal battle with the invaders, he laid down his head on the battlefield. His remains were buried in the Smolensk Cathedral. Soon, Mercury was ranked as a locally venerated saint (November 24), the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was also declared locally venerated, and the legend “The Tale of Mercury of Smolensk” was composed about his feat, which dates back to about the 15th - 16th centuries. Moreover, the legend says that after the burial, Mercury appeared to the same sexton and ordered the shield and spear that belonged to him during his lifetime to be hung in his resting place.

Sandals of the Holy Martyr Mercury - one of the shrines of the Smolensk Cathedral

In 1395 Smolensk principality fell under the protectorate of Lithuania. In 1398, in order to avoid bloodshed in Moscow and soften the acute relations between the Polish-Lithuanian rulers and Moscow, the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Vitovt Sophia was married to the son of Dmitry Donskoy, Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398-1425). The Smolensk Hodegetria became her dowry and was now transferred to Moscow and installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin on the right side of the altar.

Annunciation Cathedral (Moscow Kremlin)

In 1456, at the request of the inhabitants of Smolensk, headed by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a procession of the cross. On June 28, according to the old style, at the monastery of Savva the Sanctified on the Maiden's Field in Moscow, with a large gathering of people, the icon was solemnly escorted to the bend of the Moskva River, from where the path to Smolensk began. A prayer service was served. Half a century later, in 1514, Smolensk was returned to Russia (the assault on the city by Russian troops began on July 29 - the day after the celebration of the Smolensk icon).

In 1524 in memory of this event Grand Duke Vasily III founded the Mother of God-Smolensky Monastery, which we know more as Novodevichy Convent . The monastery was consecrated and began to operate in 1525. From this period, the all-Russian glorification of the icon began, officially established by the Church.

Novodevichy Bogoroditse-Smolensky Monastery on Devichye Pole in Moscow

However, the Muscovites were not left without a shrine - two copies of the miraculous icon remained in Moscow. One was placed in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - "measure in measure" - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. In 1602, an exact list was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon new list were taken to Moscow for renovation), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper gates, under a specially arranged tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 a stone one.

The miraculous image of Smolensk again showed its intercession during Patriotic War 1812 . On August 5, 1812, when the Russian troops left Smolensk, the icon was taken to Moscow, and on the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was carried around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers to a great feat.

Prayer before the Battle of Borodino

On August 26, on the day of the battle in Borodino, three images of the Virgin - the ancient image of the Hodegetria of Smolensk, along with the Iberian and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, were surrounded in a procession around the capital, and then sent to the sick and wounded soldiers in the Lefortovo Palace, so that they could bow to the shrines, thank before them the Mother of God for intercession and ask for recovery.Before leaving Moscow, the icon was transported to Yaroslavl.

After the victory over the enemy, on November 5, 1812, by order of Kutuzov, the Hodegetria icon, along with the glorified list, was returned to Smolensk to the native Assumption Cathedral.

In 1929, the Assumption Cathedral was closed, but, like many other temples and churches of that period, it was not subject to desecration and ruin. Intelligence, which can be considered reliable, about the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God - the prototype of other, subsequent lists break off in 1941, after the capture German troops Smolensk. Then, in early August 1941, the headquarters of the German command received a message that the list of the icon, attributed according to historical data to the brush of the Evangelist Luke, is in its original place, in good condition, the icon is considered miraculous and its location is a place of worship and pilgrimage. Nothing more is known about that icon.

Now, in place of the missing icon, there is a list of the middle of the 16th century, which is not inferior to its predecessor in the number of miracles and in popular veneration, but Hodegetria is still waiting for the apostolic letter in Smolensk, they still believe that the time will come, and she will reveal herself from some hiding place where miraculously preserved all these years, as it once was.

Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria Smolenskaya Over the Gate, a list from the famous Smolensk Icon. Once it hung over the gates of the Smolensk Kremlin, now it is kept in the cathedral on the site of the Smolensk icon lost in 1941.

Lists with icons

There are many revered lists of the miraculous Smolensk Hodegetria. Many lists from that original, but lost icon have become miraculous (more than 30 in total) - Igretskaya Pesochinskaya, Yugskaya, Sergievskaya in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Kostroma, Kirillo-Belozerskaya, Svyatogorskaya, Solovetskaya and others .. All these images are in different time and in to varying degrees showed their miraculous properties.

Iconography

There is little information left about the iconographic features of the image, since the icon, as is known, was lost in 1941, and therefore no one studied it. It was only known that the icon board was very heavy, the ground was prepared from chalk on glue, as was done in antiquity, and covered with canvas.

The Mother of God holds the Child on her left hand, the Lord’s right hand is raised in a blessing gesture, in His left hand is a “scroll of teaching”. On the reverse side were written the view of Jerusalem, the Crucifixion and the inscription in Greek - "The king is crucified." In 1666, the icon was renovated, and later images of the Most Pure and John the Theologian appeared at the Crucifixion.

The iconographic image of the Smolensk Icon is very similar to the Iver Icon of the Mother of God, but differs in the severity of the arrangement of the figures and the facial expressions of the Virgin and the Infant.

The meaning of the icon

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church (along with Vladimir and Kazan).

Amazing historical material is associated with the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, which marks all the most important events in the history of Russia up to the last century. It can be said that not a single event where the intercession of the One depicted on it was required could do without Her intervention. Hodegetria the Guide indicated and protected our west from predatory interests neighboring states seeking to establish their influence in Russian state both the military and political ways. But even the retreats, which were accompanied by the transfer of the miraculous shrine from its main inheritance - the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk, were only a strategic necessity, and in no way an agreement with the presence and rule of foreigners and the prevailing Latin faith on our land. Cathedral prayers before her Smolensk, Muscovites brought their wonderful results - sooner or later the enemy was expelled, and Smolenskaya Hodegetria returned home to Smolensk.

Believers have received and continue to receive abundant grace-filled help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: "You faithful people- All-good Hodegetria, You are Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands - affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation of the Christian!"

celebration

The celebration of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God takes place three times a year - July 28/August 10 , established in 1525, when the miraculous image was transferred from the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin to the Mother of God-Smolensk (Novodevichy) Monastery, founded Basil III in gratitude to the Mother of God for the return of Smolensk to Russia during the years of the Russo-Lithuanian war. The festival was established in memory of the arrival of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in Russia in 1046.

The second time the celebration takes place November 5/18 in honor of Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 1812.

November 24/December 7 we celebrate the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, remembering the victory of the inhabitants of Smolensk over the troops of the Golden Horde through the common prayer of the people in front of Her icon - the Smolensk Hodegetria.

The Smolensk Mother of God helps everyone who turns to her with prayers for healing from incurable diseases, in search of family peace and in other difficult and insoluble situations, as the first intercessor for us before God.

Troparion, tone 4
Now diligently to the Theotokos, we are sinners and humility, and we fall down, calling in repentance from the depths of our souls: Lady, help us, having mercy on us, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away Your servants of vanity, You and the only hope of the imam.

Kontakion, tone 6
The intercession of Christians is shameless, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, as if good, to help us, who faithfully call Ty: hasten to prayer and rush to supplication, intercession ever, the Mother of God, who honor thee.

Yin Kontakion, tone 6
Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, unless You, the Lady: You help us, we hope in You and we boast in You: Your servants, let us not be ashamed.

Prayer
Oh, the Most Wonderful and Exceeding all creatures, the Queen of the Mother of God, the Heavenly King of Christ our God, Mother, the Most Pure Hodegetria Mary! Hear us sinners and unworthy at this hour, praying and falling down to Your Most Pure Image with tears and tenderly saying: lead us from the ditch of passions, O Gracious Lady, deliver us from all sorrow and sorrow, protect us from all misfortunes and evil slander, and from the unrighteous and fierce slander of the enemy. May you, O our Blessed Mother, save Thy people from all evil and supply and save with all good deeds; unless you have another Representative in troubles and situations, and warm intercessors for us sinners, not imams. Pray, O Most Holy Lady, Thy Son Christ our God, that he may honor us with the Kingdom of Heaven; For this reason, we always praise Thee, as the Creator of our salvation, and we exalt the holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity of the glorified and worshiped God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer two
To whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to Thee, Lady Lady Mother of God, Queen of Heaven? Who will receive my weeping and my sighing, if not You, O Immaculate One, the Hope of Christians and the Refuge of sinners? Incline, O Most Pure Lady, Thy ears to my prayer, Mother of my God, do not despise me, demanding Thy help, hear my groaning and the cry of my heart, O Lady Mother of God Queen. And give me spiritual joy, strengthen me, impatient, despondent and negligent to Your praise. Reason and teach me how to pray to You, and do not depart from me, Mother of my God, for my murmuring and impatience, but be a cover and intercession in my life and lead me to a quiet haven of blissful peace, and so- number me among Your chosen flock, and there make me worthy to sing and glorify Thee forever. Amen.

Documentary film "Searchers. HODEGETRIA'S TRACE" (2014)

Assumption Cathedral is one of the most impressive buildings in Smolensk. It was here that the famous icon of the Smolensk Mother of God, the ancient Hodegetria, was kept from the day the temple was built. She, according to legend, more than once saved the city and was considered miraculous, disappeared during the Second World War. There are quite a few versions regarding the fate of Hodegetria. Many researchers are inclined to believe that the legendary image still exists, which means it makes sense to look for it!

In Russia, the icon of the Holy Mother of God “Hodegetria” of Smolensk has long been known. An unusual name, unusual for the Russian ear, the Greek "Hodegetria" means "Guide".

The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God is indeed a guide for any Orthodox person, which will lead him to the true Lord, one has only to pray to her from a pure heart."Hodegetria" has a rich history and is very famous in circles Orthodox Church.

Image and compositional features of the holy image

The main theological idea for the image was the theme of the coming of Christ, who became the incarnation of the Lord himself on Earth, for the sake of saving every human soul. The board depicts the Mother of God, who holds the Christ child in her hands. A fragile baby is the embodiment of the Heavenly King who is coming to judge this world and every person.

A characteristic feature of this image is the unique position of the hand of the Mother of God - she raised her right hand as if pointing people to Christ, telling whom they should worship and pray. It can also be interpreted as a personal appeal of the Mother of God to Jesus.

The researcher Kondakov claimed that this image is the most ancient of all that have come down to the modern church. Initially, it was known in Palestine, and after the 6th century it spread widely and became known throughout Byzantium and the East.

The composition of the iconography is very interesting:

1. All characters are depicted frontally so that their faces do not touch each other. They seem to be aloof;
2. The person praying can clearly see the face of Jesus and His Mother;
3. The face of the Virgin is slightly inclined towards the child;
4. The right hand is raised to chest level, where it froze, in a prayerful gesture;
5. Jesus is located on the hands;
6. The right hand of Christ blesses, and in the left there is parchment (in some variations, he holds a book instead of a whistle);
7. The Queen of Heaven is depicted waist-deep, but there are variants of the board in the world where she is depicted in full height or vice versa only on the shoulders;
8. On some similar icons, the Baby is located on the right side.

There is no exact information about exactly how the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God came to the territory of Russia, however, since its appearance, the board has been honored and considered a precious shrine by all members of the Orthodox Church. Few Orthodox did not know this image and did not pray to it.

Image history

The author of the board, according to church tradition, is the apostle Luke, whose gospel can be found in the New Testament. The board was discovered and transported to Constantinople from Palestine in the 5th century as part of other shrines by Empress Eudokia, whose husband was Emperor Theodosius the Younger.

According to the surviving sources, it can be calculated that the board was originally kept in the Odigon convent, and on Easter days it was moved to imperial palace. The monastery was already famous for miracles at that time and was called Odegon or "Guide", and later the shrine kept in it became known as "Hodegetria".

Important! The name "Hodegetria" perfectly suits the board not only in the place of its original storage, but also in a spiritual sense, because the Mother of God is the guide of all people to the Lord, who guides to the true even though it saves from enemies. This portrait became one of the main ones in Constantinople - it was he who was raised on the city walls during a siege, protecting the city from enemies.

Many historians confirm that it was this board that became the main one in the procession. The miracle that happened during this course is also known: according to the records of Stephen of Novgorod, who was a pilgrim in Constantinople, the picture of the Mother of God was carried around the streets and squares, but the miracle was that the heavy image in a beautiful wooden frame, weighing at least 10-20 kg, was worn by only one person throughout the entire course, which lasted about 4-6 hours. Isn't this a miracle?

More about miracles in Orthodoxy:

In the 11th century, the Mother of God Hodegetria came to the territory of Russia as part of the dowry that Emperor Constantine gave for his daughter Anna during the wedding with Prince Vsevolod. When Vsevolod died, his son Vladimir Monomakh ordered the construction of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in Smolensk, where the holy inheritance was located. After that, the face became the protector of the city. The first significant miracle happened in 1239 during the siege of Batu Khan's army. The warrior Mercury prayed for a long time to Hodegetria and received a revelation - to fight the enemy alone. According to many Mongols, during the battle of Mercury, angels and the Mother of God herself were with him, who fought with him. The Mongols fled, horrified by what they saw, and Mercury died there and became one of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Where can I see the icon

At the beginning of the 15th century, the icon of Our Lady Hodegetria was moved to Moscow. y. The exact cause is unknown, but there are three versions of this event:

1. Dynastic marriage of a Lithuanian princess and a Moscow prince;
2. The legacy of the last prince Yuri Svyatoslavovich, who was expelled by Vitovt and took everything with him;
3. As part of the loot Yurga, when he left Prince Svidrigail and went to serve the Moscow prince Vasily Vasilyevich.

During his stay in Moscow, several copies were written from the holy face. In 1456, the original image returned to Smolensk, after Moscow Prince Vasily the Dark returned it as a future reunion of the two cities. At the same time, a copy was written and left in Moscow in the Annunciation Cathedral. On the copy, the baby Christ is positioned vertically, and researchers tend to think that Jesus was also depicted in this way on the original Byzantine image. Later, the Smolensk Mother of God was brought to Moscow several times to pray.

The day of the Battle of Borodino was especially significant, when many holy faces, including Smolensky, were gathered in the procession of the Muscovites. During the war with the French, the face was transferred to the city of Yaroslavl for storage and protection.

Important! In 1941, the Hodegetria, which was brought from Byzantium, was lost, it is suspected that it was stolen. A copy of the image is now kept in the Armory, where it came from the Novodevichy Convent built in 1523. They did this for security reasons, because the frame of the board is trimmed with a rich gold salary and a pearl riza.

What helps Hodegetria

The Mother of God of Smolensk often moved, either in the churches of Moscow or in the cathedrals of Yaroslavl, and only in 1655 she was returned to Smolensk, where today you can bow and pray to her, the rights are no longer the original image, but a copy. Initially, the holy image was placed in Constantinople, which was saved many times by her. After all, it was in front of Hodegetria that many believers prayed for peace in the city and for an end to hostilities. She kept first Byzantium, and now Russia, protecting it from military operations, destructive natural phenomena and terrible epidemics.

What do Orthodox Christians pray for before this image? They believe that the face:

• protect his native land from hostilities and bloodshed;
• protect those who are in the army and at the front;
• protect against diseases and epidemics;
• protect every family;
• will patronize family people.

What else can you pray to the Mother of God:

• Prayer before the icon "Softening evil hearts" for reconciliation
• Prayer before the icon "The Tsaritsa" to get rid of oncology

This image personifies a symbol of protection from troubles and a symbol of health. The icon is prayed for the salvation of the family, for the protection of loved ones and relatives, for those who are far from their home. Ask for the protection of the Mother of God and those who go on a trip or business trip. Mothers ask for the protection of children, and

But the most important task of the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk is to direct mankind and individual souls to salvation. All who yearn for God will find Him here. The sick can ask the Mother of God for healing, and they will receive it, they can ask for the health of their soul, and it will come with them.

This happens three times a year:

• August 10 - this date has been observed annually since 1525, when on this day the face was moved from the Kremlin to the Novodevichy Convent;
• November 18 - after the victory over Napoleon in 1812, this date is also annually celebrated by Orthodox believers;
• December 7 - the inhabitants of Smolensk decided to celebrate this holiday as the day of liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke.

Important! These days, in the Smolensk monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos, the akathist of the Smolensk Mother of God is read, where every believer can pray to her with the words of prayer and akathist.

Watch a video about the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God

The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos called "Hodegetria-Smolenskaya" has been known in Russia since ancient times. Under what circumstances this icon appeared in Russia, not enough clear information has been preserved.

The icon of the Mother of God called "Smolensk" is a list with "Hodegetria-Blachernae", written according to legend by the holy evangelist and apostle Luke. According to church tradition, once the Mother of God, appearing to two blind men, brought them to the Blachernae church, and placing them in front of Her icon, gave them sight. Since then, the icon began to be called "Hodegetria", which in Greek means "Guide". There is also another explanation for the name of this icon. According to one of the legends, which reports that the Greek emperor Constantine Porphyrogenic (1042-1054) blessed his daughter Anna with this icon, marrying her in 1046 to the Chernigov prince Vsevolod, the son of Yaroslav the Wise. Since this icon accompanied Princess Anna on her journey from Constantinople to Chernigov, the icon itself received the name "Hodegetria" ("Guide").

After the death of Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavovich and his wife Anna, the icon passed to their son Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh. Prince Vladimir Monomakh transferred the family icon from Chernigov to Smolensk and placed it in the cathedral church in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin. Since that time, the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Hodegetria" began to be called "Smolensk" in the place of setting.

Of the many miracles that took place from this icon, the deliverance of Smolensk from the Tatars is especially remarkable. In 1239, during the invasion of the Russian land by the hordes of Batu, one of the enemy detachments went to Smolensk. The inhabitants of the city, seeing the imminent death and not being able to repel the formidable enemy, turned with fervent prayer to the Mother of God. The Mother of God heard their prayers and granted salvation to the city for the sake of Her Hodegetria icon.

At the beginning of the 15th century, the Hodegetria icon was brought from Smolensk to Moscow and placed, as a great shrine, in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the Royal Doors. It is extremely difficult to determine exactly by whom and on what occasion this icon was brought to Moscow. Some sources claim that the icon was presented as a gift to the great Moscow prince Vasily Vasilyevich, a certain Yurg who plundered Smolensk. Other sources suggest that this icon was given (1398) as a parental blessing by Prince Vitovt to his daughter Sophia, when he married the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dmitrievich (1398-1425). Other sources claim that the last Smolensk prince, expelled from the city in 1404 by Vitovt, arrived in Moscow and brought along with other shrines the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk.

In 1456, Bishop Misail of Smolensk arrived in Moscow with the voivode and noble residents and asked Grand Duke Vasily Vasilyevich the Dark to release the holy icon of the Mother of God to Smolensk. With the blessing of Metropolitan St. Jonah, Vasily Vasilyevich decided to fulfill the request of the Smolensk ambassadors and release the icon. On January 18, after a solemn service in the Cathedral of the Annunciation, the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk was escorted with a procession to the monastery of Savva the Sanctified, on Maiden's Field. Having performed the last prayer service here, the icon was released “with many tears” to Smolensk. From the miraculous image, a list of “measure in measure” was made and placed in the place where it stood miraculous icon.

In 1525, Grand Duke Vasily Ioannovich, in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russian cities, founded the Novodevichy Convent not far from the place where the last prayer before the “Smolensk” icon of the Virgin was held. The copy of the icon from the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin was also transferred to this monastery.

In 1666, the icon of the "Smolensk" Mother of God was brought to Moscow for the second time by Archbishop Barsanuphius of Smolensk to restore the darkened painting. The renewal of the ancient image was also carried out in 1669 and 1812.

In 1812, during the French invasion, this icon was taken from Smolensk by Bishop Iriney (Falkovsky) and delivered to Moscow. The icon was placed in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin for the worship of the people. On the day of the Battle of Borodino on August 26, when the meeting of the icon of the "Vladimir" Mother of God was celebrated, Bishop Augustine, with a host of Moscow clergy, performed procession with icons of the "Vladimir", "Smolensk" and "Iberian" Mother of God around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls.

Before the occupation of Moscow by the French, the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk was sent to Yaroslavl. Here she remained until the very end of the Patriotic War of 1812. After the end of hostilities, the icon was solemnly transferred to Smolensk, where it was installed again in the cathedral.

The icon of Our Lady of Smolensk is one of the oldest Byzantine iconographic designs. The Mother of God is depicted at half height. Her right hand lies on her chest, and the left supports the Divine Infant, who holds a scroll in His left hand, and blesses the human race with His right hand. The image of the Mother of God is almost devoid of movement, only right hand she points to Jesus as the path of salvation (according to one version, because of this, the icon is called the “Guidebook”). The reverse side of the icon depicts the Crucifixion and a view of the city of Jerusalem. During the renovation of the icon in 1666, the standing ones were added to this image: the Most Holy Theotokos and John the Theologian.

Until 1941, the ancient miraculous image of the "Smolensk" Mother of God was in the Smolensk Cathedral in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin, built in 1667-1679. The further fate of the ancient image is unknown. The catalog of ancient Russian painting, published by the State Tretyakov Gallery in 1963, only says that "the icon suffered from the war."

The "Smolensk" icon of the Most Holy Theotokos has had great veneration in Russia among the Orthodox people since ancient times. Lists from this image are common in huge number. Only at least 30 miraculous and especially revered lists from this icon are known. Among the most famous miraculous lists from this icon are: the Hodegetria - Smolenskaya icon over the Dnieper Gate in Smolensk, the Hodegetria - Ustyugskaya icon from Veliky Ustyug, the Smolenskaya icon in Belgorod, the “Smolensk” icon from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the “Smolensk-Sedmiozernaya” icon from the Bogoroditskaya Sedmiozernaya Hermitage near Kazan, etc.

At present, another icon of the “Smolensk” Most Holy Theotokos has become famous for many miracles in Smolensk. The history of this miraculous image is briefly as follows. Icon of Our Lady of Smolensk bigger size, written in 1602. Until 1727, this icon stood on the fortress tower above the Dnieper Gates of Smolensk, in a special icon case. This year, with the zeal of the ruler of the provincial office, Dlotovsky, the icon was transferred to a wooden church in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin, as especially revered. In 1802, a stone church was built over the Dnieper Gates, into which the miraculous icon was transferred. At the same time, with the blessing of Bishop Seraphim, the icon that had hung over the frame was again repaired and decorated. precious stones and pearls.

In 1812, during the Patriotic War, this icon was transferred by the artillery company of Colonel Glukhov to the camp of the Russian troops and was always in the 3rd marching division of A.P. Yermolov. Before her, prayers of thanksgiving served after each victory over the enemy, in front of her was the commander-in-chief M.I. Kutuzov with the whole army prayed to the Mother of God for help and salvation of Russia. On the eve of the famous Battle of Borodino, the icon was worn throughout the camp to strengthen and support the courage of Russian soldiers. After being freed from the enemy, the icon was returned to Smolensk.

At present, this miraculous icon is in a specially arranged casket in the Smolensk Cathedral in honor of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. The icon is decorated with a riza with many colored stones.

The holy icon of the Mother of God called "Smolensk" is one of the main shrines of the Russian land. Believers have received and continue to receive abundant grace-filled help from her. The Mother of God, through Her image, intercedes and strengthens us, showing us the path to salvation.

The celebration in honor of the "Smolensk" Icon of the Mother of God is established: July 28 (August 10) in memory of the arrival of the icon in Russia in 1046, November 24 (December 7) in memory of the intercession of the Virgin during the battle with Batu and November 5 in honor of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland to war of 1812.

Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria"

They pray to the Most Holy Theotokos for preservation and help along the way.

Prayer before the Smolensk icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, called "Smolensk" (Hodegetria)

O Wonderful and Exceeding all creatures, the Queen of the Theotokos, the Heavenly King Christ our God Mother, the Most Pure Hodegetria Mary! Hear us sinners and unworthy at this hour, praying and falling down to Your Most Pure Image with tears and tenderly saying: lead us from the ditch of passions, the Lady of Grace, deliver us from all sorrow and sorrow, protect us from all misfortunes and evil slander, and from the unrighteous and fierce libel of the enemy. May you, O our Blessed Mother, save Thy people from all evil and supply and save with all good deeds; unless you have another Representative in troubles and situations, and warm intercessors for us sinners, not imams. Pray, O Most Holy Lady, Thy Son Christ our God, that He may honor us with the Kingdom of Heaven; For this reason, we always praise Thee, as the Creator of our salvation, and we exalt the holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity of the glorified and worshiped God, forever and ever. Amen.

Second Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos

To whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to Thee, Lady Lady Mother of God, Queen of Heaven? Who will receive my weeping and my sighing, if not You, O Immaculate One, the Hope of Christians and the Refuge of sinners? Incline, O Most Pure Lady, your ears to my prayer, Mother of my God, do not despise me, demanding your help, hear my groaning and the cry of my heart, O Lady Mother of God Queen. And give me spiritual joy, strengthen me, impatient, despondent and negligent to Your praise. Reason and teach me how to pray to You, and do not depart from me, Mother of my God, for my murmuring and impatience, but be a cover and intercession in my life and lead me to a quiet haven of blessed rest, and count me to the face Your chosen flock and there make me worthy to sing and praise Thee forever. Amen.

Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her icon, called "Smolensk" (Hodegetria).

Troparion, tone 4:
Now diligently to the Theotokos, we are sinners and humility, and we fall down, calling in repentance from the depths of our souls: Lady, help us, having mercy on us, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away Your servants of vanity, You and the only hope of the imam.

Glory, and now, the Theotokos:
We will never be silent, O Mother of God, speak Thy strength, unworthy. If only You would not have been praying, who would have delivered us from so many Vedas? Who would keep free until now? We will not retreat, O Lady, from Thee: for Thy servants save everlastingly from all kinds of fierce ones.

Kontakion, tone 6:
The intercession of Christians is shameless, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, as if good, to help us, who faithfully call Ty: hasten to prayer and rush to supplication, intercession ever, the Mother of God, who honor thee.

Yin kontakion, tone 6:
Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, unless You, the Lady: You help us, we hope in You and we boast in You: Your servants, let us not be ashamed.