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When the Vladimir Mother of God. One of the greatest shrines of Russia

The history of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God dates back to the time when the Virgin Mary was still on Earth. Tradition tells that the ancient image was painted by the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke himself. The image of the Virgin Mary was made on the board of the table, at which at one time all members of the Holy Family had meals: the Virgin Mary, her husband Joseph the Betrothed and the baby Jesus. This fact makes the icon special, a shrine that the Savior himself touched. The image remained in Jerusalem for 450 years, after which it was transferred to Constantinople (Constantinople).

Ancient icon of the Mother of God in Kievan Rus

In the 12th century, the holy icon first came to Rus' thanks to the Patriarch of Constantinople, Luke Chrysover. He bestowed a precious Christian relic (together with another icon of the Mother of God, known as the “Pirogovaya”) to the prince of Kyiv Yuri Dolgoruky. The icon of the Most Pure Virgin was transferred to the Vyshgorod nunnery, located near the capital Kievan Rus. The fame of the miracles performed by the holy face quickly spread over many kilometers around. came to the monastery large number pilgrims to look at the ancient Christian shrine, ask for its mercy, help and protection. The requests were made, and the glory of the image increased.

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

Once upon a time, the Vyshgorod lands belonged to Princess Olga, who was recognized as an Equal-to-the-Apostles saint after her death. Yuri Dolgoruky handed over (1155) this inheritance to his son Andrei (Bogolyubsky). But the young prince did not want to stay in Vyshgorod, therefore, taking the valuable bright face of the Mother of God from the monastery, and without telling his father anything, he went to Suzdal land, which was native to him. Even while on the road, Andrei and his companions prayed to the image of the Mother of God, asking for her blessing.

Upon arrival in Vladimir-on-Klyazma, the prince was greeted by the residents with enthusiasm and great joy. Then the travelers headed to Rostov, but an amazing thing happened - their horses suddenly stood up, nothing could force them to go further. The horses were replaced with fresh ones, but everything remained the same. After tearful kneeling prayers to the icon of the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God herself appeared before Andrei, holding a scroll in her hand. The Lady ordered to install the image in Vladimir, and at this place (where she appeared) to build a temple of God with a monastery. The monastery should have been dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The godly prince fulfilled all orders. And first of all, he placed the image of the Queen of Heaven, where she was punished. Since then (1160) the holy icon of the Mother of God began to be called Vladimir.

Four years later (1164), the Russian prince Andrei Bogolyubsky set out with an army on a campaign against the Volga Bulgars. And just before the battle, he confessed properly and took communion. And, kneeling down, he uttered words that became prophetic: that the person who trusts in Mother of Vladimir will be protected by holy intercession and will not perish. Centuries later, each time the power of the icon became a reliable impenetrable shield to protect its Orthodox children, turning enemy troops away from Russian cities, instilling fear and uncertainty in the hearts of the enemy. After the prince, each warrior venerated the miraculous face, begging for intercession and support. The enemy was defeated.

The Vladimir Icon granted many glorious victories to the Russian people over the enemies of the Fatherland. Thanks to her gracious intercession, Moscow avoided the destructive Tatar attacks: Khan Edigei (1408), Mazovsha, the Nogai prince (1451), as well as his father, Khan Sedi-Akhmet (1459).

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God guarding Moscow

Menacing clouds gathered over the Russian lands in 1395, when the hordes of the world-famous Central Asian conqueror, the ferocious Timur, gathered close to the borders. Behind him were already conquered Persia, Khorezm, and the countries of Transcaucasia. The Europeans called him Tamerlane, and the Russian people called him Temir-Aksak, which translated meant “Iron Lame.” The nickname did not appear by chance - the commander really became lame after being seriously wounded in the thigh. Having entered Russian territory, Timur mercilessly plundered and destroyed Christian villages, approaching Moscow.

An army led by Vasily I Dmitrievich came out from the capital to the banks of the Oka River to meet the formidable enemy. But heavy thoughts squeezed the prince’s heart, the army was weak, and this did not add confidence in successful outcome future battle. Only a real miracle could save the Russians. And it happened.

Metropolitan Cyprian addressed higher aid– intercession Holy Mother of God. Trusted people delivered the holy miraculous icon of the Vladimir Heavenly Queen from the city of Vladimir to Moscow. Already on August 26, 1395, the townspeople, with glorifying prayers and chants, met the ancient relic at the walls of the capital. Cries of encouragement were heard from everywhere Mother of God. People asked to save their homes, the Russian land and Orthodox faith. The solemn religious procession with the Savior headed to the Moscow Kremlin, the image was placed in the Assumption Church, and a prayer service was served. And at the very moment when the Vladimir Icon of the Virgin Mary entered Moscow, Timur’s troops retreated.

The chronicle, describing the events of those long ago years, says that Temir-Aksak set up a large camp and remained there for two weeks. But when the image of the Mother of Jesus arrived in Moscow, hitherto unfamiliar horror and fear filled his consciousness. According to old records, the brave commander saw a vision - the elder saints with shining golden rods were walking straight towards him from a large mountain. A sparkling woman with thousands of warriors hovered above them. This whole brilliant army was inexorably approaching, filling everything around.

Bad forebodings forced Timur to gather his army to immediately return home. Thus, by the grace of the Lord and His Mother Mary, a great miracle happened that saved Moscow. Having received the good news, the prince, priests, monks, soldiers, all Muscovites thanked the Mother of God for her ambulance, intercession. At the meeting place of the icon, a church and a monastic monastery were erected. The church celebration of this wonderful event was established on the day of August 26 (according to the old style - September 8). Its name became Presentation (meeting of the Vladimir image of the Mother of God). And the new monastic monastery began to be called Sretenskaya.

Troubled times returned again in 1408. The representative of the Golden Horde, Emir Edigei, set out to conquer Rus', punish for love of freedom, and force them to pay tribute. There were no signs of trouble, so Moscow did not prepare for an attack. The enemy army quickly reached the walls of the capital when the prince and his family were not there. The administration of the city was handled by Vasily I Dmitrievich’s uncle, Vladimir Andreevich Brave.

Already on December 1, Edigei’s troops surrounded Moscow. But Vladimir Andreevich was an experienced military leader, so properly organized defense did not allow Edigei to storm the city walls. Enemies rushed to destroy cities close to Moscow - Dmitrov, Serpukhov, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov, Pereyaslavl, others. Muscovites tirelessly prayed in front of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, so that she would not abandon them and give them over to their enemies for desecration. And the Queen of Heaven again showed great mercy. Edigei, having received news of unrest in the Golden Horde, urgently changed his plans. On December 20, he took a ransom of 3 thousand rubles and then retreated. By the will of the Lord and the Most Pure Virgin Mary, the Russian land managed to avoid sorrow, destruction, and death.

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God bestowed a new great miracle on the Russian land in 1480. The campaign of the Tatar Khan Akhmat against Moscow began in June. The Horde needed tribute, but the independent people refused to pay it. Since June 23, day and night prayers for the salvation and protection of Rus' from enemies were performed before the Holy Icon of Vladimir. Grand Duke Ivan III Vasilyevich gathered an army and set out to meet the army of the horde. When Akhmat approached the Oka River, he saw that the crossings were already occupied by the Muscovites, commanded by the son of the Grand Duke and the governor. Then the Horde headed to the Ugra (the left tributary of the Oka), intending to cross the river there. But the Russians managed to take advantageous positions (near Kaluga). So the Tatars' attempts to cross the river failed. On October 26 it became cold, the surface of the Ugra was covered with a layer of ice. This brought the battle closer.

Moscow could not live in peace; the Orthodox faithful fervently prayed to the Great Defender, bowing before the Vladimir Mother of God image. And so, on October 9, the Tatar troops began to retreat towards the steppe. And on November 11 (1480) Khan Akhmat left. The chronicle reports that the Tatars left the Ugra barefoot, naked, and completely ragged. History shows that, even before reaching the Horde, Akhmat was killed. The stand on the Ugra became a difficult lesson for the enemies, which put an end to the encroachments of the Horde yoke on Rus'.

Orthodox people associated such a glorious deliverance with the holy intervention of the Mother of God through prayers to the Vladimir Icon. And the historical location of the troops on the Eel River was given the name “Belt of the Virgin”. The Grand Duke, together with everyone, extolled praises to the Lord and the Ever-Virgin for the miracle of salvation from the horde of Akhmat. That same winter another one was installed church holiday, honoring the Vladimir Intercessor for saving Moscow from Akhmat - the second Candlemas on June 23 (according to the old style on July 6).

One more significant event, associated with the intervention of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which remained a bright date in church calendar The Russian Orthodox Church got rid of the Crimean Khan Muhammad-Girey. In the summer of 1521, a message was brought to Moscow that Muhammad-Girey with a large army was quickly approaching the border of Rus'. Prince Vasily III sent an army to stop the enemies. But the Oka warriors were defeated. The invaders mercilessly ravaged the Moscow and Kolomna villages and monasteries. And people were killed or taken prisoner. Chronicle records report that Muhammad-Girey himself became a camp near the right tributary of the Moscow River - Severka. And the army scattered around the surrounding area in search of profit.

At that time, Muscovites were sitting in a besieged city. The Grand Duke managed to get out to start collecting a new army. The accursed Mohammed-Girey left without waiting for the defenders, but the area around the capital was almost completely devastated, not a house or a living soul remained. Despite the great losses, the Orthodox Christians thanked the All-Merciful Intercessor for preserving the heart of the country - Moscow.

Eyewitness accounts

The entire time the siege of the capital lasted, Moscow Metropolitan Varlaam and all the Orthodox Christians prayed to save the city and avoid death and captivity. Various written sources have preserved to this day evidence of miracles that occurred at that time.

So, one elderly nun had an amazing vision. The woman saw how the saints with the Vladimir image of the Virgin Mary began to leave the Kremlin. They also took with them church shrines, prayed icons, as if they wanted to punish the city residents for their sins. But near the exit from the Kremlin territory, the mournful procession was stopped by the Monks Varlaam of Khutyn and Sergius of Radonezh. They begged the saints to stay to perform a large prayer service in the name of saving the Russian capital. After a fiery prayer to the Lord and the Mother of God for the forgiveness of all those who have sinned and the divine protection of Moscow from its enemies, the saints returned to the Kremlin again along with the holy Vladimir icon.

A similar vision arose before the Moscow saint, Blessed Basil. He said that through the intercession of the Mother of God and the prayers of the saints, the city of Moscow would be saved. Three more righteous women saw the same thing, which they told the sexton about. The Russian people judged that the holy intercession of the Moscow saints Varlaam and Sergius stopped the loss of grace, and the prayers to the Vladimir face of the Most Pure Mother of God were heard. Through the intercession of the Lord Jesus and the Virgin Mary, the Tatars fled, and Moscow was saved. Over time, perpetuating the memory of the divine deliverance of the capital from Muhammad-Girey, a holiday was established to honor the main Orthodox Russian shrine on May 21 (June 3, old style).

It's only brief description the most significant wonders in the history of the country from an ancient relic. Until now, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is the main, most ancient all-Russian shrine, the most revered image of all that exists in Russia. The Christian relic is kept in special careful conditions in the Church-Museum of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Tolmachi. The church exists at the State Tretyakov Gallery. People come to the icon on excursions and church services are held.

The Vladimir icon has many copies kept by various churches and monasteries. Most of the spells have become famous and are revered by parishioners and pilgrims as miraculous.

There are many different images of the Virgin Mary in the world that appeared in the most different times. All of them are revered by Christians and considered miraculous. But the most revered is the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which has quite interesting story origin, numerous miraculous deeds are attributed to her. It differs from all the others not only in the manner of writing, but also in its meaning for Christians.

If you believe history, then the first image of the Mother of God was a portrait painted by Saint Luke on a board from the table at which little Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Joseph were eating. When the Mother of God saw this work, she blessed it and promised that from now on all her images would bring only heavenly grace to the world.

Vladimir icon for a long time was in Jerusalem. But during the reign of Theodosius the Younger it was moved to the capital of the Byzantine state - Constantinople. A century later, the icon was donated to Yuri Dolgoruky. On the territory of Rus' it long time was stored in Vyshgorsky convent. It was from there that rumors of her miraculous power spread throughout the world.

The icon remained in the monastery until 1155, when Andrei Bogolyubsky ordered its transfer to the city of Vladimir. The world famous Assumption Cathedral was erected here for the image. And the icon itself has since received the name Vladimir Mother of God. It was at this time that a precious frame of gold and silver was made for the image, decorated a large number precious stones and pearls.

Since ancient times, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God guarded the troops of Rus' during the raids of invaders. The main examples of her miraculous intercession include the victory of Andrei Bogolyubsky over the Bulgars and the defeat of Tamerlane’s army. During the latter's invasion, the image was brought to one of the churches in Moscow and an akathist was read before it by all the monks and ministers. Khan Tamerlane was afraid of the power of the Vladimir Mother of God and retreated before her power. Historians say that in a dream, the khan dreamed of a detachment in shining armor descending from a mountain, over which the Mother of God of Vladimir hovered and blessed the troops.

The day when the icon was brought to the Moscow temple has since been celebrated as the Feast of the Presentation. This day usually falls on September 8 or August 26 according to the old style. And in memory of the miracle performed by the Mother of God, it was erected Sretensky Cathedral and a monastery.

The most possible things can happen in the life of every person. different situations that require an immediate solution. If the usual and usual methods do not give desired results, then people turn to the Mother of God, who hears, sees, and always comes to the aid of those praying.

The Vladimir Mother of God performed many miracles. But the most famous and difficult to interpret are the following:

Miracles were performed not only by the icon itself, but also by numerous copies of it, which are distributed throughout the world. There are legends about these miracles that confirm the power of the Vladimir Mother of God.

This shrine has witnessed many events in Russia. She was able to go through all the military campaigns with the troops, and was at the coronation of the emperors. The naming of many patriarchs took place before her. Prayers are read to her at the moment when it is necessary to calm the anger of enemies, remove their anger and eliminate the fear of those who go on a military campaign.

Many parishioners turned to the Mother of God with prayers for making a fateful decision or for her to grant strength in getting what they wanted. It is she who helps to get rid of many diseases and heal even the most seriously ill people. The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God helps:

strengthen faith and gain strength to cope with any adversity;
to be healed of blindness and heart disease;
get rid of sinful thoughts and bad intentions;
make an important and fateful decision when a person cannot understand what to do in a given situation.

The significance of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has always been great for all Russian people. She helps in the most hard times when there is nowhere else to wait for protection and help. But we can say that such an icon is not the only one. And here will be the mistake - this image is very different from others with a similar context.

Based on the type of writing, it belongs to the “Caressing” variety. This image is one of the most lyrical of all possible depictions of the face of the Virgin Mary. With one hand, the Mother of God holds the baby, hugging him to herself and protecting him from the whole world. Their faces pressed against each other, which reveals a completely different side of the communication between mother and son. In this icon they appear not as the Mother of God and the Child of God, but as simple mother and son who endlessly love each other.

Only the mother and baby are depicted on the canvas. There are no angels, no archangels, no one else on the canvas. The Virgin Mary's head is tilted towards the baby, and he hugs her neck with his hand. Distinctive feature The icon is that the baby's leg is curved and his foot is visible.

The main prayer to the face of the Vladimir Mother of God is the following:

Today, the original image is located in Tolmachi in the museum at the Church of St. Nicholas. But even knowing where the original icon is located, you should not rush to go to pay homage to it. You can pray to any of the lists that are located in many churches in Russia.

For every Russian person, the Vladimir Icon is of great importance. She helps in the most unexpected and difficult situations. Therefore, in many homes there is an image of the Mother of God, in front of which candles are placed and prayers are offered for the bestowing of health to loved ones.

It 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.”

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 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 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 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.

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 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 an icon Our Lady of Vladimir, which miraculously put the Horde regiments to flight.

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.

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

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 - Calvary cross, a copy 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 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 supreme temple of her glorious Dormition, which is the great Cathedral and Apostolic Church 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 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 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 there was a chapel of a spring dedicated to Our Lady. 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

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 up to the elbow and the transparent edge of the shirt visible from under it, 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 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.<…>Complex and transparent system the relationship of tones - greenish sankira, ocher, shadows and highlights - leads to a specific effect of diffused, flickering light.”

Among Byzantine icons Komninian period, the Vladimir Mother of God is also distinguished by the characteristic the best works This time is a deep penetration into the area of the human soul, its 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 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

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) 12th century.

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

Today the most glorious city of Moscow is brightly adorned, / 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 He will save our souls, like the Merciful.

Kontakion, 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 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, 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 the Eminence metropolitans, archbishops and Orthodox bishops. May they govern the Russian Church well, and may the faithful sheep of Christ be preserved indestructibly. Remember, 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 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.

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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, it illuminates with its rays, so this image of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is not in one place... but , going around all countries and the whole world, 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.

There, p. 137. In addition, N.V. Kvilidze unveiled the painting of the deacon of the Trinity Church in Vyazemy of the late 16th century, where on the southern wall the liturgy in the church with an altar is depicted, behind which is the 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 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 (in 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.

Image Vladimir Mother of God is one of the most ancient and revered in Rus'. The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is considered the patroness of the Russian people and Russia itself. The memory of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated 3 times a year: June 3(May 21, Old Style), July 6(June 23, O.S.) and September 8(August 26, old style).

In the RDC, a temple in the Nizhny Novgorod region was consecrated in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

In the DOC, a prayer room was consecrated in the name of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Edinoverie Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located in the Moscow region.

Image of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Miracles

In 1163–1164, at the initiative of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, the Legend “On the Miracles of the Most Holy Theotokos of Volodymyr Icon” was compiled. Its authors and compilers are considered to be the clergy of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir: priests Lazar, Nestor and Mikula, who came with the prince from Vyshgorod, which he received from his father Yuri Dolgoruky after he occupied Kyiv. The Legend contains 10 miracles that happened according to prayer appeal to the Mother of God in front of Her Vladimir Icon.

First miracle: on the way of Prince Andrei from Vyshgorod to Pereslavl on the Vazuza River, the guide, who was looking for a ford, suddenly stumbled and began to drown, but he was miraculously saved through the prince’s fervent prayer in front of the icon he was transporting.
Second: the wife of the priest Mikula, who was expecting a child, for the sake of prayer Vladimir image, escaped from a mad horse.
Third: in the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral, a man with a withered hand turned to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and began to pray with tears and great faith into a miraculous healing. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky and priest Nestor testified that they saw the Most Pure One herself take the sick man’s hand and hold it until the end of the service, after which he was completely healed.
Fourth: Prince Andrei’s wife carried the child heavily, the birth was very difficult. Then (on the day of the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary) the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was washed with water and the princess was given this water to drink, after which it was easily resolved by her son Yuri.
Fifth: saving a baby from sorcery thanks to washing with water from the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
Sixth: healing of a heart patient from Murom with water from the Vladimir Icon.
Seventh: healing from blindness of Abbess Maria from the Slavyatin Monastery near Pereslavl-Khmelnitsky (Ukraine); her brother, Boris Zhidislavich, who was the governor of Prince Andrei, asked the priest Lazar to give him water from the icon, the abbess drank it with prayer, anointed her eyes and received her sight.
Eighth: The woman Efimiya suffered from heart disease for seven years. Having learned, from the stories of the priest Lazarus, about healing properties water from the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, she sent with him to Vladimir many gold jewelry to the icon. Having received holy water, she drank it with prayer and was healed.
Ninth: a certain noblewoman from Tver could not give birth for three days and was already dying; on the advice of the same Lazarus, she made a vow to the Holy Mother of God of Vladimir, and then the birth quickly ended with the successful birth of a son. As a token of gratitude, the noblewoman sent many precious jewelry to the Vladimir icon.
Tenth: It happened that the Golden Gate of the Vladimir passage tower, which is still located in the city, fell, and 12 people were trapped under it. Prince Andrey appealed to the Most Pure One in prayer in front of the Vladimir Icon, and all 12 people not only remained alive, but did not even receive any injuries.

The city of Moscow and the miraculous image of the Mother of God of Vladimir are inseparably 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.” It was so providentially formed Moscow State, incorporating 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.

Days for celebrating the icon:
June 3 – in honor of the rescue of Moscow from Khan Makhmet-Girey in 1521.
July 6 - in memory of the liberation of Rus' from the Khan of the Golden Horde Akhmat in 1480.
September 8 - Presentation of the Vladimir Icon, in memory of the liberation of Moscow from the troops of Tamerlane in 1395.

WHAT DO YOU PRAY FOR BEFORE THE VLADIMIR ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

Vladimirskaya Icon of the Mother of God always prayed for the preservation of the country, for help in protecting it from enemies. People turn to this icon during various disasters and ask for help in healing from illnesses.
The Mother of God through this image helps to reconcile warring people, softens human hearts, helps to accept right decision, strengthens faith.
There were cases when prayers to the Vladimir Icon relieved infertility or diseases of the reproductive organs. The icon especially protects mothers and their children, promotes easy childbirth, gives health to babies, and helps with diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system.

It must be remembered that icons or saints do not “specialize” in any specific areas. It will be right when a person turns with faith in the power of God, and not in the power of this icon, this saint or prayer.
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HISTORY OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE VLADIMIR MOTHER OF GOD

According to legend, the holy image of the Mother of God of this icon was created by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke directly on the surface of the table at which the Savior and the Blessed Virgin were having meals:

“Having written Your all-honorable image, divine Luke, divinely inspired writer Christ's Gospel, depicted the Creator of all in Your hands.”

Seeing the created image, the Mother of God said:

“From now on, everyone will please Me. May the grace of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with this image.”

At the beginning of the 12th century, a special list was made of this icon; the Vladimir Icon itself was in Constantinople at that time. The list was given as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky, Grand Duke of Kyiv. The holy icon was brought to Kyiv and placed in the Mother of God Monastery.
Yuri Dolgoruky had several sons, they constantly quarreled with each other over their father's inheritance. One of the sons, Prince Andrei, was tired of the brothers' quarrels and in 1155, secretly from his father, taking an icon from the Mother of God Monastery, he headed to the north of the state to create his own principality there, which would be independent of Kyiv.

They made a platform for the icon and transported it on a special sled. Throughout the entire journey, Prince Andrei fervently prayed to the Mother of God.
After resting in Vladimir, the prince was about to continue moving, but having driven quite a bit from the city, his horses stopped. They tried to force them to move on, but all attempts were unsuccessful. Even after changing horses, nothing changed - the caravan did not move. Prince Andrei began to fervently pray to the Mother of God, and during prayer the Queen herself appeared to him, commanding that the miraculous icon be left in Vladimir, and that the cathedral that the prince would have to build would become its home. So this image received the name - the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
To Moscow Vladimir icon was transported in 1480. It was placed in the Assumption Cathedral, and in Vladimir there remained a copy of the icon written Rev. Andrew Rublev.

The meeting place (or “presentation”) of the icon in Moscow is immortalized by the Sretensky Monastery, which was erected in honor of this event, and the street was named Sretenka.

Immediately after the revolution, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was closed. In 1918, the miraculous image of the Mother of God was transferred to the State Tretyakov Gallery, where the icon remained until September 8, 1999. Then it was moved from the Tretyakov Gallery to the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi.

SOME MIRACLES THAT THE ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF VLADIMIR WORKED

In history there is a lot of evidence of unusual miracles that occurred with the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
In 1395, Khan Tamerlane and his troops attacked Rus'. At this time, procession For more than ten days, they carried the icon in their hands from Vladimir to Moscow. People stood on both sides of the path and prayed to the Holy image on the icon: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!” Based on these prayers, Tamerlane had a dream that from the top high mountain Christian saints descended, holding rods of gold in their hands, and a Majestic Woman appeared above them and ordered him to leave Rus' alone. Tamerlane woke up in alarm and sent for dream interpreters, who explained to the khan that the radiant Woman was the image of the Mother of God, the protector of all Christians. Having stopped his campaign, Tamerlane left Rus'.

In 1451, during the Tatar attack on Moscow, Metropolitan Jonah carried the icon in a procession along the city walls. At night, the attackers heard a loud noise and decided that Prince Vasily Dmitrievich was coming with his army to help the besieged; in the morning they lifted the siege and retreated from the city walls.

In 1480, a battle between Russian troops and the Tatar-Mongols was supposed to take place. The opponents stood on different banks of the river and prepared for battle, but it never took place. This “great stand on the Ugra River” ended with the flight of the Tatar-Mongols, to which the Mother of God turned them through her Vladimir Icon, which was in front of the Russian army.

In 1521, the Khan’s troops once again approached Moscow, began to burn the settlements, but unexpectedly withdrew from the city without causing significant harm to the capital. This event is also associated with the protection of the miraculous icon, in whose honor its third holiday was established.

The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God has always taken part in important events of our state. With it, the people went to the Novodevichy Convent to Boris Godunov to install him as king; this icon met the troops of Minin and Pozharsky, who in 1613 expelled the Polish invaders.

For our country, the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God is of great importance. During times of difficult trials, prayers to her more than once saved Rus' from destructive enemy attacks, which were repelled thanks to the intercession of the Mother of God through Her holy icon.

Interesting fact

Part of the image of the Vladimirskaya icon (eye and nose) was taken for the logo of the film company Icon Productions, created in 1989 by Mel Gibson. This studio has produced films such as The Passion of the Christ and Anna Karenina.