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Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God called “Hodegetria”, meaning and photo. Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called “Odegetria”

To reach a goal, a person needs a map or a guide. There are similar laws in the spiritual world - you can achieve certain successes under the guidance of an experienced mentor. Holy Virgin is a universal guide for Christians. There is even a very ancient type of icon of the Mother of God, called “Hodegetria” (from Greek - indicating the way).


History of appearance

Iconography has a difficult fate - in the first centuries after its appearance, Christianity was not numerous, it was considered an incomprehensible sect, which was despised by both Jews and Romans. Christians had to hide, they were persecuted by emperors - they were thrown to lions, stoned, their heads were cut off for refusing to make sacrifices to the pagan gods. For the Romans, this was tantamount to refusing to serve Caesar.

Therefore, at first, images of Christ and saints were very rare and were preserved mainly only in the catacombs. Most often, they were symbolic - the church canon was just being formed at that time, many objected to trying to express with drawings what is inaccessible to human understanding. After all, Christ is God, and Christians are just people. Instead of Jesus, they painted a shepherd or a fish.

The first icons of the Mother of God, according to legend, were painted by the Apostle Luke - including the Hodegetria. Church texts also claim that the Most Pure One herself blessed the creation of the images. Not a single one of those created directly by the hand of the evangelist has reached our time. But it can be argued that today's images are quite exact copies first.

Icons began to appear on wooden boards from the 3rd century. - this period is considered the beginning of icon painting as an art. Then in the 8th century. a period of iconoclasm began, during which they were mercilessly destroyed. 60 years later, the Council of Nicaea officially established the veneration of holy images. All these years, Christians carefully collected and preserved icons of Christ and the Mother of God.


Characteristic features of the image

The icon, unlike an ordinary painting, has a different purpose - according to the holy fathers, it is a window into another world. Likewise The icons of the Mother of God are not just an image of two personalities - through them the meaning of the Absorption of God is revealed. The Hodegetria icon is one of the most common types; its theological significance is the revelation of the relationship between God and man. To do this, icon painters use composition, gestures, and colors.

  • The Mother of God and Christ look directly at those praying.
  • Jesus is depicted at the age of a youth (Emmanuel).
  • There is a scroll in the Savior's hand.
  • The image can be either half-length or shoulder-length (the “Kazan” icon also belongs to the “Hodegetria” type).

The divine nature of Christ is especially emphasized here; the composition is not devoid of greatness. The Mother of God is always depicted in an omophorion - emphasizing both the royal greatness of the Virgin and her role in the plan of the Incarnation. The right hand of the Virgin Mary is directed towards Jesus. The meaning of this gesture of the Mother of God on the Hodegetria icon is this - she points to Christ as the only path to salvation.

But the Queen of Heaven herself is guiding star- she was the first perfect person, managed in a sinful world to preserve the vision of God, which most people are deprived of. After all, Adam and Eve could talk with the Lord personally, but today the human race has become so alienated from the Creator that it can die from His mere sight. Therefore, Christians should not waste their lives on vanity and entertainment, but prepare for the transition to another world.

The joint image of the Lord and His Mother also has a deeper meaning. The incarnation of Christ as man was not possible without Mary. Moreover, only thanks to the implementation of this divine plan, people can now paint icons. Previously, it was forbidden to depict God because no one could see Him. But having been born from an earthly woman, Christ became incarnate as a Person who is depicted in images.


Shrine from Byzantium

Most icons of the Mother of God depict her together with Jesus - the icon of Hodegetria of Smolensk is no exception. The icon has ancient origin, was brought to Rus' from the East. I immediately began to be revered as a shrine, visited different cities, is firmly connected with the military victories of the Russians. From the 11th century The Orthodox kept this image and built a special temple for it. But during the Great Patriotic War the shrine disappeared.

Now in the place where I was ancient icon“Hodegetria” is a list made at one time by the prudent guardians of the image. The rich salary speaks of nationwide veneration, which has been going on in Russia for several centuries. Fortunately, quite a few miraculous copies have survived, there are several dozen of them. Some are in museums:

  • in Moscow, im. A. Rubleva;
  • in Vladimir, museum-reserve;
  • in Kostroma, historical and architectural museum;
  • in the Novgorod Kremlin.

Also in our country there are several hundred temples in the name of this famous image. In almost any church you can find “Hodegetria”, put a candle near it, ask for help in spiritual development, raising children, everyday affairs.

In the 18th century Queen Elizabeth ordered the construction of a small church in the cemetery - those who died during the construction of St. Petersburg were buried there. The temple was consecrated in the name of the Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” of Smolensk, and over time it developed. Instead of wood, they built a stone one - simple in shape, but with graceful lines, light, with a high bell tower. Side chapels were added, new shrines appeared in the church. The miraculous copy of the Smolensk icon is located in the main iconostasis.

Prayer Requests

Orthodoxy gives the Queen of Heaven such honors that are no longer given to saints or even angels. Above it is only Christ Himself. Prayer requests to it are taken from the Gospel texts. Even the wording of church hymns stands out - only the Mother of God is told “save us.” In this way, the church testifies to its admiration for the Mother of God.

She was able to rise to the level of holiness that only a mortal can achieve through the help of the Holy Spirit. The people simply love her, like a Mother - an inexhaustible source of love, understanding, and patience. An image that is close to everyone, accessible for comprehension. It is through him that it is easier to understand God’s love for people. Therefore, it is not surprising that in prayer practice, appeals to the Mother of God are very frequent.

The first akathist was written specifically to the Mother of God; it can also be read in front of the Hodegetria icon. This song of praise contains many epithets that the Queen of Heaven is worthy of. The Byzantine akathist is so perfect in style that it is included in the liturgical cycle. Reading it regularly will help you receive many spiritual gifts. But also short prayers The Mother of God will benefit the believers.

The Akathist is very easy to read - thanks to its small volume and easy-to-perceive form. The expressive syllable touches every corner of the soul, conveys the whole gamut of feelings that Christians have for the Mother of God. Such a prayer does not require large quantity time.

How does the Mother of God help believers? The Hodegetria icon provides an answer to this question. She makes the aspirations of the soul high so that nothing vain disturbs it. Experiencing fear, dissatisfaction with oneself or others, and harboring hatred, a person moves further and further away from the Lord. A bright, pure soul is determined to give joy to others. She perceives even the difficulties that exist in the life of any person with gratitude.

You can also ask for help in worldly matters, but only after praise has been given to the Lord. Even if there is no gratitude in the heart, we must offer it with our lips and ask God to soften the hard heart. For this purpose, repentant psalms are read. Prayers for parents, children, and friends are appropriate. It is especially worth praying for those who cause offense - after all, the Lord commanded to pray even for enemies. The results of prayers depend not so much on diligence (although they should be regular) but on faith.

Prayer to the Hodegetria icon

Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, you are the supreme angel and archangel of all, and all the most honest creatures, you are the helper of the offended, the hopeless, the poor intercessor, the sad comfort, nursing for the hungry, clothing for the naked, healing for the sick, salvation for sinners, help and intercession for all Christians. Oh, All-Merciful Lady, Virgin Mother of God, by Your mercy save and have mercy, the most holy Orthodox patriarchs, the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops and all the holy monastic and monastic rank, and all Orthodox Christians through the robe of Your honest protection; and pray, Lady, from You, without seed, the incarnate Christ our God, that He may gird us with His power from above, against our invisible and visible enemies. Oh, All-Merciful Lady Theotokos! Raise us from the depths of sin and deliver us from famine, destruction, from coward and flood, from fire and sword, from the presence of foreigners and internecine warfare, and from vain death, and from the attack of the enemy, and from harmful winds, and from deadly plagues, and from all evil. Grant, Lady, peace and health to Your servants, all Orthodox Christians, and enlighten their minds and the eyes of their hearts, even to salvation; and we are worthy, Thy sinful servants, of the Kingdom of Thy Son, Christ our God; for His power is blessed and glorified, with His Beginning Father, and with His Most Holy, and Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Smolensk icon The Mother of God "Hodegetria" is considered one of the icon painting types. According to legend, the icon was painted in ancient times by the Evangelist Luke. In Russia, "Hodegetria" appeared only in the 11th century. Only in the 12th century did it begin to be called Smolensk, when it was placed in the Smolensk Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.

What do they pray to the icon for?

The Smolensk prayer has been revered by many Christians for many centuries and helps to accomplish incredible miracles. Smolensk "Hodegetria" is considered the patroness of travelers; they ask her to protect them from unpleasant situations, various diseases, and unforeseen troubles along the way. All those who suffer also pray to her, asking her to protect and preserve their home from ill-wishers and enemies. Throughout history, Christians have asked for help from the Smolensk Mother of God in times of severe mass epidemics.

Icon type

The name of the icon is the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria". Otherwise they call it “Guide”. This is not the only specific icon; this is the name of one of the types of writing of the Virgin Mary compositions.

Iconography is divided into several types of scripture:

  • Eleussa - Tenderness.
  • Oranta - Praying.
  • Hodegetria - Guidebook.
  • Panahranta - Most Pure.
  • Agiosoritissa (without Child).

In other words, everyone is divided into groups, each of which has its own characteristic features writing images. To identify an icon, you just need to determine how in space the faces of the Child Christ and the Mother of God are depicted on it.

What is characteristic of the Hodegetria icon? Here the image of the Baby is slightly distant from the image of the Mother. Christ either sits in her arms or stands nearby. The Christ Child holds his right hand raised in a blessing gesture. With his other hand he holds a book or scroll, which symbolizes the Law of God. One of the versions why the icon is called “Guide”: it indicates to believers that the true path is the path to Christ. The Mother of God points with her hand to the Child as the “Truth, the Path to life,” to which all believers who want to be saved should strive.

Description of the ancient icon

According to church traditions, the miraculous icon of the Smolensk Mother of God was painted during the earthly life of the Virgin Mary. The masterpiece was created by the holy evangelist Luke. The work was commissioned by Theophilus, the ancient ruler of Antioch. From Antioch the icon was delivered to Jerusalem, and only then Empress Eudokia presented it to the sister of Emperor Pulcheria in Constantinople. Here is the icon for a long time was kept in the Blachernae temple.

The board that was used to write the icon has changed a lot under the pressure of time. Now it is difficult to determine what kind of wood it is made of. It is very heavy in weight. The Mother of God is depicted from the waist up. With her left hand she supports the Baby Jesus, her right hand rests on her chest. The Divine Infant holds a book scroll in his left hand, and makes a blessing gesture with his right hand. The clothes of the Virgin Mary are dark coffee-colored, Jesus's are dark green with gilding.

Who does the Mother of God help?

The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” will help preserve peace and tranquility on earth and in every home. The prayer offered to the Holy Virgin protects people who are on military service, everyone who defends the tranquility of the Motherland. They also pray to her during outbreaks of various diseases. “Hodegetria” protects everyone who is on the way, protects them from helping them find the right path.

Having heard our earthly prayers, the mistress helps us to reach out to God, her Son, and begs us to forgive our sins and save us from the wrath of the righteous. Hodegetria is a strong assistant and protector, but who does she help?

Only those who fear God, those who are God-loving, and those who pray, are helped by the Mother of God and protected from terrible misfortunes and evil. Those who have no fear of the Lord and the corrupt will not come to the aid of the Mother of God. Nothing surprising about this. With their lawlessness and sinful actions, people crucify the Truth of Christ a second time. Well, what kind of mother would help her son’s enemies? The Mother of God has mercy on repentant sinners, on those who come to God with repentance and ask for help with tears and prayers. The Mother of God helps such sinners, everyone who wants to take the right path, correct their mistakes, and begin a righteous life. She cares about those who repent, about those who, like the prodigal son, return to the faith of Christ, confess and ask for forgiveness and deliverance from the burden of sin. Those who do not repent of their sins, do not care about their souls, are not cared for by the Most Holy Virgin Mary.

Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. History of appearance in Rus'

At the beginning of the second millennium, the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX (1042-1054) gave his beautiful daughter Anna in marriage to the Russian prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich. On the long journey he blessed her with the “Hodegetria” - a miraculous icon. She accompanied the princess on her journey from Constantinople itself to the Principality of Chernigov. According to one version, this is why the icon was called “Hodegetria,” that is, the Guide.

The son of Vsevolod Yaroslavich, Vladimir Monomakh, was always considered a far-sighted, wisest and diplomatic statesman of his time. He became famous as a peacemaker in his native land. He did not rely only on earthly forces and turned to the Most Holy Theotokos with prayers for help, asking for help to direct his reign in the right direction. With great reverence, he transferred the miraculous “Hodegetria” to Smolensk from the city of Chernigov. There they placed her in the Church of the Assumption Holy Mother of God, which was founded in 1101. From that time on, “Hodegetria” received the name - Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. WITH God's help Vladimir Monomakh managed to humble the rebellious princes and become a great ruler in Rus', where peace and quiet were established.

Miracles from the icon. Feat of Mercury

There were many miracles from the Hodegetria icon, but the most remarkable thing for Smolensk is considered to be its salvation from the Tatar invasion. In 1239, it was the miraculous icon of the Smolensk Mother of God that saved the city from enemy invasion. The residents understood that they would not be able to repel the formidable attack of the Tatars and turned to the Mother of God with warm prayers and petitions for peace. The Great Intercessor heard their prayers. The Tatars stopped not far from the city walls.

In those days, one pious Slav named Mercury served in the Smolensk squad. He was chosen by the Mother of God to save the city. On the night of November 24, in the Temple where the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was kept, the sexton had a vision. The Mother of God appeared to him and ordered him to tell Mercury that he, armed, would boldly go into the enemy’s camp and destroy their main giant.

Hearing these words from the sexton, Mercury immediately hurried to the Temple. He fell in prayer before the Holy Icon and heard the Voice. The Mother of God turned with a request and instructions to Mercury so that he would protect her Smolensk house from the enemy. The hero was warned that it was on this night that the Horde giant decided to attack the city and ruin it. The Mother of God begged her Son and her God to protect and not betray her native lands to the enemy. By the power of Christ, Mercury had to defeat the giant, but with the victory, a martyr’s crown also awaited him, which he would receive from his Christ.

Joyful tears appeared from the eyes of Mercury, praying passionately, calling on the power of the Lord for help, he went to the enemy’s camp and defeated their giant. The Tatars relied only on his unknown strength before the battle. Enemies surrounded Mercury, he fought with incredible strength, seeing the face of the Holy One in front of him. After a tiring battle, the hero lay down to rest. The surviving Tatar, seeing Mercury sleeping, cut off his head.

The Lord did not allow the martyr’s body to be desecrated by the enemy; he gave him his last strength. Mercury, as if still alive, entered the city and brought his severed head. His body was buried with great honors in the cathedral church. Mercury was canonized as a Saint. In memory of his feat, accomplished with the help of the Mother of God in the name of saving the city, every year on this day (November 24) a thanksgiving prayer is performed and all-night vigil in front of the image of "Hodegetria". In Smolensk Epiphany Cathedral To this day, the shoes and iron cone that were on Mercury on that fateful night are preserved.

Arrival of the icon in Moscow

The Tatar-Mongol yoke had not yet been completely defeated, but a new enemy was already pushing Rus' from the west. On western border Smolensk became one of the significant objects. The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” became the patroness and defender of the city in those hard days.

For a short period of time in the 14th century, Smolensk came under the control of the Lithuanian princes, and “Hodegetria” ended up with the heterodox.

But even here God’s providence preserved the image. The daughter of one of the Lithuanian princes Vytautas Sophia married Vasily Dmitrievich (1398-1425), Grand Duke of Moscow. She brought a holy image with her to Belokamennaya. This is how the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” ended up in Moscow in 1398. It was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral, to the right of the Royal Doors.

Moscow residents immediately felt the grace emanating from the ancient “Hodegetria”. For more than half a century they worshiped her and honored the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. But by the will of God, the Mother of God was destined to return to her home in Smolensk - to the Church of the Assumption, in order to protect the Orthodox there, oppressed by the Lithuanian princes and missionaries.

Return to Smolensk

In 1456, the icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk returned home. It had enormous significance for its people. All residents waited for her return like a miracle. And so a delegation headed to Moscow was headed by Bishop Misail. They tearfully asked the Grand Duke to let the Mother of God of Smolensk go home. The prince held a council with the boyars, after which he decided to fulfill the request. Before "Hodegetria" went to Smolensk, it was removed from it exact list.

A lot of people then gathered in the Church of the Annunciation. First there was a prayer service and liturgy. The entire princely family gathered at the icon: the prince, princess and their children - Boris, Ioan and Yuri, carried little Andrei in their arms. With reverence they all venerated the icon. After this, with tears in their eyes, the prince and the metropolitan took the shrine out of the icon case and handed it over to Bishop Misail. Other icons that had once been brought from there were also given to Smolensk, although the bishop did not ask about this. The Metropolitan asked to leave only one icon for the princely family - the Mother of God with the Eternal Child. The entire princely family was blessed by her. The prince joyfully accepted the icon and kissed it.

After this, a procession of the cross carried the Smolensk icon to the monastery of St. Savva the Consecrated, which is located on Here and the last prayer service was performed, after which the icon went to Smolensk.

At the order of the prince, the icon given to him was placed in the Church of the Annunciation in the exact place where the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” stood for many years. Every day a prayer service was held here. The list made from the Smolensk icon was left by the Grand Duke in his family.

An exact copy of the Smolensk icon was made in 1602. In 1666, he and “Hodegetria” itself were taken to Moscow for renovation. The list was installed on (in the tower) directly above the Dnieper Gate. In 1727, a wooden church was erected here. In 1802 a stone church was built. For many years this icon protected the city from the most terrible troubles and misfortunes.

War with Napoleon 1812

When the hordes of Napoleon attacked the Russian land in order to protect the Shrine from desecration, the Smolensk Bishop Irenaeus transported the ancient Greek image of the Hodegetria to Moscow, where it was kept in the Assumption Cathedral.

After the Russian troops left Smolensk, the miraculous copy of the Hodegetria, completed in 1602, was taken with them from the city.

On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God helped the soldiers gain confidence in their victory and be inspired to perform a feat. “Hodegetria” was carried through the camp of the Russian army, the soldiers, looking at it, prayed at it and gained faith and spiritual strength.

On the day when the Battle of Borodino took place, the Smolensk icon, along with the Iverskaya and Vladimirskaya icons, was carried around Belgorod and Kitai-gorod, after which they were sent to where the wounded were located. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was transported to Yaroslavl for storage. At the end of the war on November 5, 1812, she was returned to Smolensk. In memory of the liberation of enemies, this day began to be celebrated annually.

XX century

A little more than a hundred years passed, and again foreign invaders invaded Russia. The Great Patriotic War claimed the lives of millions Soviet people. Smolensk stood in the way of the enemy. Despite the fact that anti-religious propaganda was carried out in the country, thousands of believers, faithful to their patriotic duty, asked for help from the protector of their “Hodegetria”. The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria" helped the people invisibly. It is unknown where the ancient image is located now; after the occupation, the Greek “Hodegetria” disappeared. In the place where it was located, to this day there is a list of the Mother of God, made in the 17th century. For many years he protects the city from troubles, wars, destruction, and blesses believers for righteous deeds.

Back in Moscow

At the beginning of February 2015, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” was located in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. After the restoration, which lasted almost three years, believers were able to see the image of “Hodegetria” without the heavy silver frame. The frame weighing 25 kg was made in 1954 with donations from Smolensk residents. In the post-war difficult years donations to save the icon could be called invaluable people's help, therefore, in memory of this, the frame will be preserved and displayed separately in the Assumption Cathedral.

The icon stayed in Moscow until February 10. On February 15, after a long absence, she was greeted again in Smolensk; renewed, she took her former place to once again protect her hometown.

This is the ancient, interesting story that the Icon of the Smolensk Mother of God tells us. The photos confirm the many varieties of “Hodegetria”; they all contain a sacred sacrament, help believers gain spiritual strength and believe in the Truth of the Son of God.

The most ancient images of the Mother of God, according to legend, belong to the brush of the Evangelist Luke, who created them during the life of the Most Holy Theotokos. These include the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. She arrived in Rus' as a wedding gift from the Emperor of Byzantium, Constantine IX Porphyrogenitus, to his daughter Anna, who was married to the Chernigov prince Vsevolod, the son of Yaroslav the Wise.

The Smolensk icon is a copy of the icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria Blachernae”

From the history of icons

The name “Hodegetria,” that is, Guide, is associated with a miracle revealed by the Mother of God herself, who once brought two blind men to the Blachernae Temple, where, by Her will, they received their sight.

The Smolensk Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary was also a guide during Anna’s journey from Byzantium to Rus'. After the death of the couple, their son, Prince Vladimir Monomakh, moved the icon to Smolensk, in honor of which it received the name “Smolensk”.

The history of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” is associated with many miraculous deliverances

Thus, thanks to the fervent prayer of the residents of Smolensk, their city was delivered from Batu’s invasion in 1239. There are known cases when prayers in front of an icon protected from terrible epidemics, from enemy attacks and enemy conquest. For the Orthodox, the Smolensk Icon “Hodegetria” has indeed always been a Guide, showing the right path.

The icon was so revered that temples were built in its honor. Thus, the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was built in St. Petersburg, Arzamas, Shuya and other cities. The Shuya Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God became especially famous.

In 1665, Shuya was struck by a pestilence epidemic, and the frightened residents decided that it was necessary to write a copy of the Smolensk icon. The pious icon painter made a sketch, but the next day he discovered that the position of the Child Jesus had changed: His right leg was put on her left knee. Deciding that this was his mistake, he corrected the icon, however, the next day the position of the Child again became the same.

The icon painter considered it God's sign and made no further corrections. When the finished icon was brought to the temple, it shone with an extraordinary light, and after the prayer service the pestilence ended. After this, a real pilgrimage to the icon began, more than a hundred miracles occurred, and Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich even sent a special commission to Shuya to certify miraculous power Shuya (Smolensk) icon, which was done.

Description of the icon

In terms of iconographic type, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God is one of the oldest editions characteristic of Byzantine writing.

This is a half-length image of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. The Blessed Virgin is dressed in crimson (on modern lists often red) clothes, which emphasizes Her status as the Queen of Heaven. On her left hand She holds the Baby Jesus, and with her right hand she seems to point to Him. The meaning of this gesture is that the Guide points the way to salvation through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is also in a royal robe of golden color, that is, in the image of the Almighty. In His left hand is a scroll symbolizing His teaching, and His right hand is raised with fingers folded in a gesture of blessing. The icon seems to emanate an aura of faith and hope that the path to salvation really exists, and Hodegetria points it out.

How does the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God help?

This icon has shown so many miracles that its meaning does not need explanation - it remains for the Orthodox today one of the most revered images of the Mother of God, the patroness and defender of the Russian state. That is why they turn to her with prayers for the protection of the Motherland from enemy invasions and wars; on preserving the life and health of military personnel, especially in hot spots; about getting rid of epidemics.

Our Lady of Smolensk also helps family matters: protects the family hearth from envious people and ill-wishers; strengthens steadfastness in faith and helps to resist temptations and delusions; helps to recover from serious illnesses and resolve difficult life situations.

Prayer to Our Lady of Smolensk

O Most Wonderful and Above All Creatures Queen Theotokos, Mother of the Heavenly King Christ our God, Most Pure Hodegetria Mary! Hear us sinners and unworthy at this hour, praying and falling before Your Most Pure Image with tears and tenderly saying: lead us out of the pit of passions, Most Blessed Lady, deliver us from all sorrow and sorrow, protect us from all misfortune and evil slander, and from the unrighteous and fierce slander of the enemy. May you, O Our Blessed Mother, save Your people from all evil and provide and save Your people with every good deed; Do You need other Representatives in troubles and circumstances, and warm Intercessors for us sinners, not imams? Pray, O Most Holy Lady, Thy Son Christ our God, that He will honor us with the Kingdom of Heaven; For this reason, we always glorify Thee, as the Author of our salvation, and extol the holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, glorified and worshiped God in the Trinity, forever and ever. Amen.

The Virgin Mother is the boundary between created and uncreated nature, and Her, as the container of the incontainable, will be known by those who know God, and after God, those who sing of God will sing Her. She is the foundation of those before Her, and the eternal Intercessor.

St. Gregory Palamas

The Novodevichy Convent is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Moscow. It is beautiful in any weather, at any time of the year. From childhood and throughout my life I remember the unusually lush thickets of the monastery lilac (now for some reason almost all of it has been cut down). It is difficult to get used to this beauty, and every time you enter under the dark arches of the gate church, you involuntarily freeze and admire.

Inside the monastery walls, in a small wooden house there lived a real ascetic in the world - Pyotr Dmitrievich Baranovsky, the great architect-restorer of the twentieth century, who saved almost a thousand churches and ended his life here, in the main Moscow monastery of the Most Pure One - that is why the street from which the road to the monastery begins is called Prechistenka. Peace to your ashes, servant of God Peter!...

From the window of his room littered with books, folders with measurements and drawings, Baranovsky, while he could still see - in his old age he was completely blind - admired one of the most majestic churches in Moscow - the 16th century Cathedral in the name of Our Lady Hodegetria "called Smolenskaya", which kept a miraculous list with one of the greatest shrines of Rus' - the Smolensk Mother of God.

As long as there is faith in Rus', the Most Pure One preserves this destiny. The northern borders of our country were protected by the image of the Sign of Novgorod, the eastern borders by the Kazan Icon, and the western borders by the Smolensk Icon.

The prototype of the Smolensk Mother of God is very ancient and, according to legend, was written by the Apostle Luke himself for the Antioch ruler Theophilus. After the death of Theophilus, this image of Hodegetria the Guide returned to Jerusalem; in the 5th century, the blessed queen Pulcheria transferred it to Second Rome, to the Blachernae temple. From there the future Smolensk icon came to Rus'. Under what exact circumstances is not known for certain, but it happened no later than the middle of the 11th century. According to legend, the icon became a parental blessing for the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, who was married to the Chernigov prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich.

After the death of Prince Vsevolod, Hodegetria found a new guardian in the person of his son, the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir II Monomakh - commander, writer (his “Teachings” are still studied in the course of ancient Russian literature) and temple builder. In 1095, he transferred the miraculous from Chernigov (his first inheritance) to Smolensk, and in 1101 he founded the cathedral church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary here. Ten years later, Hodegetria was installed in this cathedral and from that time began to be called Smolensk - after the name of the city, the guardian of which this miraculous one remained for almost nine centuries.

Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called "Hodegetria",
in the Holy Dormition Cathedral of Smolensk - prototype
(photo by S. M. Prokudin-Gorsky, 1912)

In the 13th century, the hordes of Batu fell upon Rus', rapidly moving westward. Crying and praying, the Smolensk people fell to the intercession of their Guardian. And a miracle happened: the Most Pure One, through the image of Hodegetria of Smolensk, granted the city miraculous salvation. The Tatars were already standing several miles from Smolensk when a pious warrior named Mercury heard a voice coming from the holy icon: “I am sending you to protect My house. The ruler of the Horde secretly wants to attack My city this night with his army, but I prayed to My Son and My God for My house, so that he would not give it up to the work of the enemy. I myself will be with you, helping my servant.” Obeying the Most Pure One, Mercury raised up the townspeople, and he himself rushed into the enemy camp, where he died in an unequal battle. He was buried in the cathedral church of Smolensk and soon canonized. In memory of Mercury, on the day of his death, a special thanksgiving service was performed before the miraculous image of Hodegetria.

When in 1395 the Smolensk principality lost its independence, becoming dependent on Lithuania. But just three years later, the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Vitovt was married to the Moscow prince Vasily Dmitrievich (son of the holy noble prince Dimitri Donskoy), and Hodegetria became her dowry. In 1398, the acquired shrine was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin according to right side from the royal gates. Muscovites reverently worshiped it for half a century, until in 1456 representatives of the Smolensk people arrived in the reigning city and demanded that the shrine be returned to them. Grand Duke Vasily the Dark (1415-1462), after consulting with bishops and boyars, ordered to “release” the miraculous to Smolensk, leaving her exact list in Moscow. On July 28, in the presence of almost all Muscovites, the icon was solemnly carried through the Devichye Pole to the ford at the steep bend of the Moscow River, beyond which the road to Smolensk began. Here a prayer service was served to the Guide, after which the prototype of the miraculous woman went to Smolensk, and the mourners took the list from Smolensk to the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

In 1514, Smolensk was returned to the Russian state (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 Novodevichy Convent on the very spot where Muscovites saw off the miraculous work in 1456.

In 1609, Smolensk was besieged by the Polish army, and after twenty months of siege, in 1611, the city fell to a superior enemy. The miraculous Smolensk icon was again sent to Moscow, and when the Poles captured the white stone one, it was sent to Yaroslavl, where it remained until the expulsion of the Poles and the return of Smolensk to the Russian state in 1654, during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich. On September 26, 1655, the miraculous icon of Hodegetria returned to Smolensk.

The intercession of the Most Pure One for Her favorite destiny was again revealed a century and a half later, during Patriotic War 1812. Once again, Her miraculous image was taken out, first to Moscow - on August 26, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, the Smolensk, Iveron and Vladimir icons procession carried around Moscow, and on August 31, Iverskaya and Smolenskaya visited the wounded in the battle who were lying in the Lefortovo hospital. And when the Russian troops abandoned the Mother See, the Smolensk Icon was transported to Yaroslavl. However, through the intercession of the Most Pure One, this stay of Her miraculous image on the Volga banks turned out to be short-lived: already on December 24, 1812, Hodegetria returned to the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk.

The Moscow Novodevichy Convent also had to endure a lot. They sent here unwanted queens and princesses - Evdokia Lopukhina, Sophia; Napoleonic “twelve tongues” robbed and plundered it and even tried, before fleeing from Moscow, to blow up the monastery (it was saved by brave nuns who extinguished the already lit wicks). In 1922, Novodevichy was completely closed, dispersing its nuns. For opposing the predatory “seizure of church valuables”, Abbess Vera was sent to the camp; and in 1938, the last confessor of the monastery, Archpriest Sergius Lebedev, died a martyr’s death at the Butovo training ground, where the ashes of tens of thousands of those executed rest. Back in 1925, there were 2,811 tombstones in the cemetery inside the monastery walls; now there are no more than a hundred of them left (including the graves of the historian Sergei Solovyov and his son Vladimir, the great Russian philosopher). The “Museum of the Emancipation of Women” was set up in the desecrated monastery, and in 1934 its buildings were transferred to the State Historical Museum.

Divine services in the Novodevichy Monastery resumed in 1945, when the refectory Assumption Church was re-consecrated here, and since then prayer has been heard here again before one of the Hodegetria lists. The revival of the monastery itself began in 1994, when the nuns returned to Novodevichy, led by Abbess Seraphima (Chernaya), the granddaughter of the martyr Saint Seraphim (Chichagov), who died in 1999; Her successor was Abbess Serafima (Isaeva).

...The last reliable news about the miraculous first image dates back to 1941. Closed in 1929, the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk was not destroyed: its shrines and utensils remained intact until the start of the Great Patriotic War. On August 1, 1941, the German troops that entered the city notified their High Command that “a very ancient icon, attributed by legend to the Evangelist Luke, later rewritten, ... is in its original place and is not damaged. She... was recognized as miraculous and was a place of pilgrimage for believers.” But when Smolensk was liberated by Soviet troops two years later, the icon was no longer there. One can only hope that sooner or later her fate will begin to become clearer - just as it is happening with another miraculous woman who disappeared during that war, Tikhvin.

Until its disappearance, the prototype of Smolenskaya was never subjected to detailed scientific study. According to old descriptions, the board on which the icon was written was unusually heavy, primed with chalk and glue and covered with canvas; The Most Pure One is depicted at half height, waist-deep, supporting the Child with her left hand. The Savior blesses those praying with His right hand, and holds a scroll with His hand. Outerwear Mother of God - dark brown, lower – dark blue; The Baby's clothes are dark green and gold. On the reverse side of the prototype was written the Crucifixion with the Greek inscription “The King is crucified” and a view of Jerusalem. When painting was renewed in Moscow in 1666, figures of the Mother of God and John the Evangelist, which were not there before, were added to this Crucifixion. Features of the Smolensk Icon are the frontal position of the Child; a very slight turn of the Mother of God towards His Child; Her head is slightly bowed; characteristic hand position.

The celebration of the Smolensk Icon takes place on July 28 according to the Christian calendar. Once upon a time, on this day, a procession of the cross from the Kremlin, along Prechistenka and Devichye Pole to the Novodevichy Convent took place in the Mother See. By the beginning of the twentieth century, there were more than three dozen miraculous and especially revered lists of Smolensk, churches dedicated to this image stood in many cities, towns and monasteries of the Russian land, in Moscow alone there were four Smolensk churches, in St. Petersburg - five. And today, throughout all Smolensk churches in Russia, the troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos sounds before Her icon, called “Hodegetria”:

Troparion, tone 4

Let us now diligently approach the Mother of God, sinners and humility, and let us fall down in repentance calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, help us, having had mercy on us, struggling, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away your slaves, for you are the only hope of the imams.

Kontakion, tone 6

The intercession of Christians is not shameful, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but advance, as if good, to help us, who faithfully call Thee: hasten to prayer and strive to supplicate, ever interceding, the Mother of God, those who honor Thee.

Kontakion, tone 6

There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope, except for You, Lady: You help us, we hope in You and we boast in You: If we were your servants, let us not be ashamed.

Prayer before the Smolensk Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called "Hodegetria"

To whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to You, Lady Lady Theotokos, Queen of Heaven? Who will accept my cry and my sighing, if not You, O Most Immaculate One, the hope of Christians and refuge for sinners?

Incline, O most pure Lady, Thy ear to my prayer. Mother of my God, do not look down on me, requiring Your help, hear my groaning and inspire the cry of my heart, O Lady Theotokos Queen. And give me spiritual joy, strengthen me, who is impatient, sad and careless towards Your praise. Enlighten and teach me how You should pray, and do not depart from me, the Mother of my God, for my grumbling and impatience: but be my protection and intercession in my life and lead me to the quiet haven of blessed peace, and count me to your face Thy chosen flock and there deign me to sing and glorify Thee forever. Amen.

Holy Dormition cathedral Smolensk


Cathedral of Smolensk Saints

Akathist to the Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” (Guide Book) Smolensk

The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God belongs to the “Hodegetria” iconographic type. The name can be translated from Greek as “Guide”.

This is one of the most common images in Byzantine and Russian art.

Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God: compositional features

The composition of the Hodegetria iconography is as follows: the Mother of God and the Infant Christ are depicted almost frontally, their faces facing the praying person do not touch. The head of the Mother of God may be slightly inclined towards the Son, the hand raised in a prayer gesture at chest level. The Divine Infant sits in the arms of the Mother; He blesses with his right hand, holds a scroll with his left, and less often, a book. The Mother of God is most often represented in a half-length image, but there are also full-length and shoulder-length versions, for example, the Kazan Icon. The Baby can be located either to the right or to the left of the Virgin Mary; more often He is depicted sitting on the left hand of the Blessed Virgin.

Mosaic icon. 1st half of the 13th century National Gallery, Palermo, Italy

The idea of ​​the image of Hodegetria

The defining theological idea of ​​this image is the coming of the Son of God into the world, the incarnation of God for the sake of the salvation of mankind. The Fragile Baby is the Heavenly King and the Coming Judge. Gesture right hand The Mother of God can be interpreted not only as a prayer, expressing Her personal prayer to God. With this gesture, the Mother of God seems to point the believers to the One to whom their thoughts and prayers should be directed.

N.P. Kondakov, who studied the iconography of the Mother of God, believed that the image of Hodegetria is one of the most ancient. It developed in Palestine or Egypt before the 6th century. Since the 6th century, it has spread widely throughout Orthodox East and Byzantium.

Mosaic icon. Byzantium. XIII century Monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai, Egypt

According to Church Tradition, the first such icon of the Virgin and Child was painted by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke. In the middle of the 5th century, this image, along with other shrines, was brought from the Holy Land to Constantinople by Empress Eudokia, wife of Emperor Theodosius the Younger. Some sources report that the icon was placed in the temple convent Odigon, but on Holy Week the icon was transferred from the monastery to the imperial palace. Near the monastery there was a spring that healed the blind. The nuns took care of those who came to the source. The area was called “place of guides” or “place of leaders”, and the monastery began to be called Odigon - “Guide”, “Guide”. Based on the name of the monastery, the main shrine - the icon of the Mother of God - began to be called Hodegetria. Initially given as a topographical name, it was also endowed with a deep meaning: the Mother of God is a guide to believers, instructing them in the true, even if protecting them from the enemy. The icon was one of the most revered shrines of Constantinople and was considered the palladium of the city. During enemy attacks, the image was raised to the city walls.

Empress Evdokia. Marble icon with inlay. From the church of Lipsa Monastery. X century Archaeological Museum, Istanbul

Researchers believe that it was with the icon of the Odigon monastery that a procession of the cross took place throughout Constantinople on Tuesdays. During this prayer procession, a miracle regularly occurred, which was described by the Russian pilgrim Stefan Novgorod, who visited the capital of Byzantium in 1348 or 1349. The heavy, large icon was carried across the square by only one person. “That icon is taken out every Tuesday. This is an amazing sight: then all the people come together, and they come from other cities. This icon is very large, skillfully bound, and the singers walking in front of it sing beautifully, and all the people cry with tears: “Lord, have mercy!” ... A wondrous sight: seven or eight people will place the icon on the shoulders of one person, and he, by the will of God, walks as if unburdened by anything,” reports Stefan. Numerous miracles and healings took place in front of the icon.

Our Lady Hodegetria. Byzantium. 1st quarter of the 15th century

According to one version of the legend, the icon written by the Apostle Luke and brought from the Holy Land ended up in the Blachernae Church, where there was also a healing spring and where other shrines were kept: a robe and part of the belt of the Virgin Mary. Perhaps one of the copies made from the original icon by the apostle was placed in the Blachernae church. It is known that with original image Several lists were made that became famous for their miracles. In any case, in the Blachernae Church there was a particularly revered icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria.

Blachernae icon. Wax mastic. XIII – XIV centuries Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

Numerous copies of the miraculous image of the Mother of God Hodegetria were sent to all parts of the empire and beyond. From Byzantium, the iconographic type of Hodegetria came to Rus', where, based on the place of creation, stay, or miraculous discovery, similar icons received names: Toropetskaya, Smolenskaya, Tikhvinskaya, Iverskaya, Sedmiezernaya, Kazanskaya.

Our Lady Hodegetria. Pskov. The end of the XIII - the beginning of the XIV century. Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

History of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria”

The icon of Our Lady Hodegetria, called “Smolensk”, arrived in Rus' in the middle of the 11th century. In 1046 Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomakh blessed his daughter Anna with this icon for her marriage to Prince Vsevolod, the son of Yaroslav the Wise. After the death of Vsevolod, his son, Vladimir Monomakh, moved the icon to Smolensk, where the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was founded, in which the shrine was subsequently placed.

According to legend, when the hordes of Khan Batu approached Smolensk in 1239, the city was saved from ruin through the intercession of the Mother of God. A warrior named Mercury, praying in front of the icon, received instructions from the Mother of God to fight the enemy standing near the walls. The Mongols saw that Mercury was helped in battle by lightning-fast men and a radiant Wife. Seized with horror, throwing down their weapons, the enemies fled, driven by an unknown force. Mercury suffered a martyr's death in battle and was canonized by the Church.

Our Lady Hodegetria. Byzantium. Mid-15th century Private collection.

At the end of the 14th or beginning of the 15th century, the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria was brought from Smolensk, captured by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, to Moscow, where, as a particularly revered shrine, it was placed in the Annunciation Cathedral, on the right side of the royal gates. There are three versions of the circumstances under which the icon ended up in Moscow. One of possible options The transfer of the icon is associated with a dynastic marriage. Perhaps the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas gave this icon to his daughter Sophia, the wife of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dmitrievich, when she was in Smolensk in 1398 to meet with her father and received from him many icons in Greek writing. According to another version, the last of the Smolensk princes, Yuri Svyatoslavovich, expelled in 1404 by Vitovt, arrived in Moscow and brought with him the icon of Hodegetria along with other icons. The third version, set out in the Russian Vremennik, says that a certain Yurga, Pan Svilkoldovich, when he left Svidrigail, the Lithuanian prince, for the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Vasilyevich, plundered Smolensk on the way, took the icon of Hodegetria along with other things and brought it as a gift to the Moscow to the Grand Duke.

In 1456, Bishop Misail of Smolensk arrived in Moscow, accompanied by the governor of the city and noble citizens. The people of Smolensk asked the Moscow Grand Duke Vasily Vasilyevich the Dark to return the icon to Smolensk. The prince, seeing in this step a guarantee of the future reunification of Smolensk with Moscow, decided to return the shrine. An accurate, “measure to measure” copy of the icon was made, which remained in Moscow, in the Annunciation Cathedral. In a religious procession, the icon was taken out of the Kremlin, walked to the Maiden Field, which is at the entrance to the Old Smolensk Road, and after the prayer service, the icon was released to Smolensk. On the list icon, a scroll in the hand of the Child is depicted in vertical position. Researchers suggest that this feature was also on the sample - the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria, sent from Constantinople.

List of the Smolensk Icon of Hodegetria. Moscow. 1456 Recorded in the 19th century. Armory Chamber, Moscow Kremlin museums

In 1514, the troops of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III Ivanovich Smolensk is recaptured from Lithuania. In memory of this event, in 1523, the prince founded the Novodevichy Convent not far from the place where Muscovites said goodbye to the icon. On July 28, 1525, the copy of the icon that was kept in the Annunciation Cathedral was solemnly transferred from the Kremlin to the monastery church, consecrated in the name of the Smolensk Icon of Hodegetria. In 1927, this icon, thanks to its rich gold frame from the time of Boris Godunov and the pearl robe, was transferred to the Armory Chamber.

In 1602 in Smolensk with miraculous icon An exact list was written, which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a church was built there. In 1666, the ancient Smolensk icon was in Moscow for the second time: it was brought here by Archbishop Barsanuphius of Smolensk to renew the painting, which had darkened over time.

In 1812, during the French invasion, the icon was taken from Smolensk by Bishop Irinei (Falkovsky) and taken to Moscow, where residents could pray before it in the Assumption Cathedral. On the day of the Battle of Borodino, August 26, Muscovites held a religious procession from Smolensk, Iverskaya and Vladimir icons walked around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls. Before the occupation of Moscow by the French, the Smolensk icon was sent to Yaroslavl, where it remained until the very end of World War II, and then returned to Smolensk. The icon, which was located in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk until 1941, was revered as the original one, brought from Constantinople. IN During the Great Patriotic War, the ancient icon disappeared without a trace.