Otitis

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

Smolensk icon Mother of God, called “Hodegetria,” which means “Guide Book,” according to Church tradition, was written by the holy evangelist Luke during his earthly life Holy Mother of God. Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the Antioch ruler Theophilus. From Antioch the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there Empress Eudokia, wife of Arcadius, transferred it to Constantinople to Pulcheria, the emperor’s sister, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae Church.

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

In 1238, following a voice from the icon, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury entered Batu’s camp at night and killed many enemies, including their strongest warrior. Having suffered a martyr's death in battle, he was canonized by the Church (November 24).

In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vytautas Sophia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398-1425). In 1398, she brought the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God with her to Moscow. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, according to right side from the royal gates. In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly procession returned to Smolensk, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was erected in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - “measure in moderation” - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was built on the Maiden Field, where “with many tears” Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk. In 1602, it was written from the miraculous icon exact list(in 1666, together with ancient icon new list taken to Moscow for renovation), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 - a stone one.

The new copy took on the beneficial power of the ancient image, and when Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them for protection from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers for a great feat. An ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, taken temporarily to the Assumption Cathedral, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, together with Iverskaya and Vladimir icons The Mother of God was carried around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was taken to Yaroslavl.

Our ancestors so reverently guarded these sister icons, and the Mother of God protected our Motherland through Her images. After the victory over the enemy, the icon of Hodegetria, along with the illustrious copy, was returned to Smolensk.

The celebration in honor of this miraculous image on July 28 was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.

There are many revered lists from the Smolensk Hodegetria, which are celebrated on the same day. There is also a day of celebration of the Smolensk Icon, which became famous in the 19th century - November 5, when this image, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army M. I. Kutuzov, was returned to Smolensk. In memory of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland, it was established in Smolensk to celebrate this day annually.

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church. Believers have received and are receiving abundant gracious help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: “You faithful people- All-Blessed Hodegetria, You are the Smolensk Praise and all Russian lands - affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation for Christians!”

The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called "Hodegetria", which means "Guide", according to Church tradition, was painted by the holy evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the Antioch ruler Theophilus. From Antioch the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there Empress Eudokia, wife of Arcadius, transferred it to Constantinople to Pulcheria, the emperor’s sister, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae Church.

In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vytautas Sophia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398-1425). In 1398, she brought the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God with her to Moscow. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the royal gates. In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was placed in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - “measure in moderation” - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was built on the Maiden Field, where “with many tears” the Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk. In 1602, an exact copy was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon, a new copy was taken to Moscow for renewal), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 - a stone one.

The new copy took on the beneficial power of the ancient image, and when Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them for protection from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers for a great feat. The ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, taken temporarily to the Assumption Cathedral, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, together with the Iveron and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, was carried around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was taken to Yaroslavl.

The celebration in honor of this miraculous image on July 28 was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church. Believers have received and are receiving abundant gracious help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: “You are the All-Blessed Hodegetria to the faithful people, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands - affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation for Christians!”

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

According to Church tradition, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called “Hodegetria,” was painted by the holy evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos at the request of the ruler of Antioch, Theophilos, for whom he wrote an essay about the earthly life of Christ, known as the Gospel of Luke. When Theophilus died, the image was returned to Jerusalem, and in the 5th century, the blessed Empress Eudokia, wife of Arkady, transferred Hodegetria to Constantinople to the emperor’s sister Queen Pulcheria, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae Church.

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

Assumption Cathedral (Smolensk)

History of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God

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

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

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

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

Annunciation Cathedral (Moscow Kremlin)

In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a procession of the cross. On June 28, according to the old style, at the Monastery of St. Savva the Consecrated on the Maiden Field in Moscow, with a large crowd of people, the icon was solemnly escorted to the bend of the Moscow River, from where the path to Smolensk began. A prayer service was served. Half a century later, in 1514, Smolensk was returned to Rus' (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 Monastery of the Mother of God of Smolensk, which we know better as Novodevichy Convent. The monastery was consecrated and began operating in 1525. From this period, the all-Russian glorification of the icon began, officially established by the Church.

Novodevichy Mother of God-Smolensky Monastery on the Maiden Field in Moscow

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

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

Prayer service before the Battle of Borodino

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

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

In 1929, the Assumption Cathedral was closed, but was not subject to desecration and destruction, like many other temples and churches during that period. Intelligence, which can be considered reliable, about the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God– prototype of other, subsequent lists ends in 1941, after the capture of Smolensk by German troops. Then, at the beginning of August 1941, the German command headquarters received a message that the list of icons attributed to historical information brushed by the Evangelist Luke, is in the same place, in good condition, the icon is considered miraculous and its location is a place of worship and pilgrimage. Nothing more is known about that icon.

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

Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria of Smolensk Gateway, copy from the famous Smolensk Icon. Once it hung above the gates of the Smolensk Kremlin; now it is kept in the cathedral on the site of the Smolensk icon lost in 1941.

Lists with icons

There are many revered copies of the miraculous Smolensk Hodegetria. Many copies of that original but lost icon became miraculous (more than 30 in total) - Igretskaya Pesochinskaya, Yugskaya, Sergievskaya in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Kostroma, Kirillo-Belozerskaya, Svyatogorsk, Solovetskaya, etc.. All these images in different times and demonstrated their miraculous properties to varying degrees.

Iconography

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

The Virgin Mary holds the Child in her left hand, right hand The Lord is raised in a blessing gesture, in His left hand is the “scroll of teaching.” On the reverse side were written a view of Jerusalem, the Crucifixion and an inscription in Greek - “The King is Crucified”. In 1666, the icon was renewed, and later images of the Most Pure Mother and John the Evangelist appeared at the Crucifixion.

The iconographic image of the Smolensk Icon is very similar to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, but differs in the severity of the arrangement of the figures and the expression of the faces of the Mother of God and the Infant.

Meaning of the icon

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

An amazing thing is associated with the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God historical material, which, through the paths of her wanderings across Western Russian lands, marks all the most important events in the history of Russia up to the last century. It can be said that not a single event where the intercession of the One depicted on it was required was accomplished without Her intervention. Hodegetria the Guide pointed out and defended our west from the aggressive interests of neighboring states that sought to establish their influence in Russian state both military and political means. But even the retreats, which were accompanied by the transfer of the miraculous shrine from its main inheritance - the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk, were only a strategic necessity, and in no way an agreement with the presence and rule of foreigners and the prevailing Latin faith on our land. The cathedral prayers of Smolensk and Muscovites before her brought their wonderful fruits - sooner or later the enemy was expelled, and the Smolensk Hodegetria returned home to Smolensk.

Believers have received and are receiving abundant gracious help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: “You are the All-Blessed Hodegetria to the faithful people, You are the Praise of Smolensk and all the Russian lands are affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation for Christians!”

Celebration

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

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

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

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

Troparion, tone 4
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 good help to us who faithfully call Thee: hasten to prayer and strive to entreat, interceding ever since, the Mother of God, who honor Thee.

In 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
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 ditch 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 cruel 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.

Second prayer
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 the Refuge for sinners? Incline, O Most Pure Lady, Thy ear to my prayer, Mother of my God, do not despise me, requiring Thy 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 leave 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.

Documentary film “Seekers. TRACE OF HODIGITRIA" (2014)

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

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 Most Holy Theotokos 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. Holy Virgin dressed in scarlet robes (on modern lists often red) color, 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. You may, O Our Blessed Mother, save Your people from all evil and provide and save You 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 make us worthy of 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.

Our Lady Hodegetria

The iconographic type of the Mother of God Hodegetria (? ?????????) has several prototypes dating back to ancient times. Byzantine tradition traces it to the image painted by St. Evangelist Luke. According to this story, the Mother of God Herself blessed this image of Her with the words: “My blessing remains forever with this icon.” Saint Luke sent this image to “Sovereign Theophilus” in Antioch along with the text of the Gospel. Around the middle of the 5th century. By order of Empress Eudoxia, the image was sent to Constantinople as a gift to her mother-in-law, Empress Pulcheria. This narrative was generally accepted in Byzantium in the 9th century, when the name “Hodegetria” first appears on seals. It is unknown whether this name comes from the Temple of the “Guides” (??? ??????), in which emperors usually prayed before going on campaigns, or whether the icon of the Mother of God, called the “Guide”, gave the name to the temple rebuilt by Michael III (842–867). Be that as it may, at this time the miraculous icon of the Mother of God, which was later transferred to the Blachernae Church, was already assigned a special role in the destinies of the Christian empire. This attitude contributed to the formation of an iconographic type, predominantly Byzantine, which in the 9th century. is finally developed and given the name “Hodegetria”.

Our Lady Hodegetria. Beginning of the 7th century Church of Santa Maria ad Martires. Rome

Our Lady Hodegetria. Byzantium. First half of the 14th century. Temple Gallery, London

Syrian prototypes of Hodegetria, already numerous in the 6th century, depict the Mother of God standing and holding a reclining, swaddled Child on her left hand. These images are modified under the influence of Byzantine understanding. Icons of Hodegetria, created in Byzantium, depict the Infant Christ always sitting upright on the left hand of the Mother of God: here He is no longer infant, and the type of Christ Emmanuel; this is the “eternal God”, full of wisdom, despite his young age. Dressed in a robe of glory - a himation trimmed with gold - Christ Emmanuel holds a scroll in his left hand, and blesses with his right, looking straight ahead of Him. The Mother of God stands erect and majestic, without expressing any tenderness towards her Son. She looks at the viewer or looks away to the side, over the Baby’s head. A hand raised to the chest can express a gesture of prayer, but rather it is a pointing gesture:

The Mother of God points people to the Son of God, who came into the world through Her. This gesture can also be understood as a royal one, representing the believing people to Her Son, to which Christ Emmanuel responds with His broad, majestic gesture of blessing.

Our Lady Hodegetria. Drawing by L. A. Uspensky

The icon of Hodegetria, created in Byzantium, recalls the ritual routine of the imperial palace, where the life of the “porphyry-born” monarch turned into a series of official ceremonies in which all expression was suppressed human feeling, in order to reveal the sacred character of imperial dignity.

However, at the same time, this majestic detachment, alien to any expression of human emotions, best corresponds to the dogmatic meaning of the icon, showing the Mother of God of the Ever-Virgin with Christ Emmanuel.

Our Lady Hodegetria on the throne. Molivdovul. 717–720 GE

Virgin Hodegetria full-length with baby. Molivdovul. XIV century GE

The Hodegetria type gave rise to many iconographic variants, consecrated by the appearance of miraculous icons and bearing various names. Here we reproduce three copies of icons of Our Lady Hodegetria, revered in Russia: the miraculous icons of Our Lady of Smolensk, Tikhvin and Kazan.

Our Lady of Smolensk. Russia. XVI century Castel de Wijenborg (Netherlands)

From the book Conspiracies that attract money author Vladimirova Naina

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Her “Hodegetria” of Smolensk O Most Holy and Above All Creatures Queen Theotokos, Heavenly King Christ our God Mother, Most Holy Hodegetria Mary! Hear us, sinners and unworthy, who at this hour pray to You with sighs and

From the book The Road Home author Zhikarentsev Vladimir Vasilievich

Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” It serves as a complement to the above-mentioned icons (see Fig. 21). As you can see, in it the Virgin Mary holds the baby Jesus in one hand and points to him with the other hand. Jesus does not look like a baby at all, he is seen as if he is some kind of symbol

From the book The Meaning of Icons author Lossky Vladimir Nikolaevich

Our Lady Enthroned Icon attributed to the Cretan school last quarter XVI century This iconographic type is usually known in Russia under the name of Our Lady of Cyprus, whose miraculous mosaic icon was known in Cyprus at the beginning of the 7th century. Moreover, this image