remembered a monologue from the novel Prince Myshkin F.M Dostoevsky's "The Idiot", where he speculates about atheists.Listen to them, he says, and like everyone says well, talk is true, but "not that."Indeed, it is difficult to argue with a logical and balanced mind.He will bring a lot of examples, lay out all the facts prove the unprovable.But it is quite another thing - the soul.It is difficult to describe in words.It is impossible to talk about.It defies logic, there are no laws.Because there are hidden and infinite love.In it we just have to believe.Deeply.Silently.Truly.It is difficult and easy at the same time.It's hard because a lot of fuss.Our eyes are accustomed to seeing.Our ears are used to hearing, and hands - do.It is difficult to stop and drop these habits.We find it hard to let go of our body, give it up, recognize that it is our temporary home, the world - it's just an illusion.We find it difficult to recognize the real things which we can not reach out and touch it ....But God help us in this.He sends us icons - the material embodiment of the soul, near where we can freeze and get in touch with the unknown, but it exists.Pochayiv icon of the Mother of God - one of the most holy, sent to us by the Creator.We'll talk more about it.
It was 1240.Fleeing from the Mongol-Tatar invasion, two Orthodox monk go to Volyn.Here, among the thick forests they take refuge - a small cave in the mountain of Pochaev.These lands were largely uninhabited.As time went.The solitary life of the monks was held in fervent prayer for deliverance of the Russian Land from ruin and suffering.Once one of them after a lot of prayers went up the mountain and saw the image of the Virgin.She was standing on a rock, hugging a bright flame.He immediately called another monk, and together they witnessed the miraculous appearance.At that time, John Shepherd took place near Barefoot.He saw from afar unusual radiance.I went up the mountain and together with monks fell to his knees and began to glorify God and the Virgin.The phenomenon will soon disappear.However, the stone on which stood a Virgin, became her eternal proof of the descent - it was a trace her right foot.Since then, this stone is a source of healing water.Many pilgrims come each year to drink the holy water and fill it its vessels, and the imprint is still full, and the water does not go away.The news of the miraculous appearance of scattered to the ends of the earth Orthodox.Glory to the holy mountain widened.First, a small chapel was built.And over time, it was built a stone of Holy Assumption Church and Monastery, which became the center for Orthodox Christians in the western lands of Rus - Pochayiv Lavra.How did this tradition due to the miraculous icon?Indeed, these events occurred long before it appeared in these places, but nothing happens by chance.Various phenomena, our deeds, words and decisions - is inseparable links of the same chain, which leads us to an even more miracles, or, conversely, disappointments.It all depends on what kind of thoughts we have inside.Immediately she Pochayiv icon of the Mother of God appeared in the walls of the monastery follows.In the middle of the 16th century lived in Volhynia a certain landowner Anna gentile.She was a deeply religious man.Once it stopped the Greek Metropolitan Neophyte.Presumably he returned from Moscow and stayed in the house of the landowner to visit the monastery and obeisances to the feet of Our Lady.The hostess took him cordially, and for its warm hospitality, in the blessings he bestowed upon her ancient icon of the Mother of God.Now it is glorified Pochayiv icon of the Mother of God.
Anna delivered a precious image of a home chapel.Soon, however, I noticed that the icon comes from an unusual light and place all sorts of miracles.Thanks to her lame brother Phillip gentile get rid of his illness.We can say that this is the first recorded by the fact that the Pochayiv Icon of the Mother helps.And then the true Orthodox believer decided to give it Pochayevskaya monks for permanent storage.It has established so-called "fundushevuyu record", in other words - the deed by which she and her descendants undertake to endow the monastery with all necessary and help the monks to protect icon.Those grandchildren, who in the future will give up the decision would be anathema and accursed.To experience for yourself the will of God-fearing landowner happened to her nephew - Andrew Firlej.By faith he was a Lutheran, and the like - a cruel and imperious.He plundered the monastery and the icon brought home, where he kept her for about 20 years.Once, during one of the banquets he proposed to his wife to dress in the clothes of Orthodox monks and instead of glorifying the Virgin loud scream blasphemy.So they did for the amusement of the guests.The penalty came immediately - a terrible disease began to torment the woman.Deliverance came only when Andrew returned the icon back to the monastery ... Icon Pochayiv Mother of God: the value
icon located in Pochayiv Lavra hundreds of years.We know that only 110 years finding it from the Uniates were recorded about 539 miracles.However, it is easy to assume that even in this relatively short time, not all the stories are recorded in the annals.Miracles are continuing now.Something remains in the memory of people, some facts pass.But it does not matter, because the soul of the believer does not really need this evidence.We come to the icon at the behest of the heart, to share their joy with the Creator, or sorrow, ask for blessings and assistance, because he - it is our only abode.Therefore, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come each year to the holy source, and the miraculous icon.They pray for the healing of various ailments, blindness, the release from captivity, to end the war, to enlighten those who have renounced the faith ...
