name "Good" Theotokos (accent on the second syllable) is primarily due to the fact that in addition to the image of the Blessed Virgin and Child at the top of symmetrically depict angels with the instruments of the Cross Passion.Archangel Gabriel holding the cross, where Jesus accepted death, and Archangel Michael - sponge filed Christ to quench their thirst, and spear which stabbed in the ribs of Jesus the centurion Longinus to make sure that he is dead.
General description
"Holy" icon of the Mother of God, abiding in a monastery near the tomb of the Rev. Demetrius Prilutsky has only one image of an angel with the instruments of torture.It was established painters in the monastery Kutlumus.In the XIII century with the help of the icon of Our Lady of Mount Athos monks defended from pirates.The intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary has made so that the monastery was shrouded in fog and turned invisible to thieves.Since the icon has another name - "Fovera Prostasia", which means "terrible defense."
"Holy" icon of the Mother of God: the value
word "passion" is translated from the Church Slavonic in this case means "suffering".This is an image of the Virgin has a special meaning, has an important sacred function."Good" icon of the Mother, whose value is difficult to overestimate, has long been revered in Russia, as the symbol of Holy Week before Resurrection.Angels, flying to the Christ Child with the Lord's instruments of torture, indicative of future real suffering of the Savior.He, looking at them in terror clutching at his mother with both hands, as if requiring assistance and protection.
Holy Mother of God, full of humility and virtue, dutifully carries her child towards torture and suffering in obedience to the will of God and believing in God's right.This miraculous image is designed to deliver the human race from the passions, mental infirmity and suffering, he teaches obedience and humility.Recently there has been demand for an image of Our Lady of the Passion believers, regardless of education or of their position in society, because it is a symbol of Christ and human passions.
iconographic type
"Belt" image of the Virgin in the icon is iconographic type "Hodegetria"."Good" Theotokos characterized by the fact that the face of the young child is turned in the direction of the angel who holds the Cross.The head of the Blessed Virgin Mary is tilted to the Child, which softens the strict iconographic type "Hodegetria", which includes "Kazan", "Iberia", "Three Hands," "Quick to Hearken", "Smolenskaya" ("Hodegetria"), "Czestochowa" and othersicons.Virgin Mary holding the Christ child, frightened wraps her right hand.
Pages of history
"Holy" icon of the Mother of God, a photo of which is represented here, is first mentioned as early as the sixteenth century.A list with the icon, made on Mount Athos, appears in Russia in the seventeenth century.Its authorship is attributed to Gregory iconographer from Nizhny Novgorod.A peasant from the village of Ekaterina The sticks were sick madness from the beginning of married life, and often attempt on his life, rushing into the water, then draping the loop.Addressing a prayer to Our Lady, she made a promise that if the healing will go to the monastery.But after recovering Catherine forgot about his vow, was the mother and began raising their children.
After some time, she had a vision of the Mother of God, accompanied by the other light-carrying maidens.Blessed Lady reproached her for failure to fulfill this vow.Virgin ordered to announce the appearance of it, but Catherine did not dare to do it.Twice it came to the Mother of God, and the last time a woman for disobedience was punished ugliness and relaxation.For the treatment of the Blessed Virgin told Catherine found in Nizhny Novgorod icon painter Gregory, who wrote her image, called "Hodegetria".After the prayer before him Ekaterina healed.After this famous icon of the numerous miracles.
Date celebration
By order of the Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, the holy image was moved from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow, where he was received with military honors at the big gathering of people at Tver gate.In honor of this memorable event established the celebration of "Holy" icon of the Mother of God - this is August 13.In place of the red carpet icons later built a temple, and then, in 1654, founded the Holy Monastery.In 1937, the monastery buildings were demolished."Good" icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is currently placed in the temple of Sokolniki - "Resurrection".Modern public advocates for the restoration of the destroyed monastery.On the former site of the "Passion" of the cathedral every Saturday and Sunday akathist read "Holy" icon of the Mother of God.Second date of celebration of the icon - the Sunday of the blind, is the sixth Sunday following after Easter, in memory of the day occurred in miracles.
What pray
image of the "Holy" icon of Virgin Mary praying for the salvation of the fire, for the healing of diseases.During the reign of Ivan the Terrible was a terrible fire, which was only the whole house where the icon was placed.
By order of the king of the holy image was transferred to the palace, and after - in a temple in China town."Good" icon of the Mother venerated in the Cathedral of the city of Lipetsk.Here in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ (1835) in the Time of Cholera was a procession with its image, and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin epidemic terrible disease stopped.However, in 1931 the authorities decided to close the cathedral.The icon was saved from desecration and moved to a small temple village Dvurechki.In the year of the 2000th anniversary of Christianity "Good" Theotokos was officially moved in procession to the cathedral city of Lipetsk - "Christmas."
Before that way later than once committed miraculous healings.He prayed to retreat terrible diseases and epidemics.Since this image symbolizes not only the Passion of Christ, but also the human passions, the prayer "Holy" icon of the Mother of God is able to heal mental illnesses, as well as get rid of thoughts about suicide or committing some sinful and harmful actions.
importance icons
Recently strained relations with some sections of society Orthodoxy that ended blasphemous desecration shrines.After the events on Feb. 21, 2012 in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, when the member of feminist punk band Pussy Riot defiled the holy place, the image of "Holy" Mother of God was once again in demand.Tens of thousands of believers came to the prayer standing in defense of the faith before Christ the Saviour Cathedral and took part in the procession, with the "Holy" icon of the Mother of God (April 22, 2012).
