Hodegetria Smolensk guidebook. Icon "Hodegetria" - meaning, history, what helps

The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God is known as one of the early Christian shrines, painted during the life of the Virgin. Authorship is attributed to the Evangelist Luke. Such is the legend. The icon was originally located in Jerusalem, from where it came to Constantinople, where Christianity was born.

The origin of the name of the icon is curious - the first miracle that the Mother of God showed to people is associated with it. It was in 842. According to legend, the Mother of God appeared to two blind people, ordered them to come to bow to the icon of the Mother of God, which was in the Blachernae Church. The blind followed the instructions and gained sight. And the icon was called “Hodegetria” (“Guide”)

At the beginning of the 12th century, the Christian shrine turned out to be the fate of Vladimir Monomakh, who in 1101 donated it to the Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin. Then “Hodegetria” became a guiding star for the common people of the ancient land, its defenders.

Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. Fresco. Dionysius, 1482
(Image from vladimirskaya-ikona.prihod.ru)

What kind of wars did not shake the land of Smolensk! During the atrocities of the horde of Batu Khan, in 1238, the Mother of God showed the first miracle to the inhabitants of the Smolensk land, when the Tatars attacked the Smolensk land. The army of Batu Khan stopped in a camp 25 miles from the city, in the village of Dolgomostye. The inhabitants gathered in the cathedral and prayed to the Heavenly Intercessor. And there was a vision to the church sexton - to find the warrior Mercury, whom the Mother of God had chosen to save the ancient city.

It was necessary for Mercury to go to the camp of the enemy and kill the foreign hero. Then the Mother of God said to the warrior: “I am sending you to protect My house. The ruler of the Horde with all his army and a giant wants to secretly attack My city this night and devastate it; but I begged my Son and my God for my house, so that it would not betray it to enemies. Go towards the enemy secretly from the people, the saint and the prince, who do not know about the attack, and by the power of Christ God you will defeat the giant. I myself will be with you, helping you. But along with the victory, the crown of martyrdom awaits you there, which you will receive from Christ.

Without fear, Mercury went to the enemy, led by Hodegetria, whose majestic face appeared over the battlefield, terrifying the enemy. The selfless warrior Mercury killed many Tatars, but he himself accepted death - the sleeping winner was cut off his head. According to legend, a courageous warrior was buried within the walls of the ancient cathedral of Smolensk. The glorious warrior was canonized as a saint and received the name of Mercury of Smolensk.

In the 14th century, Smolensk fell under the rule of the Lithuanian princes, and the holy image of the Mother of God was transferred to Moscow. A century later, he returned to Smolensk after the liberation of the city, at the request of the Smolensk people. In Moscow, there were copies of the golden-domed icon, one in the Annunciation Cathedral, the other in the Novodevichy Convent, which was founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. At the same time, determine the day of the celebration of the miraculous image - July 28 (August 10, according to the new style), 1525. Day of the liberation of the Russian city from foreign domination. On this day, solemn chants to Mother Intercessor are heard, a procession is made around the temple on Cathedral Hill, from where the whole city is clearly visible.

Later, an exact list was reproduced from the Hodegetria, which took on the full power of the ancient icon.

Historians testify that it was this list that went with the Russian troops when, in 1812, they left Smolensk to the French. The image of the Mother of God protected the Russian troops from the enemy. It is known that on the eve of the Battle of Borodino, the Smolensk “Hodegetria” was carried around the camp in order to strengthen the fortitude of Russian soldiers. And on the eve of the Battle of Borodino, the icon of the Smolensk Hodegetria, along with the Iveron and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, were worn around the Kremlin walls in Moscow. The Mother of God, through her images, granted victory to the Russian troops.

After the victory of our troops over the French, the Smolensk "Hodegetria" and its later list returned to the Assumption Cathedral. And for a long time, both icons did not leave Smolensk, bestowing grace on its inhabitants.

It is known that by the beginning of the last century there were two icons of the Mother of God in the Holy Dormition Cathedral. The ancient image was very dark, the type of wood of the icon could not be determined due to old age. On the reverse side of the icon is the crucifixion of the Lord and the inscription "Vasileus estavrofi" - "The king is crucified."

This was the icon until its mysterious disappearance, on the eve of the occupation of the city by the Germans on August 6, 1941. After the liberation of Smolensk in 1943, the Smolensk people entered the cathedral for the first time for worship and did not find the icon of the Heavenly Intercessor, which was always located on the 25-meter choirs. Since then, there have been no mentions and stories about the ancient icon, only speculations: maybe the locals hid it somewhere on the territory of the temple before the occupation. And the time will come - the ancient icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk will reveal another miracle. Christians hope for her miraculous return!

After a thorough search in 1943, the parishioners found in the cathedral, in a pile of rubbish, a large Over-the-Gate icon-list of the Smolensk Mother of God “Hodegetria”, dating from the 16th century. The author of the list is believed to be the icon painter Postnik Rostovets.

Since then, the list has not left Smolensk. Today it is located on the site of an ancient miraculous icon, in the main altar. The Assumption Cathedral is famous for the fact that two thrones were consecrated in it: in the name of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos and in the name of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria”.

Icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk "Hodegetria". 19th century
(Image from livejournal.com)

Another copy of the Smolensk icon, dating from the 15th century, is located in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The list of the end of the 16th century has been preserved in the Smolensky Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent. A later list of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God is placed over the burial place of Mikhail Kutuzov in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

In Smolensk, to the main shrine of the Assumption Cathedral, Orthodox climb a high cast-iron staircase to bow to the miraculous healing image. It is known for certain that in the 18th century a psalmist with twisted hands was healed. In a dream, the Mother of God appeared to him, and the patient was healed, as the doctors testified.

Among Orthodox Christians, the icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk “Hodegetria” is revered as a symbol of peace and health. The Mother of God was asked to protect from wars and epidemics. This icon is especially revered by family people - the Mother of God bestows love and strengthening of the family.

Travelers and wanderers pray to the Theotokos to protect their bright image of the Mother of God in foreign lands.

The miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, called the 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 for all Orthodox Christians is a guide to eternal salvation is an undeniable truth.

According to Church tradition, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called the 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, Theophilus, for whom he wrote an essay on the earthly life of Christ, known as the Gospel of Luke. When Theophilus died, the icon was returned to Jerusalem, and in the 5th century, the blessed Empress Evdokia, wife of Arcadius, handed Hodegetria to Constantinople to the emperor’s sister, Empress 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), passing off 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 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since that time, the icon has received the name Hodegetria Smolenskaya.

Assumption Cathedral (Smolensk)

History of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God

In 1238 Batu Khan's army approached Smolensk. In that rati was a giant warrior, who, according to legend, alone was worth almost a whole rati. All Smolensk people came out to pray in front of the image of the Smolensk Hodegetria the Guide. The Tatars had already come very close to the city, no more than 30-odd kilometers were left by today's standards, when a sexton in the Pechersky Monastery outside the city saw the Mother of God in a vision, who ordered him to bring a warrior named Mercury to Her. Entering the Caves 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 inheritance 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 a siege, and at night he penetrated the camp of Batu 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 ranked among the locally venerated saints (Comm. 24 November), the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was also declared locally venerated, and the legend “The Tale of Mercury of Smolensk” was composed about his feat, which dates back to about the 15th - 16th centuries. 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 lifetime to be hung in his resting place.

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

In 1395 Smolensk principality fell under the protectorate of Lithuania. In 1398, in order to avoid bloodshed in Moscow and soften the acute 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 inhabitants of Smolensk, headed 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 Savva the Sanctified on the Maiden's Field in Moscow, with a large gathering of people, the icon was solemnly escorted to the bend of the Moskva 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 Mother of God-Smolensky Monastery, which we know more as Novodevichy Convent. The monastery was consecrated and began to operate in 1525. From this period, the all-Russian glorification of the icon began, officially established by the Church.

Novodevichy Bogoroditse-Smolensky Monastery on Devichye Pole in Moscow

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

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

Prayer before the Battle of Borodino

On August 26, on the day of the battle in Borodino, three images of the Mother of God - the ancient image of the Hodegetria of Smolensk, along with the Iberian and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, were surrounded in a procession around the capital, and then sent to the sick and wounded soldiers in the Lefortovo Palace, so that they could bow to the shrines, 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 glorified list, was returned to Smolensk to the native Assumption Cathedral.

In 1929, the Assumption Cathedral was closed, but, like many other temples and churches of that period, it was not subject to desecration and ruin. Intelligence, which can be considered reliable, about the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God- the prototype of other, subsequent lists break off in 1941, after the capture of Smolensk by German troops. Then, in early August 1941, the headquarters of the German command received a message that the list of the icon, attributed according to historical data to the brush of the Evangelist Luke, was in its original place, in good condition, the icon was considered miraculous and its location was a place of worship and pilgrimage. Nothing more is known about that icon.

Now, in place of the missing icon, there is a list of the middle of the 16th century, which is not inferior to its predecessor in the number of miracles and in popular veneration, but Hodegetria is still waiting for the apostolic letter 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 Smolenskaya Over the Gate, a list from the famous Smolensk Icon. Once it hung over 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 lists of the miraculous Smolensk Hodegetria. Many lists from that original, but lost icon became miraculous (more than 30 in total) - Igretskaya Pesochinskaya, Yugskaya, Sergievskaya in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Kostroma, Kirillo-Belozerskaya, Svyatogorskaya, Solovetskaya and others .. All these images at different times and showed 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 prepared from chalk on glue, as was done in antiquity, and covered with canvas.

The Mother of God holds the Child on her left hand, the Lord’s right hand is raised in a blessing gesture, in His left hand is a “scroll of teaching”. On the reverse side were written the view of Jerusalem, the Crucifixion and the inscription in Greek - "The king is crucified." In 1666, the icon was renovated, and later images of the Most Pure and John the Theologian appeared at the Crucifixion.

The iconographic image of the Smolensk Icon is very similar to the Iver Icon of the Mother of God, but differs in the severity of the arrangement of the figures and the facial expressions of the Virgin and the Infant.

The 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 historical material is connected with the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, which, through the paths of her wanderings through the 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 could do without Her intervention. Hodegetria the Guide indicated and protected our west from the predatory interests of neighboring states, which sought to establish their influence in the Russian state both by 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 in our land. The prayers of the Smolensk people and Muscovites in front of her brought their miraculous results - sooner or later the enemy was expelled, and the Smolenskaya Hodegetria returned home to Smolensk.

Believers have received and continue to receive abundant grace-filled help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we appeal to Her: “You are the faithful people - the All-good Hodegetria, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands - affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation of the Christian!

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-Smolensk (Novodevichy) Monastery, founded by Vasily III in gratitude to the Mother of God for the return of Smolensk to Rus' during the Russian-Lithuanian war. The festival was established in memory of the arrival of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in Rus' in 1046.

The second time the celebration takes place November 5/18 in honor of Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 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 through the common prayer of the 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
Now diligently to the Theotokos, sinners and humility, and we fall down, in repentance calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, help us, having mercy on us, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away Your servants of vanity, You and the only hope of the imam.

Kontakion, tone 6
The intercession of Christians is shameless, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, as if good, to help us, who faithfully call Ty: hasten to prayer and rush to supplication, intercession ever, the Mother of God, who honor thee.

Yin Kontakion, tone 6
Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, unless You, the Lady: You help us, we hope in You and we boast in You: Your servants, let us not be ashamed.

Prayer
O Wonderful and Exceeding all creatures, the Queen of the Theotokos, the Heavenly King Christ our God Mother, the Most Pure Hodegetria Mary! Hear us sinners and unworthy at this hour, praying and falling to Your Most Pure Image with tears and tenderly saying: lead us out of the ditch of passions, O Lady of Grace, deliver us from all sorrow and sorrow, protect us from all misfortunes and evil slander, and from unrighteous and fierce libel of the enemy. May you, O our Blessed Mother, save Thy people from all evil and supply and save with all good deeds; unless you have another Representative in troubles and situations, and warm intercessors for us sinners, not imams. Pray, O Most Holy Lady, Thy Son Christ our God, that He may honor us with the Kingdom of Heaven; For this reason, we always praise Thee, as the Creator of our salvation, and we exalt the holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity of the glorified and worshiped God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer two
To whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to Thee, Lady Lady Mother of God, Queen of Heaven? Who will receive my weeping and my sighing, if not You, O Immaculate One, the Hope of Christians and the Refuge of sinners? Incline, O Most Pure Lady, your ear to my prayer, Mother of my God, do not despise me, demanding your help, hear my groaning and the cry of my heart, O Lady Mother of God Queen. And give me spiritual joy, strengthen me, impatient, despondent and negligent to Your praise. Teach me and teach me how to pray to You, and do not depart from me, Mother of my God, for my murmuring and impatience, but be a cover and intercession in my life and lead me to a quiet haven of blissful rest, and count me to the face Your chosen flock and there make me worthy to sing and praise Thee forever. Amen.

Documentary film "Searchers. HODEGETRIA'S TRACE" (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, more than once saved the city 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 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 Most Holy Theotokos. Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the ruler of Antioch, Theophilus. From Antioch, the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there the Empress Eudoxia, the 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), giving 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 Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. Since that time, the icon has been called the Hodegetria of Smolensk.

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

In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vitovt Sofia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398-1425). In 1398, she brought with her to Moscow the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. 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 inhabitants of Smolensk, headed 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 measure" - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was set up on the Maiden's Field, where Muscovites "with many tears" released the holy icon to Smolensk. In 1602, an exact list was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon, a new list was taken to Moscow for renewal), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gates, under a specially arranged tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 a stone one.

The new list took on the grace-filled power of the ancient image, and when the Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them to protect it from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers to a great feat. The ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, temporarily taken to the Assumption Cathedral, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, along with the Iberian 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.

So reverently our ancestors kept these icons-sisters, and the Mother of God, through Her images, guarded our Motherland. After the victory over the enemy, the Hodegetria icon, together with the glorified list, 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 supposed to be celebrated on the same day. There is also a day of celebration of the Smolensk icon, which became famous in the 19th century, on November 5, when this icon was returned to Smolensk by order of the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, M.I. Kutuzov. In memory of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland in Smolensk, it was established to celebrate this day every year.

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church. Believers have received and continue to receive abundant grace-filled 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 faithful people - the All-good Hodegetria, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian land - affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, the salvation of Christians!"

The Hodegetria icon, revered as miraculous, has been known in Rus' since ancient times. Orthodox Christians especially appreciate it because it is a guiding thread leading to salvation.

Translated from the Greek "Hodegetria" means "Guide". The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God provides help and support to everyone who turns to her with prayers, healing from ailments, helping to strengthen faith, protecting those who ask from negativity and temptations on the path of life.

History of the icon

Tradition says that the Hodegetria icon of Smolensk was painted by St. Luke himself during the earthly life of the Mother of God. There is no exact information about how the holy image came to Russia, but there are references to the icon already in the middle of the 11th century. This face became the family shrine of the Russian princes, who passed it on to their successors with the greatest trepidation.

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk is one of the most important shrines of the Russian Church. Believers receive help from her, which connects them with the Orthodox faith, not allowing the devilish intrigues to denigrate souls striving for the light and God's grace.

Description of the Hodegetria Icon

The icon depicts the Mother of God to the waist, on the right hand of which is the Child. He holds his right hand in a blessing gesture. In the left hand of the Child is a scroll - a symbol of teaching and enlightenment. The Savior is depicted in royal robes, which means the image of the Almighty. His robes are elaborately painted in purple and gold. Often the Child on the icon is wearing a crown.

Where is the icon

In Russia, there are more than two hundred temples, churches and parishes where you can bow to the image of the Smolensk Mother of God. In addition, lists with icons are kept in many museums. Among the copies of the icons, more than 30 have miraculous powers.

You can bow to the image in the following places:

• the city of Moscow, the Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in the Novodevichy Convent;
• city ​​of St. Petersburg, Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God;
• the city of Sergiev Posad, the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra;
• the city of Suzdal, the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God;
• the city of Kostroma, the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in the Epiphany-Anastasia Monastery;
• the city of Orel, the Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God;
• city ​​of Nizhny Novgorod, Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.

What helps the icon of the Smolensk Mother of God

The holy face has many miraculous abilities, and Orthodox Christians turn to Our Lady of Smolensk with prayers:

• about the protection of the homeland from wars and enemy raids;
• about the health of the military in hot spots;
• about the health of loved ones and all living on Earth from epidemics;
• about protecting the house from negativity and ill-wishers;
• about strengthening faith and fortitude;
• about resisting temptations and deceit that lead souls astray.

Prayer before the image

“Queen Mother of God, Guide and protector of the whole human race. We turn to You with humble prayers. Deliver us from sorrows and sorrows, guide us on the true path, and save our flesh and blood from illnesses and diseases. Help, Mother of God, to find the true faith and strengthen in it, not allowing the intrigues of the devil to throw a seed of doubt and discord. Keep peace throughout the earth and do not let enemies ruin our homeland. Influence the minds of our ill-wishers, delivering them from the filth of anger. Amen".

Days of veneration of the icon

The Hodegetria icon of the Mother of God is venerated three times a year:

• 10th of August(July 28), when the holy face was transferred from the Moscow Kremlin to the Novodevichy Convent;
• November 18th(November 5) in honor of the miraculous help of the icon and the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812;
• December 7(November 24) in honor of the victory of the inhabitants of the glorious city of Smolensk over the Golden Horde.

Each of these holidays is accompanied by a liturgy and the offering of prayers to the Higher Powers, which did not allow Rus' to fall under the onslaught of enemies and offenders.

The Smolensk icon is the helper and patroness of everyone who believes in the Lord. Sincere prayers will help you gain faith and start a righteous path that will change you and your life for the better every day. We wish you joy and happiness, and do not forget to press the buttons and

10.08.2017 03:01

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