home Runes How many lists of the Kazan Mother of God icon exist? July

How many lists of the Kazan Mother of God icon exist? July

KAZAN ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

November 4 The day of remembrance of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated, which more than once helped Russia in the fight against infidels.
21 July- the appearance of the icon of the Mother of God in the city of Kazan.

A terrible misfortune befell Kazan shortly after its conquest by Ivan the Terrible. In 1579, a strong fire destroyed most of the city, leaving thousands of people homeless and without bread. The fire that broke out from the yard of the archer Danila Onuchin, in a few hours, turned the property of many years of human labor into ashes. Crying and groaning of people stood over Kazan on a summer June day.

The fire destroyed mainly the Christian part of the city, and the Tatars turned every disaster into a reproach to the Russians: this, they say, was the prophet Mohammed punishing them for the ruin of the Muslim kingdom. It was hard for Christians to endure undeserved accusations, and it was even harder to see the desecration of holy icons. And then the Lord sent them His mercy - to console some and admonish others.

The Most Holy Theotokos showed her image, and she showed it not to the mayor of the city, not to a nobleman, not to a rich man, or even to a wise man, but to a ten-year-old girl, Matrona, the daughter of the archer Danila Onuchin. In an almost empty hut, an icon appeared in front of her, from which a voice was heard: “Go and tell the archbishop and the governors to take My icon out of the bowels of the earth.” But at first, Matrona did not dare to tell even her mother, let alone strangers, about her vision.

A few days later, the icon appeared to her again, and then Matrona told her mother about her wondrous vision, but she did not pay attention to her words. Some more time passed, and one day the ten-year-old girl fell asleep in her house at midday. Suddenly some force transported her to the middle of the courtyard, where she again saw the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the air. Such fiery rays emanated from the icon that the girl was even afraid that they would burn her. And again a menacing voice was heard: “If you do not declare my words and do not take my icon from the earth, you will be sick until your death.” Matrona was so frightened that she fell unconscious to the ground.

When she came to her senses, she spoke about her miraculous transfer to the courtyard and about the icon in the fiery rays. The next day, the mother went with Matrona to the city governors, and the girl with tears asked to remove the icon from the ground in the courtyard that was indicated to her during the vision. However, the governors did not take her words seriously, and Matrona and her mother went to the bishop in the full hope that the saint would listen to them and certainly make the necessary order. But here, too, one disappointment awaited them, since the archbishop ignored their words.

They had no one else to go to, and then they decided to look for the miraculously appeared icon themselves. At the burnt site, D. Onuchin began to clear a place for a new building, and on July 8, 1579, his mother and Matrona came to the fire, where many people had already gathered. Many took part in the search for the icon and soon dug up a lot of earth, but the icon was nowhere to be found.
Matrona herself began to dig, and where there had previously been a furnace, at a depth of about one and a half meters, she found an icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria with the Eternal Child in her arms. The icon was wrapped in an old cloth sleeve, but it shone with a radiant light, as if it had only recently been painted.

The joy of the Orthodox people knew no bounds. They knelt before the icon, kissed it and vying with each other to touch it in order to receive miraculous grace.
They let the bishop and the governors know about the find, and with the blessing of the bishop, the bells soon began to ring. When the bishop saw the newly appeared image, he was greatly surprised, because he had never seen icons of such wonderful writing. He fell to his knees and tenderly asked forgiveness for his unbelief, and the governors also asked for mercy.
While still a priest, Patriarch Hermogenes, with the blessing of the then Kazan Bishop Jeremiah, transferred the newly-minted icon from the place where it was found to the church where he served as a priest.

Soon, by the mercy of God, miracles began to happen from the holy icon. First of all, the mercy of God was received by one beggar who was blind for three years, saw nothing, and then received his sight. When the found icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was brought into the Kazan Church of the Annunciation, sight was also granted to a certain Nikita, who until that time had also not seen anything.

The news of the appearance of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God soon spread far beyond the borders of Kazan, and first of all they hastened to convey this news to Ivan the Terrible. A copy was made of the icon and sent to Moscow as a precious treasure - along with a description of its appearance and the miracles that came from it.

The word “copy” in those days and up to the 18th century. did not have the meaning that it has in modern language, that is, it was not an exact reproduction of the original. Then, first of all, it was a question of the correctness of the composition, and in the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God it was a special turn of the head of the Mother of God and a special position of the Infant God.

The icon made a deep impression on the king and his sons: “The king and his children were greatly amazed, as if they had never seen such icons depicted anywhere.” Ivan the Terrible ordered to immediately erect a church in honor of Hodegetria on the site of her discovery and establish a nunnery. And Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich ordered to decorate the icon with gold and precious stones. But trace of the copy sent to Moscow to Ivan the Terrible was subsequently lost.

The Kazan icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria was copied from the very icon that, according to legend, was painted by the Evangelist Luke. In 1829, Colonel of the Austrian service Sherelmey, returning from an archaeological trip to Palestine, saw a young Greek monk suffering from lung disease in a Bedouin tent. Taking pity on his acute illness, he took the monk with him to Cairo, and from there to Italy. During a stormy voyage, Monk Isaac died, but before his death he managed to give his benefactor a leather bag with everything that was in it. Sherelmey at first did not pay any attention to this bag, even as if he did not notice it at all, believing that the bag was lowered into the sea along with the body. However, being already in Italy, he found the monk's bag in his luggage, and in it the following items: an ancient silver cup, a rosary, ancient Greek prayer books, poor monastic clothes, a gilded reliquary with particles of bones of Palestinian martyrs and ancient parchment. And at the very bottom of the bag lay a carefully wrapped icon of an ancient type. But the fact that it was ancient was discovered only by removing the hardened black layer that covered the image.
Cardinal Mezzafonti wanted to acquire all these treasures, but he could not buy the icon, since the Greek clergy was ready to pay a much higher price for it. Then the icon was cleaned in the most thorough manner in Paris, and a wondrous, ancient image of the Most Holy Theotokos with the Child of God, written on a copper board, appeared to the world. Around their faces and on the head cover, Hebrew inscriptions were made in letters of the Chaldean alphabet.

On the cover were inscribed the words: “Mary of Jesus Hodegetria,” and near the images: “My spirit rejoices in the God of Israel: my eyes see Mary of Jesus. May the intentions of my heart be pleasing to Mary of Jesus. Anoint my head with oil and send peace to your servant Luke in the sight of Mary of Jesus. Mary of Jesus, strengthen your servant Luke to proclaim your name.”

The Mother of God on the Kazan icon is depicted with her head bowed to Her Son. The Divine Infant is presented with a blessing right hand, and the face of the Mother of God radiates such love that it is difficult to imagine anything higher than this image, surpassing all human art. Her bright eyes reflect thoughtfulness, but not vain thoughtfulness, not anxious, but quiet maternal thoughtfulness and endless mercy. The eyes of the God-Child, living human eyes, look above the earthly, in their childish expression one can see the mind of an adult, and in childish tenderness - Divine power, His whole face is filled with Divine beauty.

The Kazan priest Hermogenes, who accepted the icon and carried it in his hands to the Church of the Annunciation, subsequently became the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. As an eyewitness, he compiled a description of the appearance of the icon and some of the miracles that happened with him in Kazan from the miraculous icon.

One mother brought a blind child to the miraculous image and with tears prayed to the Heavenly Intercessor for his recovery. All the people prayed with her. And suddenly the child began to grab his mother’s face and look at it. The archbishop, who stood in his place all this time and watched what was happening, ordered to bring a red apple and show it to the child, who immediately reached out to it with his little hands...

In 1767, Catherine II, during a visit to Kazan, presented the icon with a diamond crown, specially made by order of the Empress herself. The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God became a national shrine at the beginning of the 17th century, when terrible disasters befell the Russian state and it was left without a tsar. Taking advantage of such a sad state of Russia, the Poles captured Moscow and proposed their prince Vladislav as king. But he did not want to change his Catholic faith to Orthodox, did not appear in Moscow, and then Patriarch Hermogenes called on the Russian people to liberate Moscow from the Poles and elect an Orthodox Russian Tsar.

In 1612, a new copy of the icon arrived in Moscow along with the Kazan militia and was in the camp of Prince D.I. Pozharsky. In both happy and unhappy battles, Russian soldiers prayed before the icon and called on the Most Holy Theotokos for help. After the final liberation of Moscow from the Poles, Prince D.I. Pozharsky first placed the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the Church of the Presentation on Lubyanka.

Church of the Entry on Bolshaya Lubyanka. Photo from. books by N.A. Naydenov "Moscow. Cathedrals, monasteries and churches." 1882-1883

Subsequently, in gratitude to the Mother of God for preserving it during campaigns and battles, and as a keepsake for his descendants, the prince built the Kazan Cathedral on Red Square, where he transferred the miraculous icon.

Kazan Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow.

Kazan Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow - one of the most famous Moscow churches was erected in 1636. The liberator icon was moved there.

Many miracles were performed by the icon in the first days of its stay in Moscow. Here is what, for example, is told in an old manuscript about one of them. A certain Savva Fomin, a Kazan townsman who lived in Moscow, planned to commit a terrible crime. He called on the devil for help and promised to give him his soul. But after committing the crime, Savva Fomin fell into a serious illness and began to repent of his sin. Already preparing for death, he confessed everything to his confessor. After that, the Mother of God appeared to him in a dream, encouraged him and promised to ask God for forgiveness and healing for him. To do this, She ordered Savva to arrive at the Kazan Cathedral on the day of the holiday - July 8.

Rumors about this reached Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, and he ordered the patient to be brought to the cathedral on a carpet. During the service, the patient began to suffer terrible suffering, and he began to shout in a frantic voice: “Help me, Queen of Heaven!” And then the Mother of God appeared to him and quietly said: “Fulfill your promise, go to the monastery, do not sin in the future, and you will be healthy!” And then all the Orthodox people who were at the liturgy suddenly heard a voice: “Savva, get up and enter my church!” And Savva immediately stood up, entered the Kazan Cathedral and fell to his knees in front of the miraculous icon. All the people looked in amazement at the miracle that had happened. Savva Fomin immediately gave everything he had to poor people and took monastic vows at the Chudov Monastery.

In 1812, Field Marshal M.I. Kutuzov, before leaving Moscow, entered the cathedral, took the icon on his chest under his overcoat and took it out. Subsequently, the icon remained in the cathedral until its demolition in 1934.

The third copy of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was brought in 1708 to St. Petersburg by order of Paul I. At first it was in a wooden chapel on the St. Petersburg side, and then it was transferred to the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which was located on Nevsky Prospekt. She stayed here until 1811, when she was moved to the newly built Kazan Cathedral, where she is still located.

And in Kazan in 1904 there was a theft. The icon of the Mother of God, along with two other icons, vessels and mugs, was taken from the monastery. The Kazan “Sobriety Society” awarded a prize of 300 rubles to anyone who could indicate the location of the stolen icon. Soon the thief was caught in Nizhny Novgorod. He turned out to be a certain Chaikin, a repeat offender who had a total of 43 years of hard labor. He was well known to the police as a thief who specialized in church thefts. During the investigation, he first claimed that he had cut the icon, then he changed his testimony and began to say that he had burned the icon. But the court did not believe him, since the experienced criminal was well aware of its great value. And still, until his death, until 1917, Chaikin claimed that he burned the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

The Russian people saw a bad omen in the disappearance of the icon; it was not without reason that rumors said that “The Mother of God is leaving the Russian land.” But in church circles there was a widespread opinion that Chaikin stole the icon of the Mother of God to sell it to Old Believers, perhaps even on their order. There has long been a legend among the Old Believers that until the icon is in their hands, they will not receive complete freedom to practice their faith. In a sense, this belief of theirs came true, since in 1905 a decree on religious tolerance was issued, and from that time on the rights of the Old Believers were restored.

If Chaikin really gave them the icon of the Mother of God, then he should have known which of the many monasteries it was sent to. But he could not tell about the true fate of the icon, otherwise he would have been in trouble. And the revolution that took place in 1917 covered up all further traces...

Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Kolomenskoye

Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Kolomenskoye

The wooden church in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God at the Sovereign's Courtyard in Kolomenskoye was built under Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in the 1630s. In 1649-1653 under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the capture of Kazan, the current brick church building was built on a high basement with a tented bell tower instead of a wooden one.

Temple shrines:
- The miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Sovereign”;
- The revered Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (XVII century). Revered copies of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God:
in Kazan, Yaroslavl, Moscow, Vyazniki, Nizhny Lomov, Tobolsk, Kaplunovka, Tambov, Shlisselburg, Penza, St. Petersburg, Chimeevskaya, in Vysochinovka, Peschanskaya, in the Vyshensky Monastery.

The miraculous copy of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, found in 1579, is located in the Kazan Cemetery Church in the name of the holy noble princes Theodore and his children David and Constantine. The holy image is reverently revered by the residents of the city.
Yaroslavskaya, was found in 1588 by Gerasim, who came to Kazan and had no use for his hand. The Mother of God, appearing to him, commanded to take Her icon at the indicated place, take it to the city of Romanov and place it in the temple. The patient followed this instruction exactly and his hand was healed.
The holy icon stayed in Romanov for 21 years, and in 1609, during the Polish intervention, it was brought to Yaroslavl. Yaroslavl residents placed the icon in the church, and miracles were performed from it. A convent arose at the temple. A copy of the holy icon was sent to the city of Romanov.

A copy of the miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, which was in the Russian militia, before which the patriots Minin and Pozharsky prayed in 1612, was placed in 1636 in the Moscow Kazan Cathedral. Now this holy image is in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral. Revered lists of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God are also known in Moscow: in the Kremlin Ascension Monastery (1701), in the Simonov Monastery (XIX), in the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery (1849), in the Church of the Nativity on Povarskaya Street, in the Church of the Kazan Mother of God at the Kaluga Gate and in the Vvedensky Church.

Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, called Vyaznikovskaya, was located in the Kazan Cathedral Church in the city of Vyazniki, Vladimir diocese. Many healings were performed from this icon. In 1624, an investigation was carried out with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Philaret. All cases of healing were confirmed, and the icon was recognized as miraculous.

The Kazan miraculous icon of the Mother of God, called Nizhnelomovskaya, appeared in 1643 at a spring near the city of Nizhny Lomov, Penza province. The revealed icon was placed in the chapel, and in 1648 a temple was built here. Before the icon of the Mother of God, the sick were healed by Divine mercy. A monastery was built next to the church.

The miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God appeared in the city of Tobolsk in 1661 under the following circumstances: the clerk of the Tobolsk Znamensky Monastery Ioannikiy told about the threefold appearances of the saint in his dream, whom he mistook for the holy Metropolitan Philip, who commanded him on behalf of the Mother of God to take the Kazan Icon, in neglectedly standing in a closet of the Church of the Three Saints, and put it in a new temple, which should be erected in three days, and consecrated on the fourth. “Then,” said the saint who appeared, “the torrential rains will stop in the city and harmful insects will disappear.” Ioannikis was afraid to immediately reveal these visions to the abbot. At Matins, while reading the legend about the appearance of the Mother of God in Kazan, he fell into a deep faint. Having come to his senses, the clerk told everything to his confessor, and he told the abbot. The command of the Most Pure Virgin was fulfilled. The constant rains in that area immediately stopped and the harmful insects disappeared. From that time on, miraculous healings began to occur from the icon of the Mother of God.

Kaplunovskaya Icon of the Mother of God after a miraculous appearance in a dream to the priest John, on September 11, 1689 he bought it from a Moscow icon painter who was passing through the settlement of Kaplunovka. One day, in the third week of Great Lent, the icon was illuminated with an extraordinary light and was transferred to the local Kaplunovsky church. The image of this icon is similar to the image of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The miraculous Kaplunovskaya icon of the Mother of God was on the battlefield near Poltava in 1709. Russian soldiers more than once turned to the miraculous image in prayer. The celebration of the Mother of God in honor of the Kaplunovskaya icon was established in 1766.

Tambov miraculous icon of the Mother of God was in the Transfiguration Church of the Tambov Cathedral. The first miracle happened on December 6, 1695, when during an all-night vigil she shed tears. From that time on, the holy icon continuously cured ailments. The icon is painted according to the Kazan type.

In 1611, a copy of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, located in the church of the Oreshek fortress, was walled up in the wall before the fortress was surrendered to the Swedes. In 1702, the fortress again passed to Russia and was named Shlisselburg.
One day a sentry noticed a light coming from the wall and told about it. The next morning a crack appeared in the wall and the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God became visible. Healings began to take place from the holy icon.

The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was granted by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1676) to the city of Penza at its founding in 1666. Those who came with faith to this icon always received help in various needs. On the eve of August 4, 1717, during the invasion of the Nogai Tatars (the so-called “Kuban pogrom”), when there was no hope of saving the city, all the residents gathered in the cathedral for a vigil, which did not interrupt all night. In the morning, the icon was taken to the ramparts and the akathist began to be sung. When the Nogais launched an attack, the face of the Mother of God darkened and the holy icon turned away from the enemies. While reading the prayer, confusion occurred in the Tatar camp, and they fled. In con. XIX century This icon was celebrated on August 4th. At the all-night vigil there is a hymn:
“We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, and honor Your holy image, through which we were delivered from the filthy invasion.”

The copy of the miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was placed in the Trinity Cathedral in St. Petersburg in 1721 by order of Emperor Peter I, and in 1811 it was transferred to the newly created Kazan Cathedral, on the day of its consecration.

Kazan miraculous icon of the Mother of God, called Vysochinovskaya, was located in the Archangel Michael Church of the monastery near the city of Zmiev, Kharkov province.
The holy icon appeared in the 18th century. to a forest watchman in a pine forest on the banks of the Mzhi River. The watchman saw an icon standing on a swamp hummock, from which light rays emanated. When he took the holy icon to place in his lodge, a source of clean water flowed from under a hummock.
One day, when the watchman’s father (a decrepit, blind old man walking on crutches) and his ten-year-old grandson were in the guardhouse, the boy saw a bright light emanating from the icon. The boy got scared and told his grandfather, who was lying on the stove, that something was burning in the corner. The old man with difficulty climbed down from the stove and approached the corner where the holy icon stood. Suddenly his eyes opened up and he saw the holy Kazan icon of the Mother of God and felt completely healthy. With tears, he thanked the Mother of God for the wondrous miracle.
The next morning, the entire family of the watchman went to the temple of the nearest village to thank God for the healing of the old man and to tell the local priest about everything. The holy icon was placed in the church, and the family returned home. To everyone’s surprise, the next morning the holy icon was in its place in the guardhouse. Three times the holy icon was brought to the church and three times returned back to its place. Then they decided to leave the icon where the Most Holy Theotokos wished. Many people came here asking the Mother of God for help.
After the Battle of Poltava, Emperor Peter I awarded the centurion Vasily Vysochinov, who distinguished himself in battle, with a land plot. Vasily turned out to be the owner of the place where the miraculous icon stood in the gatehouse. Having learned about the appearance of the holy icon, Vysochinov asked to move the parish church of the village of Artyukhovka to the place where the holy image appeared.
In 1795, a stone church was built, and in 1886 a monastery was founded in Vysochinovka, in which the miraculous icon was located.

In front of the Kazan Icon they pray for the sight of blind eyes, for deliverance from the invasion of foreigners, it is an intercessor in difficult times, they bless those entering into marriage.

Troparion to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, tone 4

Diligent intercessor,
Mother of the Lord Most High,
pray for all your Son Christ our God,
and make it possible for all to be saved, those who come running to Your sovereign protection.
Intercede for us all, O Lady Queen and Lady,
those who are in adversity and sorrow and illness, burdened with many sins,
coming and praying to You with a tender soul and a contrite heart,
before Your most pure image with tears
and those who have irrevocable hope in Thee,
deliverance from all evils,
grant it useful to everyone
and save everything, Virgin Mary:
For Thou art the Divine Cover of Thy servant.

Kontakion to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, tone 8

Let us come, people, to this quiet and good refuge,
the ambulance, ready and warm salvation, the protection of the Virgin.
Let us hasten to prayer and strive for repentance:
For the Most Pure Mother of God exudes unto us boundless mercies,
comes to the rescue and delivers from great troubles and evils,
His well-behaved and God-fearing servants.

Prayer before the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

O Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos! With fear, faith and love, falling before Thy honorable icon, we pray to Thee: do not turn Thy face away from those who come running to You, beg, O Merciful Mother, Thy Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep our country peaceful, and to establish His holy church May he preserve the unshakable from unbelief, heresies and schism. There are no imams of any other help, no imams of other hope, except You, Most Pure Virgin: You are the All-Powerful Helper and Intercessor of Christians. Deliver all those who pray to You with faith from the falls of sin, from the slander of evil people, from all temptations, sorrows, troubles and from vain death; Grant us the spirit of contrition, humility of heart, purity of thoughts, correction of sinful lives and the remission of sins, so that we all praise Thy greatness with gratitude, let us be worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom and there with all the saints we will glorify the Most Honorable and Magnificent Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Friday of Holy Week.
- Tuesday of Holy Week, February 25, April 13, May 6, October 26
- April 16, January 13.
- April 17.
- April 17, October 17.

In Orthodoxy, there are several especially revered images, among which the Mother of God, alone or with the Infant Christ, occupies not the least place. One of the most famous and oldest images is the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, whose history began 4.5 centuries ago.

Story

One of the most revered icons of the Mother of God was found in 1579. That year there was a terrible fire in Kazan that destroyed part of the city. It started near St. Nicholas Church and spread to the Kremlin and houses. A week later, the daughter of the archer (according to some information, a merchant) Dmitry Onuchin, ten-year-old Matrona, had a dream: in it, the Mother of God indicated the place and ordered to get the icon.

Few people believed the girl the first time, but the dream was repeated three times, and the parents came to check. They came to the place indicated in the dream, began to dig and at a depth of about a meter they found it wrapped in a shirt. Those who came to the excavation noted that when the image was pulled out, it sparkled as if it had just been painted and was completely undamaged, although it was under a layer of ash.

At the site where the image was found, the Mother of God nunnery was built, in which they left the icon of Our Lady of Kazan. It is noteworthy that his first nun was herself Matron, when she grew up, she took the name Mavra. A list (copy) of the icon was also sent to Moscow. In 1594, in the “Tale of the Miracles of the Virgin Mary” by the author of Kazan Metropolitan Germonen, it was noted that immediately after its discovery, the icon began to perform miracles: The two blind men who carried her were healed. However, until the 30s of the 17th century, the icon was local and was revered mainly in Kazan.

During the Polish-Lithuanian occupation, Metropolitan Hermogenes blessed the first militia with the icon. And although it was defeated, the Metropolitan’s call to fight for the faith, the icon and the Motherland became the reason for the formation of the Second Militia. After his victory and the liberation of the country from enemy troops, the list from the icon was transferred to the parish church of the Pozharsky princes on Lubyanka. In the 20s of the 17th century, when the prince built a new Kazan Cathedral, the copy was moved there. After its destruction in the first half of the 20th century, the copy was moved to the Epiphany Cathedral of Yelokhovsky.

In the next 1.5 centuries, copies of the icon were distributed to many churches and monasteries. In the 19th century, the Kazan Icon was revered on a par with the Vladimir and Smolensk Icons, and among the people there were legends about numerous miracles performed by the Mother of God. It is noteworthy that miracles were performed not only by the “original”, but also by copies: the sources mention about 500 miracles performed by copies.

Unfortunately, the abundance of lists led to the fact that the location of the original was not precisely known in the 19th century. Most researchers are inclined to believe that he kept in the Kazan Bogoroditsky Cathedral.

Loss and subsequent “findings”

In 1904, the icon of the Kazan Mother of God and the image of the Savior were stolen. Both icons were in precious frames, and money was also stolen. The thief turned out to be the peasant Bartholomew Chaikin. He admitted that he had removed all the jewelry from the frames and sold them, and burned the icon itself. This was confirmed during the search, but later the robber changed his testimony several times, which is why versions of her rescue arose: about selling it to Old Believers, stealing a copy. The latest version is due to the fact that the last abbess of the Kazan Cathedral, due to several attempts at theft, began to replace it with a copy at night. But researchers do not confirm these versions.

After several decades, the icon was discovered abroad: in 1950 it was acquired by the English collector Frederick Mitchell-Hedges. After 20 years, Russian Catholics were able to buy the icon and transferred it to the Portuguese city of Fatima, where a separate church was built for the icon. However, in 1993, the image was transported again - this time to the Vatican to the Pope. After 11 years, in 2004, it was handed over to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow. Since then it has been kept in the residence of the Patriarch.

Unfortunately, despite the image's salary being similar to that of the stolen one, this not original. The researchers noted that the transferred icon is a copy made in the 18th century and has a number of differences in drawing that are characteristic of that time: the head of the Mother of God is turned more towards the viewer, the facial features themselves are more “Russian”.

Today there are only copies of the Kazan image, which are distributed throughout the country. The earliest copy (1606) is kept in the Moscow Tretyakov Gallery. Another list, considered to be closest to the ancient original, located in the Prince Vladimir Cathedral of St. Petersburg. Another copy in St. Petersburg is located in the Kazan Cathedral.

In 2011, the Kazan Icon was even sent into space. It was handed over to the crew of the Yuri Gagarin spacecraft for transfer to the Russian part of the international station. The Patriarch emphasized that the Mother of God will protect the entire earth, protecting its inhabitants.

Description

Icon of Our Lady of Kazan belongs to the type, an abbreviated version that is translated from Greek as "The Guide Showing the Way". Being a person, the Mother of God is the “road” between people and Christ, she connects two worlds, and guides the believer between them to salvation.

According to legend, the first such type was written by the Evangelist Luke, and later brought to Constantinople. This icon became the prototype for Kazan.

In the icon, the Mother of God is depicted up to her chest; to her left, the Child Christ sits in her arms. The head of the Mother of God is slightly tilted towards the child, Christ himself sits upright, his face is positioned strictly from the front. His right hand is folded into two fingers, with which he blesses people. In some copies, Christ's fingers are folded to represent two Greek letters - the first letters of the name Jesus Christ.

Previously, the icon had rich decoration: it was covered with gold, pearls, and precious stones. On holidays, the icon was dressed in two vestments - gold and one made of pearls and stones. On ordinary days, the chasuble was more modest, but no less valuable: with golden crowns and diamond roses. A smaller icon usually had a double ark. On the inner frame there were 12 small icons dedicated to Orthodox holidays.

The main meaning of the image is the appearance of Christ in the world, worship of him. The baby is the center of the composition: the icon shows the greatness of Christ who appeared to the world. The Mother of God is depicted in the background, as if she were introducing her son to people. Unlike the Vladimir image (“Tenderness”), which shows the love of a mother for her child, the Kazan image is more majestic and strict. His task is to exalt the Son of God and his Mother.

Holidays

The Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated twice:

July 21 (July 8, old style) – "Summer Kazan". This is the date of acquisition of the image. On this day, the icon was pulled out of the ground in the place that was indicated to Matrona;
November 4 (October 22, old style) — "Autumn Kazan". It is dedicated to the liberation of Moscow. This holiday was founded in 1649 and is dedicated to the victory of the Russian militia in the battle against the Polish invaders in 1612. It used to be a non-working day, but with the advent of the Soviet Union the celebration was abolished. Since 2005, November 4 has been celebrated as National Unity Day and a day off.

On both holidays the same service is performed: its author was Patriarch Hermogenes. It asks for the protection and blessing of the entire people.

In Kazan these days religious processions are held from the Annunciation Cathedral to the Bogoroditsky Monastery, where the icon was discovered. These processions began to be held in 2000, and in 2013 the route was changed: now it runs around the Kazan Kremlin. In 2005, the religious procession took place with the participation of Patriarch Alexy II.

What do they pray for?

The main meaning of the icon is the path from man to Christ, help in finding the path to God. They pray to the icon for:

Protection, support and consolation in difficult life situations and troubles;
Protect soldiers and military personnel serving or called up for war. Usually they pray for sons or grandsons;
Curing diseases and ailments, especially often resorting to help with vision diseases;
Gaining vision in the spiritual sense, finding the right path, making the right decisions, getting rid of temptations. They often say that the Mother of God, appearing in a dream, helped protect herself from trouble with advice or correct what had already happened;
Protecting the family from adversity and quarrels, bringing harmony to relationships and prosperity.

The Kazan Mother of God is especially warm towards children and young spouses: the bride and groom were blessed with this icon, they prayed to her for the happiness of the family and the health and protection of children. Also, women, as housewives, can ask for protection, peace and prosperity for the family.

It was believed that if the wedding day fell on the feast of the Kazan Mother of God, then happiness, love and understanding awaited the newlyweds. An image placed at the head of a child's bed will help protect the child.

You can pray in church and at home; it is best to do it in the morning. To conduct prayer you must:

Immediately after waking up, you need to wash yourself properly and cross your hands, thinking only about good things, tuning in to calm and joyful communication;
“Cleanse” your thoughts: you need to focus on turning to the Mother of God, temporarily throwing out all everyday thoughts and worries from your head;
Next, you need to light candles in front of the icon, kneel down and begin prayer. You can use the “ready” one or say it in your own words - sincerely, with all your heart. The main thing is that there is not a single negative wish or request in the prayer - the Mother of God is a protector and cannot punish.

The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God accepts poetry well: they can also be used instead of prayer.

Signs

On this day, early in the morning, women went to collect birch leaves covered with frost, and then looked into it as if in a mirror. It was believed that this would help maintain health and beauty for the entire next year;
Rain was considered a good sign. They said that these were the tears of the Mother of God, who begged forgiveness from God for people and asked for prosperity and a good harvest;
Dry weather indicated a poor harvest and possible troubles;
Some signs already related to the weather: morning fog foreshadowed warmth, rain - quick snow, bright sun - a sunny winter.

Conclusion

The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and Child is one of the most famous and revered images in Orthodoxy. It was found in the second half of the 16th century in Kazan after the appearance of a sign, and then transferred to Moscow. Many Russian tsars and emperors prayed before her before important battles. And although the original was lost at the beginning of the 20th century, people still come to Our Lady of Kazan with requests for help.

Throughout the history of the formation of Christianity, people have repeatedly allowed themselves to doubt the Orthodox faith, and it was at such moments that the Lord showed miracles to the world that dispelled all doubts about the power of the Divine. The appearance of the icon of the Mother of God in Kazan to the people belongs to such a miracle.

Prayers to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God are considered the most powerful in Orthodoxy. We present to you the strongest prayers that will help you appeal to the mercy of the Mother of God. Let them help you on your life's journey. An extraordinary divine energy hovers around the holy image.

Finding an icon

The history of the Kazan icon began back in 1579. That year, a severe fire destroyed more than half of the Kazan Kremlin and part of the city. Nothing could be saved, only ashes remained. The glow burned for many hours. Moans, lamentations of women, appeals to the Lord and crying of children were heard all around. Many families were exsanguinated, but life went on, and new housing had to be built before the approaching cold weather. Fire survivor Daniil Onuchin was also in a hurry with the construction. He had a daughter, Matronushka. One day she saw the Mother of God in a dream, and she told the girl to get an icon out of the ground. Matrona told her parents about the dream. But they did not attach due importance to this. But on the second and third nights, the Mother of God appeared in a dream to the girl and indicated the place where the holy image was found. In the morning, Matresha and her mother nevertheless went to the indicated place. There they found an icon of the Mother of God, it was wrapped in linen. The image was so bright and light, as if it had just been painted. This is how the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was found by fire victims. Prayer to her helps from many troubles and misfortunes.

Epiphany from an icon

In an instant, the good news of the discovery of the icon spread throughout the city. Priests from surrounding churches hurried to the spot. The image of the Mother of God was solemnly transferred to the Church of St. Nicholas, Archbishop Jeremiah read a prayer service. They placed the icon in the Annunciation Cathedral - the first Orthodox church in Kazan, which was built by Ivan the Terrible. It immediately became clear to everyone that the image of the Mother of God was miraculous. During the solemn religious procession, when the shrine was being transferred, two blind men, who really wanted to see the miraculous icon, prayed passionately and suddenly received their sight. From that moment on, even those who doubted began to offer prayers to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and ask her for mercy. Until now, the Kazan Icon works true miracles and listens to those who ask by faith. The list of gracious help is endless. Tsar Ivan the Terrible was so amazed by the story of the discovery of the holy image that he ordered the construction of the Kazan Cathedral. A convent was founded there, and later Matronushka and her mother were tonsured there.

Troubled times

Everyone knows from history the period of the Time of Troubles at the beginning of the 17th century. At that time, all the tragic circumstances coincided. Natural disasters caused crop failures, which resulted in famine. During the same period, the royal dynasty of the Rurikovichs was interrupted, a crisis of government began, and the economy collapsed. As a result of all this, part of the country with the capital was captured by the interventionists. Patriarch Hermogenes called on the Russian people to defend the Motherland. The militia was led by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. A list of the miraculous image of the Mother of God was sent from Kazan to help the people. The militia and all the people observed strict fasting for three days and extolled prayers to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, asking for heavenly help. The Mother of God heard the people's prayer. Under her patronage, Moscow was liberated from the Polish invaders.

Ancient lists (copies)

The first copy of the image of the Kazan Mother of God was made in 1579 and transferred to Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Moscow. In 1636, this image was transferred to the newly built Kazan Cathedral on Red Square. Later, in 1737, he was transported to the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (St. Petersburg). In 1811, the icon was moved to the Kazan Cathedral.

In the Time of Troubles, in 1611, a second list of the shrine was made. It was handed over to the army of Dmitry Pozharsky for the militias who liberated Moscow from the Polish army.

In the 19th century, many copies of the Kazan Icon were made. The original, however, was lost. At the beginning of the 20th century, the shrine was stolen, the precious frame was looted, and the icon itself disappeared without a trace.

Copies made from the image spread throughout the world and became famous in the same way as miracle-working ones. Many icons were taken abroad from Russia after the revolution in 1917. Strong prayers to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God make the whole world believe in miracles. The icon is especially famous for miracles of healing from eye diseases and blindness. The Kazan icon is an indispensable assistant in difficult war times.

Where is the icon

The modern Russian Orthodox Church is doing everything to ensure that shrines are returned to Russian land. The most ancient list is available to people in the Tretyakov Gallery. The dating date of the holy image is 1606.

At the residence of the Moscow Patriarch there is another holy copy of the Kazan Icon, which is also of great value. The image was received from the Roman Catholic Church as a sign of the end of rivalry.

There is a list in the Prince Vladimir Cathedral in St. Petersburg; it is closest to the oldest prototype of the icon.

Defender of the Russian land

The image of the Kazan Mother of God is classified as a guide icon. They show the right path to lost souls and help those in need. The icon became famous for its miracles during the troubled times. The Mother of God showed the defenders the path to victory and supported the military spirit. The icon helped to win more than one terrible battle.

Under the protection of the Kazan Icon, in the Time of Troubles, an entire army went to battle, and the soldiers under the leadership of Prince Pozharsky liberated the capital from the Polish invaders.

Before the famous Battle of Poltava, Peter I also offered strong prayers in front of this list. In 1812, with the image of the Kazan Mother of God, soldiers fought off French raids, and the beginning of victories over Napoleon’s army was laid. Before going into the active army, Mikhail Kutuzov stood before the Mother of God with strong prayers.

But not only rulers and troops receive blessings from the icon. The common people also turn to her for help and receive miracles that she bestows on those who pray.

What do they pray for in front of the image?

A prayer to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God for help is offered for any bodily ailment. People often ask for their vision to be restored. They also turn for spiritual insight, when searching for the right path, if the flame of faith has weakened in the soul.

The Mother of God helps with her consolations and instructions in any difficult life situations when there is no strength left to fight difficulties.

The Guide comes to the aid of those who pray and seek the right solution. It protects from misfortunes and making mistakes, and points the way to a good goal. Many people talk about the appearance of the holy face in a dream, when the Mother of God advises what to do to avoid trouble.

They pray to the Mother of God for the soldiers, from deliverance from enemy raids.

In joy they also turn to the Mother of God, the young people ask for blessings for marriage and starting a family. There are many signs associated with the icon. If the wedding falls on the feast of the holy image, then the marriage will be happy. The icon helps to avoid discord in the family, bring prosperity and harmony.

Prayer to the icon of the Kazan Mother of God for children will protect your child from sorrows and misfortunes. Will help him in his development on the path of life.

The Mother of God helps everyone without exception. Whoever asks her with ardent faith in his heart, she gives her protection and blessing.

How to pray in front of an icon

In order for your prayers to reach the Mother of God, you need to pray to her correctly. You can do this not only in church, but also at home. If you have a desire to ask the Mother of God for help, it is best to do this in the morning:

After waking up, wash your face well with clean water. Cross your arms in advance. Tune in only to positive emotions.
Throw out of your head various negative, bad thoughts that irritate you.
Light the candles and kneel in front of the image. Begin the ritual.
It doesn’t matter what prayer to read to the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. The most important thing is to say your words from the bottom of your heart, sincerely, then you will be heard.
After prayer, express your request to the Mother of God. Remember one thing - she will never accept any negative wish of yours that will negatively affect another.

Family support

Prayer to the icon of the Kazan Mother of God for marriage has helped many people find a family. It is no coincidence that young girls who get married are blessed by their mothers with this icon. Since ancient times, it has been believed that this image is the most powerful in providing family support. The Mother of God helps everyone who prays with strong faith and wants to create their own hearth.

If the mother blessed the girl for marriage with this icon, the image of the Kazan Mother of God must be kept in the family. This is a kind of amulet for your home. Prayers offered to her will preserve the family hearth, as well as the children who will be born in this marriage. They will help maintain peace and quiet in your home.

Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the most powerful prayer. Miracles of Healing

Many miracles happened before the image of the Kazan Icon; we will tell you about the most famous ones.

The sight of the blind. The icon of those praying for healing from blindness often surprises. Everyone remembers the amazing discovery of an icon in Kazan. Already during the procession, two blind men, sincerely praying to the image, regained their sight. The news of this spread far beyond the borders of Kazan. The needy and sick were drawn to the shrine. Soon a desperate mother brought the blind baby to the icon. From her lips flowed a prayer to the icon of the Kazan Mother of God for recovery, and the parishioners of the temple and the priest himself supported her. Just a short time after the prayer, the baby began to touch his mother’s face with his hands and everyone realized that he had received his sight. There was a case of epiphany and a blind monk. He did not find relief during prayer in the temple, and he left disappointed. Then the Mother of God appeared to the monk in a dream and ordered him to continue his prayers and then wipe himself with a shroud. Having done everything exactly, the monk received his sight.
Healing the weak in mind and body. In the city of Kazan, the healing of a young man from relaxation was recorded. For more than two years the young man did not get back on his feet. The parents did not stop praying and believing in the mercy of God. The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God helped. The most powerful prayer was simultaneously said by the mother in the temple in front of the image and by the son, who, lying in bed, tearfully asked the Mother of God for healing. Suddenly he felt relief and was able to get to his feet. Leaning on two staffs, he went to his mother in the temple. The fervent prayers of two believing hearts allowed a miracle to happen. Dementia is also healed by prayer to the Mother of God. A young man in the Kazan Cathedral sincerely prayed and asked for healing. After the prayer service, to the surprise of all parishioners, he went home completely healthy.
Many deliveries from cancer have been recorded through prayers to the Kazan Icon. The guide is considered a protector in the fight against the enemy, and the battle with a tumor is nothing more than a battle for one’s health against this scourge, which simply mows down people no less than on the battlefield. Therefore, turning to prayer to cure this disease has a special meaning.

Feast of the Icon of the Kazan Mother of God. Prayers

In the summer, the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated on July 21, and it is dedicated to the discovery of the shrine, when the image appeared in a dream to little Matrona. Later, Ivan the Terrible built a monastery, where in the future Matrona became Abbess Mavra (Martha).

The autumn holiday is celebrated on November 4th. As already mentioned, during the Time of Troubles on this date, thanks to the intercession of the Mother of God, Russian militias were able to liberate Moscow from the invasion of the Poles.

A significant event was the fact that it was on November 4 that the restored Kazan Cathedral was opened in Moscow, in front of Red Square. Today, the image of the Kazan Mother of God is one of the greatest in the Orthodox Church. Miracles through prayer continue to happen in our time. In the procession of the cross in Donbass, Orthodox believers carried the Kazan Icon as one of the main ones. They prayed to the intercessor for the granting of peace and tranquility in their native land. Why does the shelling in Donetsk not subside? Maybe people have lost faith in heavenly power and therefore lost the protection of the saints. The whole world needs to unite the people and, as in the Troubled Times of the 17th century, turn to the intercessor, extolling strong prayers from a pure, sincere heart.

The prototype of the icon was found back in 1579, it is unknown who exactly and when it was painted. There was a huge fire in the city of Kazan, entire streets were on fire, and most of the wooden buildings were destroyed. According to a legend that has survived to this day, immediately after a terrible fire, the little daughter of the merchant Onuchin appeared in a dream and pointed out the place where the miraculous image, untouched by the fire, lay. The merchant sorted out the rubble of his burnt house and found under it an icon written on a cypress board.

The icon was not only beautiful, but also differed from other famous icons of the Mother of God. On the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, the infant Christ is depicted on the left side of the mother, and his right hand is raised in a blessing gesture.

The icon of the Kazan Mother of God had mysterious healing powers. Many people applied themselves to the image in the hope of healing. There is evidence that the icon restored vision, relieved headaches and other ailments. It was installed in the Annunciation Church in Kazan. Crowds of people came to see and pray at the image.

The news of the miracle icon spread far beyond the city and reached the king. A copy of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God was made and sent to Ivan the Terrible. She made a stunning impression on the entire royal family. Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of a convent on the site of the holy image.

The role of the icon in the history of Russia

In addition to miracles of healing, the icon of Our Lady of Kazan played an important role in the history of the Russian state. At the beginning of the 17th century, misfortunes befell Russia, the throne was left without a ruler. The Poles took advantage of the turmoil and captured Moscow, and installed their prince Vladislav as king. The prince did not want to change his Catholic faith to the Orthodox faith and honestly rule the Russian people. As a result, Patriarch Hermogenes called on the people to rise up, overthrow the Poles and place an Orthodox king on the throne.

In 1612, a copy of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God was brought to Moscow by Kazan militias; it was in the chambers of Prince D.I. Pozharsky. Before battles, the warriors prayed to the image and asked the Mother of God for help.

After the victory over the Poles, Pozharsky assigned the icon to the Church of the Entry on Lubyanka. In gratitude for victory and salvation in the battles, the prince erected the Kazan Cathedral on Red Square, where the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary was transferred.

The prototype of the Kazan Mother of God is associated with the triumph of Russian troops in the battle of Poltava in 1709, as well as the victory in the war with Napoleon. It is noteworthy that before the Battle of Poltava, Peter the Great prayed with his army in front of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God.

Great Catherine the Second ordered a precious crown to be made and personally crowned the holy image with it.

In 1812, during the First Patriotic War, leaving Moscow to the French, Field Marshal Kutuzov took the icon from the cathedral and took it out on his chest under his overcoat. After the victory, the icon returned to its place.

The third copy of the image of the Kazan Mother of God was brought to St. Petersburg by order of Paul I in 1708. First, she was placed in a wooden chapel on the St. Petersburg side, and then transported to the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on Nevsky Prospekt. The icon remained here until 1811, then it was moved to the newly built Kazan Cathedral, where it remains today.

The holy image also played a huge role during the Great Patriotic War. According to historical records, the icon was secretly delivered to besieged Leningrad. She was carried through the streets of the city, and he survived. Also, during the war, the icon was taken to Moscow, and in Stalingrad a prayer service was served in front of it. It is believed that the Mother of God is the protector of Russia and helps the country to withstand its enemies.

Miracles of Moscow

It is interesting that in the first days of the icon’s stay in Moscow, many miracles and healings occurred. The story of Savva Fomin has reached our time. This Kazan townsman, who lived in Moscow, decided to commit a terrible crime. He called on the devil and promised to give him his immortal soul. But after the crime was committed, Savva was struck by a serious illness, and over time he wanted to repent of his crime. Preparing for death, he confessed to the priest, after which the Mother of God appeared to him in a dream and ordered him to arrive on July 8 at the Kazan Cathedral. Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich heard about this and ordered the sick Savva to be taken to the cathedral on a carpet. During the service, Sava began to experience severe pain, he began to cry out to the Queen of Heaven, and the Mother of God appeared to him and ordered him to enter her church. To the amazement of the parishioners, Savva stood up and entered the Kazan Cathedral on his own feet. He fell to his knees in front of the icon and promised to devote his life to serving God. Subsequently, he distributed all his property and became a monk at the Chudov Monastery.

The mystery of finding the original icon of the Kazan Mother of God

Currently, many copies of the miraculous icon have been painted, but the location of the original sacred image still remains a mystery.

There are several versions about the disappearance and secret storage of the icon. The original was lost at the beginning of the 19th century. At that time, there were rumors about the theft of an icon from the Bogoroditsky Monastery. Allegedly, along with the Mother of God, an image of the Savior and valuable church utensils were also stolen. A reward of 300 rubles was offered for the capture of the thieves or information about the location of the icon.

The thief was caught some time later in Nizhny Novgorod. He turned out to be a seasoned thief - a repeat offender with 43 years of hard labor behind him, a certain Chaikin. His “specialty” was church robberies. During interrogations, he changed his testimony several times, first he claimed that he burned the icon, then he began to say that he chopped it with an ax. However, neither the court nor the people believed him, since even such an inveterate criminal could not have been unaware of the value of the relic. But until 1917, Chaikin claimed that he had destroyed the icon of the Virgin Mary.

The clergy thought that the icon had fallen into the hands of the Old Believers. The fact is that the Old Believers believed that having found the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, they would receive freedom of religion. In essence, this is practically what happened: in 1905, a law on religious tolerance was issued and the Old Believers were restored to their rights. People began to say that this was a bad sign and troubles awaited Russia. After the bloody events of 1917, the trace of the icon was lost forever.

According to the second version, only a copy of the icon was stolen, and the original was in the chambers of the mother abbess of the monastery at the time of the crime.

The historian Khafizov conducted his own investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the holy image. He believes that the icon was taken from Russia in 1920 during the Civil War and sold at an underground auction to an English collector. After which the icon passed into the hands of new owners several times and was eventually purchased by the Blue Army organization and transferred to the Vatican, from where it returned to Russia in 2004.

There is another version: the original icon of the Kazan Mother of God was not destroyed and was never taken out of the country. The face is securely hidden in a secret place.

Interesting fact: even modern copies of the icon have great power and there are many eyewitnesses who claim that they experienced its miraculous power.

How to contact an icon

You can consult the icon both in the church (temple) and at home. For appeals and prayers you need an image; you can purchase an icon in any church shop. Light a candle in front of the icon and concentrate. The most important condition is sincerity; prayer must come from your heart. Most often, they pray to the Mother of God for the health of children and loved ones, asking for help and intercession in family and everyday matters. It is customary to bless the newlyweds with this icon for a lasting and happy marriage.

In troubled times, they pray to the Mother of God for intercession, the success of soldiers in battles and the liberation of the country from enemy forces.

There is a wonderful maternal custom - to place the icon of the Kazan Mother of God at the head of the crib, thereby protecting the child from adversity and serious illnesses.

There are special appeals for reading in front of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God:

prayer;
kontakion;
troparion

The celebration of the image in Russia takes place two days a year: July 21 and November 4. The summer holiday is dedicated to the appearance of a miraculous face, and in the fall to the liberation of Moscow from the Polish invaders in 1612. Currently, divine services are held every day in the Kazan Cathedral in Moscow, and the gaze of parishioners turns to the holy image.

O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! With fear, faith and love before Your honest (and miraculous) icon, we pray to You: do not turn Your face away from those who come running to You. Pray, merciful Mother, to Thy Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep our country peaceful, and to keep His Holy Church unshakable from unbelief, heresies and dissents let him deliver. There are no other help, no other hope, except You, Most Pure Virgin: You are the all-powerful Helper and Intercessor of Christians. Deliver all those who pray to You with faith from the falls of sin, from the slander of evil people, from all temptations, sorrows, illnesses, troubles and from sudden death. Grant us the spirit of contrition, humility of heart, purity of thoughts, correction of sinful life and remission of sins, and all, gratefully chanting Your greatness and mercy, which are shown over us here earth, let us be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, and there with all the saints we will glorify the most honorable and magnificent name Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Where is the icon of the Kazan Mother of God now?

The first is the prototype revealed in Kazan, which was kept in the Bogoroditsky convent. In 1595, Tsar Theodore Ioannovich ordered the construction of a stone one on the site of the appearance of the icon, where there had previously been a wooden church, as well as a women’s monastery of the Mother of God, in which the young Matrona Onuchina took monastic vows and later became abbess. The original icon was in the Kazan Mother of God Monastery until the beginning of the 20th century. In 1904, the monastery was destroyed and the icon was stolen. And although the robbers were found, the icon disappeared without a trace. According to the confession of the robbers during the investigation and trial, it was chopped up and burned, and the rich frame that adorned it was destroyed and sold in parts.

The second icon of Our Lady of Kazan is a list sent at one time to Ivan the Terrible. This icon was in Moscow until 1721. Peter the Great moved it in 1721 from Moscow to St. Petersburg, where it was initially placed in a small stone church on Vasilyevsky Island, and then transferred to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Under Empress Anna Ioannovna, a wooden church in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built on Nevsky Prospect, not far from the current Kazan Cathedral, and in 1737 a miraculous icon, richly decorated with precious stones, was transferred there. Under Paul the First, this church began to be called the Kazan Cathedral, but the current Kazan Cathedral was built at the beginning of the century under Alexander the First. On the day of its consecration, September 15, 1811, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was moved here and placed in the iconostasis on the left side of the royal doors in the main chapel.

The third miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God is a list sent by Patriarch Hermogenes to the militia. This image belonged to Prince Pozharsky. According to the Nikon Chronicle, after the expulsion of the Poles from Moscow, Prince Dmitry Pozharsky placed the holy Kazan icon in his parish church of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Lubyanka in Moscow. Later, the Kazan Cathedral was erected on Red Square, where the icon was moved in 1636. Now it is kept in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral in Moscow.

In addition to these three main icons of the Kazan Mother of God, there were and are many of her miraculous lists, which testifies to the special veneration of this shrine.

One of the copies of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the early 90s of the last century was discovered in the Vatican, where it was kept in the chambers of Pope John Paul. According to the conclusions of the examination, carried out jointly by representatives of the Vatican, specialists from the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Orthodox Encyclopedia Church Scientific Center, the list kept in the chambers of the Pope was executed in the 18th century “on salary” and, judging by the richly decorated chasuble, was the property of a wealthy family.