In Russia, they always treated with awe and care the younger generation, namely, its spiritual enlightenment. It is no accident that āEducationā, the icon of the Mother of God, occupies an important place among other Orthodox images. Many saints and Jesus Christ himself noted the need for parental prayer, as well as life in God's commandments, because the children adopt an example of both good and bad.
Appearance in Russia of an icon
The icon of the Mother of God āEducationā is very significant and revered in Russia. Her story, however, is rather vague. It is believed that she came to us from Byzantium, but how this happened is not known. Since it was from the Byzantine Empire that the first icons came to us, as well as the canons of their writing, we can assume that this happened a very long time ago.
The icon had wonderful properties and before the revolution in Russia was in the Kazan Cathedral in the city of Moscow. However, after her image was lost and now there is an exact list, which also has miraculous properties. In addition to this, the most important list, there are others who are in many temples.
Iconography of the image
The icon of the Mother of God āParentingā (photo is presented below) by its type refers to Hodegetria (that is, the Guidebook that shows the way). It depicts the Virgin, which holds the baby on his left hand. The Infant himself stretches his hand to the face of the Virgin (on some images - two hands).
The face of the Mother of God is permeated with love and tenderness not only for her Son, but also for the entire human race. And although the first Byzantine icons are very strict and ascetic in writing images, it is this image of the Mother of God with the Baby that is very airy and solemn. This is due to the fact that the icon painting is very light, the color palette is sophisticated.
Our Lady herself also points with her right hand to the Baby Jesus. On the Virgin Mary there are dark red clothes (maforia), they depict three stars (one of them is hidden by her son). At the edges of the maforia is a golden border. The Infant himself is dressed in a cloak-like fabric (it is believed that this is the prototype of the shroud), which leaves one part of the chest naked (in some images it is all naked, as a sign of the negation of the worldly).
āEducationā, the icon of the Mother of God, shows the full significance of the young generation for humanity. Christ himself spoke of this. He said that one who is like a child will enter the kingdom of God. Obviously, it was not by chance that this image became an assistant in the difficult task of educating children in spirituality.
How does the icon help?
The icon of the Mother of God āParentingā has miraculous power. How does she help? It is very important for the parent to know, because on the path to the life formation of your child there will be temptations, and bad companies, and resentment, and cruelty with disappointment, as well as many other negative points. This is all, unfortunately, part of our lives.
The best way to protect a child from all this and lead to the true path is to ask the intercessors for help. Prayer to the Virgin, which is a symbol of motherhood and the patroness of the family, will be your faithful helper in this difficult path. This, moreover, is also an excellent example of the goodness of the parents themselves, which will undoubtedly have a beneficial effect on the child.
Prayer and akathist in front of the icon
If you have problems with your child, then āParentingā - an icon of the Mother of God, will help you. What are they praying to her for? There is a brief ancient prayer that has survived to this day. These are the following words: āI entrust my child wholly to my Lord Jesus Christ and Thy Most Holy One, heavenly protection.ā
There is also a special prayer that should be performed in front of the āParentingā icon. It asks for the intercession of the Virgin for all her children of any age, even not yet born. He also asks for their instruction and intercession before God, so that they are given the opportunity to be spiritually saved.
Akathist to the icon of the Mother of God āParentingā is a song to the Mother of God, her high motherhood and intercession from evil. It is read on the day of remembrance of the icon, as well as every week in some temples where this image is. Also, parents can read the akathist, asking for intercession for their children from the Mother of God. It is very important with your heart to understand every word that you appeal to the Virgin. Only ardent parental prayer can be beneficial and will be heard.
Miracles done with the icon
Due to the fact that information about this icon is very small, it is difficult to give many examples of miracles. However, in the church under construction in Nekrasovka, in one case, the icon of the Mother of God āEducationā helped. The prayer before her was so earnest and sincere that the problem was solved very quickly. Its essence was that it was necessary to allocate land for the new church. Faith and prayer to the Mother of God did their job, the site was obtained without any problems.
For the icon, which was in the Kazan Cathedral, there is also a story of miracles. Parents who prayed this icon for their children received help from her. Their children repented of what they had already done, and also became calmer and returned to the true path (both spiritual and worldly). Those guys for whom prayers were performed from birth, walked their life more worthily.
The meaning of the icon for the Orthodox
Each parent should have the icon of the Mother of God āEducationā. It is difficult to overestimate its value for children, since so many qualities in a child are laid precisely in childhood. It is believed that the character of the baby is mainly formed up to three years, and if you surround him with piety and place appropriate icons in the house, this will positively affect him.
Love, compassion, humility and other wonderful qualities that are so lacking in this world - all this can be laid down only with the right upbringing, as well as with the intercession of the saints and the Lord. Everyone understood this in the old days, therefore this icon was appreciated. And now, many come to kneel before her and offer a prayer.
Day of veneration of the āEducationā icon
āEducationā - the icon of the Mother of God - also has a day of celebration. It happens once a year, namely on the eighteenth of March (or the fifth of March according to the old style). On this day, you should pray in front of her, ask for sincere intercession for the children from the Mother of God. Very often an akathist is sung on this day.
Words of saints about education and love
The icon of the Mother of God āEducationā is also of particular importance to the elders and saints. All of them perfectly understood the need for the correct upbringing of the younger generation, as well as the teaching of their love for their neighbor, severity in moments of morality, etc. Therefore, they treated upbringing with particular severity and trepidation.
For example, St. Theophan the Recluse speaks of the love of mother and father for his child, and everyone shows it in his own way. A woman is by nature softer - and her love is warming, condescending. A man is harder, therefore his love is more strict. Both that and another it is necessary to dose correctly, then education will be good.
The words of Ambrose Optinsky are also very significant. He says that children should be raised in the fear of God, taught Orthodox concepts, and taught and protected from what is not accepted by the church. This is necessary so that later on, as adults, they strive for spiritual life and the kingdom of God.
It is also necessary to read prayers to raise a child and protect him. Many believe that it is also very important to surround the child with Orthodox faces, which will show spirituality and desire for the Divine.
Icon of the Mother of God āEducationā, which is located in Nekrasovka
In honor of this icon, there is also an Orthodox church. It is located near Moscow, in the village of Nekrasovka. Initially, there was a temporary church named after Sergius of Radonezh, the construction of which the residents took with joy, since before that there was nothing at all. After some time, due to the increase in the parish, a new temple complex was required.
The name of the new temple was supposed to be the same as the old, but there were problems with this. Therefore, the words of the Patriarch about the need to educate young people in accordance with God's laws were very useful. So the temple of the Icon of the Mother of God āEducationā appeared, and an icon was placed, which has already worked a miracle (written about it above).
Temple architecture
In the project, the temple was supposed to have a consecrated main throne in honor of the Mother of God icon āEducationā. There will be two other thrones - in honor of St. Stilian, as well as St. Sergius. The temple, which will be located in the basement , will be dedicated to the Nativity of Christ. This is dedicated to the fact that the first liturgy in Nekrasovka was held precisely on this holiday.
An interesting point is that the interior walls of the temple are going to be decorated in ancient technique - encaustic. Its essence lies in the fact that wax is added to the mixture of paints for their connection, so a unique image is obtained. On the dome and arches will be laid colored mosaic.
Also now in the temple is Mount Athos from the monastery of the Great Martyr Panteleimon. And this is very symbolic, since the design of the cathedral itself is in the late Byzantine style. Also in the temple is the icon of the Monk Stylian, who was also brought from Athos.
The iconostasis of the future cathedral is planned to be decorated with icons that will be manually embroidered with beads. Already now women are working on it. And in the temporary temple there is a miraculous icon of Seraphim of Sarovsky Ave., which is already decorated with the inhabitants of the village (earrings, pendant and ring). This is gratitude for the help in prayers.
Also some icons are brought by parishioners. One of them is the āCathedral of the Blessed Virgin Maryā. This is the largest icon, next to it is the Virgin's belt, beautifully decorated with beads.
Today, the construction of the temple is coming to an end. A cross is already installed on the dome, which in its manufacture is a copy of the cross located on Mount Athos. On the famous mountain, it was installed by the Russian Orthodox in 1882. As in the original, in it in the center is a sapphire ball, highlighted in the dark.
Temple Education
The most important place in the cathedral is āEducationā - the icon of the Mother of God, therefore it is not by chance that the spiritual enlightenment of youth is in the first place. A Sunday school for children is already functioning there. In addition, children's creativity is also developed there - small parishioners are allowed to fantasize on the topic of their future church and craft small models.
There is also a Sunday school for adults, which is not the first time students have been accepted. Three years are trained in it before graduation. It is a school for adults that is very popular, as people are recruited every year.
The construction of the temple greatly affected the residents, in two schools they began to teach the basics of Orthodox culture. This does not mean that part of the Sunday school appeared there, nor is it considered to be teaching the law of God. This is, rather, a more scientific approach, which, however, affects Orthodoxy, forcing it to be perceived as its heritage (after all, our ancestors used to be baptized and visited churches, were afraid of God's punishment).
The icon, which is located in the Kazan Cathedral
The first miraculous icon was lost, as was written above, after the revolution in Russia. An accurate list was written from her. Today the icon of the Mother of God āEducationā is located in Moscow, in the old place - in the Kazan Cathedral. Since its restoration, numerous Orthodox have flocked there to pray before the image, to ask for the protection of the Virgin for their children.
In addition to her, there are other shrines in the cathedral. This is a revered icon of the Kazan Mother of God, her reliquary. After restoration, services, liturgies are held in the cathedral, and on Fridays the akathist reads the main icon of the cathedral and a prayer service is held.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I want to say that you should take care of the upbringing of the child, instill in him those values āāthat are necessary for the cultivation of a worthy person who can enter the Kingdom of God. This can be done only by personal example, as well as asking for intercession and help from the saints. You should pray earnestly and ask for strength and patience in this difficult, especially in our time, business.
Very often, parents turn to the Virgin, and this is no accident, since she is considered the patroness of the family and children. There are a lot of her images that help in various cases, but, as is clear from the above material, the most effective help in education can come from an icon with the same name. Pray for the sake of our future generation, that it will be brought up in the fear of God, in the laws of God. After all, only then will there be peace and order on earth. Everyone will be able to think about his neighbor with love, and not with hatred, in the family everyone will respect his neighbor, marriage bonds will become stronger. All this can be achieved only by coming to God and bringing your children there.