History remembers many cases when the images and relics of saints worked wonders, helped to overcome difficult illnesses and other life difficulties. That is why Orthodox people pay considerable attention to religious attributes. One of these is the icon “The Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. How does it help and how to access the image correctly?
Description
This icon dates from the 12th century. The author is not exactly known. The Mother of God is depicted in a traditional maforia with prayerfully raised hands (icon-painting type of Orant). On her chest is a baby - Jesus Christ. Our Lady stands. The original image is two-sided. The turn contains images of the righteous Anna and Joachim, who are in prayer before Jesus Christ. Initially, the holy face was decorated with a golden robe with precious stones.
Four centuries after its creation, the “Sign” icon was restored. The master was supposedly Archbishop Makarios (future Metropolitan of Moscow). Then only fragments of the Virgin’s clothes were preserved from ancient painting. The flip side remained unchanged. Currently, the image is in the St. Sophia Cathedral (Novgorod).
Story
According to sources, in 1170, Suzdal troops led by Andrei Bogolyubsky besieged Veliky Novgorod. The forces were unequal. And the townspeople turned in prayer to the Lord for salvation. On the third night of the siege, Archbishop John a voice from heaven ordered to take the image of the Virgin from the church on Ilyinskaya Street and carry it to the city walls. During the procession, opponents began shelling the fortress. One of the arrows hit the icon. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Mother of God. After that, inexplicable horror suddenly conquered the enemies. Scolding among themselves, they rushed away from the city walls. Taking advantage of this confusion, the Novgorodians began to pursue the Suzdal people and won.
This historical case is described in detail in a famous icon-painting plot. And the Novgorodians themselves remember and revere the icon, which depicts the Savior, the Virgin ("The Sign"). Other miracles, which the holy image showed at different times, reinforce the meaning.
Celebration
In the 12th century, after the military events, a celebration was established in honor of the icon (December 10, according to the new style), which takes place in the Russian Church today. On this day a service is held. The priests read prayers and canons, ask the Mother of God for intercession and confirmation in the faith.
Miracles
For two centuries, the image was in the "native" wooden church on Ilyinskaya street. However, in the middle of the 14th century, a fire broke out in it. And the icon showed another miracle. The fire died down just near the prayer service, where the holy face hung. After this, near the ashes, a new, stone temple was built, which received the status of the Znamensky Monastery. The icon has found a new home.
In the 16th century, after the restoration of the image in Novgorod, another, more massive fire occurred. The fire spread to several streets. No efforts of the townspeople could pacify the formidable element. Then Metropolitan Macarius addressed a prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos and, with her known image in her hands, made a procession on the banks of the Volkhov River. Suddenly a strong wind blew towards the river - the fire stopped.
In 1611, the Swedes attacked Novgorod. They brutally killed the townspeople and ravaged houses and temples, taking out sacred dishes and defiling the icons. There is a known case when several strangers approached the very temple on Ilyinskaya Street. At this time, there was a service in it. As soon as they stepped on the threshold, the Swedes were thrown back by invisible force. Their further attempts to enter the temple were unsuccessful. Upon learning about this, the enemies no longer approached the temple, and Novgorod, on the contrary, could be saved in it.
During the October Revolution (1917), the icon was transferred to the Novgorod Museum, during the Great Patriotic War it was evacuated, and after that it was returned to the museum reserve. And finally, in 1991, the Novgorod diocese defended a saving image. The icon "The Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary" was transferred to the St. Sophia Cathedral , accompanied by an amazing celestial phenomenon - a rainbow around the dome of the church. How does the holy face help individuals and what kind of requests can be addressed to him?
Meaning and Prayers
It is known that in 1352, hundreds of people during the plague epidemic miraculously healed. And later, cases of cure from severe mental illnesses and blindness were recorded. According to the confessors, the icon “The Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary” favored this, which she helps today.
Also come to the image of people who want peace in the family or country, want to find missing relatives. However, the clergy are convinced that no matter what the believer asks for, with the sincerity and purity of thoughts, the Blessed Virgin Mary will certainly help. Its significance since the birth of Christianity on earth was enormous. The Gospel describes many cases in which it has helped needy and sick people by converting them to faith.
Also significant is the question of how to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos. There are many lines written specifically to refer to it. So, there is a petition for the icon “Sign”. However, according to all the same confessors, no matter what text a person refers to the image, his inner faith will always be in the first place.
Miraculous lists
The history of icon painting knows several lists or copies made on the basis of the icon of the Virgin "Sign". They are located in Russia and abroad. Their names correspond to the location of the images: Abalakskaya, Kurskaya, Vologda, Pavlovskaya, Solovetskaya, Tsarskoye Selo and others. All of them have holy power and demonstrate miracles, like the original icon “The Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. How does the image help Christians? First of all, gain faith.
To this end, in the fall of 2009 the “Orthodox expedition” took place - flying around the icon on a spaceship around the Earth. During the project, 176 turns were completed. Permission and blessing for such a procession was received from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Cyril.