The icon "Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos", the significance of her intercession before God, have been appreciated by people at all times. None of the believers have ever been left without her help.
Place of the Protection of the Mother of God in the cycle of the Virgin holidays
There are special days when the church glorifies the Virgin Mary. They are among the twelfth holidays, which are dedicated to events from the life of Jesus Christ and his Mother. The Mother of God cycle includes the Nativity of the Virgin, her introduction to the temple, as well as the Annunciation and the peaceful demise - the Assumption - all of them are the most important dates in her life. The Orthodox worship the parents of the Mother of God - Joachim and Anna, and celebrate the conception of the Virgin Mary.
The Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated with special solemnity by the Church. October 14 is a significant day for Orthodox Christians. After all, the Mother of God at all times was considered the intercessor and protector of people before God. It is not without reason that the icon of the Mother of God contains the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in almost every house.
Greatness of the Queen of Heaven
The Church believes that the Virgin is the only person living in the world who is able to constantly ask the Lord for the salvation of people. This is the greatness of the Mother of God. Her appearance was already predetermined, as was the Incarnation itself. The Old Testament story contains testimonies of Mary's childhood and adolescence. When the girl was still a three-year-old child, she herself was able to ascend the high steps to the temple, and then the priest, at the direction of the Divine, introduced her to the Holy of Holies of the temple. All women were not allowed to enter.
In the images of the Virgin, three stars are always visible, which are located next to her head and hands. This means that she has always been and remains the Virgin: before Christmas, in Christmas and after the birth of Jesus Christ. The holiness of Mary allowed her to become a vessel of the Divine Spirit and keep the secret of the incarnation of God. Even after her Assumption, she does not leave people, but prays for them; therefore, the icon “Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos” is especially revered. How does the Mother of God help? Most importantly, the Virgin Mary asks God for the salvation of the entire human race.
Celebration of the Intercession on Russian soil
From ancient times people remembered the saints of God. In the days of their veneration, they went to the temple and prayed to the saints. The Russian people treated the Mother of God with special trepidation and love. During the twelve feasts dedicated to the Virgin Mary, all believers tried to attend services. The icon of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary was especially revered . What does the Mother of God protect from? Everyone can get the answer to this question by prayer to her.
On this day, people standing at the Divine Liturgy, with hope and faith, appealed to the Lady of heaven and earth with requests for protection, patronage, and the solution of important everyday issues. After leaving the temple, people gave alms to the needy. Currently, all traditions have been preserved. Those who cannot go to church that day pray to the Virgin at home, because the icon of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose photo and meaning are discussed in this article, exists in almost any Orthodox family.
The history of the appearance of the icon
In the X century, the Byzantine Empire was often attacked by barbarians. Once during such a raid the enemy attacked Constantinople. The people who lived there gathered in the temple and began to offer their prayers to the Mother of God, tearfully asking her to protect them from adversity. By Sunday, the Virgin Mary, along with a host of angels and saints, was seen by Andrei Yurodivy. According to legend, she first walked through the air, and then, kneeling, began to earnestly pray to her divine Son for the protection of the people and the provision of salvation from the enemy.
Then she took off from her head a wonderful brilliant veil that fell over all the worshipers. The vision disappeared, and the people in the Blachernae Church felt an extraordinary surge of grace and joy. Enemies immediately retreated from the city. The people saved the "Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary" - an icon. What the people of God pray for, will remain only in their hearts.
At present, this may seem like a miracle, but there is a lot of historical evidence that the siege did take place, and then a storm happened. Since then, the icon of the Mother of God "The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos" has been especially revered. What the Blessed Virgin protects from, people can always be sure by praying to her.
Description and meaning of the icon of the Intercession
Most often, the Virgin is depicted in full growth. Her head and the upper part of the figure are covered by a huge quadrangular circuit board - a maforium. The underwear of the Virgin Mary - the tunic - reaches the floor. Mostly her robes are painted in blue and red-brown. The first shows purity and integrity, and the second symbolizes that Jesus Christ borrowed flesh and blood from her in order to come to earth in a human form. Three stars on the edges of the maforia testify to the glorification of Mary. In the hands of the Mother of God is a veil - an omophorion, which she extends over the whole earth.
The icon "Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary", the meaning of which is to preserve peace and harmony between people, should take pride of place on the iconostasis of every Orthodox Christian. The main thing is to trust in the mercy of the Mother of God, and she will certainly help in all everyday needs.
Iconography of the Intercession
Unfortunately, the miracle of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Andrei Yurodivy was not captured on Byzantine images. In Russia, over time, two types of icons were formed dedicated to the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Central Russian and Novgorod. This began to happen after the introduction of the holiday by Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who, after hearing the story about the vision of the holy fool, reacted with attention to this event. Thus, he entrusted the Mother of God to take care of our entire earth.
In the Central Russian (Vladimir-Suzdal) iconographic tradition, the connection of the Bogolyubsky icon of the Mother of God with the "Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos" is traced. On this type of image, the Heavenly Queen herself holds the veil; Roman Sweet- singer sits at her foot . Novgorod icons are distinguished by the image of the Mother of God in the form of an Oranta (praying). Angels hold cover over her. Every detail of her image was thought out by the artists, because the icon “Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, the meaning and meaning of which is the heavenly help of the Intercessor of all Christians, gives people hope for the mercy of the Lord.
Mother of God - protector of the Russian land
With the beginning of the adoption of Christianity, people gradually came to the realization that they needed the help of the Lord and the intercession of the Virgin. The Russian people believed with all the bluntness and sincerity, which was only capable of, that the Lord would protect them from any troubles and misfortunes. The Mother of God was considered an intercessor in the face of her Son for all who truly believe in him and want to save his soul, so that he can later enter the kingdom of heaven. In most Orthodox churches there is an icon of the Protection of the Holy Virgin. What protects the Mistress of heaven and earth from the Russian people? There have always been many misfortunes and sorrows: hunger, wars, natural disasters.
And the Virgin Mary never leaves people in grief. From ancient times, the icon "Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos" was considered the protector of the Cossacks. How does the Mother of God help the soldiers? During the invasion of enemies and all kinds of oppression, when they had to go to fight for their native land, they, with faith in God and hope in his mercy, went into battle and returned with victory. Then they, being in the temple, thanked the Mother of God and the Lord.
What matters does the Mother of God help?
There is hardly any Orthodox person who has never experienced the intercession of the Virgin Mary. The holiday itself, called the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the icon that people pray for - all this suggests that people often resort to the help of the Queen of Heaven. Nowadays, people are asking her for a successful marriage, protection from oppression at work and service, about the healing of diseases, about peace in the family.
It is the “Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary” - an icon (which means “image” in Greek) that helps people become cleaner and kinder. Expressing their appreciation, they bring jewelry to the temple: rings, earrings, chains and other donations. There are also certain thanksgiving services dedicated to the glorification of the Virgin.
Traditions associated with the Veil
Since ancient times, people have their own characteristics of the celebration of October 14th. On this day, it was customary first of all to glorify the Mother of God. In the red corner, along with others, was the icon “Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos”, the significance of which was simply invaluable to the Russian people. Also required:
- first go to the Divine Liturgy, and then be sure to give alms to the poor and wretched, standing at the entrance to the temple;
- bake pancakes, enclosing them all corners of the apartment, and then still leave an offering to the house;
- take a branch of an apple tree, set fire to it and smoke a whole house in order to attract prosperity;
- prepare a lot of delicious food and make a fun feast with all your friends and relatives.
National signs on Pokrov
Our ancestors made their forecasts in the course of observations and rarely made mistakes. People believed that if Pokrov had good weather, it was warm outside, then winter would not be too cold. When you find out from which side the wind is blowing, you need to wait for frosts from there, if this is the eastern direction, then colds will come later. They basically began precisely on October 14, so those who did not warm the house froze in winter. The smartest drowned on that day with an apple tree branch, attracting heat into the hut.
"The Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary" is an icon, which means and symbolizes peace and harmony. The answer to the question of why she should pray was known to all Russian girls. They tried not to be sad on such a day, but spent it merrily. It was believed that this would attract the groom. For the holiday, they laid candles to the image of the Queen of Heaven, because the first one to do this will marry before anyone else. The icon of the Mother of God "Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary", the significance of the holiday itself - all this is very important for the Russian people. People also believed that there would be many weddings if it snowed all day.
Famous temples and monasteries in honor of the Intercession
Everyone in Russia has ever heard of St. Basil’s Church, which is located on Red Square in Moscow. Initially, it was the Intercession Cathedral. It was built under Ivan the Terrible in memory of the Russian victory over the Kazan Tatars.
The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl is depicted in all school textbooks. It is in perfect harmony with nature. The church was erected during the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, and it is considered the pearl of Russian architecture.
Pokrovsky monastery in Suzdal was founded in 1364. The rise of the monastery is associated with the name of Basil III, who donated a large sum for its maintenance. Currently, this female monastery is operational. You can always visit it to pray there and see the preserved ancient architectural buildings.
In conclusion, it must be said that the Feast of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the icon, meaning, prayer addressed to the Virgin should be familiar to all truly believing people.