The first cave cells in the chalk mountains appeared in this holy picturesque place back in the 15th century. In Ukraine, in the north of the Donetsk region, on the steep bank of the North Donets River, the Holy Assumption Monastery of Svyatogorsky is located. This monastery also had the heyday of spiritual life, and periods of its complete oblivion and ruin, both under Tsarina Catherine II and the Power of the Soviets. So in this very monastery is stored one of the great miraculous icons of the Virgin.
In Holy Russia, a considerable number of Her icons are glorified in this limit chosen by the Most Holy One, and they have miraculously performed, and even today they are giving gracious help to all those who pray with earnest prayer to them. For more than two thousand years, the Heavenly Lady has shown Her love and mercy to a negligent sinful people. One of these revered icons is the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God.
Lists
Before the Svyatogorsk monastery was closed, two miraculous images of the Mother of God were stored in it. The oldest of them were in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the iconostasis, others in the John the Baptist Cave Church. The icons differed from each other only in that the Savior is depicted with a scroll on a more ancient icon, and with a scepter on the other. The first icon, unfortunately, has not been preserved.
In the XIX-XX centuries, masters of iconography created many lists of the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God, which are revered by the people and are in parish churches of the Lugansk and Donetsk dioceses.
Hegumen Anthony in his diaries wrote about thirteen lists on the canvases of miraculous icons of the Virgin. One of these lists is in the church of Saints Guria, Samon and Aviv in the city of Lugansk. In the Ascension Church of the village of Torskoe, Donetsk Region, the second is stored. Abbots presented some lists of Svyatogorsky to other parishes.
Icon
The history of the famous icon of the Virgin Mary, located in the Assumption Cathedral of Svyatogorsk Lavra, is associated with the Athos elder, icon painter Nectarius, who visited the Holy Mountains in 1844 when the monastery was opened.
The monk from Athos was impressed by the beauties of this area - chalk cliffs, caves and a temple, so he was immediately inspired to write the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God. Being a poor monk, he decided to donate what he possessed of God - the art of painting icons.
The image of the Virgin Mary that he created was first found in the Church of St. John the Baptist, where St. John prayed in the chalk rock. By the will of God, this icon was saved from the dryness and fire that happened in the cave temple.
Later, the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God became famous for her miracles and, at the behest of the Virgin Mary herself, was taken out of the caves.
Accompanying the prayer service, the brethren of the Svyatogorsky monastery began to wear it in the surrounding villages. It lasted until the bloody events of the revolutionary years.
Red terror
In 1918 (October 5), after the next procession of the cross, the brethren with the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God settled down for the night in the village of Baraychek of the Kupyansky district. At night, the Bolsheviks came and, having entered inside in a barbaric way, they killed the hieromonks Irinarch and Modest, hierodeacon Theodotos, the psalm-goer, the master of the house and his daughter, who accompanied her. Overnight, five dead bodies lay nearby in a pool of blood. One of the killers said blasphemous and cruel words: "Pray to God, you, that He will punish the Bolsheviks." It was clear that they didn’t rob at all.
In 1922, the authorities began to seize church values and, first of all, the Bolsheviks came to the icon of the Virgin, which was the most precious in the monastery. But after the monastery was closed, the icon disappeared.
The brotherhood of the monastery for a long time kept it in the cemetery of the All Saints Church, until it was closed in 1931.
Then the icon was restored. Today, if you look closely, you can see deep scratches from blows and damage by the enemies of Orthodoxy. Then it was kept by pious people. The last place of her wandering was the temple in the village of Novotroitsky.
Memory
In early October 1992 on the day of St. Dimitry of Rostov solemnly transfer this icon to the Assumption Cathedral of the Svyatogorsky Monastery. The last 32 km of the procession from Slavyansk to the Holy Mountains carried the icon of the brethren in their arms.
Now, the solemn celebration in honor of the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God takes place on July 30. On this day, a procession is made from the Assumption Cathedral, which follows on Lavra Square to the monument to the Virgin.
The clergy also carry the miraculous image on their hands. At the same time, prayer service is performed.
On Sundays after the evening service, the akathist of the Mother of God “Rejoice, Bride of the Shameful” is read.
Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God: what to pray for?
The Blessed Virgin Mary always sends Her help to those who turn to her with deep faith. Many people who are sick with a variety of ailments were healed after an earnest prayer at the Svyatogorsk "Hodegetria" icon of the Mother of God. Sometimes healing occurred after anointing with oil from a burning lamp, which always burns in front of the icon, or after applying dried flowers to the sore spot that decorated the icon.
How does the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God help?
There are many recorded testimonies of the healing of the sick. Prayer and Akathist of the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God help to cure lymphadenitis, kidney disease, bronchial asthma.
The icon helps families find happiness in having a child. There have been cases when the Intercessor bestowed children on them through the prayers of married couples.
Also, fervent prayers to the Holy Mother of God help women cope safely with childbirth.
Many unique stories indicate that people are cured of cancer.
There is evidence of healing even from such a terrible diagnosis as acromegaly and pituitary adenoma, thanks to the prayers of the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Mother of God.
Savior of the Blessed Virgin
The Orthodox people love the Intercessor for her gracious attitude towards us. In their troubles, people bow with prayer requests before her images. The Svyatogorsk miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is especially revered. This is evidenced by tens of thousands of people for whom it has become rejoicing and comfort.
Every day, on weekdays and holidays, in the Svyatogorsk monastery, all arriving pilgrims are fed and, if possible, provided a hotel.
In September 1992, the miraculous icon of the Theotokos was transferred to the Svyatogorsky Monastery and left in the Assumption Cathedral. Since then, people sick with various ailments began to receive healing after prayer in front of the Svyatogorsk Icon of the Virgin. A lot of gold and silver jewelry and pendants testify to the miracles and mercy of the Queen of Heaven for sinful people who are sometimes ready to give everything they have in gratitude from the help received.