The birth of a baby is the main event in the life of every woman. It is during pregnancy and the birth of a child that the Lord most clearly reveals to man the fullness of His strength and greatness. When a baby is born, the true miracle of God on Earth is.
For a successful pregnancy outcome, many mothers pray all the time before and after childbirth to the Lord, the Saints, and, of course, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The icon of the Mother of God “Recovering the Baby” is one of the many miraculous icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Russia, before this image, Orthodox mothers have long uttered fervent prayers for the well-being of their children. There is a pious tradition before childbirth to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos and perform prayers with the reading of an akathist, dedicated to the icon of “Recovering the Baby”.
Icon of the Mother of God "Baby Recover"
The considered icon refers to the most common type in iconography, bearing the name "Eleusa", which from Greek translates as "gracious." Such works most fully depict the deeply reverent and tender relationship between the Holy Mother and the Divine Infant. There is no distance between the Mother and the Son: The baby presses his cheek against the face of the Virgin, showing her his sincere love and trust. The type of "eleus" includes many famous icons of the Virgin, such as: Vladimir, "Tenderness", Yaroslavl and others.
The icon depicts the Savior Jesus Christ sitting on the hand of the Virgin. Throwing his head back, He seems to be playing with his Mother. With one handle, the Savior touches her cheek, thereby showing tenderness. The whole pose of the Divine Infant conveys His childish direct character. On this icon, the human side of the Divine Savior is most strongly shown, which is rarely found in other icon-painting theotokos.
Notes of specialists
According to researchers, the genre of the “Baby Leap Forward” icon comes from some of the scenes described in the Gospel. The image reminds us of the Gospel theme of the “Presentation of the Lord”, when the Savior Jesus Christ was brought to the Temple of Jerusalem on the fortieth day after birth to perform the rite of consecration to God. Here the Savior is handed over to the elder Simeon, but the Divine Infant reaches for His Holy Mother, showing childlike affection and love.
In Macedonia, the earliest images of the “Infant Recapture” icon have been preserved, where they were called “Pelagonites” (after the name of the locality of Pelagonia). Here the holy image was revered with special love and reverence. In later times, the icons of the Virgin, depicting the theme of Motherhood and the future Cross suffering of the Savior, became common in post-Byzantine art, and most of all among Slavic peoples.
Many scholars who have been investigating the history of the origin of this icon are inclined to believe that the icon of the Mother of God “Baby's Recover” comes from Byzantium. There is accurate evidence that in Ancient Byzantium this image was revered as a great Christian Shrine. The name "Infant recapture" this icon received already in Russia, where it gained the greatest fame only in the XVI-XVII centuries. It can be assumed that it is a copy copied from the Byzantine sample.
A look into the past
The history of the appearance of the miraculous icon in Russia has been going on since 1795, when the Mother of God (“Infant Bounce”) was revealed in the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery, located on the territory of modern Moscow Region (not far from Dzerzhinsky). This monastery is famous for the fact that in its place in the XIV century the icon of St. Nicholas and the Wonderworker was miraculously acquired.
Dmitry Donskoy built the monastery in honor of the victory he won on the Kulikovo field, which took place in 1380. The appearance of the icon of St. Nicholas Mir of Lycia inspired the prince before the battle. Donskoy promised to build a new monastery on the site of its acquisition.
In the 16th century, it was in this monastery that the icon of the Mother of God “Baby recovery” was miraculously revealed. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates this event on November 20 (in a new style).
Icon today
In the post-revolutionary period, the icon disappeared, and its whereabouts remained unknown for a long time. In 2003, a certain woman donated the icon of the Virgin, similar to the miraculous list, to the monastery. According to eyewitnesses, this image was brought to the monastery. It was installed in the same place where the miraculous icon previously stood. All witnesses to this joyous event were convinced of the authenticity of the newly found miraculous icon. Currently, the image of the Virgin is stored in the altar of the Transfiguration Cathedral.
Miraculous lists
In addition to the Ugreshskaya one, other miraculous lists of the icon "Infant Recapture" are also known. Currently they are in the Tretyakov Gallery. Another image is stored in the Moscow Novodevichy Convent. Also, the miraculous icon "Baby recovery" is located in the Vatopedi Monastery. The latter rises on the holy Mount Athos.
Icon "Baby Leaping". Meaning in the Christian World
Before the image in question, many couples bring a prayer for permission from infertility. It is also customary to ask the Virgin for help during pregnancy, before and after childbirth.
Pious Christian mothers ask the Blessed Virgin to grant their children spiritual and bodily health and help their parents raise their children. Some fathers ask the Virgin to instruct children in the Orthodox faith so that they grow up to be kind and loving people. In such situations in life, the “Baby's Recover” icon always helps, its significance is very great. The Blessed Virgin Mary through the icon gives everyone who asks for comfort, as well as help, support and protection.
All women who want to give birth to healthy children or already bearing fruit under their hearts must especially observe the purity of their thoughts and strive to live according to the commandments of the Lord. This way of thinking and pious behavior is necessary to prepare the mother for the greatest mystery of having a baby. In Russia, it was believed that the behavior of a woman during pregnancy directly affects the future nature of the baby. It is the mother who will give the answer to God for the Christian upbringing of her child, therefore, at all times, women began to pray to the Virgin, still only preparing to get married and become a mother. Pious Christians make a prayer before the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking Her for help in conception, during pregnancy and childbirth.
Prayer for the giving of children
Infertile couples, unable to have offspring, pray to the Mother of God to send them the desired child, they are often heard. There are many examples where childless families gained great happiness thanks to the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In addition to the icon "Infant Leaping", there are other images of the Mother of God, before which you should make a prayer for the giving of children. They are no less famous. These are the icons of the Virgin, such as “Tenderness,” “The Quick Hearing”, “Theodorovskaya” icon of the Mother of God, “The Blessed Womb”, “Tolgskaya”. In addition to prayer, you can come with a request for the granting of children to the holy Righteous Joachim and Anna - the parents of the Blessed Virgin.
The parents of Blessed Mary were barren for many years; they prayed to the Lord all their lives for giving them a child. The holy God-fathers deeply mourned their childlessness, since in the Jewish people infertility was considered a punishment for sins. The Lord heard their prayer, and Saint Anna conceived and gave birth to a blessed child - Mary, who became the Mother of the Savior Jesus Christ. That is why in the Christian world it is customary to ask the holy ancestors for permission from infertility.
Also, childless couples can make a prayer to St. Matron of Moscow, Zechariah and Elizabeth and other saints.
Prayer to the Virgin during pregnancy
Many faithful Christians, while waiting for a child, say especially warm prayers in front of various icons. One of the most famous helpers during pregnancy is the Virgin’s icon “Theodorovskaya”, “Assistance in Childbirth”, “Softening of evil hearts” (its other name is “Seven-shot”), “Sister of Sinners”, “Tenderness” and, of course, “ Leaping the Baby. "
The icon of the Mother of God is of importance when performing upright prayers in front of her. Also, while the baby is waiting, the young couple pray to St. Joachim and Anna, the holy martyr Paraskeva, the holy Rev. Roman Kirzhachsky and others.
Prayer of spouses before the appearance of the heir
Many women, while expecting a baby, are worried about how well the delivery will be. In addition to the appearance of anxious thoughts of future mothers, there is a fear of pain, which confuses them very much. When preparing for childbirth in the Orthodox Church, it is customary to ask for help the Blessed Virgin Mary, who always hears sincere prayers, and especially women's prayers for the safe birth of the baby.
The pious tradition of asking the Virgin for help has long been known in Russia. Russian women pray fervently to the Blessed Virgin Mary in front of her numerous icons ("The Assistant in Birth", "Tenderness", "Theodorovskaya" The Most Holy Theotokos, "Leaping of the Baby" and others). She, in turn, grants what Her sincerely ask.
Prayer after the birth of the baby
After the birth of a baby, many mothers make a prayer in front of the icons “Mammal” and “Parenting”, asking the Mother of God for help in raising her beloved child.
The Mother of God Prayer “Leaping the Baby” has a deep meaning. The Most Holy Virgin is glorified in her, Her help and support during childbirth is requested. The text also contains requests for the preservation of a newborn baby, for his enlightenment in the sacrament of Baptism, for his upbringing in the Orthodox faith. In addition to prayer, an akathist can be read in front of the icon.
“Baby's Leap Back” is a miraculous icon in front of which many Christians, asking for help from the Virgin, received Her holy protection and patronage. The Akathist also contains various support requests.
Conclusion
The Ugresh icon “Infant recapture" differs from other versions of this holy image. In some compositions there are slight differences in the image of the Infant and His Most Holy Mother. Nevertheless, all of them bear the same name - the icon "Infant Leaping".
A prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, uttered from a pure heart, always brings spiritual fruits. Many faithful Christians, after praying before this icon, received solace in spiritual anxieties, as well as deep reassurance and peace. Such is the action of the help of the Queen of Heaven, always helping in various life circumstances.
In Russia, on the day of the celebration of the Ugreshsky Mother of God, the feast of all the icons of the Mother of God, "Baby's Recovering," is celebrated. The Ugresh icon of the Mother of God is also revered as a miraculous image, which many believing Christians come to for worship and prayer.