One of the most revered images of Christ in Russia is the icon of the All-Merciful Savior, which was created around the twelfth century, during the reign in the Vladimir-Suzdal principality of Andrei Bogolyubsky. After death, he was glorified in the face of saints for his piety and righteous life.
Pious prince
Thanks to these same qualities, the ruler received the nickname Bogolyubsky. He was the son of the famous founder of Moscow, Yuri Dolgoruky. Under him, the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was in an unprecedented state of prosperity and prosperity.
The creation of the icon of the Savior the All-Merciful is closely connected with another image revered in Russia - the face of the Mother of God with the baby Jesus. The legend tells that during the battle of the troops of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky with hordes of Volga Bulgarians, priests were in the ranks of Russian soldiers who carried a miraculous icon.
Triumph of prayer
A confident victory was won over the enemy. When the prince with his troops returned to the camp, he noticed that a radiance emanated from the image of the Blessed Virgin. At the same time, the Byzantine emperor, who was on friendly terms with the Vladimir-Suzdal ruler, won the battle with the Khazars.
Both battles were won through earnest prayer to God before the miraculous image. Having emerged victorious, the rulers spoke of the radiance emanating from the icons to each other in their letters. They agreed to establish a holiday in honor of these events, which is still celebrated on August 1 in the old style and on the fourteenth in the new. It coincided with the Day of Origin of the honest trees of the Cross of the Lord.
Almighty
At the behest of Vladimir-Suzdal Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, the icon of the All-Merciful Savior was also painted.
This image belongs to the iconographic type, which is called by the Almighty experts. These images are created in order to glorify the good deeds of the Lord and are designed to show that there is nothing that the Almighty could not do for the sake of his love for people.
On such icons, the Son of God is usually depicted in full growth, or the canvas is a half-length or chest image of Jesus Christ. In his left hand he holds the Holy Scripture in the form of a book or scroll. The right Savior blesses Orthodox Christians with a traditional gesture.
Tutaevsky image
During the existence of the icon of the Savior the All-Merciful, many lists were made from it. One of the most famous copies is in the city of Tutaev.
Before the October Revolution, this settlement was called Romanov-Borisoglebsk and was formed in the nineteenth century from two other settlements whose names made up its name. Currently, the city is part of the Yaroslavl region. From ancient times Borisoglebsk was famous for its artistic traditions.
Numerous Russian icon painters created their immortal works here . So, in the fifteenth century for the local church, consecrated in honor of Saints Boris and Gleb, the icon of All-Merciful Savior was painted. This image of the Savior is a bosom image of the Son of God, which with his left hand touches the open Gospel, and his right hand is raised for a blessing gesture.
Icon Features
The creator of this canvas is a follower of the famous Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev, so the image is written in a similar manner. Around the image are small clouds. Some scholars believe that the disproportionate size of the gospel and the left blessing hand of Christ suggests that the artist originally intended to create an icon of a different type.
The painter only during work changed his original plan and painted some elements. Before the revolution, the image was covered with a silver robe. The Savior's head was crowned with a golden crown. This decoration was confiscated in the early twenties of the last century, during the campaign to seize valuables stored in churches. Initially, this image was intended for the dome of the temple, the so-called sky.
Shrine History
Later, the icon was transferred to the aisle of the cathedral, dedicated to two holy princes from the Rurikovich family - Boris and Gleb. After some time, the icon of the Savior the All-Merciful was placed on the main iconostasis of the cathedral. In the eighteenth century, the Rostov Metropolitan Arseny ordered, after restoration, to transfer the image to his residence. This patriarch was soon demoted from his dignity for criticizing the policies of Empress Catherine II.
After being removed from his post, he became a simple monk and spent the rest of his days in the monastery. The icon, which, on his orders, was brought to his office, was in the patriarchal residence for about half a century. When the image was decided to be returned to Borisoglebsk, then his shelter was no longer in the church of Saints Boris and Gleb, but the Resurrection Cathedral. The icon of the Savior the All-Merciful was brought to the city by a specially organized procession. A few miles to the destination, the procession stopped to wash the shrine dusty on the road.
Traditions
According to legend, a miraculous spring appeared on this place, which exists to this day. This event is reflected in the church tradition. An annual procession is held on the tenth Sunday after Easter, during which the icon of the Savior the All-Merciful is solemnly carried out from the Resurrection Cathedral and passes through the city with a procession.
Until the end of the nineteenth century, the route of this religious procession ran only along the right side of the river. And during the celebration of the ninetieth anniversary of the Baptism of Russia, a tradition was established to pass along the other side.
Trace of many centuries
The icon of the All-Merciful Savior in the Resurrection Cathedral was painted in the fifteenth century by the famous icon painter. This master is known for his righteous life and is glorified after death in the face of the saints of the Russian land. In the photo of the icon of the All-Merciful Savior, it is noticeable that the image darkened greatly from time to time. This happened because, according to the technology of the fifteenth century, all the faces were covered on top with sunflower oil. The same thing happened with other images of the main church of the Borisoglebsk monastery, to which the icon belonged at that time.
After several centuries, they were all cleared of sunflower oil. Only the icon of the All-Merciful Savior in Tutaev remained with its outer covering. Because of this, the image has noticeably darkened over several centuries of its existence. However, this fact does not reduce the effect that the icon produces on people praying in front of it.
About the pilgrimage to the icon
To this image, both group and individual pilgrimages and excursions are regularly conducted by some organizations. The Tutaev Icon of the Savior the All-Merciful makes a tremendous impression in connection with its enormous size.
Its height reaches three meters. At the moment, the image is placed on a special metal structure, which allows you to transfer the icon on the days when the procession is held. Also under the iconostasis, on which there is a miraculous image, there is a manhole through which, according to tradition, all interested visitors to the temple pass on their knees. For the centuries-old existence of this passage in the floor under the icon, two bands from the knees of the worshipers have been worn.
Icon of the Savior the All-Merciful. What to pray before her?
It is believed that this image contributes to heartfelt prayer for health, both physical and mental. However, it must be remembered that it is necessary to turn to the Lord God, who is depicted, and not to the icon itself. The face of Jesus Christ is called to promote proper prayer. Such can be called only that which is done with due repentance, humility and reverence.
That is, it should be pronounced without reason. A person who turns to God must be in a state of concentration on his communication with the Almighty. It should also be remembered that the word “prayer” itself is the root of the verb “pray,” that is, it is tearful to ask for something. This means that this is not just a conversation with the Lord God or some saint, but namely an appeal that has the nature of a heartfelt request.
Pride of the city
The Resurrection Cathedral of Tutaev, which now houses the icon of the Savior the All-Merciful, is the main temple of this settlement. It rises above the rest of the buildings and serves as an architectural dominant. In this temple, there are two churches - the upper and lower.
The first room is not heated. The icon is there only in the warm season. A miraculous image is transferred to the lower temple in winter.
Icons in Kizhi
The icon of the All-Merciful Savior is widely revered among the people.
Prayer to this image can be brought not only in Tutaev. Many lists of miraculous images are located in other cities of Russia. It is known that some astronauts before their extraterrestrial expeditions came to pray before the holy image in Tutaev. However, the icon of the All-Merciful Savior exists not only in this version.
An image with the same name is located in the city of Kizhi. It will be more accurate to say that in this village there were originally two images. Before the revolution, in one of the churches of this city was the icon of the All-Merciful Savior, which had a rich golden icon case, as well as a robe made of precious materials. A cross was hung on the ribbon to the holy image.
Defense against enemies
Today, only one icon of the Savior the All-Merciful is preserved in Kizhi, which is located in another temple in the city. This is the image of the Savior, where several saints are painted in the background, as well as landscape details. All the nuances of the picture are spelled out very clearly, in an elaborate subtle manner. From this we can conclude about the professionalism of the painter.
The writing of icons in Kizhi dates back to experts around the end of the sixteenth century. It was a time of attack on Russia by Lithuanian and Polish troops. Icons were the defenders of the city from foreign invaders. Religious processions with these images were regularly held around the village for its consecration.
The icons of the All-Merciful Savior in both Kizhi and Tutaev are among the most revered images of Jesus Christ among Orthodox people around the world. How does the icon of the All-Merciful Savior help? She promotes the right mood for prayer for health.