The image of the Virgin of Albazin has a second name. “The word flesh be quick” is a quotation from the Gospel of John.
On the icon there is no Divine Infant in the form that is used to in other images. Here the Savior is depicted in the womb of His Mother. Before the icon of the Mother of God of Albazin, what are they praying for? And what is the history of its origin? We learn about this from the article.
Mystery of origin
In fact, there is no data on when the image was written. Who was its author is unknown. Experts say that the image is more than 400 years old.
And his story is this. From time immemorial, attacks on Russia have occurred. And the middle of the XVII century was no exception. The Chinese could not calm down. They really wanted to conquer the fortress of Albazin. How many attacks and provocations were committed by the invaders, now no longer count.
In the end, the Chinese were able to complete their intended business. The fortress was burned. But time passes, 1665 comes. It is then that they restore Albazin. Hot faith in the intercession of the Virgin is all that helps people in their confrontation with the Chinese.
A very difficult time has come. Soldiers and civilians needed strengthening of spirit. It was then that an old man named Hermogenes came to Albazin. He was the founder of the Ust-Kirensky monastery. The elder brings icons with him. Among them is the icon of the Albazin Mother of God.
In 1671, Hermogenes founded a monastery near Albazin. He was one of the first on the Amur. The elder lived in the monastery until 1680, there was also the icon of the Mother of God of Albazin, or "The Word Flesh Be Fast" (its second name).
But the Chinese do not calm down. The raids continue. The elder leaves the monastery. And the icon is taken to Sretensk in order to save it from encroachment by the Chinese.
New location
In 1865, the Icon of the Mother of God of Albazin was found by the Annunciation Cathedral. Veniamin Blagonravov brought her here. It was the bishop of Kamchatka. Here the icon remained. For the image, a silver salary (riza) was made.
XX century
With the icon of the Mother of God of Albazin, they make religious processions. Prayers are held in front of her. From the beginning of the 20th century, annual religious processions in the Far East begin. In those places where it was impossible to go with the icon, it was transported by boat or train.
Time passes, revolution comes. Everyone knows about its consequences for Orthodoxy. Blagoveshchensk did not bypass the consequences. The cathedral was blown up in 1924.
They managed to hide the icon of the Mother of God of Albazin. Now she has found a place in the Ilyinsky Chapel.
The godless authorities were not going to think better. Temples were closed and destroyed, and church utensils were destroyed. The icon was lucky, she was taken to the Amur Regional Museum of Local Lore. It happened in 1938.
90s
The era of godlessness has passed. For nearly 70 years, people have lived hiding their faith. And others renounced it because of a sense of fear.
The dashing 90s came. The time of banditry, tyranny and the opening of temples. Believers began to receive their parishes back. And the remaining shrines respectively.
The icon of the Mother of God of Albazin was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1991. From that time to this day, it is located in the Annunciation Cathedral, restored in the distant 90s.
Address
Those who want to visit the shrine should know the exact address: the city of Blagoveshchensk, Relochny lane, building 15.
The map shows the location of the cathedral.
Every week, on Fridays, an akathist is read in the cathedral in front of the miraculous icon. Beginning at 07:00 in the morning.
Interesting Facts
The first mention of the miraculous properties of the icon dates back to 1900. When there was a Russian-Chinese conflict, our opponents fired on Blagoveshchensk through the Amur. The cathedral with the icon of the Mother of God of Albazin was on the line of fire. What is noteworthy, during the shelling, he was not injured. And the city remained almost untouched.
As the Chinese attackers later recalled, a very beautiful woman appeared before them several times. She held the baby in her arms. Because of the feeling of pity for the mother, the Chinese could not conduct targeted fire.
And the second miracle happened in our time. It was 2013. A terrible flood began in the Far East. And what was the people to do? Only pray, trusting in the mercy of God. And Bishop Lucian decided: to fly around the most affected places with the icon "Word of the flesh be quick." After such a "heavenly procession" two days passed. And the water stopped coming. This fact is officially registered.
What are they praying for? Prayer text
In front of the icon they pray for help, asking for a safe resolution from the burden. Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God of Albazin is presented below:
Theotokos the Virgin, the Immaculate Mother of Christ our God, the Protector of the Christian family! Before the miraculous thy sight lies ahead, the fathers of our Molisha Thou, and your reverence and the intercession of the land of the Amur region. Now we pray for you too: our city and this country have been preserved from finding aliens and from internecine battles. Grant peace to the world, fertile land of abundance; preserve in the sanctuary our pastors, in the holy churches of those who labor: in the fall with all-sovereign cover of Thy builders and their benefactors. We affirm in the righteousness and unanimity of our brethren: those who have erred and departed from the Orthodox faith, reason and unite the Holy Church of Your Son. Come to all those who flow to the miraculous icon of Thy veil, comfort and shelter from all evils, troubles and conditions, You are the sick of healing, who grieving of comfort, who have forgotten the correction and admonition. Receive our prayer and exalt to the Holy See, as you have observed, and blessed with your protection, we glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.
Miracles from the icon
In the Annunciation diocese many stories are collected about the miracles performed before the image.
Let's start with the recent past. It was in 2015. A woman named Inessa could be fired. For her, this was tantamount to death. She was on the verge of despair. She went to the Annunciation Cathedral to the icon of the Mother of God of Albazin. As a woman cried and begged for help, only she knows.
At this time, a woman approached her. Warmly embraced, comforted. She said that the Virgin would not leave Inessa. And so it happened. Help was instant. For Inessa, this was a real miracle and salvation.
Another resident of Blagoveshchensk testifies that after the prayer service in front of the miraculous icon, her son found a good job in the specialty.
And the most moving story happened at the end of 1990. A man named Yuri has a sick mother. Oncology is a sentence for an elderly woman. Yuri asked the attendant of the temple, which then had the Albazin icon, to pour him some oil from her lamp. In return I gave a bottle of excellent oil.
Received treasure sent to his mother in another city. He told her to smear regularly, add to food. Where did this oil come from, Yuri did not specify.
Mom complied with the recommendations of her son. She began to improve, the pain went away. And most importantly, doctors recorded a positive trend. Yuri's mother lived another 13 years after this. She died of a completely different disease.
Conclusion
The miracles originating from the icon of the Albazin Mother of God, and her help to people - all this gives hope and comfort. If you find yourself in Blagoveshchensk, be sure to go to the miraculous icon.