In addition to images that depict certain particular clergy (Jesus, the Mother of God, evangelical apostles, martyrs and prophets), there are collective icons. The whole Host of God is symbolically painted on them, and, praying in front of them, we can turn to our holy patron for help , as if it were a personal icon.
The essence of the name
Why is the name of the Icon of All Saints called? At baptism, each Christian receives a personal heavenly protector, a patron who protects him on his life path and to whom the churchly one can turn in prayers with any need, request. In honor of this patron, he is given a new name. However, the icon of All Saints is a universal image, this is the essence of its name. No matter who your heavenly guardian is - the archangel Michael, Nikolai the Miracle Worker or mother Matron - your prayer before this image will be heard by each of them. Ask for support at all crossroads of life - and you will definitely feel it! What are the most common prayers that the icon of All Saints heard? Probably: “Fathers of heaven, merciful intercessors, pray God for us!”
Image description
There are many different lists of icon images. The oldest belong to the 5-7 centuries, and they were made on Mount Athos. Here, for example, what the icon of All Saints looks like on one of the 18th-century Russian models: at the top is the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit). The Father is depicted in the center, the Son is on the right, and the Spirit (in the image of the Dove) is above Above. The second row of figures, i.e., slightly lower, comprise the Mother of God, who is called the Lady of the Virgin, Intercessor of all sinners, and the Baptist John. In addition to them, the icon of All Saints, the description of which we make, includes John the Baptist and the faces of other lambs of God.
Holiday in honor of the image
In memory of All Saints - this is the name of the day of the special glorification of the icon. It is usually celebrated after the Trinity, on the first Sunday. It is also called Pentecost. After all, the icon of All Saints acquires special significance on the fiftieth day after Easter. Prayers in her honor are held all week until the 8th Sunday after Sunday. Thus, this holiday is rolling, not having a fixed calendar number.
Our invisible defenders
Who are they, our invisible saviors? Let us take a closer look at the photo of the icon of All Saints and reflect on personalities who look at us sternly and simultaneously meekly and compassionately. Saints are people who, while still alive, pleasing the Lord with their deeds, firmness in faith and deeds glorifying the Most High, performed in His glory. After their physical death, they were taken by God to heaven to pray before Him for our intercession.
Heavenly hierarchy
The saints are primarily the prophets. From God himself they received a wonderful gift - to see the future, to see the events that should happen hundreds and thousands of years later. The most important of them is the Savior's return to earth. Among the prophets, Ilya is most venerated (a prayer for the icon of All Saints and it is effective for him in July-August, 20th and 2nd, depending on the style). In addition, Orthodox Christians respect John the Baptist, whose veneration days are June 24 (July 7) and August 29 (September 11).
Apostles are the messengers of God
The apostles are those people who personally knew Christ, were his disciples, accompanied the Son of God in the land of Judea, recorded his teachings. We know the 12 apostles, by name, how they knew the living God and how they found themselves in Christ. After the death of his teacher, the apostles went to different parts of the world to preach new knowledge. Among them, too, has its own hierarchy. The main, or supreme supreme, recognized Paul and Peter. The evangelists, i.e., the compilers of the Holy Scripture, are Luke, Matthew, John, Mark. Some saints are equated with apostles on a mission. They were not personal disciples of Christ, but at different times propagated His teaching. These are the Greek kings Konstantin and Elena, the Russian princes Vladimir and Olga, the Georgian enlightener Nina.
Clan of martyrs
Many saints depicted in the icon deserve such great honor not only because they brought the Light of Truth to the masses, but also suffered brutally for it. These include Christian martyrs. Those who have suffered terrible bullying, abuse and torture are called great martyrs. This is the famous healer Panteleimon, whose image in the national consciousness has grown together with the archangel Raphael, the healer of God; and st. George, bearing the big name Victorious; as well as Christian sufferers - Catherine and Barbara. The canonical texts speak of the first martyrs - Christians, that is, those who were the first of the huge number of victims to take the blow of persecution and persecution - Stephen and Thekla. A special place among the saints on the icon is occupied by confessors - Christians, who, through their own righteous lives, proved the justice of God's covenants.
People of "Christ's sake"
These include the holy companions who pleased the Lord with their deeds:
- This is so respected by both Orthodox and Catholics Nikolai: endowed with great abilities, he, for the glory of God, performed many miracles, for which he received the title of Miracle Worker. John Chrysostom, Gregory the Theologian and others named teachers of the Christian Church.
- They became like God, that is, the reverends - Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of Sarov, loved by all Orthodox people. And to this day, faith in them is strong and unshakable.
- The righteous are family people who lived according to the laws of Christianity and tried with all their might to keep God's covenants. These are, first of all, the Old Testament prophets, Mary’s parents, her husband, Joseph, Peter and Fevronia of Murom, and many others.
- Holy fools and lack of money, helping others morally and financially without payment, without expecting any reward, for Christ’s sake: Vasily the Blessed and mother Matron, Ksenia of Petersburg and others.
Here it is so amazing - the icon of All Saints!