There is no higher service than to bring joy to those who mourn. The word "grief" in antiquity had a broader meaning than today. By it was meant not only sad experiences, but also physical suffering from illnesses, and failures of the worldly plan, and in general everything that we now call the word "negative." It is through these troubles and tribulations of life, with which the world is full, and the icon of the Virgin Mother of All Who Sorrow brings joy of comfort.
Grace Served Through Icons
Before we start talking about it, one very important fact should be emphasized - the icon itself does not work miracles and brings divine grace to people, but the Mother of God depicted on it. She does this through her images, before which we offer her prayers. Among them are great icons that are commonly called miraculous. This means that the Queen of Heaven specifically chose them, and she wants to send grace through these very icons . For this we honor them, but we don’t pray to them, not to boards covered with a painting layer, but To, whose holy image is imprinted on them.
For the name of the icon in question, the words of one of the Mother of God stichera (a special liturgical text) - “Joy of all who mourn” were used. The icon of the Mother of God with this name appeared in Russia in the 17th century. Art historians note in her iconography the tangible influence of the Western European school. In addition, it should be noted the absence of a single compositional scheme in a number of its variations (variants). As a result, you can see significant differences in the icons with this name.
An example is the saints depicted on it. In the earliest editions, these figures were absent and appeared only on the icons painted after 1688. The explanation for this is as follows: in this year the icon of the Virgin Mary “Joy of All Who Sorrow” brought miraculous healing from ailment to the sister of Patriarch Joachim - Euphemia. Since then, its glorification began, and the figures of the afflicted began to be added to the pictorial plot, thereby focusing on the healing power of the image.
Features of the generally accepted iconographic tradition
Over the years, a tradition has developed to portray the Virgin in full growth, standing in the so-called mandorla - vertical oval radiance. A curious fact: a similar image is characteristic of Christian and Buddhist arts. In such a halo, it is customary to depict the figures of Christ, the Virgin, and Buddha. In Christian iconography, the image of Christ in the mandorla on the icons "Transfiguration of the Lord" and "The Second Coming" is often found, and in the icon of the Virgin Mary - on the icon "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary".
In addition to the Virgin and figures suffering from ailments, it has become a tradition to depict angels performing acts of mercy on behalf of the Queen of Heaven. In addition, you can find numerous vaults with images of saints standing on the right and left side of the Virgin. Despite the fact that the icon “Our Lady of All Sorrows of Joy” appeared after a church schism caused by the well-known reform of Patriarch Nikon, it is very common among Old Believers. Especially a lot of her lists appeared, executed in the Belarusian village of Vetka.
Icon worship history
It is necessary to dwell on the history of the icon. As mentioned above, her glorification began in 1688 with the healing of the illnesses of the patriarchal sister Euphemia Papina. Legend has it that she suffered from a non-healing wound in her side. And once, during prayer, Euphemia heard a marvelous voice, announcing that the icon of the Virgin Mary “Joy of All Who Sorrow” would bring her healing.
On Ordynka there is the Transfiguration Church, in which this icon should be sought. After prayer, a miracle will happen before her, and the ailment will leave the patient. The voice also added that Euphemia would have to confess this miracle, glorifying the name of the Most Holy Theotokos. Soon the icon was brought to the suffering, and after prayer in front of her, the wound began to heal quickly. It happened on October 24th. Fulfilling the order of the Blessed Virgin (it was She who owned that voice), the brother of Euphemia, Patriarch Joachim, commanded us to compose a prayer service in the image of "Joy of all who mourn." The Icon of the Mother of God has been glorified since then, along with other miraculous icons.
Among the inhabitants of Moscow and all of Russia, this story was widely known, which is not surprising - its main character was the sister of the Patriarch. Was written akathist "All mourners joy." In addition to the aforementioned service, they compiled “The Tale of the Icon,” which detailed all the circumstances of the incident, and the royal icon-painters set about making lists from it. Unfortunately, it was not possible to establish where the icon of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” came to the Transfiguration Church. Its significance for Russian Orthodoxy is great, and the lack of information about its early history is a big gap.
Creating a list with an icon and leaving for St. Petersburg
Further events related to the miraculous icon date back to 1711. During this period, the capital of Russia was moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The imperial family also moved there. From historical documents it is clear that the sister of Tsar Peter I - Tsarevna Natalya Alekseevna, leaving for the new capital, ordered a copy from the icon of "Joy of All Who Mourn." The icon of the Mother of God was taken to Petersburg. But here in the documents there is a disagreement - according to one source, a copy went to the banks of the Neva, and the original remained in Moscow, other sources claim the opposite.
It should be noted that after the glorification of the icon, the Transfiguration Church, where the limit consecrated in her honor was located, became known among the people as “The Sorrowful” or “Joy of All Who Sorrow” on Ordynka. It is safe to say that the icon that Tsarevna Natalya left for the Muscovites was in the church until the revolution. Then the riddles begin.
After the revolution, the church was closed, its building was used for state needs. There is a version that the icon stored there disappeared without a trace during the period of church recession, and the image that is now in the restored church is a list of the 18th century presented to her by Patriarch Alexy I. But there is another version according to which the genuine icon miraculously survived the years of the atheism and is now in its original place.
Petersburg icon of the Virgin
However, we will be transported to St. Petersburg and follow the icon that the Tsar’s sister brought here from Moscow. It remains unclear whether the original is a copy, but, in spite of everything, both the Moscow icon and her St. Petersburg sister were considered equally miraculous. This is confirmed by the fact that, going to the Prut campaign in 1711, the king ordered to take it with him as a guarantee of heavenly protection of the army.
Tsarevna Natalya Alekseevna placed the icon brought to her in the house church of her own palace, which was located on Shpalernaya street. In those years, the famous brainchild of her brother, the Foundry, was also located there, on which guns for the army and anchors for the fleet were cast. It created the military and economic power of Russia.
Natalya Alekseevna spared no means for the shrine. The salary of the icon, made of silver and plated with gold, was richly decorated with family jewels. According to established tradition, particles of the relics of saints and other relics were placed in it. Over time, the pious princess organized a chapel at her palace, to which the church departed after her death in 1716.
The veneration of the icon by the reigning persons
After half a century, Empress Catherine II with special reverence for the miraculous image of “All Who Mourn Joy”. The icon of the Mother of God gave her strength during the smallpox epidemic, which erupted in 1768. It is known that the empress was one of the first to be vaccinated against this terrible disease to herself and the heir to the throne, thereby setting an example to the others.
It was very important, since vaccinations in those years were an innovation and were met in society with fear and misunderstanding. Before deciding to take such a step, Catherine II came to the house church of Princess Natalia. Prayer to the icon of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” inspired confidence in her. As a result, vaccinations made following her example saved the lives of hundreds of people. In gratitude, a new, richer salary of the icon was soon made.
During the reign of her grandson Alexander I, the house church on Shpalernaya was completely rebuilt according to the project of architect L. Ruska, for the icon they created a special niche on the right side of the iconostasis. The creation of a new, third salary for the icon belongs to this period.
It was executed with extraordinary generosity. Almost seven kilograms of gold went into its manufacture. In addition, gems were used in large quantities for decoration. A photo from the lithograph of the icon made in 1862 can be seen in this article. Particles of the relics of many saints were also placed in the salary. After the solemn consecration, which was performed by Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov), the salary took its place.
Three lists with icons
It should also be noted that in the temple on Shpalernaya, in addition to the icon in question, there were three more lists made from it, but they are considered lost. It is only known that one of them practically did not differ in its iconographic features from what Natalya Alekseevna brought. Decorated with his precious salary. In 1847, the icon was transferred to the ownership of the Spaso-Efrosinievsky monastery in Polotsk, and its place was taken by a copy made by the painter P.M. Shamshin.
Two other lists are known to have their iconographic features. The figures of the afflicted were included in their composition, which indicates their later spelling. The picturesque manner in which they were performed is more characteristic of the Western school. One of the icons was at the top of the room in the choirs. Her authorship is attributed to the then-famous artist F.A. Bronnikov. The other was created specifically in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the restructuring of the temple. It is painted on a copper board by I.A. Tyurin.
A little later, the church was rebuilt, and since then it has received the name Skorbyashchinsky. It was also known as the Church of the Icon of “Joy of All Who Sorrow”. It lasted until 1932, when it was closed together with many Russian churches. After that, the miraculous icon stored in it, the family relic of Princess Natalya, disappeared without a trace.
In St. Petersburg, in the Transfiguration Cathedral, there is an icon that many consider to be the one that was lost at the closing of the Shpalernaya church. But this, unfortunately, is an erroneous opinion. An ancient lithograph made from an icon belonging to the princess proves their non-identity. It is more likely that in the Transfiguration Cathedral there is that revered list, which, as you know, was kept in a precious salary next to the icon of Natalya Alekseevna and was transferred to the cathedral after the closing of the house church.
Icon with a penny
Among the St. Petersburg icons of the Virgin there is one unique in its own way. It is called the icon of "Joy of All Who Sorrow," with pennies. There is a legend that once, in the middle of the XIX century, it was nailed by the Neva waves to the shore next to the estate of the merchant Kurakin. From them, the icon passed to the merchant Matveev, who presented it as a gift to the chapel, built in honor of the icon of the Mother of God of Tikhvin in the village of Klochka near St. Petersburg. There was a chapel near the famous St. Petersburg glass factory.
This icon gained fame after a terrible thunderstorm that raged over the city on July 23, 1888. From the documents left from that time, it is known that a bolt of lightning that fell into the chapel seared the inner walls and the icons there. The donation mug suffered the most - it was completely broken. Only the icon in the chapel remained unharmed - a gift from the merchant Matveev. Moreover, the coins flying apart during a lightning strike inexplicably stuck to the surface of the icon.
When a damaged chapel was opened after a thunderstorm, they found that the image of the Virgin, previously attached in a corner on a cord, fell down from a strong blow. But the most striking thing was that the face of the Mother of God, darkened from time to time, enlightened itself and was renewed. There were many witnesses to this miracle; rumors about it quickly spread throughout St. Petersburg.
Her glorification began with the fact that, at the behest of the ruling bishop, Metropolitan Isidor (Nikolsky), regular prayer services began before the icon. Reports of the first miraculous healings that took place through prayers before this newfound image also date back to this time. From the records it appears that after the prayer for the icon “All Who Sorrow for Joy” was performed on December 6, 1890, the youth Nikolai Grachev, 14 years old, received healing from epilepsy. The following case was recorded in February 1891, when 26-year-old Vera Belonogova, who completely lost her ability to speak due to a sore throat, suddenly became speechless.
The ruined temple of “Joy of all who mourn” (St. Petersburg)
The pious emperor Alexander III in 1893 served a prayer service in front of this icon. Five years later, thanks to the financial resources donated by him, a stone church “All Joy of All Who Sorrow” was erected for her on a specially designated site. He towered on the Neva embankment. However, in the thirties, he suffered the same fate as many churches in our country - he was demolished. Now only a miraculously preserved chapel reminds of it.
Fortunately, the miraculous icon itself was saved, and now it is also located on the Nevsky Bank, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, which is popularly called “Easter Cake and Easter” for its architectural features. In honor of this icon, a special celebration day is set - August 5th. By the way, the St. Petersburg icon of "All Who Sorrow of Joy" with pennies received its official name on the personal instructions of Patriarch Alexy II in 1998. On all subsequently made copies of it, coins were depicted in paint.
Lists famous for miracles
It is known that many miracles became famous not only for the icons that were already mentioned in this article, but also for lists made from them. By their iconographic type, these icons often repeat both the Moscow and St. Petersburg icons. They are located in different parts of the country, but the traditions of the miracles revealed by them become public domain.
It is necessary to dwell on this in more detail. The most famous of these icons is Reshnevskaya. Its name comes from the village of Reshnev, where the temple of “Joy of all who mourn” was specially built for her. According to legend, this icon was received from a wandering monk by a pious and wealthy landowner - M. Savich. At her expense, a temple was built.
Tradition says that on the day of his consecration a miracle happened - through the prayers of his mother, a young man suffering from paralysis received healing. This icon itself is somewhat different from other icons of this type. She almost completely copies the "Iberian Mother of God", however, among the locals and in general among her admirers, she is referred to as the icon of "Joy of All Who Mourn". Its significance for believers is a sense of the reality of intercession and help sent down by the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Lists of icons made famous in hospitals and prisons
For several centuries now, the icon of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” has been helping patients who have lost all hope of recovery. An example of this is the image in a hospital owned by the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The legend says that the founder of the hospital, Prince Nikolai Svyatosha, later glorified in the face of saints, donated the icon there. Further, the legend tells that the hospital watchman more than once became a witness of an unknown woman visiting the hospital, and those patients whom she approached soon recovered. There was also one monk who suffered from an incurable disease and was ready to finish his earthly journey. And then one day a distinct image of the Virgin appeared over his head in the moonlight. The patient saw her and was soon healed.
Since ancient times, in Vologda, in the prison hospital, there was a miraculous icon of “Joy of all who mourn”. Its value was appreciated there. People who, through their own fault or due to circumstances, have been imprisoned, like no one else, need the help and intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Residents of the city, who revered the icon, made a silver and gilded salary for it and made it to each procession. Unfortunately, this miraculous image has not survived to the present day, having disappeared without a trace during the years of the revolution.
Icon of Voronezh
Voronezh Theological Church is also known for its miraculous icon. There is a legend that one of the close associates of Peter I, sailing in a boat on the Voronezh River, refused to moor to the shore near the temple and bow to the icon located in it. He even allowed himself to speak very boldly about this. However, a storm that soon broke out, threatening the life of the nobleman himself and his retinue, made him repent of rash words and, having landed to the shore, hurried to the temple. After he kissed the icon, the storm miraculously stopped. This icon is revered as miraculous. There are many testimonies of the healings that occurred through the prayers before her.
It is difficult to list all the miraculous lists from this blessed icon. They were always revered, for them built temples and chapels. Such a chapel, "Joy of All Who Sorrow," was built in St. Petersburg in 1915. It was intended to help mentally ill children and was built under the patronage of Empress Maria Fyodorovna. After the revolution, it was closed and re-consecrated only in 1990.
One cannot but recall the list of icons located in Tobolsk. There is little information about its creation, but art historians believe that its writing can be attributed to the end of the XVI century. In the temple, this icon was exhibited in a precious setting and decorated with numerous rings, crosses and pendants donated by parishioners on the occasion of the gifts of prayer assistance. It is characteristic that, in special honor, it was with city merchants, among them it was considered the key to successful commerce to carry it along the malls. Unfortunately, this icon has not survived to this day. Like many others, she disappeared during the revolution.
Many believers in their home meetings have this wonderful image. Icons in the apartment always create a special atmosphere. Even people who do not identify with religion feel the blessed energy emanating from them. It acts independently of our perception. But if a person’s heart is warmed by faith in God, then the icons become truly miraculous.