The Icon of the Mother of God of Minsk is considered the main Orthodox shrine on the territory of Belarus. It is stored in the metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Located in the temple on the left hand of the Royal Gates. Every day thousands of believers come to bow to her. The icon has not been exported from Minsk since 1500. At first it was stored in the Lower Castle, then it was transferred to the Upper Place.
Icon Description
The icon of the Mother of God of Minsk was painted with tempera, that is, a special water-borne paint. Such a paint is prepared on the basis of dry powder pigments, often used in icon painting. And not only in the Orthodox, but also in the Catholic tradition.
They painted the icon on a special ground, which is chalk mixed with fish or animal glue. Typically, flaxseed oil is also added to it. In this case, the basis for the icon is wooden. There is an ark, that is, a special recess on the front side of the board. Why they began to do it initially is unknown. There are several versions. On the one hand, it visually forms a frame, thus, some kind of “window” is formed into the world of saints depicted in the icon. According to another version, such a recess may save the icon from deformation, which it will undergo over time.
The icon of the Mother of God of Minsk is 1.40 x 1.05 m. The salary is fancifully decorated with floral patterns.
The origin of the icon
The Minsk icon of the Mother of God was painted by an evangelist and a holy apostle named Luke. At least that's what church tradition says. This is one of the first followers of Jesus Christ, who believed in his teaching in the 1st century AD. It is considered a close associate of the Apostle Paul. In Christianity, he is known as one of the first icon painters.
He painted the icon of the Mother of God “Minsk,” a photo of which is in this article, at the request of his brothers, who were also apostles, and other Christians. It happened in the 1st century. It is impossible to give a more accurate date, it is only known that Luke himself died about 84 years old.
There is a legend that the work of Luke liked the Virgin Mary so much that she blessed the image and gave parting words, according to which she would be constantly present among people and bring grace to them.
At first, the miraculous Minsk Icon of the Mother of God was stored in Byzantium. Then it was transported to the city of Korsun. So in ancient times was called modern Kherson, located near the Crimea. There the icon was, while Korsun was under the rule of Byzantium, that is, until the XIII century.
Icon falls into Minsk
How the icon ended up in Minsk is described in detail in the book of the historian Ignatius Stebelsky, which was first published in Vilna in 1781. When writing this work, Stebelsky himself used a manuscript belonging to the Greek Catholic hieromonk Jan Olszewski. It was compiled at the turn of the XVII - XVIII centuries. It is known that for a certain time, Olshevsky passed obedience in one of the Minsk churches. There he was engaged in rewriting church books. He worked especially hard on the lives of the saints.
It was Olshevsky who made a description of the miracles associated with this icon. At least, this was the claim of the archimandrite of the Minsk Theological Seminary Nikolai Truskovsky. He is known as a connoisseur of the history of White Russia. However, to this day this manuscript has not been preserved.
It is also known that Stebelsky used the work of Gumpenberg, written in Latin, under the name "Atlas of Mary." To this day, this book also has not been preserved.
Already in the 20th century, a Russian theologian and icon painter claimed that only about ten icons in Christianity are attributed to the Evangelist Luke. In total, there are more than 20 of them in the world. Moreover, 8 of them are stored in Rome. However, the fact that they are attributed to Luke does not mean that he wrote them himself. In fact, not one of the icons of his authorship has survived to our time. Luke’s authorship in this case should be understood in the sense that these icons are exact lists of icons once written by Luke. And to be more precise, with lists from lists.
The Christian Church places great emphasis on the continuity of power and grace. So it is believed that the exact lists from the icon have the same properties and holiness as the original icon.
Way to Minsk
Before getting to Minsk, the icon was in Kiev. She was transported there from Korsun. In Kiev, for a long time was in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was built at the end of the X century.
According to Archpriest Pavel Athos, known for writing program material dedicated to the 400th anniversary of her acquisition, the icon was in Kiev thanks to Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. This is the very prince Vladimir who baptized Russia, it was under him that Christianity became the state religion in Russia. Vladimir, most likely, brought the famous icon after the solemn ceremony of the wedding with Princess Anne. And also after he was baptized in Korsun in 988.
During the time that the icon of the Mother of God "Minsk", the photo of which is in this article, was in Kiev, the city was repeatedly subjected to raids by the conquerors. According to most researchers and historians, in the Kiev temple, she could be up to a maximum of 1240. It was then that the Tatar-Mongols entered the city, who almost completely destroyed it. The ancient Church of the Tithes, in which the icon itself was located, ceased to exist until 1635.
During this period, information about the fate of the icon is considered lost for almost two centuries. There is an assumption that one of the inhabitants of Kiev secretly hid her at home. Until she was able to decorate St. Sophia Cathedral.
There is one documentary evidence that most likely refers to this icon. This is a chronicle that describes in detail the next raid on Kiev of the Crimean Khan Mengli I Giray, which was committed in 1482. The chronicle says that Giray looted the whole city, took many prisoners, burned all the key buildings. And one of his associates, bursting into a Christian church, took out his main shrine from there, tore off all the precious jewelry from it, and threw the icon itself into the Dnieper as unnecessary. Many researchers believe that this legend is about the icon of the Mother of God, which is now stored in Minsk.
In Minsk, the icon (or rather one of its lists) appeared in 1500. It happened on August 26, exactly two days before the celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day, the face of the saint appeared to the faithful. There is also documentary evidence according to which the people of Kiev, who were in Minsk at that time, recognized their shrine.
By 1505, the army of the Crimean Khan Mengli Giray reached Minsk. Before the battle in the city, a prayer service for the city’s defenders took place. Priests led him to the Castle Church, where the icon of the Mother of God was placed. The outcome of the battle was disappointing for the defenders of Minsk. The invaders burned most of the city, tens of thousands of townspeople, as well as peasants from the surrounding villages were captured. Only the castle remained unapproachable.
It is still believed that the castle itself and its defenders at that time were under the invisible patronage of this miraculous icon.
A key turning point in this confrontation took place in 1506. On August 6, Belarusian-Lithuanian troops defeated the conquerors in the Battle of Kletsk, all the survivors gained freedom. This victory was perceived by many as the punishment that the miraculous icon inflicted on foreign invaders.
In 1591, Minsk acquired a new coat of arms, which depicted the Mother of God surrounded by angels. Since then, she is considered the intercessor and the main defender of the city.
In Minsk churches
For almost a century, the icon was in Minsk Lower Castle. Directly in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The icon was a cathedral throughout the 16th century, including after the conclusion of the official church union in Brest, which took place in 1596.
In the XVII century, construction of a new large-scale church began in Minsk. In 1616, workers began the construction of a stone Basilian temple. It was built on the site of the Orthodox Holy Spirit Church, which was wooden. The temple was located in the Upper City, got its name in honor of the Holy Spirit. The construction of this religious building was supervised by Archimandrite Athanasius named Pakosta.
Just before the opening of the new church, an order was issued by the Greek Catholic Metropolitan Joseph (in the world of Rutsky), according to which the icon of the Mother of God of Minsk was transferred to the new church. According to legend, this solemn event took place on October 16, 1616. On the same day, Christians celebrated the feast in honor of the apostle and evangelist Luke, who is just considered the author of this icon.
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in which the icon was before, burned down almost to ashes in a fire in 1626. So the icon was once again saved from destruction. With the money collected on donations from believers, the church was quickly rebuilt quite quickly. In 1835, a Minsk burmist named Lukash Bogushevich even formally turned to Metropolitan Joseph with a request to return the icon to its historical place, but was refused. All subsequent requests were rejected.
The icon remained at the Holy Spirit Church, where for many years there were female and male monasteries. History stores the episode of 1733 when Archimandrite Augustine donated an entire thousand thalers to the icon. With this money, a chapel was kept in the temple for a long time, which performed special services right in front of the icon.
Place for an icon in the Peter and Paul Cathedral
The next stage in the history of the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God, the description of which is in this article, begins after 1793, when Minsk officially became part of the Russian Empire.
After this, the Holy Spirit Church went under the patronage of the Russian Orthodox Church. Soon became the Cathedral. In 1795 he was consecrated according to the Orthodox custom.
In 1852, the icon got a new and rich robe, it was gilded and decorated with various jewelry. Such a donation was made by the wife of the Governor of Minsk, Elena Shklarevich.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a special tradition appeared. Every year, the icon began to be taken out of the cathedral and put on a specially equipped lectern for prayer and service. The initiator of this was Bishop Mitrofan, who for several years heads the Minsk department. In the history of Orthodoxy, he is remembered as a martyr who died from the persecutors of the church in 1919.
In 1922, a large-scale campaign to seize church property began in the newly formed Soviet Union. Then the icon lost its robe. The parishioners tried to do everything possible to save her. They even raised money and paid the authorities an amount equal to it in value. But the Bolsheviks, taking the money, refused to return the robe.
Until 1935, the icon was in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. The temple in those days came under the influence of the Renovationists, who insisted on the abolition of canonical rules. In 1936, the cathedral was blown up. The icon passed to the museum of local lore. there she was before the Great Patriotic War. And it was not exhibited, but stored in storage.
After the Red Army retreated from Minsk in 1941, the icon passed into the hands of the Germans. They were asked by a local resident whose name history has preserved. It was Barbara Weak. There was an artist Vier, who restored the icon and donated it to the temple on the Nemiga River. In 1945, the church located there was once again closed. The icon returned to the Holy Spirit Cathedral.
Icon Studies
Restoration work on the icon in the early 90s was carried out by the famous restorer and artist Pavel Zhurbey. Archpriest Mikhail Bulgakov addressed him with such a request.
The restorer revealed some interesting details. For example, the base of the icon was made of three linden boards. Two cracks passed through the icon, and there were also on the joints of patch strips. On the back, mounts were made using oak planks. The wood itself over the years has been seriously spoiled by a beetle grinder. The boards became very dark, in places the tree swelled, the soil partially crumbled. Soot and long-term pollution accumulated in the cracks, river sand formed on the halo.
With the help of research, it was possible to restore when the icon was updated. For example, in 1852, tempera painting was almost completely covered with oil paints. The Mother of God was added the crown and scepter, in the hands of the baby Jesus Christ a power appeared.
All these innovations corresponded to Catholic customs, because in the 19th century the icon was under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Church, as was the large territory of Belarus.
In the same century, an unknown artist renewed the face, hands and robes of the Mother of God, using the techniques of realistic painting. This directly contradicted the traditions of ancient icon painting.
In 1992, the icon was finally removed from the restoration. We managed to remove the most rude and inappropriate entries, the icon painters restored the image corresponding to the lists of the 17th-18th centuries.
Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk Filaret consecratedly consecrated the renewed icon, which has now become officially Orthodox.
An important study for connoisseurs of icon painting in 1999 was conducted by artist Pavel Zharov. He used x-rays in his work. Thanks to this, it was possible to restore the original appearance of the icon. Zharov and Zhurbey concluded that the icon was painted much earlier than it appeared in Minsk. That is, until the XVI century.
Metropolitan Filaret, who sanctified the icon on one of the holidays in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God, which is today considered the patroness of Minsk, noted that this face has been considered the patron and savior of White Russia for five long centuries. The historical path of this shrine deserves a separate and deep study. After all, she managed to reunite not only times and peoples. Tsargrad, Korsun, Kiev and Minsk.
In each of these places she was especially revered.
Church of the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God
A church dedicated to this icon was built in Minsk between 1994 and 2000. The temple is located at: Golodeda Street, 60.
Akathist Minsk icon of the Mother of God is read regularly in this temple. This is a kind of laudatory chant by which believers offer praise to the saints. Akathist Minsk icon of the Mother of God is particularly solemn. It is read both at ordinary services and on holidays.
On the main church holidays, at the services they read the troparion to the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God. This is a special hymn dedicated to a particular holy or Orthodox holiday. In this case, the Mother of God.
Many turn to the Minsk icon of the Mother of God for help. From what this icon helps, all believers know. She helped to survive many hardships; Orthodox worshiped her for many generations. It is believed that the Mother of God remembers everyone who ever addressed her. Most ask her for intercession and protection.
In honor of the appearance of the icon, solemn services are regularly held dedicated to the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God. What is this Christian shrine praying for? First of all, they put candles for her health, it is believed that this is an amazing icon that helps many people. Often they turn to her for help when someone from her family is seriously ill, is in the hospital, and doctors shrug their hands in powerlessness. In this case, believers often turn to the Minsk icon of the Mother of God for support with prayers.
Special prayer
This icon is addressed with a special prayer. She is called the Heavenly Intercessor, she is asked to save her from enemies, foreign invasions, civil wars, as well as from all troubles, diseases and temptations.
In prayer, the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God is always asked not to forget the simple sinners who turn to her, forgive all sins, have mercy and save. Orthodox hope for protection, forgiveness of all sins, healing, peace and quiet in the family.
Minsk parish
A separate Minsk parish of the icon of the Mother of God "Vsetsaritsa" was opened in the Belarusian capital at the address: 50 Grushevskaya Street. Divine liturgies, all-night vigils, prayers with an akathist are regularly held there.
The most solemn services are held on the feast of the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God, which is celebrated on August 26. It is believed that on this day the appearance of the icon of believers took place. The Minsk Icon of the Mother of God is served by the Metropolitan of Minsk, all archbishops and bishops come to celebrations.
It all starts with an all-night vigil, then a liturgy, and finally, a solemn service. Often on this day they read in the evening service a special group of psalms called "Lord Cries" of the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God.