It is reliable to establish when and how the images with such a name appeared in Russia, today it is not possible. Information about this in different sources sometimes significantly differ from each other. Let's try to put together disparate data. Perhaps the whole picture will turn out. But first, let's talk about the appearance of such icons in Orthodoxy in general.
The story of the appearance of the image
Church traditions say that the first icon of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Dead” appeared in the VI century. According to legend, the monk Theophilus, slandered and expelled from the house of the bishop, harbored a great grudge in his soul. He turned away from God and His Mother and entered into an alliance with the devil.
But on the threshold of spiritual death, Theophilus was frightened of what he had done and earnestly asked the Mother of God for salvation, calling her the “Recovery of the Dead”. The Blessed Mother, hearing his sincere prayers, accepted the sincere repentance of the fallen, granted forgiveness and freed from obligations to the devil.
The saved Theophilos devoted the rest of his life to the service of God and was glorified in the face of saints.
Early Russian images of the "Recovery of the Dead"
In the Moscow Church of the Resurrection of the Word, the Russian icon of the "Recovery of the Dead", first mentioned in church records of 1548, is kept. Presumably, the purse belongs to the brush of the Italian master.
Legends say that in 1666 the wounded governor of Saratov, Kadyshev, was healed at the time of the appearance of such an image to him. The warrior, preparing for death, saw a wonderful icon in the Volga and stood on his feet. Many more miracles were created by this icon of the Theotokos "The Search for the Dead."
Two hundred years later, Kadysheva, a descendant of the famous governor, organized a convent in the village of Rakovka and became his first abbess. The main shrine of this monastery has become a family value: the icon of the Mother of God "Recovery of the Dead." The miraculous icon healed many believers and became famous far beyond the Volga.
Count Sheremetyev, in gratitude for the cure of his son, ordered an expensive gilded icon case decorated with jewelry for this icon.
The miraculous Bor icon of the Virgin "Recovery of the Dead"
Particular veneration of images with this name in Russia began with the glorification of the Borsky exodus.
A beautiful legend says about the miraculous salvation of Obukhov Fedot. In severe frost, the peasant left the house and got lost along the way. By night, the unhappy completely exhausted and froze. He lay down in a sled and began fervently praying to the Mother of God. He made a vow at that moment that if he remained alive, he would order a list of the image of the Mother of God “The Search for the Dead” and give it to the parish church.
Miraculously, the sled appeared at the peasant's house. The owner of this hut suddenly heard a female voice ordering: “Take it!” Going out into the street, he found Fedot freezing in a sleigh.
Miracles continued. True to this vow, Fedot turns to the icon painter Gurov. But he demands a sum for work that Obukhov does not have. As soon as Fedot left the door, the icon painter went blind - another miracle of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Realizing that this is a punishment for greed, Gurov promises to write a report for any price. And then the vision returned!
Other miracles of the holy image
The icon of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Dead” was written and donated by Fedot Obukhov to the church in the village of Bor. Many came to bow to this icon and ask for its intercession. Soon, a beautiful new church was built with donations from the parishioners.
And again a miracle: the church elder saw in a dream where this icon would later stand. And soon, a decree was received from the Synod on the construction of the temple in this place.
In 1871, the Borsky icon of the Theotokos of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Dead” saved the city of Serpukhov from cholera. Another miracle happened during the bringing: the dumb boy, who hadn’t walked up to that day, suddenly spoke and got to his feet. In gratitude, the residents of Serpukhov donated the Gospel with the image of this icon and records of the created miracle to the Bor temple.
This image was lost with the advent of Soviet power. But in 1985, a list of the Bor icon was transferred to the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in the Tarusa region. The fact that this is a copy of the famous revered image is evidenced by the inscription on it.
"Recovery of the Dead" in Serpukhov
Every year, starting in 1892, the solemn procession brought this shrine to the city of Serpukhov. Each believer could bow to the shrine and ask the Mother of God for help. A special success for the Orthodox Serpukhovites was the opportunity to adopt this image for a prayer service in their own home.
The custom was violated with the establishment of Soviet power in Russia after the October Revolution. The temple in which this miraculous icon was kept was razed to the ground. Many images were lost.
But believers continued to worship this shrine and carefully kept copies of it. One of these lists was in the Trinity Church. However, this church was closed in 1961. And the miraculous icon for 35 years became inaccessible to believers, since all this time it was in the vaults of the historical and art museum of the city of Serpukhov.
The return of the holy image to the fold of the church
But in June 1996, the holy icon “Recovery of the Dead” reappeared in Serpukhov: it was temporarily placed in the Ilyinsky church for prayers. This event was a great celebration for many residents. Flowers, bells and church chants filled the city that day.
The procession delivered a miraculous image from the Vysotsky Monastery to the Ilyinsky Temple. From early morning, the square at the monastery was filled with many pilgrims. And many even slept there.
In city churches, solemn services were held. An endless stream of believers wishing to partake and confess, moved to the Three Saints Church. Confessed that day several priests at the same time. A lot of people gathered in the central square, where the Akathist was read in the icon “Recovery of the Dead”.
Finally, the image of the Mother of God “The Search for the Dead” was returned to believers in 1997. On May 18, the shrine was transferred to the Vysotsky Monastery by the Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum. This day was a great holiday for the Orthodox Serpukhovites. Now the image is accessible to believers and continues to work miracles.
Moscow icon "Recovery of the Dead"
Great is the love of the Mother of God for people and her mercy is limitless. In Russia, there is more than one miraculous icon of the "Recovery of the Dead." In Moscow there is a temple of the Resurrection of the Word, the construction of which is attributed to the middle of the XVII century. Divine services here never stopped. The icon of the "Recovery of the Dead" is one of the main shrines of this temple.
Tradition says that the representative of the once rich noble family began to pursue troubles: first the death of his wife, and then the threat of complete ruin. Many days of fervent prayers in front of this home shrine took away poverty and misery from his family.
In gratitude, the rescued donated this icon to the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the Broadsword. In 1812, Napoleon’s troops destroyed the church, and the “Recovery of the Dead” icon was cut into several parts. But even in this form, the image did not lose its strength, brought healing to the sick and worked miracles. The restored temple worked until 1934 and was closed. Utensils and icons were transferred to other churches and monasteries. The holy image of “Collecting the Dead” did not immediately find a new home.
The Virgin herself chooses a monastery
It is interesting that when trying to transport the icon to the Pimenovskaya church, the wagon did not budge. Deciding that the Mother of God herself did not want to be there, they chose a new place of storage for the shrine - the Sunday Church, located on Malaya Bronnaya. This time the horses literally flew to their destination.
And when this church was demolished, the icon of the "Recovery of the Dead" found its last refuge in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word.
Other illustrious Russian images of “Recovery of the Dead”
In Marienburg, in the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God, a list from the Samara image “Recovery of the Dead” is kept. This icon was created in 1888 by the nuns of the Rakovsky female monastery.
After the revolution, this image was lost, but miraculously acquired in the 50s of the last century in Marienburg. For a long time he was literally under his feet: he was laid as a board on a pedestrian bridge. The find was placed in the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God of the city of Marienburg. It is noteworthy that on the eve of the commemoration of the Day of Remembrance of the icon of the "Recovery of the Dead" in February 1994, this icon began to myrrh.
Especially revered are the icons of the "Recovery of the Dead", which are stored in Moscow churches.
The Holy Assumption Monastery, located in the Tula region, has become a place of storage and veneration of the list of the icon of the Mother of God "Recovery of the Dead", created for the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God in the village of Sebino.
Interesting facts about the icon "Recovery of the Dead" from the Rakovsky Monastery
Manuscripts have been preserved in which wonderful changes in the appearance of this image are attested. In normal times, the Rakovskaya icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary “The Recovery of the Dead” was dark, the images on it were barely visible. But sometimes the image suddenly brightened, as if light was pouring out from within. This was considered God's message of joyful events. Cases of the appearance of drops of the world on the face and hands of the Mother of God and the Infant are described. This happened between May and October, 1895, from the time of the consecration of the new stone church of the Holy Trinity Monastery.
Iconography of the images of “Recovery of the Dead”
Vaults of this type reveal to us the Mother of God sitting. On her knees is the Infant Christ. He hugs Mother by the neck with his hands, presses his left cheek against her face. The hands of the Queen of Heaven form a ring around the figure of the Baby, her fingers are tightly linked.
There were several options for icons of this type - with a covered or uncovered head, sometimes the hands of the Virgin were depicted as not interlocked.
Sometimes additional elements were included in the composition: a window with a landscape or images of saints. So, in the Moscow image, the Virgin is depicted with her head uncovered, surrounded by saints.
The size of the Bor icon is noteworthy. Its width is 1 meter 25 centimeters, and its height exceeds 2 meters. At the top of the icon is an image of the Baptism of Christ. This is due to the fact that the peasant Obukhov was saved from death precisely on the feast of Baptism. According to legend, Fedot brought this huge icon to the temple in his arms. So he honored the Virgin for miraculous salvation.
Why are these images so named?
Let’s try to figure out what is the meaning of the “Recovery of the Dead” icon. What does this name mean? It speaks for itself: the Mother of God, in her infinite love for humanity, is always ready to grant forgiveness (to seek) and help someone who is on the verge of destruction. These images are a symbol of the Virgin, who prays relentlessly for hopeless patients. The Blessed Mother saves the lost in poverty and returns to the faith people who drowned in vices.
The “Recovery of the Dead” is an icon whose meaning can be briefly described as follows: this is the last hope for someone who has fallen into despair and cannot help himself.
It is to these images that mothers go with a request for the salvation of infants. The icon, which has repeatedly shown miracles of ridding children of disease and suffering, is considered the patroness and intercessor of minors.
What do believers pray for before the icon of the Theotokos of the "Recovery of the Dead"?
Severely ill patients and their relatives are addressing this image with ardent requests. It helps to get rid of vices, for example, from alcohol addiction. To these icons go repentant sinners who have turned away from God. Women ask in their prayers before the "Recovery of the Dead" for a happy marriage and the health of children.
They go to this image to ask for healing for sick relatives who are near death. In wartime, believers appeal to the Virgin, begging to protect the soldiers on the battlefield.
Prayer to the icon "Recovery of the Dead" helps with diseases of the eyes, fever, headache. It is important that requests come from a pure heart and be full of faith in God. Only then will the Mother of God show her mercy and the power of intercession.
It is possible to address the Blessed Mother with simple sincere words that come from the heart. But it’s better to learn the prayers that can be found even on the Internet. Better yet, go to the temple.
In the church calendar on February 5 (18), a memorial day is set for the icon of the Theotokos "Recovery of the Dead."
Orthodox traditions continue
In Russia, there are new temples of the icon of the Mother of God, "The Search for the Dead." Only one example - on the initiative of the Kharkov Union of Afghanistan Veterans in 2007, the construction of a chapel was launched in memory of the dead participants in local wars.
The chapel was conceived to perpetuate the memory of 19-year-old border guard Yevgeny Rodionov, who died "for faith" in 1996. 100 days in captivity did not change the beliefs of the young fighter, he courageously met death. Eugene is revered by the Orthodox as a martyr for faith.
And already in the summer of 2008, Metropolitan of Kharkov and Bogodukhovsky Nicodemus blessed the conversion of the chapel into a temple. The main sanctuary was the icon "Recovery of the Dead." You can see a photo of this temple below.
A 26-meter church is crowned with a cross made in Ukraine. The project of the temple complex includes a bell tower and a church park.
August 23, 2008 was a double holiday for Kharkiv residents: the anniversary of the liberation of the city from the Nazi invaders and the consecration of a new church in honor of the icon of the Theotokos "Recovery of the Dead."
“Recovery of the dead” - an icon whose significance for the Orthodox is difficult to overestimate. There are not many such virgin images, but almost all of them are miraculous.