This article will examine the question: “Hodegetria - what is it?” In addition, we will learn more about the origin of this icon, as well as about the antiquity of the image about which legends go. Consider the existing icons and lists from the original image.
Hodegetria - what is it?
Where did this image come from? According to legend, it was originally written by the Apostle Luke during the life of the Mother of God. This image, which later became known as Our Lady of Hodegetria, was sent to Constantinople in the fifth century. For a long time he was in the Odegon Monastery. Some researchers believe that this icon was a list with Vlacherna. In that first image a small part of the Mother of God’s maforium was also kept.
Today, the Tretyakov Gallery houses one of the oldest such images, which has remained as it was before. This icon originates from Pskov and dates from the end of the 13th century. Previously, she was in St. Nicholas Church from Kozh.
It should be noted that the name of this image has its own legend. According to her, the Mother of God appeared in front of two blind men and in some incomprehensible way led them to the temple in Vlaherna. She put the sufferers in front of the icon of the same name, and they received sight. Since then, this image has received the name "Hodegetria", which is translated from Greek as a "guidebook".
According to another legend, the icon became a blessing for the wedding of Anna, who was the daughter of the Greek emperor Constantine Porfirorodny. After a long trip to Russia, it acquired its name.
"Hodegetria" in Russia
The icon came to the territory of today's Russia somewhere in the middle of the 11th century. She was brought by Princess Anna, who after a while became the wife of Vsevolod Yaroslavich of Chernigov. This image was originally miraculous and enjoyed special veneration by Christians. After a while, the Hodegetria, the icon of the Mother of God, began to be called Smolenskaya.
A lot of lists from this icon very quickly spread throughout Russia. Of course, the image itself underwent some changes, since there was no strict iconographic canon for this type of the Mother of God, and no one required an exact copy of the shrine. However, the general features of the icon were preserved.
A special attitude to the Virgin in Russia
So, the Hodegetria icon in Russia is quite popular and very revered. Evidence of this is the numerous lists of the first image, which are dispersed in Ancient Russia. It should be noted that the Mother of God is supportive of people living in this territory, since in many places she is considered the patroness and intercessor.
Very often sincere prayer saved a person from any misfortune or misfortune. There is a lot of evidence about this both in antiquity and today.
Iconography of the image
The Hodegetria icon is a special image of the Mother of God. Translated from Greek, as already mentioned, it is a “guidebook”. The icon is of particular importance to Christians. This image usually depicts the Virgin and Child. Her hand is a finger pointing to the Son (located in front of the chest), as well as the salvation of all mankind. This moment is very important. On the left hand is the Infant himself. His left hand is occupied by a folded scroll, and his right is raised in a blessing gesture. The legs of the Baby are either crossed or located directly. Usually the Son is portrayed frontally, but sometimes it can be drawn in half-turn. In any case, the blessing gesture is preserved. The Virgin Mary is sometimes depicted on the throne, sometimes in full height or waist-high.
It should be noted that this image was known for a long time, even before the VI century, in Palestine and Egypt. After which it was widely distributed throughout the Orthodox East. In the III century, the theological comprehension of this image takes place, namely the interpretation of the moment of the Incarnation of the Mother of God. It should be noted that it is from this plot that new ones appear that are directly related to the Mother of God. This is the “Burning Cup”, and the “Indestructible Wall”, and many others.
Smolensk icon - the most popular for this type
The icon "Hodegetria of Smolenskaya" is considered the prototype of all such icons in Russia. Its history goes back centuries, but these are mainly legends that were passed from mouth to mouth. It is believed that it is a list of the first icon that was painted by the Apostle Luke. It came to Russia, as was written above, with the daughter of Emperor Constantine.
After Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavovich and his wife Anna died, the icon was inherited by their son, Vladimir Monomakh. He transferred the miraculous image to Smolensk and placed it in the church of the Assumption of the Virgin. Since then, the icon has become Smolensk.
By the number of miracles completed, she is in one of the first places of her kind. It was the “Mother of God Hodegetria Smolenskaya” in 1239 who was the intercessor and savior of the Russian land from the invasion of the troops of Batu Khan.
At the beginning of the 15th century, the icon was transferred to Moscow and placed in the Kremlin in the Annunciation Cathedral. After some time, she was again returned to her homeland, to Smolensk. After that, the image made many more trips and relocations, especially during wars, aggressive acts, but always returned to its homeland. Unfortunately, after the events of World War II, the fate of the image is unknown.
At one time, many lists were written from this icon, which spread throughout Russia. In Smolensk, on the site of an ancient icon, there is now another, which also has miraculous properties. It is considered one of the most important shrines of the Russian land.
Tikhvin Icon
Along with the Smolensk image, the Tikhvin Hodegetria is also revered. The icon of the Mother of God has the same ancient history, during which there were wonderful moments. It is believed that the image disappeared from Constantinople after its fall, and after some time appeared in Russia near Tikhvin.
According to legend, the Patriarch of Constantinople himself said that this is the same icon that once was in the Blachernae church. In the Tikhvin monastery, the image was placed in the same way as originally in the church of Constantinople. He stayed there all the time until monasteries and churches began to close throughout the country (Soviet times).
In the Soviet years, the icon was in America, and since 2004 returned to Russia, where the Tikhvin Monastery began to be recreated.
Kazan icon
Another famous "Virgin Hodegetria" is located in Kazan. This icon was acquired in 1579 in the city of Kazan, after a terrible fire broke out in it, which destroyed almost the entire settlement. The image of the Virgin was revealed to a little girl, who dug up the icon from under the ashes.
The miraculous acquisition of the image after a terrible tragedy amazed everyone very much. Many at that time went to bow to her, she gave hope for salvation (after all, cold came, and many people remained on the street, without shelter and any property).
Subsequently, at the behest of Ivan the Terrible, the Kazan Cathedral was built, and a convent was founded near it . Miracles began to happen near the icon immediately after gaining (the insight of two blind men).
To date, the original icon does not exist, after a while it was lost. However, numerous lists from it exist today, famous for their miracles.
Other famous icons of this type
The Hodegetria Smolenskaya icon is, of course, the most famous among others of this type. However, there are many others like her. One of these icons is Georgian. Initially, she was in Georgia, but after 1622 she was taken to Persia (the conquest of the country by Shah Abbas happened ). Her journey was long, and it stopped in the Arkhangelsk province in the Krasnogorsk monastery. To date, the original image has been lost, but there are lists from it. Prayers in front of the icon are offered in order to get rid of various epidemics, as well as to recover from ear and eye diseases.
Another, no less important, icon, which depicts the Mother of God Hodegetria, is Iverskaya. This image has no less mysterious history. In the 9th century, she was in the house of a pious woman. It was an iconoclastic period, and she decided to save the icon from destruction, dropping it into the waters of the sea. An icon appeared only two centuries later near Mount Athos near the Iversky monastery. A gateway church was built for her, where the image is still preserved.
Of course, these are not all the images of this type that are stored and honored in many mansions and temples. There are a lot of them, and they all have their own special power and give protection.
Temples dedicated to the image of Hodegetria
Having considered the question: “Hodegetria - what is it?” - it should be noted that other shrines correspond to this image. For example, in many cities of both Russia and other countries, there are temples that are built in honor of the image of the “Guidebook”. Consider the list:
- church in Kimzha, located in the Arkhangelsk region (not valid);
- Church in the city of Disna, Belarus (active);
- the chapel-temple of Hodegetria, it is located in Simferopol, Crimea (active);
- the church in Kasimov, located in the Ryazan region (active).
And there are quite a large number of such churches, chapels and temples, since the veneration of the Virgin Mary by the Orthodox is great.
Conclusion
So, now you know the answer to the question: “Hodegetria - what is it?” And also about where this iconographic type came from and what are the most famous icons dedicated to it. It is understandable why in Russia this image is revered so much, because more than once the Mother of God saved people from various troubles, instilled faith and hope, and did not let me lose heart.