Today in the world there are a lot of famous icons that are miraculous and help people at their request and prayers. These include the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God. This image has a rather ancient history of miracles, gains, and healings. Believers turn to her in many sorrows and sorrows, receiving comfort in their prayers.
In this article we will look at various legends that mention the icon of the Mother of God Feodorovskaya, which helps this image, how they pray before it, as well as the history of its acquisition.
Legends about the appearance of the icon
The first mention of this image appeared around the middle of the XIII century. However, it was written by the Evangelist Luke. There are several legends about the secondary acquisition of this icon in Russia, and they are all quite controversial. But for the first time the image was found in an old wooden chapel near the town of Gorodets. This place was marked by grace, and after some time the Gorodetsky Theodorov Monastery was built here.
The further history of the icon of Theodore Mother of God is rather vague. It is believed that in this way in 1239 Yaroslav Vsevolodovich blessed his son Alexander Nevsky for marriage. He combined marital ties with the Polotsk princess Bryachislava. A sign of this action is the second image, which contains on its back the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God, namely St. the torment. Paraskeva, which is also called Friday. She is considered the patroness of the Polotsk princely house.
Be that as it may, after 1238, when Batu Khan invaded the country, the chapel, like many other buildings, was looted and completely destroyed. They just burned her. Everyone thought the icon was lost. However, very little time passed, and the image was regained. And here there are several legends about this event.
Recovering the Icon
The most popular legend, which mentions the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God (photo below) and her re-acquisition, is the following. In the city of Kostroma, a warrior appeared who passed through all the streets with this image. The next day, she was found by Vasily Yaroslavovich, the younger brother of Alexander Nevsky. This happened on the banks of the river Zaprudny. This event happened in 1263. The found image was recognized by the inhabitants of Gorodets. And the warrior who brought her was the naval commander. Theodore Stratilat.
The second legend in the scene differs only in that it was found in 1239 (a year after the loss), and it was found by Vasily Kvashnya, the then prince of Kostroma. The image was discovered on a tree near the river, and then transferred to the temple. The icon immediately became revered and able to work miracles. In the future, more than one prayer before the icon of the Theodore Mother of God saved this city from various misfortunes.
Study of the icon and its iconography
It should be noted that there are some disputes among experts regarding the origin of the icon. Some believe that it was painted to order from the Vladimirskaya icon (but disagree for whom), since the iconography of these images is very similar. Both of them can be classified as “Tenderness,” but the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God has a number of features and distinctive features.
For example, the main feature of images of this type is preserved - the Baby turns to the Mother and hugs her neck, touching his cheek to her cheek. However, the difference from the Vladimir image is that the little Jesus sits on the arm of the Mother. Such an image is more typical for Hodegetria type icons. Further, the feet of the Baby are depicted so that it seems he is taking a step. Moreover, the hands of the Mother and the fabric of Maforia are depicted in such a way that a symbolic cup is formed in which the feet of Christ are lowered. This is a symbolic image of a vessel into which prosphora falls and wine is poured during the Eucharist.
The clothes of the Virgin are purple, which in ancient times was a symbol of royal power. And even later in the Christian tradition, the meaning of this color began to refer to the sufferings of Christ. The clothes of the Baby symbolize his embodiment. The cloak of Christ is covered with the golden rays of an assist. In ancient times, the golden color was not only divine symbolism, but emperors were wrapped in cloaks of this color during burial. Therefore, this item of vestment has a double meaning.
Christ's naked leg symbolizes the memory of his suffering. On the whole, the whole image of the Theodore Icon is not only the caressing of the Mother and the Son, but also their farewell. This can be seen on the icons that relate to the mourning and burial of Christ. Our Lady on these images has a mournful face.
A distinctive feature of Theodorov’s image is also that on its back is another image of the saint, presumably Paraskeva Fridays. There are several options for the appearance of this image. According to one of them, the image was painted when Alexander Nevsky was married, and the saint was the patroness of the bride's house. According to the second version, the icon was considered altarpiece, since it once had a shaft below (which directly indicates this). Similar icons were once made in Byzantium.
Value icon
For the Russian people, the significance of the Theodorov icon is very great. At one time, she repeatedly saved the country from various misfortunes. For example, in 1272, Prince Vasily went from Kostroma on a campaign against the Tatars, taking with him the image of the Mother of God. According to eyewitnesses, she emitted bright rays that scorched the enemies. Thanks to this, a victory was won.
The icon became more famous after the end of the Time of Troubles, when Mikhail Romanov ascended the throne. It happened in 1613. Since then, the image was considered the patron saint of the royal family, numerous lists were written from it, some survived to this day. It should be noted that the faithful still revered the icon of the Mother of God Feodorovskaya. How it helps ordinary Christians can be read below.
What does the icon help
Not only the country is patronized and assisted by the icon of the Mother of God Feodorovskaya. What helps the image in everyday life? She is considered the patroness of women, those who are going to get married or just planning, as well as expectant mothers. If your family has any disagreements, and you want to keep the peace and find a lost understanding, then you should also turn to the image.
Help in difficult births or the opportunity to get pregnant for a woman is what the Feodorov icon of the Mother of God most often helps in. Prayer to get pregnant is quite simple; you need to read it every day. The Mother of God must be addressed humbly, with a pure soul and a great desire to give birth to a child. There are so many cases today when such prayers really helped. And besides this, women also got rid of their sores, which also contributed to a successful pregnancy.
Prayer and akathist to Theodore Icon of the Mother of God. Help in worldly affairs
You can turn to the Theodorov icon in various cases (as was written above). Most often, women do it. There are several prayers to read on various occasions. Of course, you need to turn to the Mother of God every day, for this you can purchase a small home image. But it is advisable to go to the place where the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God is located. Prayer before this image will do more good, but at the same time your heart should be clean, and you really should desire a child or a change in the situation in your family. And also be prepared for these changes.
Usually, for the opportunity to get pregnant, you need to read almost the entire akathist to the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God. And then a prayer. It is advisable to talk about this with the priest so that he gives instruction.
The wonders associated with the icon
In the entire history of the image, the Icon of the Mother of God, Feodorovskaya saw considerable miracles. The very first miracle was her salvation from the burning temple, when it was ravaged by the Tatar-Mongol troops, and then her amazing acquisition. When the icon was transferred to Kostroma to the cathedral, in 1260 she saved the city from the ruin of the same Mongols who attacked Russia at that time. The rays of light emanating from the image forced the enemies to flee, and the prince ordered to establish a cross, and later a stone chapel, at the place of victory. Since then, Theodore Icon has been considered the protector of the Russian Land.
Less global miracles also occurred, but equally significant. People who began to go on a pilgrimage to the miraculous icon began to receive healing (especially for women). Numerous families who could not conceive a child for a long time suddenly got this opportunity through their prayers. Women who had illnesses and therefore also could not conceive a child recovered and gave birth. In all this, the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God helped them. What they pray for the image and why it is addressed to is now clear.
Honor Day Icons
As you can see, the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God helps in different situations, and each is given through his prayers. A celebration in honor of this image takes place twice a year. The first time this happens on March twenty-seventh according to the new style (or March fourteenth according to the old), and the second time on August twenty-ninth according to the new style (sixteenth on the old).
In the first version, it is a tribute to tradition, the memory of the fact that in 1613 the Time of Troubles was completed, and Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich ascended the throne. It should be noted that this number was fixed only in 1620, earlier the holiday was determined by fasting. It must also be said that an indication was issued that this day is equated with the Feast of the Annunciation and is celebrated with great pomp, even on fasting days. And the second option is dedicated to the day of the miraculous acquisition of the icon.
Churches and temples that are consecrated in honor of the icon, as well as places where you can find its lists
Theodore Icon of the Mother of God, the prayer of which has great power, ancient and miraculous. In the entire history of its existence, many lists have been written from it (most of which were created after the ascension to the throne of Mikhail Romanov), which were placed in many churches. Some of them were also consecrated in honor of her. Consider the list of temples.
- Theodorovsky Cathedral, which is located in the Feodorovsky Monastery in the ancient city of Gorodets.
- Theodore Sovereign's Cathedral. It was built in Tsarskoye Selo and belonged to the royal family.
- Theodore Cathedral of the city of St. Petersburg. It was built to mark the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The construction was completed in 1913. Also this year its aisles were consecrated.
- Theodore Church in the city of Yaroslavl. It has an ancient history, was built back in 1680.
Now it should be noted in which temples and cathedrals you can find the icon. The most important miraculous image is located in the city of Kostroma, in the Epiphany Cathedral. It was this icon for more than eight centuries, it was she who helped Alexander Nevsky, and after that she was the intercessor and patroness of the Romanov family monarch. The list from this image, which is revered, is located in Tsarskoye Selo in the city of Pushkin. It was written for Tsar Nicholas II in honor of the fifteenth year of his reign.
Today, the list of Theodore Icon is in the Kashinsky Klobukov Monastery, which is located in Tver. It has a rather ancient history, and for some time was in ruins. In 1994, it was restored, and in 2004 the Theodorov Icon was brought to the monastery, thus consecrating a list from it, which was written specifically for the monastery. The latter was left there.
The image can also be found in other churches, for example, in the church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki, in the church of Elijah the Prophet, in Obydensky Lane, in the small cathedral of the Don Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow.
Reviews of believers about this icon
Today, thanks to the media and the World Wide Web, you can learn about different events much faster and more fully. Especially people leave thanks and positive feedback if something good happened, something that could not happen for a long time. So, for example, you can learn about the miraculous healings that happened thanks to the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God. Many pilgrims who specially came to Kostroma to bow and pray for the image became healthy after a while. Many women were able to give birth to a long-awaited child or safely resolve the burden.
The miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God, reviews of which, we can say that are delightful, often makes pilgrimages to the cities of Russia and not only. At this time, many sufferers come to bow to her, especially if they have no opportunity to go to Kostroma.
For example, an amazing incident occurred in the city of Moscow, when there was an icon. To her came spouses who were expecting a fourth child. The previous three times the woman had a difficult birth, this time they worried that it would be the same. However, everything went surprisingly easy.
And there are many such cases.
Conclusion
So, now you know how the icon of the Mother of God Feodorovskaya was written, in which she helps the afflicted, how to turn to her. It is clear that your requests and prayers will come true only if your heart is clean and open to God, for his mercies. Be sure to pray every day, sincerely wish your dreams come true. Then Theodore's icon of the Mother of God (in which the image helps - is written above) and prayer will bring results to her.