Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the earliest known surviving miraculous icon of Ancient Rus', one of the great shrines of Russia. The history of her veneration, recorded in detail in chronicles and legends, is distinguished by a deep spiritual connection between the events of church and state life. More than once, the Vladimir Icon miraculously saved the Russian army from inevitable defeats.

The memory of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated several times a year (June 3 new art. / May 21 old art., July 6 new art. / June 23 old art., September 8 new art. / August 26 art. Art.). The most solemn celebration takes place on September 8, established in honor of the meeting, that is, the meeting, of the Vladimir icon when it was transferred from Vladimir to Moscow.

In 1395, Khan Tamerlane (Temir-Aksak) with hordes of Tatars entered Russian soil, he quickly reached the borders of Ryazan, took the city of Yelets and, heading towards Moscow, approached the banks of the Don. Grand Duke Vasily Dimitrievich went out with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka. The number of Tatar troops was many times greater than the Russian squads, their strength and experience were incomparable. The only hope remained in chance and God's help. The Grand Duke prayed to the saints of Moscow and St. Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Cyprian, so that the upcoming Dormition Fast would be devoted to fervent prayers for pardon and repentance. The clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the famous miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the clergy accepted the icon and carried it to Moscow with a procession of the cross. The journey with the Vladimir Icon from Vladimir to Moscow continued for ten days, people stood on their knees on the sides of the road with the prayer “Mother of God, save the Russian land.” On August 26, near Moscow, she was greeted with a religious procession by Metropolitan Cyprian with “the entire choir and clergy,” with the princes and people.

At the very hour when the residents of Moscow greeted the icon on Kuchkovo Field, Tamerlane was dozing in his tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which saints with golden rods were coming towards him, and above them the Majestic Woman appeared in a radiant radiance. Countless darkness of angels with swords surrounded her. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. The sages answered that the radiant Woman is the Mother of God, the great Protector of Christians. Then Tamerlane gave the order to the regiments to go back. “And Tamerlane fled, driven by the power of the Blessed Virgin”...

In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, the Sretensky Monastery was built on Kuchkovo Field, where the icon was met, and on August 26 (in the new style - September 8) an all-Russian celebration was established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

After this event, the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God remained in Moscow forever. It was placed in the Kremlin Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Before her, kings were anointed to the kingdom and high priests were elected.

During Soviet times, the icon was placed in the Tretyakov Gallery. Now the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is in the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi.

), there was an invasion of the Russian land by the Agarian king (Mongol conqueror) Tamerlane; this Tamerlane, rising from the east with a great army, conquered many countries and finally approached the borders of the Russian country. Approaching the borders of the Ryazan region, Tamerlane took the city of Yelets, captured the prince of Yelets and killed many Christians; for he was a hater and formidable persecutor of Christians. Tamerlane boasted of devastating the entire Russian land and eradicating the Christian faith; this devastator headed his way towards the city of Moscow, intending to destroy it.

When Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich heard about this, he gathered his soldiers and headed towards the city of Kolomna. Setting out from here, he stopped on the banks of the Oka River and took up arms against the enemy here; Tamerlane stood in one place for fifteen days. When the Grand Duke (and all the Christian soldiers) learned about the great power of the wicked tsar, who came to Russia with a large army, and also heard about his evil intention, he, together with the soldiers, raised his hands to heaven and prayed with tears to the Lord and to the Most Pure Mother God, asking for deliverance from that godless Hagarene: the Grand Duke called for help on the saints of God, the holy hierarchs Peter and Alexy, St. Sergius and other Russian miracle workers.

At the same time, the Grand Duke asked his spiritual father, His Eminence Metropolitan Cyprian, to declare a fast with prayer for the people; The Grand Duke also asked the Metropolitan to take the miraculous icon of the Mother of God from the city of Vladimir and bring this icon to Moscow to protect the Russian capital city. Saint Cyprian of God had previously thought of bringing the mentioned honorable icon of the Mother of God to Moscow; when he received a command from the prince, then he zealously thanked God for putting the same thought into the heart of the great prince; His Holiness the Metropolitan took his unanimity with the Grand Duke as a sign of God’s favor and permission for the miraculous icon of the Mother of God to be brought to Moscow.

Soon after this, the Metropolitan sent deliberate men of spiritual rank to Vladimir in order to take an honest icon of the Mother of God there; Having gathered the entire spiritual rank and a multitude of people, His Holiness Metropolitan conciliarly offered a prayer for victory over the enemies and commanded everyone to fast with prayer, but he himself did not leave the church, performing services day and night and praying with tears for the Grand Duke, for his soldiers and for everyone Orthodox Christians.

When the venerable icon, taken in the city of Vladimir, was approaching the city of Moscow, on the fifteenth day of the month of August, on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Right Reverend Metropolitan came out to meet it with other spiritual ranks and with a multitude of people. Seeing that holy icon, everyone fell to the ground and worshiped it as the Most Pure Mother of God who had come to them, and received it with great joy; looking at this icon, everyone shed tears with tenderness and prayed to the Mother of God for deliverance from the invasion of the Hagarians.

The general fervent prayer was not in vain: on the same day on which the venerable icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was brought to Moscow, the wicked King of Hagaryan Tamerlane was horrified, having been frightened by a terrible vision in a dream, and ran back with his entire army, although no one could see him. pursued.

The vision he had was this: he saw in front of him a high mountain, from the top of which the saints were coming towards him, carrying golden staffs in their hands and threatening him; above these saints Tamerlane saw an extraordinary light in the air; He also saw a certain Queen, standing among those saints in unspeakable glory, dressed in a scarlet robe and shining with lightning rays brighter than the sun. Around this Queen there were countless armed warriors who served Her and seemed to be preparing for war. The Queen's hands were stretched out to the sky - She seemed to be praying. It seemed to Tamerlane that this Queen was threatening him, commanding him to move away from the borders of the Russian land and, as if ordering Her army to rush towards him.

Tamerlane was horrified by this terrible vision; getting up from his bed, he shouted in fear:

“Woe is me, for I saw a terrible sight!”

And the unfortunate man trembled, shaking and groaning, and seemed to be in a frenzy.

After some time, Tamerlane came to his senses, called his princes and military leaders and told them everything he saw, shaking with fear.

They, having listened to Tamerlane’s story and seeing that he was shaking with fear, were also horrified and, perplexed, asked each other:

- What will happen now?

Some said:

– The Queen seen is the Mother of the Christian God, the Lord Jesus Christ; undoubtedly, She intends to protect Christians, for She is their Helper and Intercessor.

Tamerlan said:

– If Christians have such a Helper, then we have armed ourselves against them in vain; we labor in vain; for if She sends only one of those who stand before Her, then She will defeat us all, so that we will not find a place where we could escape.

Thus, that wicked king with all his Hagaryan army returned back, fleeing in shame, for it seemed to the Hagarians that many regiments of warriors from the Russian land were pursuing them; Having come from this into fear and trembling, the Hagarites crushed each other, threw down their weapons and left their prey, as well as everything taken captive.

Thus, Orthodox Christians were granted victory over their enemies without a fight and defeat without shedding blood, through the prayers of the Most Holy Virgin Mary.

This invasion of Tamerlane together with the Hagarians and his miraculous expulsion from the Russian land took place in 6903 from the creation of the world (); from that time on, in the reigning city of Moscow, a holiday was established in honor of the meeting of the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called Vladimir (), in unforgettable and grateful memory of the miraculous deliverance from the Hagarians, granted through the intercession of the Mother of God. May honor, glory and worship always be sent from us to the Mother of God, together with the Christ God born from Her, now and to endless ages. Amen.

Troparion, tone 4:

Today the most glorious city of Moscow is shining brightly, as if we have received the dawn of the sun, O Lady, Your miraculous icon, to which we now flow and pray to You we cry out: O most wonderful Lady Theotokos, pray from You to the incarnate Christ our God, that He may deliver this city, and all cities and Christian countries are unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, and He will save our souls, for He is merciful.

Kontakion, tone 8:

To the chosen victorious governor, having been delivered from the evil ones by the coming of Your venerable image, Lady Theotokos, we brightly celebrate the celebration of Your meeting, and we usually call to You: Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.
1) Vasily (II) Dmitrievich reigned from 1389 to 1425.

2) Cyprian ruled the Moscow metropolitanate from 1380 to 1385; then again from 1390 to 1406.

3) In 1395 A.D.

4) 85 years after the described event, a second celebration of the Vladimir Icon was established, on June 23, in gratitude for deliverance from the invasion of the Horde Khan Akhmat in 1480. “Let the frivolous not boast of the fear of their weapons,” Russian chroniclers said in explanation of this miracle. “No, not weapons, not human wisdom, but the Lord Himself saved Russia today.” In 1521, the Mongols again moved to Russia under the leadership of Makhmet-Girey. Through the intercession of the Mother of God, this time Moscow was saved from its enemies. This event is commemorated by St. Church on May 21. In 1812, during the invasion of the French, the miraculous Vladimir icon, together with the Iveron and Smolensk icons, was taken to Murom on September 1 by His Grace Archbishop Augustine and, after the liberation of Moscow from enemies, was returned again to the capital on October 20. The miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is now in the Moscow Assumption Cathedral (a more detailed account of this icon can be read in the book “Glory to the Mother of God” published by the Moscow Synodal Printing House, M. 1907, pp. 380–385).

September 8 is an ever-memorable day for the Church and our Fatherland due to a great historical event.

At the end of the fourteenth century, in the depths of Asia, one brave military leader named Tamerlane managed to unite numerous Tatar tribes under his control into one huge horde. To conquer all kingdoms with this horde.

Indeed, none of the then former states could resist the pressure of wild immigrants from the Asian steppes.

Like locusts, the Tatars, led by the ferocious Tamerlane, crushed everything that came their way.

Thousands of thriving cities in Asia were turned to ashes by them. Populous states became deserts.

Tamerlane, called the scourge of God by his contemporaries, moved closer and closer to Europe. And, first of all, he turned his predatory gaze to our Fatherland.

In 1395, he entered Russia to conquer the Moscow state. Everyone was horrified when they heard about the invasion of a merciless and indestructible enemy. Tamerlane had already reached the banks of the Don and marked his path with blood and devastation of Russian cities and villages.

The Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dmitrievich set out with his army to meet the enemy. And he stopped on the banks of the Oka River near Kolomna.

But the pious prince did not rely on his own strength, but only expected salvation from the Lord. He remained with his army in unceasing prayer. The pious prince commanded everyone to pray to ward off the invasion of the terrible enemy.

Throughout the Moscow state, especially in the capital city of Moscow, people were in churches from morning to evening. They performed prayers for the prince and his army.

Especially the fast that came before the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God was devoted to the strictest abstinence, the most fervent prayers and repentance, in order to appease the wrath of God.

In the midst of the approaching disaster, our ancestors could not forget the ancient mercies of God, which were shown to our Fatherland many times - through the intercession of the Mother of God, the Protector of the Christian race.

At that time, within the Moscow state, in the city of Vladimir there was a miraculous icon of the Mother of God. Written, according to legend, by the Evangelist Luke. An icon glorified by many miraculous signs.

By the will of the Grand Duke and Metropolitan of Moscow Cyprian, for protection from the threatening disaster and to console the grieving citizens of the capital city, the miraculous icon was brought from Vladimir to Moscow.

In front of the walls of the city, where the Sretensky Monastery now stands, on a place at that time called Kuchkovo Pole, the miraculous icon was greeted by the clergy and all citizens.

Everyone prayed with tears and fell to their knees, without ceasing to cry:

- Mother of God! save the Russian land. And this diligent nationwide prayer of the citizens of Moscow was not in vain.

On the very day that this significant meeting of the miraculous Icon of Vladimir took place in Moscow, Tamerlane, for no apparent reason, having already reached the goal of his distant campaign, to the considerable amazement of his generals and troops, who were hoping for great loot from the plunder of the capital, ordered his hordes to immediately retreat.

The chronicler explains that the invincible conqueror was forced to hastily retreat due to a menacing vision of the Mother of God.

In the form of a wondrous Woman, surrounded by crowds of lightning-fast warriors, the Mother of God blocked Tamerlane’s path.

Our pious ancestors quite clearly recognized in this event the direct manifestation of God’s sovereign providence. Through the prayers and intercession of the Mother of God, the Lord showed His saving power to protect the Orthodox faith in our Fatherland. Just at that moment when the Fatherland was on the verge of destruction.

For centuries, this ancient manifestation of God's mercy was vividly preserved in the memory of our people. Memory, revived annually by the church celebration of the procession from the Kremlin to the Sretensky Monastery, built in memory of the current event.

During the godless Soviet times, religious processions were considered a crime. But even after the revival of spiritual life in Russia, only once in 1995 was such a religious procession carried out. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the pouring rain. Then the miraculous icon was brought to the monastery. A unique video recording of this wonderful event has been preserved.

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is awaiting its return to its rightful place in the altar of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. And the revival of the annual religious processions from the Kremlin to the Sretensky Monastery.

Since the people of Rus' were baptized, the Mother of God has been considered the patroness of our country. And this is not unfounded, since from the icons of the Most Holy Theotokos our compatriots received miraculous help in the most difficult situations, when not only the freedom of an entire nation was at stake, but also the lives of masses of people. One of these revered images is the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

September 8 - Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1395)

History of the icon

According to church tradition, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke in the 1st century after the Nativity of Christ on the board of the table at which Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and Joseph the Betrothed sat in the Savior’s youth.

For a long time this icon remained in Jerusalem (approximately until the middle of the 5th century AD). Later it was transferred from Jerusalem first to Constantinople, and at the beginning of the 12th century from Byzantium it came to Russia as a gift to the holy prince Mstislav (†1132) from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverkh. The icon was placed in the convent of Vyshgorod (an ancient appanage city of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga), not far from Kyiv. The rumor about her miracles reached the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who decided to transport the icon to the north.

After leaving Vyshgorod, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky took the icon to Rostov. 11 versts from Vladimir, the horses carrying the icon suddenly stopped, and no force could move them from their place. Everyone considered this a wonderful omen. After serving a prayer service, we decided to spend the night here. At night, during fervent prayer, the Queen of Heaven Herself appeared to the prince and commanded that the Vladimir miraculous icon of the Mother of God be left in Vladimir, and in this place a temple and a monastery be built in honor of Her Nativity.

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and the remains of Andrei Bogolyubsky's castle (below the bell tower tent) in the village of Bogolyubovo, Suzdal district, Vladimir region

To the general joy of the residents, Prince Andrei returned to Vladimir along with the miraculous icon. The image of the Mother of God took pride of place in the Assumption Cathedral. Since then, the icon of the Mother of God began to be called Vladimirskaya .

History of the holiday September 8 - Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, falling on September 8, points to a specific date - 1395. The word "meeting" means "meeting." And indeed, in the indicated year in Moscow there was a meeting of the holy image of the Mother of God by Muscovites. Later, the Sretensky Monastery was built on the site of the meeting. This monastery gave its name to Sretenka Street.

In 1395 terrible conqueror Khan Tamerlan (Temir-Aksak) with hordes of Tatars entered Russian soil and reached the borders of Ryazan, took the city of Yelets and, heading towards Moscow, approached the banks of the Don.

Tamerlane

Grand Duke Vasily I Dimitrievich, the eldest son of Dmitry Donskoy, went with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka. The number of Tamerlane's troops was many times greater than the Russian squads, their strength and experience were incomparable. The only hope remained in chance and God's help.

Tamerlane's army

Grand Duke Vasily Dimitrievich prayed to the saints of Moscow and St. Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Cyprian, so that the upcoming Dormition Fast would be devoted to fervent prayers for pardon and repentance.

The clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the famous miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the clergy accepted the icon and carried it to Moscow with a procession of the cross. The journey with the Vladimir Icon from Vladimir to Moscow continued for ten days. Countless people on both sides of the road, on their knees, prayed: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!” The icon was greeted in Moscow on August 26 (September 8 according to the new style).

The miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane on Kuchkovo Field (meeting the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

At that very hour when the residents of Moscow greeted the icon on Kuchkovo Pole (now Sretenka Street) , Tamerlane dozed in his camp tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which saints with golden rods were coming towards him, and above them the Majestic Woman appeared in a radiant radiance. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. They answered him that the radiant Woman is the Mother of God, the great Defender of Christians. Then Tamerlane gave the order to the regiments to go back.

In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, a Sretensky Monastery , and on August 26 (in the new style - September 8) an all-Russian celebration was established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

After this event, the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God remained in Moscow forever. She was placed in the Kremlin Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Before her, kings were anointed to the kingdom and high priests were elected.

Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

During Soviet times, the icon was placed in the Tretyakov Gallery. Now the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is in Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi (metro station "Tretyakovskaya", M. Tolmachevsky lane, 9).

The Russian Orthodox Church established triple celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God . Each of the days of celebration is associated with the deliverance of the Russian people from enslavement by foreigners through prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos:

8 September according to the new style (August 26 according to the church calendar) - in memory of the rescue of Moscow from the invasion of Tamerlane in 1395.

July 6(June 23) - in memory of the deliverance of Russia from the Horde king Akhmat in 1480.

June 3(May 21st) - in memory of the rescue of Moscow from the Crimean Khan Makhmet-Girey in 1521.

The most solemn celebration takes place 8 September(new style), established in honor the meeting of the Vladimir Icon during its transfer from Vladimir to Moscow .

Iconography

Iconographically, the Vladimir Icon belongs to the Eleus (Tenderness) type. The Baby pressed his cheek to the Mother's cheek. The icon conveys the tender communication between Mother and Child. Mary foresees the suffering of the Son in His earthly journey.

A distinctive feature of the Vladimir Icon from other icons of the Tenderness type: the left leg of the Infant Christ is bent in such a way that the sole of the foot, the “heel,” is visible.

On the reverse are depicted the Etymasia (Prepared Throne) and the instruments of the passions, dating very roughly to the beginning of the 15th century.

The throne prepared. Back of the “Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God”

The throne prepared(Greek Etimasiya) is the theological concept of the throne prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ, coming to judge the living and the dead. Consists of the following elements:

• the church throne, usually dressed in red robes (symbol of Christ’s scarlet robe);
• closed Gospel (as a symbol of the book from the Revelation of John the Theologian - Rev. 5:1);
• instruments of passions lying on the throne or standing nearby;
• a dove (symbol of the Holy Spirit) or a crown crowning the Gospel (not always depicted).

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is an all-Russian shrine, the main and most revered of all Russian icons. There are also many copies of the Vladimir Icon, a significant number of which are also revered as miraculous.

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Vladimir” they pray for deliverance from the invasion of foreigners, for instruction in the Orthodox faith, for preservation from heresies and schisms, for the pacification of those at war, for the preservation of Russia.

Material prepared by Sergey SHULYAK

for the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills

Prayer of the Mother of God before Her Icon of Vladimir
To whom shall we cry, Lady? To whom shall we resort in our sorrow, if not to You, Queen of Heaven? Who will receive our crying and sighing, if not You, Most Immaculate, the hope of Christians and refuge for us sinners? Who is in mercy more than You? Incline Your ear to us, Lady, Mother of our God, and do not despise those who require Your help: hear our groaning, strengthen us sinners, enlighten and teach us, O Queen of Heaven, and do not depart from us, Thy servant, Lady, for our grumbling, but Be our Mother and Intercessor, and entrust us to the merciful protection of Your Son. Arrange for us whatever Your holy will pleases, and lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life, may we weep for our sins, may we rejoice with You always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. A min.

Prayer 2 of the Mother of God before Her Icon of Vladimir
Oh, All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, All-Powerful Intercessor, our shameless Hope! Thanking Thee for all the great blessings that the Russian people have received from Thee throughout the generations, before Thy most pure image we pray to Thee: save this city (this whole; this holy monastery) and Thy coming servants and the whole Russian Land from famine, destruction, earth shaking, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare! Save and save, Madam, our Great Lord and Father (name), His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' and our Lord (name), His Eminence bishop (archbishop, metropolitan) (title), and all the Eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops of the Orthodox. May they govern the Russian Church well, and may the faithful sheep of Christ be preserved indestructibly. Remember, O Lady, the entire priestly and monastic order, warm their hearts with zeal for God and strengthen them to walk worthy of their calling. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on all Your servants and grant us the path of the earthly journey without blemish. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for the Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, give us patience in adversity, abstinence in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for our enemies, success in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensibility; on the terrible day of Judgment, grant us, through Your intercession, to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. A min.

Troparion, tone 4
Today the most glorious city of Moscow brightly flaunts, as if we had received the dawn of the sun, the Lady, Your miraculous icon, to which we now flow and pray, we cry out to You: O, most wonderful Lady Theotokos, pray from You to the incarnate Christ our God, that He may deliver this city and all Christian cities and countries are unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, and He will save our souls, like the Merciful.

Kontakion, tone 8
To the chosen victorious Voivode, having been delivered from the evil ones by the coming of Your venerable image, to the Lady Theotokos we brightly celebrate the celebration of Your meeting and usually call You: Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.