The “Desperate One Hope” icon is the great intercessor of all believers, who gives hope in the most difficult life situations. It becomes part of a person’s soul and gives him the strength to go further on the righteous path and continue to believe in the miracles of the Lord, for only true faith can heal, help and protect from everything evil and unfaithful that exists on earth.
Description of the icon
According to many iconography experts, the unique holy face of the Mother of God and Child was painted by a modern author; unlike Orthodox images, it was created with the addition of artistic elements. Despite the fact that the unique image is not universally recognized as canonical, it is revered on a par with miraculous icons in Orthodox churches.
Icon “Desperate One Hope”
70 years of the ban on worshiping God have left their mark on society, despite the fact that the icon is not recognized as canonical, people come to venerate the bright face of the Mother of God, considering this image holy and worthy of taking a place in church life.
According to the clergy, modern images are created without observing the rules of icon painting; they have many shortcomings and differences from ancient icons. These differences include:
excessive luxury of furnishings; abundance of gilding; excess of decorating elements; glamorous style, making it difficult to concentrate on the state of prayer. Interesting! The clergy consider the main shortcomings of the modern icon of the “Desperate One Hope” to be the similarity of the Baby to an angel with a chubby little body and a thoughtless look, characteristic of small children, but not the Savior of mankind.
At the same time, the modern face amazes with the majestic and gentle holy face of the Most Holy Theotokos, filled with great maternal love for the Son and all humanity.
Looking into the pure, love-filled eyes of the Virgin Mary, I want to entrust my secret to her, tell her about painful things, and ask for the gift of strength to follow the righteous path of knowledge according to the will of God.
Important! On November 18, Orthodox churches hold services in honor of the veneration of the icon of the Virgin and Child “Desperate One Hope.”
On this shrine there are no halos around the heads of Mary and Jesus, emphasizing Their divinity. The clothing of the Virgin Mary is also unconventional for Orthodox images; the cape is usually depicted in red, not blue. It is not typical for images of the Virgin Mary to have hair that comes out from under the scarf, as well as the presence of a crown; usually this is an attribute of Jesus, the King of Heaven.
Canonicity is a big question
Having been in disgrace for a long time, Orthodoxy in Russia only began to come to its senses in the early 90s. After a fairly long break, we have to revive traditions among people who never had them because they grew up in atheistic families. It's quite difficult. Therefore, there are still disagreements on issues such as the canonicity of icons. We can definitely say that any icon of the Mother of God:
- is a shrine;
- it is also a subject of church use;
- piece of art.
How does this apply to the image of Desperados One Hope? Obviously, it gained recognition among the population quite quickly; the degree of canonicity will be determined over time. Many modern masters do not want to study for a long time, arguing that ancient models are “outdated.” The images created in modern times have, in the opinion of the clergy, a number of significant shortcomings.
- Luxuries in the depiction of the environment.
- Excessive decoration, excessive use of gilding.
- Glamor and kitsch style.
- Lack of expressiveness of faces.
Concentrating to pray in front of such a “shrine” will indeed be quite difficult. Some editions of the icon of the Mother of God “Desperate One Hope” also have a number of these shortcomings. The baby, for example, is depicted very similar to the angel from a popular print postcard. A half-naked plump body and at the same time a completely thoughtless look. This actually happens in babies. But could it be like that of Christ, the Savior of the world?
What does an icon help with?
When Orthodox Christians talk about how the Icon of the Desperate One Hope helps, they most often note help in situations where there is nowhere else to turn.
We can talk not only about some kind of everyday problem, but also about spiritual torment.
After all, often a modern person simply has nowhere to turn. Nowadays, not many people can boast of having sincere communication; confession is often also something not quite familiar and does not bring significant joy, and going to a psychologist is a completely different choice. It is then that you should pray to the icon
Origin of the Desperado Icon One Hope
The Icon of the Desperate One Hope appeared relatively recently - in the last century. Unfortunately, exact information about the time, place, and author who created the face has not been preserved. The image first appeared on the territory of Ukraine, so we can assume that it was created here. Despite the fact that Orthodox priests did not come to a consensus on whether this creation is an icon, a new type of image of the Mother of God with the Child Jesus spread widely, gained the love of people, and even lists were made from it.
For example, in the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the city of Krasnodar, next to traditional icons there is an image of the Desperate One Hope.
What's wrong with the image
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On many icons “Desperados have the same hope” around the heads of St. Mary and the Child lack the traditional halos and necessary inscriptions for Orthodox icon painting. Many are also confused by the clothing of the Mother of God. The cape is blue, the tunic is red. Usually depicted the other way around.
On the head is a simple scarf, when usually outerwear covers both the head and hair, also almost completely hiding the figure and hands. Here the cape is open. On the icon of the Mother of God “Desperate One Hope,” Mary’s hair is visible, it comes out from under the scarf. The crown, which is present on a number of options, does not fit into the overall meaning of the composition at all. It is small, decorated with a cross (not always) and pearls.
Crowns are not present on all icons of the Virgin Mary; usually this is an attribute of Jesus, as the king of heaven and earth. The icon of the Mother of God “Desperate One Hope” depicts Christ Himself as an unreasonable child, which runs counter to Orthodox theology. The image is not officially recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church, so it cannot be found in any church in Russia.
However, there is an akathist on the Internet, under which there is a blessing from Metropolitan John of Kherskon and Tauride. You can read it at home, in front of the “Desperate One Hope” icon. Still, you can find versions of this face in which all the shortcomings are smoothed out, the image is as close as possible to the Byzantine style of icon painting.
The meaning of the icon “Desperate One Hope”
Every person in life experiences times of special sorrow, the causes of which are a variety of circumstances. At the same time, mental suffering is so strong that it is often simply impossible to cope with it on your own, no matter how hard a person tries and no matter how much effort he makes. Healing the soul is very difficult.
And it is during this period that real support is needed. And it does not always come from an ordinary person or is not strong enough to keep away everything unclean and give hope for the best. And when human help disappears, the Most Holy Theotokos shows her intercession in the form of the icon of “The Desperate One Hope.” She comes to the rescue - and very soon the most hopeless situations in life are resolved in some amazing and unrealistic way.
All the faces of the Most Holy Theotokos are amazing and beautiful in their own way. But this one is especially sophisticated and beautiful. The Young Mother very tenderly hugs the Son of God to Herself, and he, in turn, reverently hugs her. True love, pure and true, is the main motive and deep meaning of the icon.
In the history of Orthodoxy there are no confirmed facts about where and under what circumstances this image was painted. There is only brief information that this happened at the beginning or middle of the last century somewhere on the territory of modern Ukraine. Today, he is also revered by many Christians around the world, even though disputes among famous scientists and researchers in this area about his canonicity (compliance with a certain church canon) are still ongoing.
Feast of the Virgin Mary
You can see the face of the Mother of God, including on this icon, in various countries throughout the country and the world. In Russia, in almost every Orthodox church there is at least one icon dedicated to the mother of Christ.
There is even a special day set for the Mother of God. It's November 18th. Every year on this day, Orthodox believers come to the temple to turn to the Mother of Christ with their most cherished requests, to share their deepest desires. After all, they understand who, like a mother, can feel the most severe pain and suffering.
Meaning of the icon
The modern icon “Desperate One Hope” is a real support for people who have suffered a catastrophe in life, experienced real stress or are in grief. An ordinary person sometimes does not possess those qualities that can help a suffering soul; he cannot stop the attacks of the evil spirit or give hope for a positive outcome to a difficult life situation.
Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary “Desperate One Hope”
Despite criticism of the priesthood, this image is filled with the tender love of the Mother for the Son, purity and fidelity are the symbol of this icon. Many Christians around the world venerate the holy face, lists are made from it, and the modern image of the Mother of God really helps.
It is not always possible to find help and support from loved ones, but the Mother of God is always there and always ready to help, curing the pain of the soul and heart.
When hope for people disappears, the help of the Most Pure Mother of God arises, which miraculously comes after prayer at the holy face of the “Desperate One Hope,” which sometimes seems unreal.
Do not forget that the holy face depicts not just a mother and a small child, it is the Mother of God - a symbol of Eternal Love and Hope, who gave earthly life to Jesus, God the Son, who descended to human form to save the world.
After praying to the Virgin and Child, a once despairing person gains new strength, begins to believe in God’s miracles, acquiring true faith, which has enormous power to heal and protect.
Important! The holy image of the Mother of God hugging her Son is a prototype of life and hope, the unshakable love of God for everything living on earth.
On the lists, modern artists try to bring the image of “Desperados of the United Hope” as close as possible to the canonical paintings.
Where to place
The icon can be placed in the bedroom at the head of the room.
It is very good if the apartment already has its own home iconostasis, located in a convenient place. As a rule, it contains icons of the Savior, the Mother of God, Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as other revered saints. An icon of the holy martyred sisters can also be placed there. If you have a special relationship with it, you can place it in the bedroom, at the head of the bed.
The rules for maintaining icons are common to everyone: they should be placed, if possible, away from any household appliances. Next to them there is no need to arrange an exhibition of decorative “secular” objects - figurines, pictures, vases, photographs, and especially magazine posters and placards, which are in no way capable of motivating prayer.
Prayer to the icon of the Desperate One Hope
Oh, most pure Lady Theotokos! To you, exhausted from despondency and relaxation, and convicted by our conscience, we fall with a contrite heart and cry out to You with tenderness: do not depart from us, many sinners, in sight of our countless sins, in the image of the most bitter God of the Trinitarian God and to you, the Queen of Heaven.
Deliver us, O our Intercessor, from sinful habits and captivity of passions, in which the enemies have captivated our will, tied us with strong bonds, forcing us to work in sin. By our desire we have transgressed in great numbers the commandments of our Creator, and for our sins we have also lost the grace of Your Son, with which God protects those who love Him from the snares of the evil one.
The imams, O Lady, do not have the strength to free ourselves from this demonic rope, for our will is exhausted without the grace of Your Son and we know that we do not want, and like the enemy forces us to work for him, like his servants. Do not leave us, O All-Merciful One, without Your help, for the Imams have no other hope except You, Most Immaculate.
If you do not implore Your Son to have mercy on us, we will all perish in our sins. Deliver us from this sinful slavery, be a Liberator for us and a Resolver of demonic bonds, enlighten our minds, so that the memory of the imams, like all that is on earth, is dust and ashes, especially our mortal flesh, which, like an idol, the enemy forces us to serve .
Awaken, O Lady, our sleeping conscience to repentance, fallen with the fear of the present Terrible Judgment Seat of God, where the imams will give an answer about all our deeds and words and thoughts. Kindle our souls with the fire of zeal for God, which God kindled in us in the beginning.
We did not observe this gift and destroyed it through negligence; Now, like five foolish virgins, we sit in darkness, not having anything to burn at the meeting of the Bridegroom Christ
Oh, Mother of Light, Queen of Heaven, Hope for those who are desperate and burdened with many sins, send us help from Your Son and our God, pray to the Sweetest Lord Jesus Christ, may he not be angry with us, but lead us from the slavery of sin, may he strengthen our will with grace With our own, as having been delivered by Your intercession from the network of the enemy, let us glorify in the Trinity the glorified God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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The story of the martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and Sophia
The holy righteous women are revered throughout the Orthodox world as the personification of holiness and purity, devotion to the Lord and courage in serving Him.
In the 2nd century, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138), the pious widow Sophia lived in Rome (the name Sophia means “wisdom”). She had three daughters who bore the names of the main Christian virtues: Faith, Hope and Love. Being a deeply religious Christian, Sophia raised her daughters in the love of God, teaching them not to become attached to earthly goods. The rumor that this family belonged to Christianity reached the emperor, and he wished to personally see the three sisters and the mother who raised them.
All four appeared before the emperor and fearlessly confessed their faith in Christ, risen from the dead and giving eternal life to all who believe in Him. Surprised by the courage of the young Christian women, the emperor sent them to a pagan woman, whom he ordered to convince them to renounce their faith. However, all the arguments and eloquence of the pagan mentor were in vain, and the Christian sisters, ardent with faith, did not change their convictions. Then they were again brought to Emperor Hadrian, and he began to insistently demand that they make a sacrifice to the pagan gods. But the girls indignantly rejected his order.
“We have a Heavenly God,” they answered, “we want to remain his children, but we spit on your gods and are not afraid of your threats. We are ready to suffer and even die for the sake of our dear Lord Jesus Christ.”
Then the angry Adrian ordered the children to be subjected to various tortures. The executioners started with Vera. In front of her mother and sisters, they began to beat her mercilessly and tear off parts of her body, placing her on a hot iron grate. By the power of God, the fire did not cause any harm to the body of the holy martyr. Maddened by cruelty, Adrian did not understand the miracle of God and ordered the girl to be thrown into a cauldron of boiling tar. But by the will of the Lord, the cauldron cooled down and did not cause any harm to the confessor. Then she was sentenced to beheading with a sword. “I will gladly go to my beloved Lord the Savior,” said Saint Vera. She courageously bowed her head under the sword and thus surrendered her spirit to God.
The younger sisters Nadezhda and Lyubov, inspired by the courage of their older sister, endured similar torments. The fire did not harm them, then their heads were cut off with a sword. Saint Sophia was not subjected to physical torture, but she was doomed to even more severe mental torment from separation from the tortured children. The sufferer buried the honest remains of her daughters and did not leave their grave for two days. On the third day, the Lord sent her a quiet death and accepted her long-suffering soul into the heavenly abodes.
Saint Sophia, having endured great mental anguish for Christ, together with her daughters was canonized by the Church. They suffered in 137. The eldest, Vera, was then 12 years old, Nadezhda - 10, and the youngest Lyubov - only 9 years old. Thus, three girls and their mother showed that for people strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, lack of bodily strength does not in the least serve as an obstacle to the manifestation of spiritual strength and courage. With their holy prayers, may the Lord strengthen us in the Christian faith and in a virtuous life.
The icon of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia appeared in Kievan Rus shortly after her baptism. For many centuries, the names of saints were considered common symbols of the main virtues of Christians, so it was not customary to give them to newborn girls. Later, these names began to gradually come into use. Therefore, the family icon, which depicted the martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda, and Love, became widely known. A holiday was proclaimed in honor of the saints, which falls on September 30.
- Article: 44389
- Material: Gold 585 "green"
- Height: 23 mm.
- Width: 12 mm.
A fine miniature of jewelry plasticity is reflected in this body icon, depicting a Guardian Angel with open wings. In the hands of the Angel is an eight-pointed Orthodox cross and a round medallion with the image of the holy martyr Sophia. The holy righteous woman was a Christian and raised three daughters in labor, fasting and prayer, named after Christian virtues: Faith, Hope, Love. On the reverse side of the icon, among the openwork ornament, are the words of the prayer of St. Sophia.
