Pregnancy is the most important and exciting period in the life of every woman, because she has to perform a real miracle - to give life to a new soul, a new person. Throughout all the long months of pregnancy, the expectant mother is haunted by anxiety: whether the development of the fetus is proceeding correctly, whether she will be able to carry it to the due date and, most importantly, how the birth will go.
You can often hear a question from pregnant women and their family members: which icon should a pregnant woman pray to for the health of her unborn child? These anxieties and worries are characteristic of women of all times, and the Orthodox are helped here by the icon of the patroness of pregnant women. In the old days they were called the icon of the Mother of God “Help in Childbirth”; today you can find a more modern name - the icon of the Mother of God “Help in Childbirth”.
The meaning of the icon “Assistant in Childbirth”
Although the image was discovered in modern times, it is believed to be of ancient origin. The icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” has a very recognizable composition, one of a kind.
- The Mother of God is depicted with her head uncovered - her long curly hair falls over the neck and shoulders of the Blessed Virgin.
- Mary is depicted standing, waist-high or at full height.
- The Virgin’s arms are raised, her palms seem to embrace the Baby, who, judging by the composition, is still in the womb.
- Christ is depicted in full growth: his arms can be folded on his chest; in another version, He is dressed in royal robes and blesses.
- The Baby is depicted as if floating at the level of the Mother’s chest (as in the “Sign” image).
There are many versions of the “Helper in Childbirth” icon, but it is very easy to recognize. The image can be kept in the home of those who are about to give birth.
What is prayer
Prayer is a person’s appeal to higher powers: to the Lord, the Mother of God, angels and saints. The basis of Christianity is not just the amount of knowledge, but the living experience of communication with God. It is impossible to imagine the spiritual life of a believer without prayer. It is included in the morning and evening rules, and when it becomes an internal need of the soul, it occurs constantly in the mind and heart. Prayer according to its content is conventionally divided into the following types:
- thanksgiving (we thank God);
- laudatory (we praise God);
- supplicants (we ask God);
- repentant (repent of sins);
- intercessory (we ask for someone).
Prayer presupposes the obligatory presence of faith in God as the driving force behind petitions. The quality of prayer can be:
- oral;
- smart;
- cardiac.
The oral form is typical at the initial stages of learning to pray, when when reading a person’s mind becomes distracted and is unable to concentrate on the words. Smart is pronounced with insight into the meaning of the words. The highest example is heartfelt, understood by the mind and felt by the heart.
Heartfelt prayer is characteristic of saints and people of high spiritual life
According to the form of expression, prayer is divided into public and private. The first are performed collectively, in the temple, the second - by a specific person at home. Recently, prayer by agreement has gained popularity as a type of public petition. Its essence lies in the agreement of several people to pray for a specific matter at a certain hour. For example, pregnant women agree on a time to read an akathist to the Mother of God about a successful delivery.
Prayer in church or at home is accompanied by the lighting of candles, lamps, incense, the sign of the cross, and bows to the ground or from the waist. In church, incense is required during services. All external attributes of sacred rites are not valuable in themselves and are not an end in themselves, but are produced for the correct internal prayerful attitude.
What power does she have?
The power of prayer directly depends on the faith of the person praying. The petitions of the righteous have a special effect. It cannot be said that the requests of sinful people remain unanswered. The Lord hears and sees everyone, but sometimes he is in no hurry to fulfill our desires. There may be several reasons for this:
- consumer attitude towards God, a person does not live according to God’s commandments, but turns to the Creator only in difficult life circumstances;
- a person does not show mercy and love to his neighbors;
- because the time has not yet come for the request to be fulfilled;
- sometimes a person wants to get everything at once and without difficulty;
- prayer can be fulfilled in an incredible way;
- The Lord wants to reward the patience of the one asking;
- a person asks for something that is not useful to him.
The Holy Fathers claim that even if a prayer is not fulfilled instantly, this does not mean that it remains fruitless. Because just being in communion with God brings a person untold benefits, joy and consolation. Even in the scientific community, where not everyone is a believer, research has been conducted and it has been proven that prayer has a beneficial effect on all human systems and organs.
The Lord says in the Gospel: “Truly I also say to you that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven, for where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them “(Matthew 18:19,20).
Gospel
https://azbyka.ru/biblia/?Mt.18:20
These words of the Savior confirm the special power of collective prayer, when several people ask for one thing. In this regard, common divine services have been formed in Christianity since ancient times, and modern clergy calls on all believers to be sure to participate in temple prayers as often as possible. According to the commandment of the Lord, it is necessary to visit the temple on Sundays and holidays.
How to pray correctly
All conditions have been created for the correct prayerful attitude in Orthodox Christianity. Since ancient times, it has been customary to cry out to God and the saints while standing, but there are exceptions for pregnant women, the sick, and the infirm. Personal prayer is performed in front of the home iconostasis with lit candles, lamps, and incense. You cannot start a conversation with the Creator immediately after earthly bustle; you need some time to tune in, pacify your emotions and passions. If possible, petitions should be offered to God and the saints in a calm atmosphere, without distractions or scattered thoughts. In Orthodoxy, during outpourings of prayer, a person necessarily makes the sign of the cross and bows to the ground or from the waist.
When a person has formed a need for prayer, then memorized hymns and requests can be pronounced in any place: transport, queues, waiting, if the mind is free. You can address God and the saints both in texts compiled by saints and clergy, and in your own words. It should be remembered that the prayers of the saints are for us a kind of alphabet by which we learn prayer. For example, Saint Theophan the Recluse advises to first pray according to the prayer book, and if during reading the soul wishes to express its words, then do not prevent it from doing so. (see St. Theophan the Recluse. Four words about prayer.)
All external attributes of prayer: icons, candles, incense, body position, clothing, etc. - are needed only for the correct internal aspiration towards God
You should know that only the Lord has the power to fulfill our requests. Therefore, when we turn to the saints, we must ask Their holy prayers for the fulfillment of desires. The saints of God are next to Christ and the Lord will hear their prayers sooner. Only the Most Holy Theotokos has a special position and one can directly ask Her for help.
What does the icon help with and where is it located?
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The image has been known since the early 90s, during which time it has earned the reputation of being miraculous. It was discovered in the possession of an elderly parishioner of a church in the city of Serpukhov. The board had turned black with time; it was quite difficult to make out anything on it. Under a layer of dust we managed to discover the faces of the Ever-Virgin and the Child.
The found shrine was placed in a place of honor in St. Nicholas Cathedral, where it currently resides. Here are the names of the temples where lists (copies) of the “Helper in Childbirth” icon are located:
- Spaso-Preobrazhensky Church (Moscow);
- All Saints Church (Moscow);
- Izmailovsky Cathedral (St. Petersburg);
- Church of the Nativity (Ekaterinburg).
If you want to often turn to the Mother of God, you should buy an icon for yourself and place it near your bed, pray every day for the birth to be successful. This is a difficult test for the body, great psychological stress. The Lady of Heaven will definitely help you cope.
Spiritual preparation for childbirth
During pregnancy, a believer often turns to Heavenly powers. The priests insist that during the period of bearing a child, every woman must visit the temple, confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. The main assistant to a pregnant woman during the entire period of bearing a baby is the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. The Holy Face showed many miracles of faith, including the gift of motherhood. Prayer should accompany a pregnant woman for all nine months; not only in church, but also at home, a woman can turn to the Heavenly patroness and protector. “According to our faith, may it be for us...” - prayer at the moment of childbirth works miracles: there are cases when women in labor who uttered the words of the prayer had pain subsided, the process of childbirth was facilitated, and bleeding stopped. The priests claim that prayer during pregnancy, prayer before childbirth, and prayer during childbirth are equally important for a woman.
What to pray for in front of the holy image
When turning to God, you need to have the right attitude. Of course, the Lord hears and sees absolutely everything that happens - He is Omniscient and Omnipresent. But in order to perceive His goodness, a person must change himself, throw off numerous garbage from his heart - resentment, vanity, pride, etc. This is expressed in words of repentance. It is with them that one should begin the prayer in front of the “Helper in Childbirth” icon.
Words should be pronounced slowly, realizing the meaning of what is read. There is no need to strive to read all the known prayers at once, let it be brief, but from the heart. You should purchase a small sample in advance that you can take with you to the prenatal ward. If possible, you should take communion, attend services, and order prayers for health.
Prayers to the icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” helped many women easily bear and give birth to healthy babies. Young mothers write that they had a purulent sore throat, a threat of miscarriage, and the contractions themselves proceeded quite quickly. Of course, everyone is given faith, but it is quite possible to cultivate it in yourself by reading the Word of God and communicating with spiritually experienced people. The main thing is that the heart is open to the Lord.
- Prayer for help in childbirth
- A never-ending psalter about health - see here
- The Triflant Icon - meaning, what it helps with, what to pray for -
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In past times, shortly before labor was about to begin, the woman in labor and her relatives read the Great Akathist together. The process of the birth of a baby was an incomprehensible and very dangerous event. Today, women attend special courses where they tell them step by step what awaits the expectant mother, how to behave correctly, and demonstrate deep breathing. But still, fear remains, especially among those who are giving birth for the first time.
To get rid of fear, you need to often turn to the Mother of God in front of her icon for pregnant women, “Helper in Childbirth.” This image can also be created for those who are just planning to conceive an heir. The Holy Virgin Mary will help with this too.
Orthodox traditions during childbirth
A hundred years ago, every woman preparing to become a mother relied on the will of God in everything. The midwife never began to help a woman in labor without first praying. At the time of birth, all household members stood in front of a lit lamp and prayed to the Mother of God for a successful delivery. Prayer before childbirth was also obligatory for the woman in labor. The era of atheism has changed people's worldview, but modern society is increasingly reviving the Orthodox faith and spirituality in souls and society. That’s why today more and more women are resorting to prayers to the Higher Powers - first to conceive, then to bear and give birth. Miracles that occur through the faith and prayers of believers convince us of the mercy and love of the Lord for his children.
What miracles is the icon of the Helper in Childbirth known for?
In the city of Serpukhov, people gather every week to read an akathist written specifically for the “Helper in Childbirth” icon. Its author was our contemporary, an archpriest serving in the Moscow diocese. The text is blessed for reading by Orthodox believers.
Through prayers, many miracles occur, some of which are told by the rector of the temple.
About the author About the book
One married couple experienced 6 miscarriages. But they didn't give up. The next pregnancy also turned out to be difficult, the doctors always feared for the baby’s health. Throughout the entire period, mother and father attended prayer services. The woman took holy water every morning. Their dream has finally come true - the happy couple has a daughter!
Another pregnant woman found herself in a difficult situation - the fetus turned upside down in the womb. In this situation, hospitalization is mandatory; the deadline was already approaching. Two days before going to the hospital, the expectant mother decided to go to church. After this, an examination revealed that the child was in the correct position. The doctors sent the woman home, surprised by such a rare case.
By turning to the Queen of Heaven with faith, every woman can count on help!
How to pray to the Mother of God?
Before starting a prayer request, you should repent of all your sins, let go of grievances and ask for forgiveness from the Almighty. Think about whether there is a stone lying in your soul that you have long wanted to get rid of?
Purity of thoughts, freedom from anger and hatred is extremely important during this special period for a woman. Then it’s worth reading the canonical prayer “Rejoice to the Virgin Mary.”
It would be a good idea to start any appeal to the Virgin Mary with her. Pray as often as possible: immediately after waking up and before going to bed, after a meal and in moments of great excitement. Try not to skip prayers in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Prayer is healing, it calms and helps to achieve inner peace, which is so important when expecting a baby. Take communion as often as possible, drink holy water, eat prosphora, which will have a beneficial effect not only on you, but also on your unborn child.
Take communion as often as possible, drink holy water, eat prosphora
Read spiritual literature. All together will give a good result: you will be mentally prepared for childbirth and will feel the invisible protection under which you and your baby are.
Read the prayer to the Mother of God about childbirth, with a feeling of deep respect, thoughtfully - and you will be heard.
“Oh, Most Glorious Mother of God, have mercy on me, Your servant, and come to my aid during my illnesses and dangers, with which all poor daughters of Eve give birth to children. Remember, O Blessed One among women, with what joy and love You went hastily to the mountainous country to visit Your relative Elizabeth during her pregnancy, and what a wonderful effect Your gracious visit had on both mother and baby. And according to Your inexhaustible mercy, grant also to me, Your humble servant, to be freed from the burden safely; Grant me this grace, so that the child who now rests under my heart, having come to his senses, with a joyful leap, like the holy baby John, will worship the Divine Lord Savior, Who, out of love for us sinners, did not disdain to become a baby Himself. May the unspeakable joy with which Your virgin heart was filled at the sight of Your newborn Son and Lord, sweeten the sorrow that awaits me amidst the pains of birth. May the life of the world, my Savior, born of You, save me from death, which cuts off the lives of many mothers at the hour of resolution, and may the fruit of my womb be numbered among the elect of God. Hear, O Most Holy Queen of Heaven, my humble prayer and look upon me, a poor sinner, with the eye of Your grace; do not shame my trust in Your great mercy and overshadow me. Helper of Christians, Healer of illnesses, may I also be honored to experience for myself that You are the Mother of mercy, and may I always glorify Your grace, which has never rejected the prayers of the poor and delivers all those who call on You in times of sorrow and illness. Amen".
How to prepare for the birth of a baby
Spiritual preparation for pregnant women includes:
- visiting a temple;
- confession;
- participle;
- prayers;
- communication.
Before giving birth, a woman must cleanse her soul in confession so that the child does not grow up under the yoke of her sins. Prayers, communion, confession will fill the soul with peace and joy. Being in grace and humility, it is easier to endure unpleasant physiological changes in the body: toxicosis, varicose veins, excess weight, mood swings. A conversation with your confessor will help you overcome fears and irritability.
A woman can feel the atmosphere of goodwill and joy, necessary during pregnancy and before childbirth, in the temple. Church communities organize special meetings. At thematic meetings, young women expecting their first child can ask the priest questions, and mothers with many children can share their experience of emotional overcoming, fighting fear, depression or other illness. By reading prayers, the expectant mother strengthens her spirit, detaches herself from the hustle and bustle and immerses herself in the blissful anticipation of the baby. She will feel spiritual unity and support before childbirth during a common family prayer with her husband, parents and friends.
In a church community, you can agree with other women to pray by agreement. Prayer at the appointed time will unite everyone with common hope, joy and love. When a child feels welcomed and loved, childbirth will be easy.
Since Old Slavic times, women in position were ordered to curb anger and pride. The midwives knew that anger and despondency were transmitted to the child. Hidden grievances are considered especially destructive. Therefore, an important step in spiritual preparation before childbirth is forgiveness. You need to make peace with the offenders or reconcile if reconciliation is impossible. Often, even the bright joy that the birth of a child brings cannot force close relatives to extend their hands to each other. While awaiting childbirth, you need to give up hostility and protect yourself from negativity. The expectant mother needs protection from worries, similar to the protection of Joseph the Betrothed.
