Icon of the Mother of God "Right-Handed". meaning. what helps. where to hang it. how to pray and what it protects from

As the legend says, during the life of the Mother of God, Evangelist Luke, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, created several of her images, one of which is the icon of the Mother of God “Right-Handed,” and he used a board from the table at which the Holy Family ate.
The peculiarity of this icon lies in the position of the Divine Child: usually the Mother of God holds Him on her left hand, and on the icon of the Mother of God “Right-Handed” - on her right, which is why it was given such a name. In iconography, images like the “Right Hand” have become widespread. Such icons are also characterized by the presence of a bright scarlet maforium on the Virgin Mary.

The ancient image, the writing of which is attributed to the hand of the Apostle Luke, is located in Greece, in the monastery of Mega Spileon, which translates as the Great Cave, which is why it is often called the Cave Icon. As narrated in monastic sources, the Apostle Luke arrived in Achaia, the northern region of the Peloponnese, to spread the true faith, and brought as a gift to the first converts the image of the Mother of God and Child, which he had taken from Palestine. This was the “Right-Handed Woman” icon. When the persecution of Christians became especially fierce, they secretly hid in a cave, and the icon was also hidden there. There were fires more than once in the monastery on the site of the cave, and as a result, the icon darkened.

A list of the very first icon, “The Right Handmaiden,” is kept in a temple specially built for it in Athens, another one of the most famous is in the Sinai monastery of St. Catherine. All these places are centers of worship; Many pilgrims flock there every year to venerate the miraculous icon of the Mother of God and ask Her for help in their needs.

Until 450, the “Right-Handed Woman” icon was kept in Jerusalem, but then was transferred to Constantinople. In the 12th century, Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky received a list from it as a valuable gift.

In Byzantium, the image of the Right-Handed One was often applied to cast serpentine amulets. From here they came to Rus' and are still widespread on the left bank of the Dnieper. Almost every shrine (home iconostasis) included an icon of the Right-Handed Lady. The antiquity of the icon, as well as the fact that it was a copy of an image created by the Apostle Luke himself, was the reason that such an image was considered more correct than a left-handed one. That is why the image became so widespread among the population of Kievan Rus and was adopted from there by all the Eastern Slavs.

Bethlehem icon meaning and what it helps with

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Guardian Angel to you! One of the revered icons of Orthodoxy is the Bethlehem Icon of the Mother of God. This image of the Virgin Mary has a little history. Some historians believe that this image was painted in ancient Rus'.

There is also an opinion that it was written by the prophet icon painter Luke during the life of the Virgin Mary. It is for this reason that it is believed that this image shows as accurately as possible what the Virgin Mary looked like during her lifetime.

According to one of the legends, Luke painted three images and showed one of them to the Virgin Mary herself. She liked the image very much, and she blessed it, adding that grace would come to everyone who prayed in front of it.

In addition to this image, Luke painted several more icons that depict saints authentically. It should also be noted that this is the only image of the Virgin Mary in which she smiles.

This was the first miracle created in a holy image. Since then, the miracles created by the face of the Mother of God have not stopped. Everyone who comes to him with prayer finds success in business and all kinds of help.

The meaning of the Bethlehem icon

The Bethlehem icon of the Mother of God is of great importance for Orthodox believers. Since ancient times and to this day, it has been located in the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The holy image is located a few meters on the right side of the descent into the cave, which is called “The Nativity of Christ”.

On the Bethlehem icon, the Virgin Mary is depicted with the Child in her arms, who has an orb in her left hand. She is a symbol of royal power. With his right hand He blesses all those praying in front of the image. In turn, the Mother of God points to the Savior as the right path in life.

Must read: Icon of Tabynskaya - what it prays for and how it helps

That is why She is the Guide from sin to salvation. It leads us to faith in Christ.

Today, many believing pilgrims from all over the world come to Bethlehem to pray before the icon. It should be noted that she is very revered in the house of the Lord.

And only once, at the request of the Ukrainian church, she left the holy place in Bethlehem.

It was in 2010 that the icon was brought to Kyiv for Easter along with the Holy Fire, so that the Orthodox believers of the capital of Ukraine could bow before it.

Icon Veneration Day

Like any holy image, the Bethlehem Icon of the Mother of God also has its own celebration date. On this day, many pilgrims visit and pray there. Since it is believed that it is on the day of veneration of the image that the prayer offered in front of it has the greatest power. According to the new style, the day of celebration falls on August 28, according to the old style it is August 15.

What do people pray for to the icon of the Mother of God of Bethlehem?

Many Orthodox believers come to the miraculous icon to pray for blessings, tranquility, and peace. They also pray to her with the request:

about conceiving children,
about the welfare of children,
about family happiness,
about harmony in relationships,
about children's health,
about healing from serious illnesses and illnesses,
about protecting the family from “evil tongues.”

It is believed that the Mother of God is the main intercessor before God, so prayer to her is very strong. Through prayer to her, the Lord hears us and helps us. The main thing is that it comes sincerely from the heart. Because those people who do not believe in God are not able to experience the miraculous power of prayer to the Holy Image.

Prayer to the Bethlehem Icon of the Mother of God:

I sing Thy grace, O Lady, I pray to Thee, my mind is filled with grace. Go right and instruct me in the path of Christ’s commandments. Strengthen your children to song, driving away despondency and sleep. Bound by the captivity of the Falls, allow me through Your prayers, Bride of God.

Preserve me in the night and in the day, delivering me to those who fight against the enemy. She who gave birth to God, the life-giver, was killed by my passions and revived. Who gave birth to the non-evening light, enlighten my blind soul. O wondrous Lady of the Palace, create for me the house of the Divine Spirit. You who gave birth to a doctor, heal my soul of many years of passion.

Worried by the storm of life, guide me towards the path of repentance. Deliver me from eternal fire, and from evil worms, and from tartar. Do not show me joy as a demon, who is guilty of many sins. Create me again, having promised to be insensible, Immaculate, without sin. Show me the strangeness of all kinds of torment, and implore the Lord to all. Heavenly grant me joy, with all the saints.

May the Lord protect you!

Must read: Saint Agapit of Pechersk: life and prayers

You will be interested in watching the video akathist at the Bethlehem icon:

“Smolenskaya” - canonical icon of the Mother of God

The appearance of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God dates back to the time of the Evangelist Luke. Tradition says that, in addition to his work on writing the Gospel, Luke left behind several personally created images of the Baby Jesus with his Mother. These icons had a common compositional design, which later became known as Hodegetria.

Hodegetria: features of composition

There are several types of iconographic arrangement of the Mother of God - Oranta, Eleus (Tenderness), Panachranta (All-Merciful), Hodegetria, etc.

According to what type of iconographic arrangement of the figures of the Mother of God and the Child the icon corresponds, its canonical meaning is attributed - some offer prayers for salvation, protection over big problems in society, others cry out more about human problems and troubles, others are revered as solvers of problems with health.

Icons of Tenderness, for example, help women save their marriages and patronize prayers for the health of children. One of them, the Volokolamsk Mother of God, has gained nationwide fame - prayers are offered to her for the preservation of love between spouses and salvation from all demonic obsessions.

The idea of a holy image

God the Child is the Heavenly King, who blesses his flock with one hand, and with the other gives the law that Christians must follow in order to achieve Eternal Life. He is our Coming Judge, whose coming to the earthly world for the first time was marked by the salvation of humanity. The second time he will come as the One by whose will a fair Judgment will be carried out.

The Mother of God gestures to her Son - pray and worship Him, direct your thoughts and requests. He is the Son of God, your Savior and Patron. In addition, with her gesture she expresses personal admiration for her Mother of God, understanding what kind of future is in store for him.

Hodegetria - in iconographic compositions of this type, the image of the Mother of God and the Child God is typical almost frontally, their faces do not touch. Baby Jesus sits in his Mother's arms. Having folded the fingers of his right hand, he blesses those praying, and in his left hand it is customary to put a list for Him, sometimes a book. Most often the Mother of God is depicted wearing a belt, but there is also a shoulder-length image - the Kazan Icon. There are also growth compositions. Each icon has its own prayer, which is usually addressed when asking for resolution of problems.
The Baby Jesus is most often located on the left, but there are Hodegetria, where he is given a place on the right hand of the Virgin Mary. One of these icons, the Right-Handed Woman, is also attributed to the hand of one of Christ’s seventy disciples, the Evangelist Luke. The right-handed woman often helps as the patroness of those who diligently pursue knowledge - pupils, students. She is asked to help a careless student, so that he can please his parents with his successes.

This type of iconographic image is one of the oldest. It developed in Palestine, and in the 6th century it spread to the East and Byzantium. From there the Orthodox traditions began, and the main famous icons came under the general name Hodegetria.

History of the origin and meaning of the term Hodegetria

From the Holy Land, around the middle of the 5th century, the first of the icons of such iconography, Blachernae, was brought to Constantinople. By the will of Empress Eudokia, wife of Theodosius the Younger, the holy image was transferred to the Odigon convent.

This monastery was glorified by a spring that had great power - sincere prayer around it performed miracles of healing the blind. Thanks to the efforts of the nuns, who cared for the blind who came in search of healing, this place received the name “guides.”

The monastery, in turn, received the nickname “Conductor” - Odigon.

Image and meaning of the image of the Mother of God Right Hand

The icon in question has a key difference, which lies in the position of the Divine Child. Often the Mother of God in icons holds Jesus in her left hand, but in this case the hand is right, which was the reason for this name.

Similar images with the placement of the Child in the right hand are also distinguished by the bright red maforium (a long female veil that envelops from head to toe) on the Virgin Mary.

The image of the Mother of God “Right-Handed” was painted, as legend says, by the Apostle Luke, who knew the Virgin Mary during her lifetime. In this regard, the icon is considered more correct than other images painted by later authors.

Its ancient origin also inspires great respect and reverence. Many trustworthy people have testified to miracles that occurred from the holy image at different times.

Therefore, Christian believers gain hope that the Mother of God will not refuse to help them either. After all, it often seems that there is no strength to fight life’s difficulties. Then all that remains is to count on the patronage of the celestials.

Important! The “Right Handed” icon is one of the most revered shrines that has survived to this day.

What do they pray for, what does the icon help with?

What is the meaning of the “Right Handed” icon, how does it help people? The great significance of this icon lies in the fact that it is one of the oldest images of the Mother of God, created, as legend claims, by a man who knew Her well, the Apostle Luke. The very antiquity of the image inspires respect and admiration, and numerous miracles, witnessed at different times and by different people worthy of trust, inspire every Christian with the belief that he can receive help from the Mother of God in the event of a serious illness, mental and physical suffering, yes and simply in case of a difficult life situation, when one’s own strength is not enough.

For the “Right Handed” icon, the prayer and akathist are the same as for other icons of the Mother of God, it all depends on what the praying people are asking for or thanking for.

And remember: prayer should not only be petitionary, but also grateful.

How to pray

The Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan is very revered among believers, so it can be found in almost any Orthodox church and in every home of an Orthodox Christian. Wherever you are: in a church or at home, the rules for praying in front of an icon are the same. The Lord said:

“According to your faith, be it done to you.”

We recommend studying Psalm 120

Gospel of Matthew

When praying in front of an icon, we must remember that we are not praying to the icon as such, but to the one who is depicted on it, that is, to the prototype.
Also, when praying to the Mother of God, we must remember that everything is sent to us from God: both good and bad, the Lord loves us and therefore knows how to help us better and what will benefit us.

We need to pray with sincere faith in God’s help and His holy providence for us.
During prayer, nothing should distract you; all thoughts and feelings should be directed to God.
You need to pray both in your own words and using specially composed prayers that are in Orthodox prayer books.
When reading prayers, you need to pass every word through your heart and mind and direct it to the Lord and His saints.

When praying to the Mother of God in front of Her Kazan Icon, you should use the following prayers in Russian.

Prayer 1

Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Queen of Heaven and earth, the highest angel and archangel and the most honest, pure Virgin Mary of all creation, good Helper to the world, and affirmation for all people, and deliverance for all needs! Look now, O All-Merciful Lady, upon Thy servants, praying to Thee with a tender soul and a contrite heart, falling with tears to Thee and worshiping Thy most pure and wholesome image, and asking for Thy help and intercession. Oh, All-Merciful and Most Merciful Pure Virgin Mary! Look, O Lady, at Thy people: for we are sinners and imams of no other help than to You and from You, Christ our God born. You are our intercessor and representative. You are protection for the offended, joy for the sorrowing, refuge for the orphans, keeper for widows, glory for virgins, joy for those who cry, visitation for the sick, healing for the weak, salvation for sinners. For this reason, O Mother of God, we resort to You, and looking at Your Most Pure Image with the Eternal Child held in Your hand, our Lord Jesus Christ, we bring tender singing to You and cry out: have mercy on us, Mother of God, and fulfill our request, for all that is Your intercession is possible, for glory is due to You now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 2

Oh, Most Holy Lady and Lady Theotokos! With fear, faith and love, falling before Your honorable icon, we pray to You: do not turn Your face away from those who come running to You. Pray, merciful Mother, to Thy Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, to preserve our country peacefully and to keep His holy Church unshakable from unbelief, heresies and schism. There are no imams of any other help, no imams of other hope, unless You, Most Pure Virgin, are You the all-powerful Helper and Intercessor of Christians. Deliver all who pray to You with faith from the falls of sin, from the slander of evil people, from all temptations, sorrows, troubles and from vain death. Grant us the spirit of contrition, humility of heart, purity of thoughts, correction of sinful lives and the remission of sins, so that we all sing gratefully of Your greatness, we will be worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom, and there with all the saints we will glorify the Most Honorable and Magnificent Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Troparion, tone 4

Zealous Intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High! Pray for all of Thy Son, Christ our God, and cause all to be saved, seeking refuge in Thy sovereign protection. Intercede for all of us, oh. Lady, Queen and Lady, who in adversity and sorrow and illness, burdened with many sins, stand and pray to You with a tender soul and a contrite heart before Your Most Pure Image with tears, and those who have irrevocable hope in You for deliverance from all evils. Grant usefulness to all and save everything, O Virgin Mother of God: for Thou art the Divine protection of Thy servant.

Kontakion, tone 8

Let us come, people, to this quiet and good refuge, the quick Helper, the ready and warm salvation, the protection of the Virgin; let us hasten to prayer and strive for repentance: for the Most Pure Mother of God exudes boundless mercies to us, advances to our aid and delivers Her well-behaved and God-fearing servants from great troubles and evils.

Greatness

We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, God-chosen Youth, and honor Your holy image, through which you bring healing to all who come with faith.

Prayer to the icon

Prayer ascensions for the Right-Handed One consist of any prayers dedicated to the Mother of God. Each Christian decides which text to choose individually; it all depends on the specifics of the petition and the purposes for which the appeal is made to the Queen of Heaven. We must not forget that they not only ask the Mother of God for the fulfillment of her plans, but also offer her prayers of thanks.

Strong prayer to the Mother of God Right Hand for help, intercession, salvation and healing:

“Oh, Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos, you are the highest Angel and Archangel of all, and the most honorable of all creatures, you are the helper of the offended, the hopeless, the poor intercessor, the sad consolation, the hungry nurse, the naked, the naked, the healing of the sick, the salvation of sinners, the help and intercession of all Christians .

Oh, All-Merciful Lady, Virgin Mother of God and Lady, by Your mercy save and have mercy on the most holy Orthodox patriarchs, the most Reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops and the entire priestly and monastic rank, and all Orthodox Christians through the robe of Your honest protection; and pray, Lady, from You, without seed, Christ our God, incarnate, may gird us with His power from above, against our invisible and visible enemies.

Oh, All-Merciful Lady Lady Theotokos! Raise us from the depths of sin and deliver us from famine, destruction, from cowardice and flood, from fire and sword, from the presence of foreigners and internecine warfare, and from vain death, and from the attacks of the enemy, and from corrupting winds, and from deadly plagues, and from all evil. Grant, O Lady, peace and health to Thy servant, all Orthodox Christians, and enlighten their minds and the eyes of their hearts, leading to salvation; and have made us worthy, Thy sinful servants, of the Kingdom of Thy Son, Christ our God; for His power is blessed and glorified, with His Originless Father, and with His Most Holy, and Good, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen".

Fig. 3 For any beginner, the prayer to the icon of the Mother of God of the Right Hand may seem large and complex, but after reading the text several times carefully, it quickly becomes understandable and is remembered after several readings.

In ancient times, the words of all texts from the prayer book had to be memorized. Now this is not required of parishioners. Even during a public prayer service or Liturgy, it is allowed to use sheets of paper with the words of the prayer. The main thing is that the entire text should be rewritten in your own hand. Such leaves can also be sewn into belts and constantly carried with you, as an additional amulet.

Meaning of the Shrine

People turn to the image of Pochaevskaya for healing from terrible and incurable diseases. People rush with their last hope to the Mother of God, when even doctors are powerless. The unique miraculous properties of the holy cloth help to cope with all difficulties and troubles. There is a legend that in 1664, thanks to washing with water from the footprint of the Mother of God, they were able to revive a child who had suddenly died from an eyesore.

Fig. 2 There is an opinion among believers that healing in front of the Pochaevskaya icon occurs thanks to the heavenly radiance emanating from the holy image.

In 1950, a miraculous healing of a partially paralyzed nun occurred. After diligent seven-day prayers, the woman was able to give up crutches and began to walk again. Prayers to the face of the Intercessor help get rid of blindness, physical and mental illness, problems with the heart and blood vessels. Every year, thousands of pilgrims worship the holy image of the Mother of God in the Pochaev Monastery, take healing water with them and perform thanksgiving services.

When does the “Three-Handed” Icon of the Mother of God help and what does it protect from?

The icon of the Queen of Heaven is not a “pill for misfortunes”; the image will only help people who come to Her with an open heart. You cannot pray to the Saint for help in financial matters or compensation for monetary damages. Requests to “punish, punish” business partners who stole fortunes will remain unanswered. The Mother of God answers pure prayers:

about the health of the family, a sick relative, a stranger, ascended with all my heart;
about healing the sick from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, blindness, hearing impairment;
about giving peace of mind, getting rid of depression, “blackness” in the heart;
about reassurance, consolation after the loss of loved ones;
about humility of character, giving peace to parents, assistance in household matters (women);
about protection from enemies who encroach on the spiritual well-being of the family.

We advise you to study Prayers for the sanctification of any thing

You can pray in front of the image at home and in church, with the whole family and alone, out loud or mentally.

Parents of children who have strayed from the righteous path ask Our Lady for help. You can offer a prayer for a child who has gotten involved with bad company, uses illegal substances, or alcoholic beverages. They also ask for those who are overly aggressive, become violent, and are unbalanced in their expressions. “Three-Handed” helps people who are addicted to computer games and gambling.

They pray in front of the image for people who are facing complex surgery or long-term chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The image responds to everyone who comes with a pure soul and offers prayers without secret intent. You can ask for relatives, friends or strangers.

People who often go on trips, who have been seriously ill for a long time or who are recovering, should always carry with them the icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”

. During especially difficult periods, quiet prayers will help protect yourself from envious people and survive attacks of pain and fear. You need to buy images only in churches or consecrated shops from the church. Popular prints, magnets, calendars and other mass-produced copies are not the best option.

Small images will help you get through periods of suffering on the road or in a hospital bed

Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Three Hands”:

“O Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos, who showed a great miracle to Saint John of Damascus, as if he showed true faith and undoubted hope! Hear us, Thy sinners (names), before Thy miraculous icon, earnestly praying and asking for Thy help: do not reject this prayer of many for the sake of our sins, but, as the Mother of mercy and generosity, deliver us from illnesses, sorrows and sorrows, forgive us for what we have done sins, fill with joy and gladness all who honor Your holy icon, so that we joyfully sing and glorify Your name with love, for You are chosen from all generations, blessed forever and ever. Amen".

The healing power of Our Lady is given to all Christians

Where to hang it in the house

According to popular opinion among believers, it is better to place the iconostasis at home in the eastern corner of the most spacious room in the house. This is what they did in Ancient Rus', because when praying you need to stand facing east. However, modern priests believe that limiting the order of icons with such a rule would not be entirely correct. After all, not every modern apartment can fulfill this condition.

The main thing is that the place is truly separate and arranged with due reverence and respect for the holy image. Icons are placed mainly in the living room or hall, but you can hang several copies in the bedroom or children's room. Don’t clutter your apartment too much with church paintings unnecessarily

It is important that prayers are regularly offered to them and candles are lit.

It is not recommended to place or hang the icon of the Right Hand:

together with artistic paintings or souvenirs;
next to photographs of deceased loved ones;
near music and television equipment;
together with idols, icons or literature of another religion.

The shrine must be placed on the left or right side of the icons depicting Jesus Christ, because he must be given a central place. Candles or lamps must also be hung on the iconostasis.

Fig. 5 You can place the image of the Mother of God Right Hand anywhere in the apartment

It is important that it is always available for prayer and not located next to other modern interior items or household appliances

You can purchase the canvas illuminated in the church in a church shop, a special store at a monastery or cathedral. In large cities there are Houses of Icons, where you can buy any religious paraphernalia, including holy images created by masters of icon painting. All goods are subject to blessing by priests.

Icon of the Mother of God “Right Handmaiden”

Locally revered, Local celebration on January 25 (January 12, old style).

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In Greece, in the Peloponnese, there is the monastery of Mega Spileon (translated as the Great Cave). Pilgrims flock here to venerate the miraculous image of the Mother of God, created, according to legend, by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke and called “The Right Handmaiden”. This name is explained by the fact that in the image the Mother of God is holding the Child of God on her right hand, while in the area there were more common images where the Child sits on the left hand of the Mother of God.

It is believed that the relief icon of the RIGHT HANDMAN was the first icon of the Mother of God that came out from under the hand of the holy Apostle Luke, and that it was to her that the words of the Mother of God were spoken: “The grace of the One born of Me and Mine will abide with this image.” In Athens, a large temple was built in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Right-Handed Woman”, in which a copy (copy) of the prototype is kept.

Another famous image of the Mother of God “Right-Handed” is located in the monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai (in the given list of icons it is the third in a row).

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History of the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God and the Konevskaya Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery

Konevets Island was named so because of the huge granite boulder located on it in the shape of a horse's head - the so-called Horse-stone. At that time it was one of the Finno-Ugric sanctuaries, and local residents performed pagan rituals with sacrifices there. Arseny learned about this from a certain fisherman named Philip.

Having visited the Horse-Stone, Arseny considered it an eerie place, “surrounded by demonic horror more than a dense forest.” After spending the night in continuous prayer, in the morning he took the icon of the Mother of God, walked around the pagan sanctuary with it and sprinkled the stone with holy water. According to legend, at that same moment a countless horde of black ravens flew out of the stone and flew away to the opposite shore of the island, where they disappeared. Surprisingly, on the same day, all the snakes left the island.

The icon of the Mother of God could now forever remain on the island of Konevets, in the temple built for her, if not for historical vicissitudes. The Monk Arseny died in 1447, and after that the Konevetsky Monastery was destroyed several times. Twice (in 1577 and 1610) the border island was captured by the Swedes, and the monastery inhabitants, taking the icon, waited out the raids near Novgorod, in the Derevyanitsky Resurrection Monastery.

The next devastation occurred in the 20th century. The waves of the Soviet-Finnish and then the Second World War swept through the monastery. As a result, the last nine Konevo monks, after long wanderings, together with the holy image of the Konevo Mother of God, arrived at the New Valaam Monastery in the town of Papinniemi in Finland.

Where is the best place to place the “Three-Handed” icon?

In the house, the image is installed in the main “red” corner of the room.

The icon is placed so that nothing blocks the face.
In this way, the grace of the Mother of God will extend to the owners and guests of the house. They are allowed to hang the list in front of the entrance.
The Queen of Heaven will be able to protect the house from unkind people, harm and disease.

After placing the image, you should take a closer look at the guests in the house. If a person is pleasing to God, he will feel light, warm and comfortable. All intruders will not be able to stay in the room for even half an hour; they will try to leave the walls of the house as quickly as possible.

We advise you to study Prayers to Archangel Gabriel

In a Christian’s home there cannot be more than one image of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”. As a last resort, two images are allowed, but with a difference in writing - one with a hand belonging to the Queen of Heaven, the second - where the hand is placed separately. Icons should not be placed next to each other; they should be placed in different rooms or at least on different sides of the iconostasis. If the room is small, one image is placed in the red corner (on the shrine), the second is placed opposite the entrance.

“Three-Handed” does not require any decorations in the form of towels, embroidered towels or lace. The image itself is so sacred that additional “decor” will only get in the way. On celebration days, a candle is lit in front of the icon.

It is extremely important to take care of fire safety and prevent damage or fire to images. For candles you need to purchase special stands

It is also unacceptable to place iconostases and burning candles high from the floor level. If a fire starts, it will be difficult to put it out at ceiling height.

I want to come back here every time...

When entering the village of Panikovets, Voronets village council, the first thing that catches your eye is the gilded domes and crosses of the local Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The grandfather of one of the famous theologians of the 19th century, St. Theophan the Recluse, served in this church. People always came here when going on pilgrimage from Chernavsk to Zadonsk. One of the boundaries of the temple is consecrated in honor of the great Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. On the patronal feast day, despite it being a weekday, there are many parishioners here.

The service began with the Divine Liturgy, then the worshipers walked around the shrine in a procession of the cross. Valentina Frolova lives in Moscow. 16 years ago I bought a dacha in Panikovets. When I’m on vacation, I always try to visit the temple.

“This is such a blessed place that it’s hard to describe in words,” says Valentina. “I’m drawn here, it’s warm and cozy here.” All mental burdens recede.

“The services are longer, but after them some kind of inspiration sets in,” notes Nina Chernyshova, a resident of the village. Lava

— Father Alexy pays a lot of attention to confession. Tries to listen to everyone and give the right advice

His sermons are filled with deep meaning. I don’t want to leave the temple.

— Father greets us like family. He knows everyone, remembers our problems, always asks how we are, how are our relatives,” says Irina Gubushkina, a native of the village. “For many years the temple stood in ruins and desolation, but now, thanks to the efforts of Hieromonk Alexy and parishioners, it is becoming more and more beautiful every year.

The main shrine of the parish is the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Right Hand”. The image always has a lot of burning candles. And those praying who come to her with their sorrows.

note

The name of the shrine is explained by the fact that in the image the Mother of God holds the Child of God on her right hand, while in the area images where the Child sits on her left were more common. The icon, located in the Panikovets temple, was miraculously found in the village. Lava in 1999.

Not only residents of Yelets, Yeletsk district and nearby settlements in the region, but also pilgrims from other regions of the country come to pray at the Church of the Intercession. Examples of healings, even from serious illnesses, number in the thousands.

— While visiting in the Moscow region, I felt severe pain in my back. The medications didn’t help,” says Yelets resident Olga Panova. — I barely made it to my hometown. Doctors diagnosed herniated disc. An urgent operation was needed. My niece told me about the “Right Handed” icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and advised me to go see her urgently.

And not only could I move, I couldn’t even stand up. After reading about the miraculous healings of the Mother of God, after praying, she was able to rise and kneel before the icon. The doctor I went to immediately after paying homage to the shrine couldn’t believe my eyes. As a result, we managed only with treatment.

O. PISKAREVA.

Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God Right-handed

Everything about religion and faith - “prayer to the icon of the Mother of God of the Right Hand” with a detailed description and photographs.

Icon of the Mother of God “Right Handmaiden”

Locally revered, Local celebration on January 25 (January 12, old style).

In Greece, in the Peloponnese, there is the monastery of Mega Spileon (translated as the Great Cave).

Pilgrims flock here to venerate the miraculous image of the Mother of God, created, according to legend, by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke and called “The Right Handmaiden”.

Important

This name is explained by the fact that in the image the Mother of God is holding the Child of God on her right hand, while in the area there were more common images where the Child sits on the left hand of the Mother of God.

note

Another famous image of the Mother of God “Right-Handed” is located in the monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai (in the given list of icons it is the third in a row).

Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Three-handed”

The great shrine is the Face of the Mother of God of Three Hands. The peculiarity of the relic is that in its lower part there is a hand that looks like the third hand of the Queen of Heaven, but at the same time it is a separate element of the image.

Help from Heaven

Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God of the Three-Handed One works miracles:

able to heal injured limbs after herbs and mutilations;
heals skin burns;

The first miraculous copy of the legendary Face of the Virgin Mary came to Russian soil in the 16th century. Several lists were made from it, which to this day rest on the walls of Orthodox Russian churches.

Many churches testify to the miraculous healings of parishioners who turn to the Queen of Heaven with their last hope. It is noteworthy that most of those healed had injuries similar to the injury of the great luminary John of Damascus.

Important! The Blessed Virgin Mary helps everyone who is sick and asks for Her help.

Prayer text

Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands is offered by millions of Orthodox Christians around the world. Celebrations in honor of the miraculous Face are held annually on July 11 and 25.

Most Holy and Most Blessed Virgin Mary! We fall down and worship Thee before Thy holy icon, remembering Thy glorious miracle by healing the truncated right hand of the Venerable John of Damascus, which was revealed from the icon, whose sign is visible to this day on it in the form of a third hand attached to Thy image.

We pray to You and ask You, the All-merciful and All-generous Intercessor of our race: hear us, praying to You, and, like blessed John, who cried out to You in sorrow and illness, You heard us, so do not despise us, who are grieving and suffering from the wounds of many different passions and those who diligently come running to You from a contrite and humble soul.

You see, O All-Merciful Lady, our infirmities, our embitterment, our need, I will demand our help and intercession, as if we are surrounded by enemies from everywhere and there is no one who helps, less than one who intercedes, unless You have mercy on us, the Lady.

To her, we pray to You, listen to our painful voice and help us to preserve the patristic Orthodox faith until the end of our days, to walk unswervingly in all the commandments of the Lord, to always bring true repentance for our sins to God and to be honored with a peaceful Christian death and a good answer on the Last Day The judgment of Thy Son and our God, Who prayed for us with Thy Motherly prayer, may He not condemn us according to our iniquities, but may He have mercy on us according to His great and ineffable mercy.

O All-Good One! Hear us and do not deprive us of Your sovereign help, yes, having received salvation through You, let us sing and glorify You on the land of the living and our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of You, to whom befits glory and power, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit always , now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen