It's amazing how the destinies of people, paintings and icons are intertwined! This is what happened with the icon of the Mother of God “Three Joys”.
The basis for the lists of this icon was a copy of Raphael’s painting “The Holy Family,” which the great artist painted in his youth
It was brought to Russia in the 18th century by an artist who studied painting in Italy, and was presented to the rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity on Gryazi, who was the artist’s uncle. Subsequently, the painting was placed on the porch in front of the entrance doors to the temple.
History of the icon
And then an amazing story happened that explains how the icon of the “Three Joys” got its name. It happened in Moscow. In the family of one noble lady, three misfortunes occurred at once: her husband was sent into exile because of an evil slander, and all property was confiscated, and her only son was captured by enemies during the battle.
The unfortunate woman prayed days and nights for help and salvation for her family. One day in a dream she had a revelation: in order to receive the help of the Mother of God, she needed to find the icon of the Holy Family and pray in front of it. She rushed around the city for a long time in search of this icon, and finally her search was crowned with success - the icon ended up in the Trinity Church. Falling to her knees, the woman offered long and tearful prayers to the Queen of Heaven.
Very soon three good news came: her husband was acquitted of an unjust slander and returned from exile, her son was released from captivity, and all the confiscated property was returned. After this amazing incident, the “Triple Joy” icon got its name.
The news of this miraculous deliverance from troubles quickly spread, and the suffering were drawn to the miraculous icon in the hope of the help of the Queen of Heaven in their sorrows and troubles.
The meaning and help emanating from the Mother of God image
The miraculous face was especially revered in the Royal House.
Now there are several lists of the miraculous icon. One of them resides in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Gryazekh, and a couple of others adorn the churches of Moscow.
Read about famous churches in Moscow:
- Church of the Nine Martyrs of Kizichesk
- Temple of the All-Merciful Savior in Mitino
- Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki
Our Lady of the Three Joys
Before the highly revered face of the “Three Joys,” Orthodox parishioners of churches offer the sincere and fiery prayer of the Three Joys:
- About calling for help for yourself and your family and loved ones who are in trouble;
- About forgiveness of committed sins;
- About strengthening in faith;
- On preserving the lives of military personnel located in the battlefields;
- About liberation from enemy captivity;
- About salvation from enemies;
- On resolving important cases;
- About healing from illnesses;
- About successful marriage and marriage;
- On the gift of children to infertile couples;
- About restoring the minds of people who have lost their minds.
The holy icon is of great importance for people living in other countries who find themselves in difficult situations in a foreign land.
Description of the icon
In comparison with the Italian painting, the icon of the Mother of God “Three Joys” has significant differences; The Holy Trinity on the “Three Joys” icon is painted in the traditional Russian icon painting style. In the center of the icon is the Mother of God holding the Baby Jesus in her arms, on either side of Her are St. Joseph the Betrothed, destined to be Her wife, and young John the Baptist, who became the Forerunner of the Savior.
The scarlet robe of the Mother of God has a special meaning: it emphasizes that before us is the Queen of Heaven in all Her greatness. But the gaze of the Mother of God, as always on Orthodox icons, is sad and soulful; She seems to be able to read the depths of the hearts of those who pray to Her for help.
Iconography
An ancient legend says that one of the young painters was sent to study in Italy, and after completing his studies, returning to Russia, he brought with him the iconographic face of the “Holy Family” and left it with the priest of the temple located in Gryazekh. After the artist’s death, the cleric placed the icon above the church entrance in front of the porch.
Icon of the Mother of God of the Three Joys
The first image of the “Three Joys” is equated with a series of works by the famous Raphael, depicting the Blessed Virgin surrounded by the Infant God and little John the Baptist.
After the Icon of the Three Joys miraculously became famous, many famous artists made copies of it: Christ was depicted in the arms of the Mother of God on the left, and Joseph the Betrothed and John the Baptist were located on opposite sides of Mary.
How does the Three Joys icon help?
Many believers have noted that prayer to the icon of the “Three Joys” strengthens the spirit and steadfastness in faith, relieves despair and depression, but the meaning of the icon of the “Three Joys” is much greater: it can provide help in any trouble, from physical infirmities to the improvement of material welfare
The “Three Joys” icon helps restore justice to the innocently slandered, defeat enemies, guide on the righteous path, grants healing of mental and physical ailments, relieves infertility, and preserves the hearth. They also pray to her for military personnel and relatives who have left for foreign lands.
Rules of prayer
The Prayer of the Three Joys must be read reverently and from a pure heart - this is the main requirement. The Lord is merciful, He forgives all people, all their sins, if they sincerely repent of them. The main thing is the desire to correct the situation and no longer commit sins, in order to eventually enter the Kingdom of Heaven in purity.
Before reading the prayer book, it is necessary to perform the Sacrament of Confession and Communion, because the Holy Trinity cannot dwell in the soul of a person burdened with sins, therefore, prayer will not help, no matter how fiery it is.
Where is the icon of the Three Joys currently located?
Unfortunately, after the revolution, during the period of persecution of the church, the original icon of the “Holy Family” disappeared, so in our time we can only venerate copies of the icon of the “Three Joys”. They are located in the Church of the Deposition of the Venerable Robe of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Blachernae in Moscow, in the Church of the Deposition of the Robe in Leonovo, which is now part of Moscow, as well as in the house church at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Another list is located in the village of Gryazi, Moscow region, in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity.
Veneration on January 8, the day after the Nativity of Christ
Yokos v7i
Q dear, q dear, q your sweetest voice, our cheerful heart. With us we will be with you until the end of the century, no matter what. Yours is blind and deaf, hearing, lame, lepers are being cleansed, those who are hungry are being fed, they are dying, widowers are enjoying themselves, the poor are rejoicing, the poor they are cheerful, sinners are sleeping, they are rejoicing, they are singing:
Rejoice, soulful soul. Rejoice, bGolyubi1vaz tsRi1tse and3 vLchitse. Rejoice, t famine and3 destruction, cowardice and3 flood sleep us. Rejoice, t ngS, sword, invasion and 3 tribal and 3 internecine battles protecting us. Rejoice, stormy waves of life, m0pz ўtaming. Rejoice, all the tears in honor of our tyrants. Rejoice, you truly loved us with your mother's love. Rejoice, giver of divine blessings. Rejoice, carry eternal joy in your womb. Rejoice, you have prepared a quiet haven for our souls. Rejoice, there is endless joy for everyone.
Rejoice, our joy;
Prayer to the icon
Oh, Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the protection of the capital city and the holy temple of this temple, faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who are in sins and sorrows! Do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, but pray to Thy Son and our God, that He may grant to all of us, who worship Thy miraculous image with faith and tenderness, according to each need: to the sinner - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; for those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; for those who remain in troubles and embitterment - complete relief from them; for the faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; to those who live in joy and abundance - unceasing thanksgiving to God; to those in illness - healing and strengthening. Oh, Most Holy Lady, have mercy on all who honor Your honorable name and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession, protect and preserve people from visible and invisible enemies. Establish marriages in love and like-mindedness; raise babies; Young chastity, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching; Protect half-blooded people from domestic quarrels with peace and love, and give us all love, peace and piety, and health with long life, so that everyone in heaven and on earth will lead You as a strong and unashamed Representative of the Christian race and, this is true, glorify You and Your Son with His beginningless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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Ikos 12
O heavenly, oh dear, oh your sweetest voice, gladdening our hearts! You truly promised to be with us until the end of the century, O Virgin Mother of God! By your prayers the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the hungry are fed, the poor are clothed, widows are comforted, the orphans rejoice, the beggars rejoice, sinners are saved, the poor rejoice, singing:
Rejoice, animated God's Kivote; Rejoice, God-loving Queen and Lady.
Rejoice, you who save us from famine and destruction, cowardice and flood; Rejoice, you who protect us from fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare.
Rejoice, taming the stormy waves of the sea of life; Rejoice, you who wipe away every tear from our eyes.
Rejoice, for you have truly loved us with motherly love; Rejoice, giver of Divine goodness.
Rejoice, you who carried eternal Joy in Your womb; Rejoice, for you have prepared a quiet haven for our souls.
Rejoice, our Joy, who in Your arms carried the Joy of the whole world.
How did the creation take place?
In the manner of painting, the canvas was very reminiscent of the paintings of the great Renaissance artist Raphael Santi, in particular, his “Holy Family” and “Madonna in an Armchair”. Probably, his creations inspired the Russian painter so much that he created his own free interpretation.
The artist gave the painting to his relative, the priest of the Moscow Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Gryazekh. Unfortunately, history has not preserved the name of the author of the work. After the painter’s death, the priest placed the painting as an icon above the entrance to the temple, in front of the porch, giving it the name “Holy Family.” Alas, the original icon has not survived to this day; during the days of the Revolution it was irretrievably lost. But now in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity there is kept a list close to the original source, made back in the 19th century. So why is this icon so revered in Russia and why is the prayer of the “Three Joys” addressed to it considered very powerful?
Grace of the sovereign
Historians know for certain that the icon of the “Three Joys” enjoyed respect and honor in the royal house of the Romanov family. One of the copies of this icon was presented to Maria Alexandrovna, the wife of Emperor Alexander II. The gift was made by the Empress's maid of honor Anna Fedorovna Aksakova, who, after the death of Maria Alexandrovna, took the icon back for a while. But then she returned the icon to the Romanov house, handing it to the wife of Tsarevich Sergei Alexandrovich, Elizabeth Feodorovna. At the same time it was said: “I want your bride to accept the image as a blessing from your mother...”
But it was not only in the rich chambers of the royal house that the icon of the “Three Joys” was held in high esteem. The common people also fervently prayed before the image and, by their faith, received miracles. The inhabitants of Kuban loved the shrine very much. The icon of the Mother of God of the “Three Joys” helped the mothers and wives of the Kuban Cossacks. Thanks to sincere prayers in front of the shrine, their brothers, sons and husbands returned safely from military campaigns.
