Thanks to historical sources, it is now known that in the tenth century, an icon of the Mother of God appeared on the territory of the Iversky Monastery, which is considered to be miraculous. It became of great importance on the territory of the monastic monastery. It is considered to be a talisman of a holy place and a real treasure. Therefore, she is considered an intercessor and protector from enemies and adversaries. Also, the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God is considered capable of helping in all endeavors and aspirations.
Celebration days:
- 25 February
- April 26—transitionable
- the 6th of May
- October 26
Description and meaning of the icon
She is also given other names, such as the Gatekeeper or Portaitissa. It has a feature that distinguishes it from other shrines: you can see a small wound and blood flowing from it down the right cheek. Such “mutilation” of the Iveron Icon of the Goalkeeper was caused by infidels who wanted to destroy the image, but by grace liquid flowed from a wound on a piece of wood.
The main purpose of icons is the ability to pray to them and ask for help. And yet, the Orthodox separately highlight the Iveron Icon, which helps preserve the house from external influence. She is able to protect a woman from carnal ailments and help her cope with mental disorders that are often encountered in everyday life. Therefore, women are often sent by confessors to pray to the Iveron Icon in order to receive admonition.
What are they treated with?
A sacred akathist can be read to Christ, asking for help or giving thanks for it. Believers ask for healing, the opportunity to have children, making decisions in difficult situations, reconciliation in the family, and blessing the cause. For centuries, villagers turned to the Iveron Icon with prayers for a good harvest. It doesn’t matter at all what you come to the Mother of God with; material gifts are not important to her. It is very important to pray from a pure heart and sincerely. Then the words will definitely be heard.
The icon gives holy forgiveness. Those who sincerely believe in her intercession are especially honored with her mercy. Those people who have undergone repentance find healing of sorrows and illnesses. They feel joy from being close to the Blessed Virgin.
Through the image of the Mother of God, even the greatest sinners bestow spiritual purity and tranquility. Very often those people who suffer from bad habits and inclinations turn to the icon with prayers. If a person cannot cope with the situation on his own, then sincere prayer in front of the image helps to get rid of alcoholism and other ailments. People gain an amazing determination to start a new life.
They pray at the icon to enlighten a person who has apostatized from the faith. Even after the prayers of his loved ones, people begin to visit the temple themselves. Such miracles happen thanks to the power of the image. The icon admonishes and guides on the true path.
There is evidence that prayers near the Iveron Icon healed severe chronic diseases. Those whom doctors had given a terrible diagnosis of paralysis or leukemia also returned to life. Miracles of healing occurred not only in ancient times, but also in our days.
History of the Goalkeeper Icon
The history of writing begins with the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is generally accepted that its author is Luke, the holy apostle who became the first icon painter. He was the first to create icons of the Mother of God and captured this face, which the Mother of God herself approved.
According to legends widespread among Christians who adhere to the Orthodox and Catholic faiths, a widowed woman lived near a city called Nicaea, once located in Asia Minor. She was distinguished by her pious character and strong faith, which she tried to instill in her only son. But Theophilus, who held the position of emperor, made efforts to destroy all Christians and their followers. One day the overseers noticed a holy image in the house and decided to destroy it by piercing it with a spear. Blood flowed down the cheek of the holy image, and the guard was shocked and prayed for forgiveness for his deed.
The woman decided to restore and protect the holy image and at night, after praying, she released it across the sea waves. The restored icon was nailed to the walls of the monastery, and Mary herself appeared in a dream to the abbot and told about the gift to the monastery. From here the Iveron Icon received its name and meaning, which is difficult to overestimate. According to legend, the acquisition of the image is associated with various miracles.
- Firstly, the monks were able to remove the icon from the sea only with the blessing of the Mother of God herself.
- Secondly, the image itself chose where to be. Hence the second name that the Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos received - the Goalkeeper, which is also recommended to be hung in the hallway in the house.
The icon was framed in a silver frame, leaving the Virgin and Child exposed. History knows many cases when she saved monks from hunger and barbarians who wanted to conquer the monastery and subjugate it to themselves.
Copies taken from the icon, which had miraculous properties, were delivered to the territory of Rus', even during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, who occupied the throne. They were held in special esteem. There even arose a ritual, when setting off on a campaign or returning from it, to bow to the Holy Mother of God, mentally turning to her with a request for protection and patronage. Another list was regularly taken around hospitals so that patients who were not leaving the hospital could pray and worship.
Appearance of the image
The shrine wandered somewhere for more than 200 years. And only after that the Mother of God again revealed her to people. This event took place around 1004. The icon appeared to people on the grounds of a monastery built by Georgian monks. Since in ancient times the territory where Georgians lived was called Iveria, the men’s monastery was also called Iversky.
One day, Athonite monks saw on the horizon a pillar of fire that stretched from the water to the sky. With prayer, the monks went down to the coast and saw that in the flame there was an image of the Heavenly Queen. Soaring above the water. But the monks were unable to get closer to the icon. An unknown force was moving them away from the image.
Photo 2. The icon remains on Mount Athos to this day.
In those days, the monk Gabriel of Iveron lived in the monastery. He became famous throughout the world for his numerous exploits. The monk constantly prayed and ate only herbs, but at the same time remained incredibly merciful and kind. The Queen of Heaven appeared to Gabriel and ordered him to take the icon and bring it to the monastery. She promised the elder to become the patroness of the monastery and to intercede for everyone who came to it with prayers.
As soon as the monk told the abbot about the vision, all the brothers gathered and set off in a religious procession to the coast. Walking to the sea, the monks read an akathist to the Mother of God. This time the icon did not disappear, but came closer. To touch the shrine, Gabriel walked on the water as if on solid ground. The image was acquired on the first Tuesday after Easter.
But the story didn't end there. As a sign of gratitude for the mercy of the Lord, the monks prayed for three days before the icon, which was placed in the monastery cathedral. After the completion of the liturgy, the monks discovered that the image had disappeared. With amazement, he was discovered above the gates of the monastery. The icon was returned to the temple three times, but each time it moved to its original place. The monks were confused.
Photo 3. The Iveron icon is easily recognized by the wound from which blood oozes.
After this, the Mother of God appeared to Gabriel and told him that the monks should not guard the relic. The icon must protect everyone who bows before it in prayer. Therefore, the image should be located at the very entrance to the temple. So the icon will become a spiritual shield. The holy face received a second name - Vpratarnitsa or Portaitis. In the 12th century, the temple of the Iveron Icon was erected, called the paraklis of Panagia-Portaitissa (translated from Greek as a chapel). The image remains in it to this day. The temple was built exactly on the spot where Gabriel once came ashore with the icon.
How does the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God help?
Since ancient times, the icon of the Mother of God, the Goalkeeper, has been helping people to strengthen their faith and ward off all sorts of misfortunes. Here we can talk about bodily ailments and various enemies. As we know from history, the Iveron Icon has always helped in preserving the Russian land from invaders, protecting monasteries and other abodes of faith. The image can also be used to protect the home. Here the meaning of the icon also refers to protection from subtle entities, because the image is capable of strengthening faith and healing not only physical, but also spiritual ailments.
That is why many choose the icon of the Iveron Mother of God for their home altar, and the prayer addressed to her protects the house with all its inhabitants.
For an Orthodox person, one’s own home is like a temple, which is why the home icon of the Mother of God is so important.
The Iverskaya icon is of particular importance for women, whom it helps and protects, and if you look at where to hang the Goalkeeper icon, then it is quite possible to resemble the monastic way of life and hang it above the door or somewhere in the hallway.
The meaning of the face
The Iveron icon has a multifaceted meaning. The Mother of God intercedes for all people. Of course, at first she became the protector of the inhabitants of Athos. To this day, her power helps monks to pray day and night for the salvation of people.
The Iveron image demonstrates in earthly incarnations the different qualities of the Queen of Heaven. The icon embodies the following features:
- Protectors.
- Keepers.
- Intercessors.
- Healers.
The miraculous icon is a real shield from misfortunes that come from human vices and the elements. For many centuries, the Mother of God protected the monastery from fires and raids. Nowadays the icon is in a small church to the left of the monastery gate. The image blocks the way for people who have unrepentant sin in their souls. The icon helps the monks, admonishes and denounces them.
Prayers before the Iveron Icon
Troparion, tone 1
From Thy holy icon, / O Lady Theotokos, / healing and healing are given abundantly, / with faith and love, to those who come to her. / So visit my weakness, / and have mercy on my soul, O Good. I, // and heal the body with Your grace, Most Pure One .
Translation: From Your holy icon, O Lady Theotokos, healing and medicine are given in abundance to everyone who comes to her with faith and love. Also, visit my illness and have mercy on my soul, O Good One, and heal my body with Your grace, O Most Pure One.
Troparion, tone 1
The insolence of those who hate the image of the Lord,/ and the power of the wicked came ungodly to Nicaea,/ and sent the inhumanly widow,/ piously venerating the icon of the Mother of God, they tortured,/ but melted the night from her sleep let the icon into the sea, crying:/ glory to you, pure one,/ like the impassable The sea has given its waters, // glory to Your righteousness, One Imperishable.
Translation: The impudence of those who hate the image of the Lord, the power of the wicked (iconoclastic heresy) has ungodly arrived in Nicaea, and those sent inhumanly torture a widow who piously venerates the icon of the Mother of God, but the widow and her son at night released the icon into the sea crying: “Glory to Thee, Pure, since the sea is impassable has offered Thee (like) its shoulders (its waves), glory to Thy straight path, the Only Imperishable.”
Kontakion, tone 8
And yet Thy holy icon, O Mother of God, was cast into the sea, / from a widow who could not save her from her enemies, / but there appeared the Guardian of Athos / and the Goalkeeper of the monastery of Iveron, fearful enemies who/ also in the Orthodox Russian country// honors Thee from all troubles and deliverer from misfortunes.
Translation: Although Your holy icon, Mother of God, was immersed in the sea by a widow who could not save the icon from enemies, she was found and became the Guardian of Athos and the Goalkeeper of the Iveron monastery, frightening enemies, and in the Orthodox Russian country, those who revere You, from everyone deliverer of troubles and misfortunes.
Kontakion, tone 4
The co-emergence today of the Light of the Resurrection is the light of Thy pure icon, / we both joyfully cry out triumphantly: preserve Thy servants with grace, O Lady.
Translation: Today, together with the Light of the Resurrection, the light of Your venerated icon has shone, celebrating both lights with joy, we cry: “Preserve Your servants with grace, Lady.”
Prayer
O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord, Queen of Heaven and earth! Hear the much-painful sighing of our souls, look down from Thy holy height upon us, who with faith and love worship Thy most pure image. Behold, immersed in sin and overwhelmed by sorrow, looking at Your image, as if You are living with us, we offer our humble prayer. The imams have no other help, no other intercession, no consolation except You, O Mother of all who mourn and are burdened! Help us, the weak, assuage our sorrow, guide us, the erring, on the right path, heal and save the hopeless, grant us the rest of our lives in peace and silence, give us Christ death and at the Last Judgment of Your Son, the merciful Intercessor appeared to us, and always We sing, magnify and glorify Thee, as the good Intercessor of the Christian race, with all those who have pleased God. Amen.
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Prayer help
Correct prayer must be learned. To do this, you need to improve yourself and make sure that prayers are not read automatically before the images. The state of the soul must be peaceful, otherwise a conversation with God, His Immaculate Mother and the holy saints will not work.
Prayer is then especially valuable in Heaven when, thanks to it, the prayer book changes himself, his worldview and attitude to the surrounding reality.
- The Iveron Mother of God will help when your heart is heavy and your soul “hurts”, something worries or weighs you down.
- The Mother of God will help mentally ill people find peace and calm the condition of their relatives.
- If relatives have physical illnesses or bodily injuries, the prayer in front of the Iveron Icon will certainly be heard and, according to the faith of the petitioners, will be rewarded to them. Even if the doctors abandoned the patient and predicted his imminent death, the Mother of God will heal the sick person.
- You can pray for the preservation of your home, for the passage of fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters.
- The Mother of God loves children very much, therefore, according to mother’s prayers, beloved children will always be under reliable Heavenly Cover.
- If among your relatives or friends there is a sinner who is not going to repent of his atrocities, then you can pray for him before the Iveron Mother of God and ask for forgiveness for his sins.
Iconography
On the icon Mother is shown in a half-length image. Her head is bowed towards the Son, and her right hand is raised in a gesture of prayer. Little Jesus sits on his mother's left hand, His head tilted slightly back. His right hand is extended towards the Mother’s hand in a blessing gesture, and His left hand holds a scroll.
The position of the mother's hands resembles a kind of container, like a throne, which corresponds to the idea of the image of the Mother of God - a temple, a container of the Incontainable.
The Virgin Mary's facial features are large, the concentrated gaze of her almond-shaped eyes is directed forward. A significant detail of the image is the bleeding wound.
Guardian of the monastery
The Most Holy Lady kept Her word - many times through Her intercession She preserved the Iveron monastery.
So, one day the Persians, led by the leader Amira, sailed to Mount Athos in fifteen ships and surrounded the Iveron Monastery. Taking the sacred vessels and the Iveron icon from the temple, the monks locked themselves in one of the strongest towers. Meanwhile, the enemies entangled the pillars of the cathedral church with ropes and tried to destroy them.
With tears, the monks cried out to the Mother of God for help - suddenly a terrible storm arose, and all the Persian ships sank, and with them most of the Persian army...
Where else are miraculous icons kept?
The icon of the Mother of God “Goalkeeper” is also well known in the Diveyevo monastery. A healing spring has been flowing here for many decades. It is located near the chapel in the name of the Iveron Icon. Elder Alexandra dug a spring with her own hands so that the workers who built the Kazan Church for the monastery could drink water.
Here the local population prayed during dry periods and brought babies to bathe them in healing water. Already in our time, a pond was equipped so that you could plunge completely. Water helps against various diseases, as well as those who are possessed by evil spirits.
