Over the long years of Soviet power, people began to forget about God, about those traditions that allowed them to live according to the pious rules of their ancestors. But today the old knowledge is returning. For example, did you know that everyone has a personal amulet - an icon based on their date of birth? There are other heavenly patrons who are called upon to protect a Christian from the day of baptism. Let's figure out how to identify your intercessors.
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How to choose the right personalized icon
Believers who decide to purchase an icon for their home are often faced with the problem of choice due to the abundance of recommendatory literature. Many sources write information that contradicts each other, and some go so far as to recommend choosing icons based on the signs of the Zodiac and personal horoscopes formed by pseudo-astrologers. Such information has nothing to do with true faith, because astrology and palmistry are considered false, heretical sciences.
Note! There are no strict ties to sacred images based on date of birth or other distinguishing feature. All images have good, miraculous power that anyone can turn to. The information given below is only advisory in nature, and whether to use it or not is a personal matter for each believer.
How to determine by date of birth
If you are faced with the problem of buying an icon for the first time and want to choose the most suitable option for yourself, follow these steps:
- It is necessary to take the Orthodox calendar, which marks the holidays dedicated to the honor of a saint or major event.
- Find the holiday closest to your birthday in memory of a saint.
- He will be your patron, helping you overcome worldly adversity on the path to the Lord God.
For example, you were born in the summer, July 22. According to the Orthodox calendar, the appearance of the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God is celebrated on the 21st. It will be considered the best choice for purchase. If you don’t want to look for a church holiday that is as close as possible to your date of birth, simplify the task by choosing a suitable icon according to the time of year.
Winter
For believers born during the winter period, from November 23 to December 21, the following images are suitable for purchase:
- "The Omen";
- "Tikhvin Icon".
The image of the “Sign” appeared thanks to the miraculous salvation of the inhabitants of Veliky Novgorod during the siege of the city in the 12th century. According to legends, the city was besieged by superior enemy forces, and residents could only hope for a miracle. The parishioners prayed earnestly in the Church of the Transfiguration day and night, asking for God's mercy.
It was decided to hold a religious procession to maintain the spirit of the defending soldiers on the walls, during which the procession came under massive fire from the enemy. One of the arrows hit the icon, from whose eyes bloody tears immediately began to flow.
This phenomenon discouraged and demoralized the attackers, while the besieged became indescribably furious. They went beyond the walls and attacked the stunned enemy, winning an unconditional victory. Subsequently, many more miraculous events were associated with the face of the icon, which can be found in church chronicles.
Orthodox Christians who choose the “Sign” icon as a personal icon for praying can count on intercession and deliverance from the enemy in case of extreme need. If such an intercessor does not suit you, pay attention to the “Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God,” which, according to legend, was painted by Luke himself.
The first mention of the icon of the Mother of God dates back to approximately 1383 from the Nativity of Christ, it was in the Novgorod lands. The image was kept for a long time in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which was subject to arson three times during its existence. The icon remained safe and sound every time, despite the fact that the rest of the utensils in the church burned to the ground.
The image protects babies, protecting them from illnesses and accidents. For this miraculous property, the icon received the second name “Giver of Children.”
Spring
Orthodox Christians whose birthdays fall on a spring day can take one of the following icons as their patroness:
- "Iveron" icon;
- "Kazan" icon.
The “Iveron” icon, painted by the holy Apostle Luke in honor of the Mother of God, Mary, was first mentioned in the chronicles of the reign of Emperor Theophilus. These years are known for serious persecution of Christians and all attributes at least somehow related to this faith.
So, one of the guards noticed a Christian icon in a woman’s house and immediately decided to destroy it. He poked the image with a spear, after which real blood began to ooze from the cut. The guard was so shocked that he quickly left the room, forgetting about the icon and the woman who kept it. The hostess decided that as soon as the news reached the emperor, a detachment of palace guards would come for the icon, after which the holy image would undoubtedly be destroyed, and the woman would be severely punished. She decided to get rid of the face of the Mother of God and, under the cover of darkness, threw it into the river.
The icon miraculously did not drown, but was washed up by the waves on the shore of the Iversky Monastery. That same night, the abbot had a prophetic dream about what had happened. The image was found and preserved within the walls of the monastery, and the icon received its second name - “The Gateway”.
Having an icon in the house allows you to protect it from harmful influences from the outside, cutting off all negative thoughts and emotions on the threshold of the home.
The second most popular among parishioners born in the spring is the “Kazan” icon, which revealed its image during the severe fires in Kazan, which destroyed more than half of the city. A vision of the location of the icon came to a little girl, who told her parents about the strange dream. After checking the place indicated by the girl, the city residents found an icon of the Virgin Mary untouched by the fire, which in itself was a great miracle. Later, a nunnery was founded at the excavation site, the first novice of which was the same girl who had a prophetic dream.
The “Kazan” icon installed in your home will help in the following situations:
- It will help you make the right decision in vital situations when a person is at a crossroads, determining his future destiny.
- It relieves bodily ailments, more than once throughout the history of its existence showing acts of miraculous healing to believers.
- Protects warriors in battle.
Important! Whatever icon you choose as your patroness, the main thing is to pray with faith in God and goodness. If you pray simply for the sake of performing a daily ritual, you should not expect any serious changes in the future.
In summer
The summer months are patronized by:
- Icon "The Burning Bush".
- "Vladimirskaya".
- Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow.”
The “Burning Bush” has been known since the beginning of the Christian faith; it originally depicted a burning bush, which reflected the appearance of the Mother of God. Opposite the bush, the prophet Moses is depicted in a prayer pose. Subsequently, the image underwent serious changes, and at the moment the young Jesus Christ is depicted on the icon along with the Mother of God. They are surrounded by an octagonal star. The story of its appearance has been lost for centuries, and we can only guess how this miraculous image was acquired.
The “Vladimir” icon of the Mother of God is considered one of the most ancient in Rus'; it was painted by the famous evangelist Luke. The clergy clarify that the image is not the icon painter’s own creation, but a copy copied from a lost original. In Rus', the icon appeared thanks to the friendly gesture of the Byzantine ruler - it was sent as a gift to Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich.
Throughout its existence, it has traveled a difficult path, ultimately settling in the Church-Museum of St. Nicholas, which is under the supervision of employees of the Tretyakov Gallery.
The icon dedicated to the Mother of God, “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” became known in religious circles as miraculous after its birth in 1688. The image showed its holiness during prayers for the health of the sister of the Moscow Patriarch Joachim, curing the body of a sick girl from a serious illness. Before this, according to the girl, she had a prophetic dream in which the current location of the icon was indicated.
in autumn
Citizens born in autumn and wishing to install an icon suitable for them in their home should pay attention to:
- "Passionate" icon;
- "The Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord."
A prayer speech addressed to the “Passionate” icon helps as follows:
- Heals diseases that have affected the soul or body of the believer.
- Strengthens the strength of spirit, giving peace and enlightenment to the grieving soul.
- Eliminates sinful thoughts associated with suicide and other sinful acts that Satan’s accomplices send to weak souls, undermined by difficult trials.
- Guides those suffering on the righteous path, leading them away from the path of vicious self-destruction.
- Protects the house from the elements and disasters, diverting the wrath of God from the righteous home. Thus, there is a known case when a large building burned down during a fire, the only untouched place in which was the room storing the holy image of the Mother of God.
The Icon “Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord” is a protector of true believing Christians, helping to protect themselves from:
- Pain in bones and joints.
- Relieves chronic headaches and ailments.
- There are known cases where barren women, offering prayers to the holy image, subsequently acquired the ability to bear offspring.
- Systematic prayers in front of the icon help to get rid of even incurable ailments that ordinary doctors cannot cope with.
How to find out by name
Finding out the name of the patron saint by name is very simple; to do this, you need to do one of the following:
- Purchase a church calendar or download it from the Internet. It contains the names of all famous saints and the dates of their celebration. Based on this data, it is not difficult to determine your divine patron.
- If using the calendar it was not possible to determine the exact name of the patron saint, seek advice from older relatives. They had to be present at your baptismal ceremony and know your middle, church name.
- It is a common practice in churches to issue a baptismal certificate that includes the names of the godparents and the person's middle name, which, in most cases, is similar to the name of the patron saint.
- If your baptismal certificate is lost, do not despair. Contact the church where the baptism took place and ask the local priest to provide the information you are interested in. Records of the ceremony must be kept in the church archives.
You can purchase an intercessor icon, which depicts the face of the divine patron, at any nearby temple.
Measurement icons
Measuring icons are sometimes ordered for baptized babies. The patron is drawn in full growth, and the size of the icon corresponds to the height of the baby. These are also personalized icons based on date of birth and name. The image is placed above the baby's cradle so that he remains under the constant protection of the heavenly patron.
When the child grows up, parents should tell about his patron. After all, it is necessary that a child, from childhood, establish a spiritual connection with his saint and establish a trusting relationship. Reading stories about the life of a saint is intended to guide the child’s steps along the path of righteousness and holiness.
How to pray in front of a personalized icon
There are general rules for reading a prayer in front of an icon that should be followed:
- You need to turn not to the object, but to the image of the saint that is depicted on it. The frame itself is worth nothing, and only the spirit itself is holy, which fills the icon painting, with the help of which God interacts with us.
- Before reading the prayer, the believer must make the sign of the cross and bow.
- Then the text of the prayer itself is read, which will help tune the soul in the right way. The text can be read both by heart and with the help of a prayer book.
- After the prayer, the person asking is allowed to turn to the Lord in his own words, expressing everything that has accumulated in the soul.
- At the end of the ritual, kiss the hands or feet of the image.
Keep in mind that the image must always be kept clean and it is prohibited to hang it in indecent places not intended for conversation with the Almighty. If you do not follow these rules, your guardian angels will not hear you and will not be able to help you with future adversities.
Icon according to the zodiac sign Taurus: the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon
The “Inexhaustible Chalice” belongs to the type of icon with the face of the Virgin Mary, but its characteristic feature is the prayerful pose of the Virgin Mary and the blessing gesture of the Infant Christ standing in the chalice.
Many believe that this icon only saves from harmful addictions; in fact, it heals from any ailment, since according to the canons of the Orthodox Church it is recognized as miraculous.
The bowl is a symbol of a source of beneficial energy and, accordingly, help. The icon has a beneficial effect on those who experience painful torment or mental suffering.
You can also express requests and wishes related to property and money, acquisitions and other actions of a material nature. The day of veneration of the icon is May 18.
Feast of the patron saint in Orthodoxy
The date of the holiday dedicated to honoring your patron saint can be found in:
- The church calendar, which indicates all significant events in the Christian world, including days of celebration and praise of the acts of the holy great martyrs.
- In the nearest church, with the clergy. They must know all the holidays by heart, and will not refuse to provide the required information to the sufferer.
- From friends who understand this topic.
Celebrations in honor of certain patron saints are accompanied by distinctive rituals, which can be found in any relevant literature. Many holidays are accompanied by rites of communion and confession.
Why is the date of birth so important?
The human name has always been something precious. Naming a new person is always a great privilege. All this is due to the fact that a name is not just a set of sounds. It was always given in honor of the saint. For this purpose, the church calendar was used, the so-called “saints”. Every day the Church celebrates the memory of one or more martyrs for the faith, miracle workers who served God during their lifetime and were then declared saints.
On the child’s birthday, one of God’s saints was chosen, and he became an intercessor for life.
- Modern people often confuse name day (the day of remembrance of the righteous) and Angel Day, but these dates should not be confused.
- Throughout your life you need to turn to the Angel in prayer. After all, it is he who will meet the soul after death and will accompany it to heaven.
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An angel is given by God at baptism, his task is to be a spiritual guide. It is this disembodied spirit that guides you on the path of truth. He helps the ward follow God’s commandments, protects not only the soul, but also the body. Probably everyone can remember a time when he miraculously escaped danger. I must say thank you to my heavenly patron for this. You should also have an image of your saint in the red corner and ask for his help in every difficult situation.
What can you ask your patron or patroness for?
In church canons there are no strict frameworks that limit the requests of those praying in front of a personal icon. The only thing to consider in such situations is:
- The patron, like any other icon, cannot be asked to harm another intelligent being. Such requests are not pleasing to God, and punishment can overtake the one asking.
- In difficult situations, the image is asked for any available help, regardless of its area of responsibility.
- Your patron, like other saints who bring the light of the Christian faith to the people, may have strong abilities in some specific matter. Accordingly, if you ask for help in this area, the final effect can be noticeably more powerful. However, this does not mean that they do not protect against other misfortunes and you cannot ask for the health of your family or loved ones if the image is responsible for some other area of human life.
Important! The most important thing is to pray with faith and pure thoughts. If this is so, help will come regardless of age, gender and the guardian angel appointed by God.
Icon according to the zodiac sign Libra: the icon “Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
“The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos” is an icon that has long been revered in Rus'.
The word “veil” means a long veil with which women covered their heads, but the veil of the Mother of God is a symbol of protection, help and patronage (according to the biblical account, Mary spread it over all those praying and suffering, protecting from evil and enemies, visible and invisible).
“Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos” is not only the name of the icon, but also the holiday of the Orthodox Church - October 14. (Prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
And from this date the autumn wedding season opens, so the icon can be considered the patroness of all lovers.
