Memory of the Icon of the Mother of God "Key of Understanding"

Icon of the Mother of God “Key of Understanding”

Icon of the Mother of God “Key of Understanding”
Commemoration April 2 [1]

The history of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Key of Understanding” is closely connected with the history of a very similar image of “Adding the Mind,” which came to Rus' from the Catholic West in the 16th century. The prototype for its writing was the statue of the Virgin Mary from the Italian city of Loreto, about which there is a lot of evidence. Despite the semantic similarity, outwardly the icons “The Key of Understanding” and “Adding the Mind” are completely different: on the latter, the Mother of God is depicted in a dalmatic - a long sleeveless cloak (like the statue of the Virgin Mary from Loreto) and with the Baby Jesus in her arms, the key is on the composition there is no image.

However, there are several facts that indicate the common origins of these two icons. Today in Loreto, next to the famous statue, you can buy an icon of the Virgin Mary (outwardly corresponding to the image of “Addition of Mind”) with the following inscription: “Our Lady of Loreto. Russian icon of the 18th century. The Old Slavonic inscription reads: “Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, the Most Pure Virgin Mary, called the Key of Wisdom.”

. It is noteworthy that in the images with the name “Key of Understanding” an important part of the composition is the arch, under the arch of which the plot of the icon unfolds. The sanctuary of the statue of the Blessed Virgin of Loreto - the carved niche where the shrine is kept - also has the shape of an arch.

Memory of the Icon of the Mother of God “Key of Understanding”

On April 15, the Orthodox Church honors the image of the Mother of God “The Key of Understanding”

Some are skeptical about this image, seeing in it primarily a prototype of the Catholic statue of the Virgin Mary in Loreto. And here there are no objections, but let us still turn to the testimony of Evgeniy Poselyanin in his book “Tales of the Miraculous Icons of the Mother of God” (1919) “Icon of the Mother of God “Key of Understanding” The Most Holy Mother of God is depicted on this icon in full height; A key is drawn at the bottom of the icon. Prayers are performed in front of her before the youths begin their studies, and they also pray in cases where children notice poor development of mental abilities necessary for mastering the sciences taught to them. That is why it is called the “Key of Understanding.” This image is revered locally and is now located in the cemetery church of the city of Balakhna, Nizhny Novgorod province.”

Used materials

Bulgakov S.V., Handbook for clergy
. Part II: Collection of information relating primarily to the practical activities of the domestic clergy. Alphabetical index of icons of the Most Holy Theotokos kept in our monasteries, supplemented with information about Her other church-wide and locally venerated saints. icons - M: Publishing department of the Moscow Patriarchate, 1993, p. 1575.
Dmitry Nikolaevich Filin. “Icon of the Mother of God “Key of Understanding” // LiveJournal Page

[1] Evgeniy Poselyanin (Poselyanin E. The Mother of God. Description of Her earthly life and miraculous icons. M: ANO “Orthodox Journal “Christian's Rest””, 2002,) commemoration - April 1; at prot. Sergius Bulgakov's memory is May 1.

History of the origin of the icon

The 16th century icon of the Mother of God “Addition of Mind” served as a certain prototype for this icon. The image of the Virgin and Child for this icon, in turn, was taken from the Catholic statue of Mary, which was located in the city of Loreto, Italy.

On the icon, the Virgin Mary is depicted in full growth. Just below is the key, which the angels reverently hold. This key can symbolize the true essence of human existence. After all, it was through the birth and coming into the world of Jesus Christ that humanity managed to know the true God, true salvation. And all this thanks to the humility and consent of the Virgin Mary.

An important element that distinguishes this icon from the “Adding Mind” image is the arch. This arch is a kind of border between the Heavenly Kingdom and the earthly world. Thanks to God’s love for his creation, this transfer of truth (the key) to the earthly world occurs. The icon was painted according to the canons of the Orthodox Church.

The oldest icon of this type can be found in the cemetery church of the town of Balakhna, which is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The celebration in honor of the icon takes place annually on April 15.

It is important to know! Orthodox Christians sometimes equate the “Key of Understanding” and “Adding Mind” icons. In fact, these are two different icons, although they are similar in purpose. The main element of difference in the “Key of Understanding” icon is the arch.

Icon of the key of understanding and prayer for it

Miraculous words: the icon is the key to understanding and a prayer for it in full description from all the sources we have found.

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, bless, sanctify, preserve my child with the power of Your Life-giving Cross. Amen."

(And put the sign of the cross on the child.)

The essence of the blessing is that the mother creates a kind of protective cocoon around the child, which does not allow him to get into trouble and directs all the actions that the mother blessed for in the right direction.

The blessing works even over long distances. Maternal blessing is the most powerful amulet; it is believed that a person blessed by his mother becomes invulnerable.

Her love protects from negative influences.

Lord, in the mercy of Your power my child, have mercy and save him for Your name’s sake.

Lord, forgive him all the sins, voluntary and involuntary, that he committed before You.

Lord, guide him on the true path of Your commandments and enlighten him and enlighten him with Your light of Christ, for the salvation of the soul and the healing of the body.

Lord, bless him in the house, around the house, at school, in the field, at work and on the road, and in every place of Your possession.

Lord, protect him under the shelter of Your Saints from a flying bullet, arrow, knife, sword, poison, fire, flood, from a deadly ulcer (atomic rays) and from vain death.

Lord, protect him from visible and invisible enemies, from all troubles, evils and misfortunes.

Lord, heal him from all diseases, cleanse him from all filth (wine, tobacco, drugs) and ease his mental suffering and sorrow.

Lord, grant him the grace of Your Holy Spirit for many years of life, health and chastity.

Lord, increase and strengthen his mental abilities and physical strength.

Lord, give him Your blessing for a godly family life and godly procreation.

Lord, grant me, Thy unworthy and sinful servant, a parental blessing on my child at this time of morning, day, evening and night for the sake of Thy name, for Thy Kingdom is eternal, omnipotent and omnipotent. Amen."

Daily prayers for children

Prayer to the Mother of God in front of her “Nurturing” icon

O Most Holy Lady Virgin Mary, most merciful Mother of all people, save and preserve under Your shelter our children (names), all youths, young women, infants and those carried in the womb of their mother.

Cover them with Your robe, keep them in the fear of God and obedience as a parent, pray to our Lord and Your Son to grant them everything useful for spiritual salvation.

We entrust them to Your maternal supervision, as You are the Divine protection of Your servant.

Prayer to the holy martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia

We glorify, magnify and bless you, holy martyrs Vera, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with the wise mother Sophia, who we worship as an image of God’s wise care. Pray, holy Faith, to the Creator of the visible and invisible, that he may give us strong, unblemished and indestructible faith.

Intercede, holy Hope, before the Lord Jesus for us sinners, so that His good hope will not be driven away from us, and may He deliver us from all sorrow and need. Confession, holy Lyuba, to the Spirit of truth, the Comforter, our misfortunes and sorrows, may He from above send down heavenly sweetness to our souls.

Help us in our troubles, holy martyrs, and together with your wise mother Sophia, pray to the King of kings and Lord of lords to keep (names) under His protection, and together with you and with all the saints we will exalt and glorify the most holy and great name of the Father and The Son and the Holy Spirit, the eternal Lord and good Creator, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

The image of God in my children.

To love them unconditionally.

To grow them like flowers.

To guide their life path.

So that when the time comes

Give them freedom of choice.

“Lord, save and have mercy on my children and grant them everything useful for the salvation of soul and body! Amen".

Prayer to the child's Guardian Angel.

Amulet for a child.

Prayer to the Icon of the Mother of God “Murom” (“Ryazan”). The icon is famous for its miraculous help in studies.

Part 3 – Prayer of parents for the blessing of children and prayers for children.

What do people pray for in front of the icon of the Mother of God? The key to understanding

The icon of the Mother of God, the Key of Understanding, came to us in the 16th century from the west, or more precisely from the Italian city of Loreto, where there is a statue of the Virgin Mary, which became the prototype of the image on the icon. In the icon, the Mother of God is depicted in full height, surrounded by angels. Its obligatory attribute is, in fact, the key itself, located at the bottom of the icon.

The arch, under which the entire semantic plot of the picture is located, is also a kind of pointer to the Western origin of the image, because a statue of the Virgin Mary is also framed by the arch.

Celebrations in honor of the Russian Orthodox icon of the Mother of God, the Key of Understanding, take place once a year on April 14 (according to the old style - April 1), and the image itself is kept in the cemetery church in Balakhny.

The Power of the Holy Icon of the Mother of God The Key of Understanding

The name of the icon already tells us in which area it is most powerful and useful. And in fact, in front of the icon of the Mother of God, parents of children going to school most often pray for the Mother of God to bestow upon them intelligence, patience and strength to comprehend new knowledge. Less often they resort to the icon with prayers for deliverance from feeblemindedness.

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of the Orthodox icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Key of Understanding for educational purposes - it gives children an understanding of the foundations of good and evil, morality, the concept of the soul and faith.

The Most Holy One is always a model of wisdom and mercy for all of us, therefore parents pray in front of the bright image with a prayer to bestow Christian wisdom on their children.

Where to buy a home icon of the Virgin Mary Key of Understanding

The image is quite rare in church iconostases. And the need for prayer to the Mother of God should be very high, because our whole life is a teaching, we are constantly learning something new. That is why it is not superfluous to have an icon of the Key of Understanding at home.

And here the question arises: where can you buy it? There are a lot of answers: in an Orthodox shop at a church, in Christian online stores. You can also order an individual production of the icon of Our Lady of the Key of Understanding.

In this case, you can buy a unique icon, painted on canvas, on wood, made of amber, or embroidered with a cross or beads. At the same time, the icon case for her can also be selected individually, guided by your own taste.

Regardless of where and what kind of icon you bought, sincere faith and hope will be fully rewarded.

The prayer to this image is amazing: brief, clear and touching:

Wisdom, the Teacher and Giver of meaning, the unwise, the Instructor and the Intercessor of the poor, Mother of Christ our God, strengthen, enlighten my heart, Lady, and add reason to Christ with earnest prayer. Give me the word, having given birth to the Father's Word, so that I may boldly ask Your Son for us. Amen.

Author:

Tatiana
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“The Lord spent the night from Tuesday to Wednesday in Bethany. He came to the house of Simon the leper. At this time, the council and court had already decided to kill the son of God, but he had to be taken by cunning. Jesus himself explained the action of the sinful wife who followed the lead of the sinner Judas.”

In the church, every Wednesday before Easter, services are held for the “sinner” wife and is condemned. The prayer curses the love of money and the betrayal of Judas.

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“Much-merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ God,” with which she, during the Great Lent, daily, at the service of Compline, with those present bowing their heads and knees, intercedes with God to grant us forgiveness of our sins.”

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