In every house where Orthodox Christians live, there is at least one icon of the Mother of God. There are images that are associated specifically with Russia. The Korsun Icon of the Mother of God was brought from Chersonesus after the baptism of Rus'. It is recognized as miraculous and is the cultural heritage of all humanity.
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History of writing
Belongs to the “Eleus” type (like “Vladimir”), according to church legend, it was copied from the original written by the Evangelist Luke (however, according to legend, he painted almost every second icon of the Queen of Heaven). It is necessary to honor not the icon painters and the origin, but the Mother of God herself; the image can be anything, as long as it does not violate the canons.
The Korsun Icon of the Mother of God has changed many places of residence:
- Initially, the prince brought it from Korsun to Kyiv;
- Then she was sent to Novgorod;
- After that I ended up in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow.
The original image itself has long been lost; today a revered copy of it is located in Nizhny Novgorod, in the Annunciation Monastery. The original, written over a thousand years ago, has also disappeared. Shrines are not lost by accident - the Lord hides them either until the time comes, or hides them from desecration. Therefore, there is no need to be too upset - prayers still rise to God as they did thousands of years ago.
Compositional features
The icon “Tree of the Blessed Virgin Mary” appeared relatively recently - at the beginning of the 21st century. This is a very young age for an icon, but today it can be found everywhere - in churches, church shops and home altars. The main feature of the icon is its collectivity, since it depicts 16 faces of the Virgin Mary; in general, it somewhat resembles a family tree, but each individual image describes the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven.
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The icon is characterized by its collectivity - in total there are 16 different images of the Virgin Mary, which are arranged in the form of branches of one tree. Each Mother of God holds the Child Christ in her arms.
The composition consists of:
- 7 images on the right;
- 7 images on the left;
- "Vladimirskaya" from below;
- Birth of Christ from above;
- outlines of heavenly Jerusalem under the image of “Vladimirskaya”.
The central link is the cave in Bethlehem, in which Christ was born, the Mother of God and the Baby Jesus, located in a manger. This image is larger than the others. Since the Child Christ is the only One who should be worshiped, He cannot but be on the board. It was His birth that made the Virgin Mary the Mother of God
That is why the picture of His birth is presented in the center - this is the most important event for humanity
Under the painting of the birth is the image of the “Sweet Kiss” as a symbol of the special love and connection between the Mother of God and Jesus Christ. And on the sides of the birth picture there are seven famous icons of the Mother of God, which are considered miraculous by the Orthodox world.
The tree is decorated with large roses and leaves as a symbol of life, which comes from the Lord God.
Compound
Each of the 14 images is made in a classic manner: the shape of an elongated oval, which is enclosed in a kind of medallion. The main difference between these images and canonical icon painting is that the Virgin Mary is depicted smiling in each image.
For reference! The only icon in which the Virgin Mary smiles is the “Bethlehem” one, but the author did not depict it on the “Tree”.
There is no analogue of this icon in Orthodox icon painting. Images of a tree, in principle, are quite often found in various images, but here the image of a tree is supplemented with fruits - separate paintings with the Virgin, and this method was no longer used by artists.
Immediately below the painting depicting the birth of Christ is the image of the “Sweet Kiss”. The image is made according to the type of Eleus - one of the main types of icons, with the Queen of Heaven drawn. This type is often used by Russian artists, since the gestures of the characters depicted are simple and understandable - this is a loving Mother and Son.
The distinctive features of the image are:
- Baby and Mother touch cheeks;
- they hug tightly;
- Christ is depicted with a desire to hug the Mother’s neck with one hand.
In addition to the “Sweet Kiss,” the “Tree” also depicts the following images:
- "Iverskaya";
- "Smolenskaya";
- "Kazanskaya";
- "Mammal"
- "Tikhvinskaya";
- "Quiet my sorrows."
In total, the Virgin Mary is depicted 17 times on this board (mostly in the style of Eleus), including her in the painting of the birth of the Child.
Icon of the Mother of God “Tree of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
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The name “Korsun” is actually used by several different icons. They are united not so much by their origin as by the common type of image - “Tenderness”.
- The image of Princess Polotsk. The bride of Alexander Nevsky brought the shrine as a dowry in 1239. The image was painted in Constantinople. The Spassky Convent was founded in Polotsk, where Euphrosyne donated it. The image was decorated with a precious frame.
- Hodegetria of Korsun - created in the 13th century, today it is in the Kremlin Museum. For a long time, the icon was in the Assumption Church, where Ivan the Terrible brought it. According to historians, it came to Russia from Constantinople at the beginning of the 14th century.
There are several other images that claim the honor of being called the Korsun Icon of the Mother of God. Each of them has a separate story, many are glorified by miracles, and therefore can be equally revered by believers.
Where is the holy face
The ancient icon, brought to Rus' at the beginning of the second millennium, is now kept in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. Despite the fact that the image is not in the temple, Orthodox Christians go to the museum building to bow, venerate the shrine and pray. The museum's caretakers are accustomed to large numbers of pilgrims. This icon is a blessing for the city and the whole country.
There are also several ancient lists in other cities:
- Nizhny Novgorod, Annunciation Cathedral (one of the most ancient lists, dated 995, is kept here);
- Glinkovo, in the area of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra;
- Smorigi, Smolensk region, St. Nicholas Church.
There are many temples consecrated in honor of this image. Today, the images created by icon painters have replaced modern printed images. Every Orthodox Christian can buy himself a Korsun icon in a church shop.
You should not be skeptical about modern icons, because there are known cases of paper images of saints streaming myrrh. The main thing is the sincere faith of the person praying.
Author's advice
Church in Uglich
Skete of the Holy Trinity-Paraskevievsky Toplovsky Convent on Sapun Mountain
Cathedral in Toropets
The meaning of what they pray for the Korsun Icon
This type of image is characterized by the fact that it shows the depth of maternal love. In a theological sense, it demonstrates the ideal relationship between the Lord and people (represented by the Virgin Mary). The Mother of God, as you know, has a very pure soul, free from sins. Therefore, she can boldly offer prayers to God, her whole soul strives only for the Lord of heaven. In the icon, the Most Pure One shows this by hugging the Child to her with both hands.
The special tenderness between Mother and Son is manifested here in the arrangement of the figures - Mary and Christ gently press cheek to cheek. There is no distance between their bodies, which symbolizes spiritual unity. The Baby's hand is wrapped around the neck of the Virgin Mary. The baby raised his eyes to Heaven, as if peering into his future.
Maria looks as if deep into her own soul, on her face there is a shade of deep sadness. She also knows what should happen when the child grows up. Fate will snatch him from his mother's embrace, and she will hug his cold, mutilated body...
- Icon of the Mother of God “Sovereign”
- Icon “Unbreakable Wall” - here
- Icon of St. Luke -
But both are united by the great hope of the Resurrection. The meaning of the Korsun Icon is to show that the sacrifice of the cross was made in the name of God’s Love for humanity. Everyone has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; believers need to remember this, appreciate and take care of each other. Then every prayer will be answered, hope will be fulfilled, sins will be erased.
Prayer before the image of the Virgin Mary
O Most Holy Virgin, Lady Theotokos, the Only Begotten God of the Word, all visible and invisible creatures, Creator and Master, one of the Trinity, Lord, God and Man, who gave birth more than nature and words, the Divine receptacle, the recipient of all shrines and graces, in Neizha the fulfillment of the Divine abides , by the blessing of God and the Father and the action of the Holy Spirit, chosen from all creation, glory and unspeakable joy of the Angels, the royal crown of the apostles and prophets, the wonderful and all-praiseworthy courage of the martyrs and the wedding of sufferers, everlasting and incorruptible rewards to the immutable intercessor, honor and glory to the venerables, unforgettable path to the teacher , source of light, inexhaustible river of mercy, inexhaustible sea of all miracles and spiritual gifts!
We pray to You and ask You, merciful Mother of the Lover of Mankind, to have mercy on us, Your humble and unworthy servant: look mercifully on our captivity and heal the contrition of our souls and bodies, destroy the visible and invisible armies, and every pillar of the fortress, weapons in battle, commander and invincible champion, make us unworthy on behalf of our enemies. Show us Your ancient mercies and wonders. For there is only one King and Master, Thy Son and God, and Thou art truly the Mother of God, blessed of all generations, who gave birth to the true God according to the flesh, and for His sake Thou art all able and mighty to act, even if thou wilt in heaven and on earth.
Fulfill every request for the benefit of everyone, Lady: grant healing to those who are ailing, silence and control to those floating in the sea, travel and observe with those who travel, console those who grieve, ease poverty and all bodily bitterness, consume mental illness and bodily passions first of all through Your invisible intercession and by intercession, so that we may end this temporary path of life kindly and without stumbling, and receive eternal good for Your sake in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Much more than this, entrusted to You, this city and every city and country from famine, destruction, cowardice, flood, fire and sword, from the presence of foreigners and internecine warfare and from vain death, and from righteous death, turn away all anger righteously moved towards us, by the good will and grace of the Only Begotten Son Yours, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with His Originless Father and the Ever-Existing and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The icon of the Mother of God of Korsun is one of the most ancient. The Russian people are God-bearers, and strong faith and trust in the help of the Lord and the Most Pure One have always protected the country from enemies. Holy images of the Mother of God are a blessing to the Russian land. The Most Holy Theotokos hears the prayers of everyone who comes running to her with faith and repentance, and intercedes for the one praying before the Lord.
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In Russia, the Mother of God is highly revered; the Korsun Icon is just one example. What are they praying for?
- They ask for consolation in spiritual sorrows, relief from torment;
- About enlightening the soul with the light of Christ's commandments;
- About saving and guiding children and loved ones on the true path;
- About bodily healing from illnesses.
Everyone has their own sorrows and worries, all of them can be brought to the feet of the Mother of God. She is the mother of all humanity. You can read an akathist in front of the Korsun Icon, order a prayer service for it, or read prayers privately. Here, only the will of the believer himself is important; the Church does not regulate the number of prayers. It is important that they are regular. Then the burden of worries will gradually decrease, God will send strength and spiritual joy. Most Holy Theotokos, pray to God for us!
Contents of the icon
Traditionally, Orthodox icons do not depict faces with vivid emotions and experiences. As a rule, the faces are calm and filled with deep thoughtfulness and peace. That is why prayer to the Korsun icon, and to any other Orthodox image, is so effective; a look at the holy image immediately puts the believer in the appropriate prayerful mood.
In this image, the Mother of God appears before us in blue and red robes. The blue color symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven, and the red color emphasizes majesty. The green color of the baby's clothes symbolizes in turn the good news of his own appearance.
In one hand the baby holds a scroll, which symbolizes the Gospel, and with the other hand he holds on to the clothes of the Virgin Mary. There are also composition options without a scroll.
The emphasis is on the faces that are pressed against each other. Although they are calm and do not express emotions, the deep affection of the heroes of this icon and the spiritual closeness between them are noticeable.
