Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”

In Russia, believers have always treated the Mother of God with special reverence and love. Her images, including the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign,” are especially revered. There are numerous examples of the miraculous intercession of the Mother of God for the people who pray to Her for help. The Virgin Mary is the only person in the world into whom God Himself entered. The Immaculate Virgin gave birth to the world of the God-man Jesus Christ.

“The personal merit of the Blessed Virgin is that she prepared herself to receive the Savior. This was her personal, freely accepted feat. The purity of her life, the deepest love, complete self-denial and absolute loyalty to God - all this was not found in any of the righteous people of Old Testament antiquity to such a degree” (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov).

Therefore, widespread veneration of the Queen of Heaven through her holy images is natural. After all, icons are often the visible evidence of the miracles of the Mother of God.

The icon is called the “picturesque Gospel”, “wordless sermon”, “window into the invisible world”. The Orthodox worship the Mother of God herself, depicted on the icon, and not boards and paints, as iconoclasts believe.

“When you see the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, turn your heart to Her, the Queen of Heaven, and thank Her for the fact that She appeared so ready to submit to the will of God, that she gave birth, nurtured and raised the Savior of the world, and that in our invisible battle she never fails Her intercession helps us” (Reverend Nicodemus the Holy Mountain).

One of these miraculous images is the Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”.

On the icon “The Sign” the Mother of God is depicted with her arms raised and outstretched to the sides. This is evidence of Her intercessory prayer. On the chest of the Mother of God in a medallion (or in a sphere) sits the Divine Infant. This is one of the first iconographic images of the Virgin Mary, dating back to the 4th century. In Rus', an icon of this type of icon painting became widespread in the 11th-12th centuries. It began to be called “The Sign” after a miraculous event that occurred in Novgorod.

Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign

Kontakion 1

To the chosen Voivode, our Lady Theotokos, who through the sign of Her holy icon gave a wondrous victory to the people of Novagrad, we sing a song of thanksgiving: You are our All-merciful Intercessor, as you have an invincible power, free us from all troubles and protect us from visible and invisible enemies, let us call to You:

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Ikos 1

Angels to the Queen and all creation, Lady, Most Pure Virgin Theotokos, with the glorious sign of Your holy icon, You graciously illuminated the entire Russian country and streams of miracles flowed from it to the faithful. In the same way, with zeal and love, falling before Your most honorable image, with tenderness we offer You praises:

Rejoice, consecrated village of God the Word; Rejoice, you who sanctify us through the grace of God.

Rejoice, you who served immaculately for the salvation of the fallen human race; Rejoice, O Pure One of all the Creator and Lord, having been conceived in the womb by the Divine Spirit, having given birth without corruption.

Rejoice, O thou who embracest us all with Thy maternal care; Rejoice, in troubles and misfortunes you are a quick Helper to us.

Rejoice, thou who invisibly tames our evil passions; Rejoice, you who help us to succeed in Christian virtues.

Rejoice, free healer of our ailments; Rejoice, you who wisely instruct us on the path of repentance.

Rejoice, Virgin, praise to Christians; Rejoice, for you are blessed by everyone.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 2

Seeing the embitterment of Novagrad, strongly at war from the Suzhdal wars, Saint John of Christ tearfully prayed for the deliverance and salvation of the city and heard a Voice from above, let him go to the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and take there the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, and carry it to the visor of the city against the hordes fighting against it . Having heard such a command from God, the saint cried out in gratitude to the Savior Christ: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Having understood the will of God in the voice of Heaven, Saint John of Christ came to the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord to take the icon of the Mother of God and, while praying before her, the icon moved from its place on his honest hand, and with the singing of prayer he carried it to the visor of the city, saying to the people: be of good cheer. , The Mother of our God is with us. For this reason, having seen Your favor towards them, revealed in the miraculous coming of Your icon, we exclaim in song the blessings of Sisitsa:

Rejoice, Hope of unreliable Christians; Rejoice, Joy and Intercession of those who mourn.

Rejoice, Thou who showest Thy quick help to the helpless; Rejoice, you who are weak and give freedom to those who are oppressed.

Rejoice, Orthodox warrior to the Leader of victories; Rejoice, all-strong overthrow of the enemy armies.

Rejoice, thou who hast overshadowed the great Novgrad with Thy favor; Rejoice, for he was not taken away by the Chosen Voivode who came in Your icon.

Rejoice, merciful punisher of the unpunished; Rejoice, thou wisest instructer of the foolish.

Rejoice, all-terrifying fearsome one who offends; Rejoice, O all-merciful Intercessor of the offended.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 3

Strengthened by the power of God, St. John of Christ lifted up Thy holy icon, O Lady Theotokos, in the midst of the battle itself, where the arrows from the opposing forces fell like rain, and from them only Thy honorable face was shot on the icon: but Thy icon turned away Thy face from the hostile regiments and the tears flowing from his eyes, collecting them in his phelonion, Saint John of Christ commanded the people to be bold, but they, like the strength of a certain guardian of property, rushed at the resistance and conquered them to the end, calling to the Lord of Hosts: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having You, the truly great Novgrad, a sovereign warrior, the All-Blessed Mother of God, always more than in hope, with the sign of Your holy icon, You helped to defeat the strong regiments of the resistant people of Novagrad. In the same way that the singing of victory brings You, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, Thou who brought peace to the world through Thy Holy Nativity; Rejoice, thou who destroyed the mediastinum of ancient enmity.

Rejoice, you who punish those who are unjustly at war; Rejoice, consoling Christ-loving people with your signs and miracles.

Rejoice, who received the wound on the face of Your icon from the arrow of the enemy; Rejoice, you who wonderfully shed tears of grace from her.

Rejoice, having struck down those who resisted with blindness and flight; Rejoice, you who made strong shelves powerless.

Rejoice, strong Helper in battles; Rejoice, disgrace of enemies.

Rejoice, You who crowned Your people with wondrous victory; Rejoice, Invincible Commander of the leaders and armies of the Christians.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 4

A storm of bewilderment confuses my mind: how can I be able to sing with unworthy lips Your miracles, O Lady of God, Whom You showed Your sign in Novegrad with the holy icon, granting help and intercession to all Orthodox people from enemies visible and invisible? Moreover, magnifying Your innumerable mercies towards us, we humbly sing to Your Son and God who glorified You: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Having heard about the wondrous miracle of the holy icon of Thy sign in Novegrad, Most Pure Virgin, how the people of Novograd, who possess this, by Thy power and the help of Thy Divine image, gloriously overcome the resistance to show, with reverence and joy we worship this wonderful image of Thy and call upon Thee in praise:

Rejoice, Bride of the Father Without Beginning; Rejoice, unartificial Mother of the Eternal Word.

Rejoice, beautiful village of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, overshadowed by grace of the Life-Giving and Consubstantial Trinity.

Rejoice, prophets of old who foretold in many ways; Rejoice, having surpassed the angelic councils with Your purity.

Rejoice, exaltation of the human race; Rejoice, grace-filled uprising of the fallen sons of Adamli.

Rejoice, for You have clothed yourself with flesh, Clothing the sky with clouds; Rejoice, for with Your milk You nourished the Nourisher of the universe.

Rejoice, All-Blessed Mother of God, Pure Ever-Virgin; Rejoice, our Joy and the salvation of our souls.

Rejoice, our Intercessor, given to us by God; Rejoice, guardianship and sacred refuge for all the faithful.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 5

God-bright star, icon of Your sign, Virgin Mary, spiritually enlighten the great Novgrad with the radiance of many miracles, endlessly exuding grace-filled healing to all the faithful who zealously flock to Her. Do not deprive us of Your gracious illumination and Your merciful bounties, who honor Your miraculous icon with godly worship, so that we sing with gratitude to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Having seen the glorious miracles that came from the icon of Thy sign, O Most Blessed Lady, the people of Novagrad flocked to it with zeal and, in their infirmities, received grace-filled healing from it. Now we come to her, we worship, and we honor, and from the desire of our hearts we kiss, we draw grace for healing, and we free ourselves from the ailments of the body and spiritual passions, calling to Ti and saying:

Rejoice, Joy of the sorrowing and the offended Intercessor; Rejoice, Consolation of the sad and Helper of the distressed.

Rejoice, unbearable Healer of the sick; Rejoice, unstolen wealth for the poor and wretched.

Rejoice, thou who hast provided the patient sufferers with gifts of grace; Rejoice, thou who deliverest the desperate and hopeless from the pit of destruction.

Rejoice, merciful Trustee of widows and orphans; Rejoice, Teacher of chastity and abstinence of young people.

Rejoice, sweet peace of reverent elders; Rejoice, quiet refuge for God-loving elders.

Rejoice, faithful Helper of repentant sinners; Rejoice, generous giver of spiritual gifts.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 6

Novgrad preaches Your glorious intercession, O Most Pure Lady, how in the days of the invasion of enemies strong and armed from the holy icon of Your sign, You bestowed Your gracious help on Your people, You turned back the hostile regiments with the cold, Your city was safe and unharmed from them, and all sing to God the Savior: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

You shone with the rays of great miracles in Novegrad, the Virgin Mary, and you wonderfully glorified the icon of Your sign with the graceful flow of tears, generously giving countless mercies from her to all those who grieve and are burdened. Visit our souls, sickened by sinful passions, to the All-Good Lady, and be our Helper for salvation, so we cry to You in gratitude:

Rejoice, O Prayer Book favorable to God for us; Rejoice, O omnipotent Representative, turning the wrath of God into mercy.

Rejoice, stretching out Your God-bearing hands to supplicate the Creator; Rejoice, as the Mother of the Son, the Righteous Judge, pleading for the whole world.

Rejoice, covering us all with the cover of Your Motherly intercession; Rejoice, you who provide the grace of humility and patience to those who are in troubles and sorrows.

Rejoice, invisibly strengthening the suffering and helpless; Rejoice, you who raise up those who are sick and hopeless from the bed of illness.

Rejoice, you who show great mercy to those who pray to You by faith; Rejoice, you who wonderfully fulfill our good requests.

Rejoice, streams of grace-filled healings abundantly flowing to us; Rejoice, bestower of all things useful to everyone.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 7

Wanting to show, O Lady, not only to the great Novugrad, but also to the entire Orthodox Russian population, Your glorious miracles from the icon of Your sign, You have glorified this in many cities, abodes and villages from ancient years to our days with wondrous miracles, sight for the blind, strengthening for the weakened, and for many She mercifully grants healing to the sick, and in this way people strive to magnify Thee, who has magnified our race, and sing to Christ God: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

Novgrad and the entire Russian land, a wondrous icon of Your sign, O Virgin Mary, blessed miracles of Hosea, showing Your rich mercy to the faithful. We therefore honor and praise You, Lady, with this magnificent worship:

Rejoice, quickly presenting Helper to those who diligently flow to You; Rejoice, merciful Hearer of our prayers.

Rejoice, thou who hast overshadowed the great Novgrad with Thy blessing; Rejoice, within its borders the icon of Your Sign glorified miracles.

Rejoice, thou who hast spiritually rejoiced the virgins of the face by the glorification of Thy icon; Rejoice, raising us to heavenly bliss with your omnipotent prayers to God.

Rejoice, thou who art merciful to Thy Son and God the Intercessor for all of us; Rejoice, good Helper, leading the war against the world, the flesh and the devil.

Rejoice, covering all the Orthodox countries with the cover of Thy mercy; Rejoice, infinite treasure of healings in many places and abodes.

Rejoice, O omnipotent Patroness of monks and nuns who strive well; Rejoice, and zealous Intercessor in the world of those who live piously.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 8

Wandering in this earthly vale, much sorrowful and much rebellious, the mountain city, Heavenly Jerusalem, we also seek You, Lady, we pray: guide us along the path of the commandments of Christ and save us from the falls of sins, surprise us with Your mercy and overshadow us with Your intercession, yes, By your help we are saved, let us sing together with all the saints to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

To all the grieving Comforter and the needy Helper, O All-merciful Mother of God, do not despise us who fall before You before Your most pure image, but mercifully visit us with Your bounties: and just as You showed Your sovereign help to our fathers of old, so do not deprive us, the humble, of Yours intercession at the right time, let us not be ashamed of our hope, which according to God we place firmly in Thee, and we call upon Thee:

Rejoice, God-bright light, illuminating faithful souls with the light of Christ; Rejoice, valuable alabaster, anointing God-loving hearts with the world of God's grace.

Rejoice, intelligent Mother of the Sun, enlightening the faithful and darkening the unfaithful; Rejoice, glory of heaven and hope of earth.

Rejoice, our Hope and Intercessor of all those who flow to You with faith; Rejoice, you who love and honor Thee, delivering You from all troubles.

Rejoice, thou who graciously gladdens the souls of the faithful with good promises; Rejoice, glory and praise to the virgin faces.

Rejoice, you who guide the ascetics of piety to the mountainous Zion; Rejoice, you who lead the faithful to Heavenly Jerusalem.

Rejoice, you who enlighten darkened hearts with the light of true knowledge of God; Rejoice, covering us all with the blessed rays of Your great mercy.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 9

All the angelic hosts reverently serve You, the Queen of Heaven and earth, while the human race brings silent praise to You, the Lady above and below, and venerates Your holy icon with venerable worship. You have given us this joy and consolation, O All-Good One, and You have always shown us the signs of the Mother of Your love, so that we may sing to the God who benefits us through You: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The wisdom of humanity cannot comprehend the Divine mystery of Your ever-virginity, O Mary Theotokos, how at the Nativity and after the Nativity you kept the keys of Your virginity intact, surprising angels and men. In the same way, we piously confess Thee, Mother and Virgin, we always please Thee and sing praises to Thee:

Rejoice, having magnified the human race with Your immaculate purity; Rejoice, having sanctified the earth with Your all-holy Nativity.

Rejoice, you who wonderfully combined virginity and Christmas in Yourself; Rejoice, having preserved both yourselves immaculately.

Rejoice, great miracle of the universe; Rejoice, secretly incomprehensible to human minds.

Rejoice, astonishment of angelic faces; Rejoice, everlasting joy of God's saints.

Rejoice, first adornment of the heavenly world; Rejoice, reliable intercession of the world.

Rejoice, overthrow of demons; Rejoice, hell has been trampled underfoot.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 10

You gave birth to the Savior to fallen humanity, O Most Pure Virgin, and You bore Him like a Child in Your arms, His Divine image and on the icon of Your sign You showed us and You bestowed upon us many of Your mercy and bounty. For this reason, with reverence and faith, we honor Your miraculous image, Lady, and we pray to You diligently: grant us protection and protection on the Day of Judgment, so that through Your Mother’s intercession the Righteous Judge, Your Son and God, may have mercy on us, and make us worthy to stand on the right hand and sing to Him with favorites: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

An insurmountable wall and a source of miracles, Your holy icon appeared, O Virgin Mary, not only to the great Novugrad, but to the entire Russian country. This, like a sign of victory, is powerful, the armies of the Orthodox defeat their enemies, the kings and saints are adorned with it, and every age of the faithful receives grace-filled consolation from it. Comfort us also with Thy, all-merciful Lady, favor and mercy, and let us cry out to Thee in praise:

Rejoice, our strong Hope; Rejoice, our undoubted Hope.

Rejoice, great glory of Novagrad; Rejoice, our country is a blessed protection.

Rejoice, victorious Helper against enemies in the days of battle; Rejoice, good Teacher of piety in the days of peace.

Rejoice, protection and supply of monastic monasteries; Rejoice, blessing on pious homes and marriages.

Rejoice, champion of virginity and purity; Rejoice, intercessor of the offended and persecuted.

Rejoice, robe of the naked; Rejoice, healing of the sick.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 11

Do not despise our humble singing, O All-Merciful Queen, and do not close the womb of Thy bounty to us, O All-Bounteous Lady: behold, having become poor in good deeds, to the treasury of Thy mercy, Thy miraculous icon, we flow with zeal, O All-Blessed One, and, falling down, we pray: illuminate us with the Divine light of Thy grace and teach us to faithfully fulfill the commandments of Thy Son and God, so that we may worthily sing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

Light of the non-evening friend, with the bright rays of Your miracles you enlighten us, darkened by sinful darkness, the Most Pure Mother of God, and lead us to silent praise of Your Most Holy Name. By the sign of Thy holy icon Thou hast truly revealed Thy sovereignty, O Lady All-Blessed, whom we joyfully call Thee in a bright celebration:

Rejoice, exalted by God above earthly and heavenly things; Rejoice, one Pure and Blessed One among women.

Rejoice, Queen and Lady of Heaven and earth; Rejoice, porphyro of the King of kings.

Rejoice, devil of seedless disgrace; Rejoice, the main thing of human salvation.

Rejoice, you who trust in Thee and do not put to shame; Rejoice, freeing those who ask Your holy help from troubles.

Rejoice, pillar and affirmation of virginity; Rejoice, shield and defense of the Orthodox faith.

Rejoice, magnificent adornment of the holy Church of Christ; Rejoice, covering us all with Your Mother's cover.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 12

Grant us grace and mercy from Above, O Lady, from Thy holy icon, which Thou hast bestowed on us as a sign of Thy intercession, miracles from it that happen, affirming the Orthodox faith in us and disgracing unbelief. In the same way, we worship You and pray: keep us in Orthodoxy, O All-Good One, and grant us worthy to sing faithfully to God until our last breath: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing Your miracles from the icon of Your sign revealed, the Virgin Mary, we praise, glorify and magnify You, truly the most honest Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim. But You, our All-merciful Intercessor, cover us with Your sovereign veil and deliver us from all troubles and temptations of the enemy, so that we may unceasingly sing to You with a voice of praise:

Rejoice, God-delighted and Immaculate Ever-Virgin; Rejoice, imperishable and incorruptible Lamb and Shepherd Mother.

Rejoice, crowned with a royal diadem from the Triune God; Rejoice, holy and luminous chamber of saints of the most holy Word.

Rejoice, standing at the right hand of Your Son and Lord; Rejoice, always praying to Him for the Christian race.

Rejoice, Cause of the grace-filled renewal of mankind; Rejoice, reconciliation of repentant sinners to God.

Rejoice, Deliverance to those suffering from troubles; Rejoice, Seeker of the lost.

Rejoice, healing of our bodies; Rejoice, salvation of our souls.

Rejoice, Lady, showing us a sign of Your mercy.

Kontakion 13

O All-Sung Mother of our Sweetest Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! Having accepted our present offering, deliver us from all misfortune and sorrow and remove the eternal torment of all before Thy holy icon of those who worship with faith and love and who gratefully call upon God for You: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “To the Queen of Angels...” and the 1st kontakion to the “Chosen Voivode...”.

Prayer

O Most Holy and Most Blessed Mother of our Sweetest Lord Jesus Christ! We fall down and worship You before Your holy, miraculous icon, remembering the wondrous sign of Your intercession, which was revealed to the great Novugrad during the days of the military invasion of this city. We humbly pray to You, O All-Powerful Intercessor of our race: just as in ancient times You hastened our fathers to help, so now we, weak and sinners, have been made worthy of Your Motherly intercession and care. Save and preserve, O Lady, under the cover of Your mercy, the Holy Church, Your city (Your abode), our entire Orthodox country and all of us who fall to You with faith and love, tenderly asking with tears for Your intercession. Hey, Lady All-Merciful! Have mercy on us, overwhelmed by many sins, stretch out Thy God-receiving hand to Christ the Lord and intercede for us before His goodness, asking us forgiveness of our sins, a pious peaceful life, a good Christian death and a good answer at His Last Judgment, yes, we are saved by Thy almighty to Through His prayers, we will inherit the bliss of paradise and, with all the saints, we will sing the Most Honorable and Magnificent Name of the Most Worshipful Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, and Your great mercy to us, forever and ever. Amen.

A wonderful incident in Veliky Novgorod

In 1170, the Mother of God helped the Novgorodians defeat the Suzdal prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. According to legend, a united army of several principalities led by the Suzdal prince Mstislav surrounded Veliky Novgorod. The army was many times superior to the Novgorodians, inevitable death awaited the city and its inhabitants. The believers, together with Archbishop John, prayed to God and His Mother day and night. Some time later at night, Archbishop John heard a voice:

“Go to the Church of the Holy Savior on Ilyin Street, and take the icon of the Holy Mother of God, and take it to the prison erected against the adversaries.”

When the Novgorodians carried the icons in a religious procession in the morning, Mstislav's troops fired at them with bows. One of the arrows pierced the face of the Virgin Mary. Tears rolled from the eyes of the Queen of Heaven and she turned to the praying Novgorodians. Thus, She showed her intercession before the believers. Confusion began among the besiegers. They threw down their weapons, beat each other, and eventually fled. The Novgorodians rushed after the enemy and won.

After a miraculous event, the icon was named “The Sign”, and a holiday was established in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”. It is still celebrated on December 10th.

Miracles through prayers before the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”

How does the icon of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary help? In front of the icon they pray for the reconciliation of warring parties during fires, epidemics, and wars. In all circumstances when it is necessary to overcome irreconcilable differences and enmity, they pray to the Mother of God in front of her “Sign” icon.

In 1356, the wooden Transfiguration Church in Novgorod caught fire. The parishioners, realizing that the flames could not be stopped, knelt down and began to pray fervently. After some time, the fire went out without any intervention.

In 1636, the jeweler Luke went bankrupt and decided to rob the temple. When Luke stole all the precious sacred vessels and offerings, he decided to tear off the silver robe from the icon of the Sign. But before he could approach the image, an invisible hand pushed him away from the icon. In the morning he was found in the temple almost unconscious. Having come to his senses, Luke repented and told about what had happened.

Olga Nikolaevna Kulikovskaya-Romanova (niece of Nicholas II) said that the “Sign” icon always protected her from illnesses and troubles.

“I was between life and death. As a child, I had advanced ear inflammation, doctors refused to perform surgery, and I was dying. My father dragged me in his arms to the icon, and a prayer service was served in front of it. After this, he ordered the doctors to perform an operation. To their “We don’t vouch,” he firmly answered: “But I vouch!” Operation was successfully completed".

After the establishment of Soviet power in 1917, the “Sign” icon was placed in the Novgorod Museum. On August 15, 1991, she returned to St. Sophia Cathedral. Then the believers observed a miraculous phenomenon. When the icon was transferred to the temple, a rainbow appeared in the sky and surrounded the dome of the St. Sophia Cathedral. Then the rainbow glow began to rise upward and disappeared without a trace in the cloudless sky.

Many “Signs” lists begin to flow myrrh. Thus, in the Tula village of Urusovo there is a destroyed temple in honor of the Archangel Michael. One of the village residents found an ancient image of the Virgin Mary in the attic of a house 30 years ago. And myrrh began to flow from the eyes of the Mother of God. This was recorded by the dean of the Venevsky district, Archpriest Nikolai Dudin.

The miraculous icon “The Sign” and its lists

Lists of the holy image, which are no less miraculous, are also highly revered by Orthodox Christians. The lists received their names from the place where the miracles of the “Sign” icon appeared:

Alabatskaya - after writing the list, a certain Ephraim was healed of paralysis, and after placing the image in the temple, many more parishioners received healing from it.

Kurskaya-Korennaya - this list is associated with Seraphim of Sarov himself; The image became famous throughout America and Europe for its miracles.
Tsarskoye Selo - the list was placed in a gold frame and decorated with precious stones by order of Empress Elizabeth; many were healed from plague and cholera through prayers to the holy image.
Albazinskaya “The word became flesh” - the list is named after the fortress on the Amur Albazin; The image helped in the battles with the invaders of the fortress, and then, when transferred to Blagoveshchensk, it did not allow the enemies to break through for 19 days until their complete retreat.
Seraphimo-Ponetaevskaya - this list is named after the women's monastery, where he performed many miracles.

The best article for you, go to: St. Jacob of Zheleznoborovsky

God bless you!

Watch the video about this icon:

Prayers before the “Sign” icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos, tone 4

Like the invincible wall and source of miracles/ that You, Your servant,/ have acquired,/ the Most Pure Mother of God,/ we overthrow the opposing militias./ Moreover, we pray to Thee:/ grant peace to Your city// and to the souls of We have great mercy.

Kontakion to the Most Holy Theotokos, tone 4

The honorable image of Your sign/ is a celebratory sign, Your people, Mother of God,/ for which You have granted a wondrous victory against Your city./ Moreover, we cry out to You by faith // joy Hail, Virgin, Christian Praise.

Glorification of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We magnify You,/ Most Holy Virgin,/ and honor Your honest image,/ which has granted victory over our enemies// to our city.