| Svenskaya (Pechersk) Icon of the Mother of God. Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery |
Svenskaya-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God
. Celebration May 3, August 17
It was written by the Monk Alypius of Pechersk (+ c. 1114).
The icon, measuring 68 by 42 cm, depicts the Mother of God sitting on a golden throne, on Her knees the Infant of God, blessing with both hands. To the right of the throne stands the Monk Theodosius, and to the left is the Monk Anthony of Pechersk. On the scroll of the Monk Theodosius is inscribed: “ Master, Lord God... reward the house of Your Most Pure Mother with me, your servant Theodosius, establish it motionless until the day of Your terrible judgment in praise and glorification of You
"
On the scroll of St. Anthony you can read: “ I pray that you, children, maintain abstinence and are not lazy;
Imams are the Lord's helper in this ."
Until 1288, it was in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, where it became famous for its miracles, and in 1288 it was transferred to the Svensky Monastery, in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as follows. When the Chernigov and Debryansky prince Roman Mikhailovich, while in Bryansk, suddenly began to go blind, he remembered the miraculous icon of the Mother of God from the Lavra and sent the Archimandrite of the Petrovsky Monastery with the monks for it. Having received the treasured gift, the Bryants sailed back. But suddenly, as the legend says, “ the boat stood in one place among the Desna River; rowers are unable to row either up or down
" We had to spend the night on the shore. In the morning the icon disappeared from the boat. The entire coast was searched until they found her among the branches of an oak tree standing on the highest point of the chalk mountain at the bend of the Desna River. The news of this reached Prince Roman and he, with his relatives, close boyars and Bryansk clergy, enthusiastically set off on foot to the place where the image was found. The prince prayed fervently and promised to build a monastery on this place, giving him all the lands that he saw from the mountain. After the prayer, the prince immediately regained his sight. Having venerated the icon, the prince served a thanksgiving prayer service, and then began to harvest wood with his own hands for the wooden church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The oak tree on which the miraculous icon was found was divided into parts and distributed to those who wished. At the same time, the celebration of the Svensk Icon of the Mother of God was established on May 3. Later, at the site of the appearance of the icon, a stone pillar was erected, decorated with a copy of this icon.
The celebration day on August 17 was established in 1815 in gratitude for the deliverance of Bryansk from the invasion of Napoleonic troops in 1812.
The icon became famous for its healings of the blind, the demon-possessed, and its intercession from enemies. After the revolution of 1917, the icon was confiscated from the Church, transferred to the Main Science of the People's Commissariat of Education for restoration, and from there - for eternal storage in the Tretyakov Gallery, where it remains to this day.
Prayers
Troparion, tone 4
Today the Svensk monastery triumphs brightly; / and rejoices at the appearance of the image of the Mother of God; / The immeasurable face of the Pechersk fathers is with them and we continually cry out: / Rejoice, Gracious Svenskaya Praise
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Kontakion, tone 3
Today the Virgin stands invisibly in the church/ and from the faces of the Pechersk fathers prays for us,/ reverently magnifying Her immeasurable mercy to our family,/ appearing in Her wondrous image,/ decorating the Pechersk monastery.
Prayer
Oh, Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, our Pechersk praise and adornment, sovereign protection of this holy place, true Lady of Her chosen destiny. Accept us, Thy unworthy servants, a wretched prayer, offering with faith and love before Thy wondrous image, so that having vengefully visited our sinful life, enlightening it with the light of repentance, we, burdened with many sorrows, may be blessed with Thy Heavenly joy, making us worthy to ever glorify Thee in the world. and piety in this holy place, yes, having passed the path of our life without blemish, with Your help we will achieve eternal joy in the lordship of our holy and God-bearing fathers Anthony and Theodosius and all the saints of Pechersk, and with one mouth and heart we will remember You with Your Eternal Son and His Beginning Father and His Most Holy, Life-Giving, All-Good and Consubstantial Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Icon of the Mother of God SVEN
Icon of the Mother of God SVEN
Icon of the Mother of God of Svensk
(1288, celebrated May 3/16 and August 17/30)
Service to the Icon of the Mother of God “Svensko-Pecherskaya”
The Svensk Icon of the Mother of God is the oldest shrine of the Bryansk Land. It was moved to the city of Bryansk from the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery at the end of the 13th century. “In the summer of 6796 (1288), - this is how the ancient legend tells, - the Blessed Grand Duke of Chernigov Roman Mikhailovich, being in his estate in the city of Bryansk, by God's will, became blind with his eyes, and, hearing about the miracles of healing that happened from the image of the Most Holy Theotokos of Pechersk and from the great wonderworkers Anthony and Theodosius of the Pechersk of Kiev, he sent his messenger to that Pechersk monastery with alms and a request for the release of that miraculous icon to him in the city of Bryansk, to ask for healing from it.” An ancient list of the Svensk miraculous icon, with images of the miracles revealed from it in the faces, explains that Grand Duke Roman Mikhailovich Bryansky sent to Kyiv, along with the priests, “Archimandrite Petrovsky” (Bryansk Petro-Paul Monastery).
The Pechersk archimandrite, with the consent of the brethren, released the icon on a boat along the Desna River to the Blessed Prince and the priests. While sailing, the boat suddenly stopped in the middle of the Desna, but as soon as those accompanying the Holy Icon said: “We will spend this night in the Sven River,” the boat set off, and they spent the night on the right bank. Waking up, they went to pray before the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, but did not find it. Then they went to look for the Holy Icon on the mountain opposite the Svenya River and found it on a large oak tree, between the branches. This miracle was reported to the Blessed Prince Roman. The prince, accompanied by the Bishop and priests, set off on foot to the place where the icon was located. Having reached the place where the Svensky Monastery now stands, he sighed and said with tears: “Oh, Most Wonderful Lady Theotokos, Mother of Christ our God! Grant me, Lady, to see with my eyes the light and Your miraculous image.” Prince Roman made a vow to build a temple and a monastery on this place, and to give him as much land as he could see from this place. At that very moment he saw a small path and ordered to put up the Cross. When they came to the tree where the icon stood, the prince said loudly: “Oh, Most Holy Lady, Lady Virgin Mary! Hear the voice of my prayer and give insight to my eyes!” After this prayer, he regained his sight and began to see better than before. Prince Roman ordered the icon to be removed from the tree, but none of the ordinary priests could remove it; only the Bishop took it off and brought it to the prince. Having venerated the miraculous image, the Blessed Prince ordered a prayer service to be served, and he and everyone who were in that place began to cut down trees. Soon a temple was built in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Later, the prince convened the brethren, set up a monastery and generously endowed it with money, and overlaid the miraculous icon with gold. The tree on which the icon stood was cut down and used for icon boards and crosses.
The Most Holy Theotokos is depicted on the Svenskaya icon sitting majestically on a golden elevated throne, which is placed on a special pulpit on one level. The right foot of the Mother of God stands on a small stone, and the left foot rests on the pulpit. On the knees of the Most Holy Virgin sits the Eternal Child, our Lord, Jesus Christ and blesses, the Most Pure Theotokos holds Her Divine Son with both hands. On both sides of the throne, the Lady stands on special elevations: on the right side is St. Theodosius, and on the left side is St. Anthony, the Pechersk wonderworkers, both with scrolls in their hands. On the scroll of St. Anthony it is written: “I pray that you, children, keep abstinence and do not be lazy. Imams are the Lord’s Helper in this.” On the scroll of the Venerable Theodosius it is written: “Sovereign Lord God Almighty, Creator of all creation, visible and invisible, with Your gaze reward the house of Your Most Pure Mother with me, Your servant Theodosius, establish it immovably until the day of Your Terrible Judgment (for) praise and glorification of You.” The Monk Anthony is presented in full monastic schema, and the Monk Theodosius is depicted wearing a robe and epitrachelion, without a hood, with an open head.
Some time after the founding of the monastery, the frame of the miraculous icon broke off. As a result of the request of the Svensky abbot to redo the frame, Tsar John Vasilyevich ordered the icon to be brought to Moscow and remade the frame, adding a lot of gold, silver and precious stones. The frame was completed three years later and the icon and prayer were returned to the Svensky Monastery. Tsars and Grand Dukes John Vasilyevich, Theodore Ioannovich, Boris Feodorovich, Mikhail Fedorovich, Alexey Mikhailovich, Theodore, John and Peter Alekseevich, Empress Elisaveta Petrovna, His Holiness Patriarchs Filaret Nikitich and Joseph, the boyars Yuryev-Romanov, many princes and nobles revered the miraculous Svenskaya icon Mother of God and benefited the Holy Monastery of Svensk with many gifts. Many miracles have been and are being performed from this Holy Icon. The following are especially remarkable.
In 1566, a temple was founded in the Svensk monastery and a year later it was built. The vaults of the newly built temple fell, but Abbot Martinian and his brethren emerged from it unharmed. One day, foreigners approached the monastery with the intention of ruining it, but the Queen of Heaven did not allow them: the attackers were suddenly all blinded and all the treasures they had taken were returned to the monastery. And at other times, enemies approached Bryansk to ruin it and take its inhabitants prisoner, but each time the Queen of Heaven did not allow them.
In 1673, from the city of Trubchevsk, the farmer Potapius was brought to the miraculous image of the Mother of God, who was so furious that they could hardly restrain him. As soon as the prayer service was served, he received healing and took monastic vows at the Svensk monastery.
In the same year, a certain Athanasius came from the city of Sevsk, also suffering from unclean spirits, and, after praying before the Holy Icon of the Mother of God, received healing.
In 1677, on November 20, the warm stone church of St. Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk collapsed, but the Royal Doors and Holy Icons were found intact in the Altar. The image of the Resurrection of Christ, lying on the lectern, was found on the third day after the destruction of the temple under bricks in the rubble, also intact, while the lectern was completely crushed.
In 1685, the farmer John, possessed by a demon, came from the city of Trubchevsk and, after praying before the Svensk Icon of the Mother of God, received healing. In 1812, during the war with the French, their hordes approached the city of Bryansk and threatened to ruin it. At this time, the pious residents of the city of Bryansk turned with fervent prayer to the Queen of Heaven, the only Helper and Comforter in all misfortunes. Taking Her miraculous image, they walked around the city with it and soon received news that while they were praying in Bryansk, the enemy hordes returned back. In gratitude for deliverance from the enemy, the Bryansk citizens with all the clergy again raised the icon of the Mother of God and walked around the city in a religious procession, and at that very time they received news of the expulsion of the French from Moscow. In memory of this intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, the residents of the city of Bryansk established a procession of the cross every year on August 11, for which, on the eve of this day, they brought the Holy Icon to the city of Bryansk, held an all-night vigil in the city cathedral, and in the morning after the Divine Liturgy they walked around the city with the miraculous icon, the Crosses , icons and Holy banners from all churches and with all the city clergy then returned to the cathedral. Before Vespers, people came to the cathedral and escorted the miraculous icon to the monastery with honor and glory.
In memory of the deliverance from the French in 1815, a new golden chasuble was placed on the icon of the Mother of God. In 1846, the Bryansk landowner Vladimir Rostilavich Demidov made a precious diamond crown with radiance from large diamonds for the golden robe of the Svensk miraculous icon of the Mother of God, as well as diamond stars for the shoulders of the Ever-Virgin, the crown and armlets of the Eternal Child.
In 1830, Ekaterina, the youngest daughter of Ivan Yakovlevich Klimov, a merchant of the city of Bryansk, suffered greatly from an eye disease for seven weeks and then went blind. In the month of May, during her illness, the maiden Catherine heard a voice commanding that a miraculous icon be brought to their house from the Svensky Monastery. Having learned about this, Ivan Yakovlevich Klimov asked to bring the Holy Icon on May 19, 1830. The next day they brought the Svensk Icon to him, served a prayer service in front of it and blessed the water. When the blind woman was brought to venerate the Holy Cross and sprinkled with Holy water, she regained her sight a little. But when they brought her to venerate the Holy Icon, the sick woman received her sight and was completely healed from severe pain. “Father, father! “I see everything now,” the unfortunate woman exclaimed joyfully, “and there is no pain.” Let me, my dear, carry the image.” But she was not allowed to do this. There were ten people who witnessed the epiphany and recovery of the maiden Catherine.
In 1830, Ivan Vasiliev, son of Abramov, a peasant in the village of Reven, Trubchevsky district, asked His Grace Nicodemus, Bishop of Oryol, to allow the miraculous icon of the Mother of God to be brought to his house. “I,” he wrote, suffered for four years from darkness of mind, severe melancholy and despondency; but as soon as I made a vow to raise the miraculous icon of the Mother of God into my home, I immediately received consolation and joy.” The bishop allowed, and the miraculous icon was raised to the village of Revny.
In 1832, a woman from the Smolensk province came to the Svensky Monastery, having suffered from demonic possession for eleven years. During the seizures, she screamed loudly. During Vespers at the Svensk monastery, the patient calmed down. After the prayer service, the sick woman venerated the Holy Icon and received healing. In 1840, Karachev landowner Alexandra Ivanovna Grineva reported: “I got severe inflammation in my eyes and almost blindness from a cold, and I gave birth on my head and all over my face, it was terribly painful and unbearable for me to look at the light, and even more so at the fire; I had to walk with a counselor, completely covering my head and face; this continued until October. During the Svensk Fair, having learned about healing from an eye disease at the Holy Svensk Icon of the Mother of God, I asked to be taken there. We drove day and night, because I couldn’t stand fast driving. The ferry took us straight to the monastery. At this time, early mass was served; I was brought into the church and placed behind everyone so that I could not see the light from the candles; the pain was unbearable. After the Liturgy, they carried the Holy Icon to the shop, I walked behind, taking with me a towel and a glass. They gave me Holy water, which was consecrated in the shop; I wet my eyes and whole face: at that very moment the pain subsided; I threw the veil off my face, no longer feeling any pain; the swelling went away and I was completely healed. At the same time, they gave me a bottle of Holy water for the road: I washed myself with it, and the inflammation and pain completely ended and never returned, according to the mercy of the Mother of God, which was performed on me before the miraculous Svensk icon. That I testify with a clear conscience and sign: Karachevskaya landowner Alexandra Ivanovna Grineva.” She further adds: “Immediately after my arrival home, I found my yard man Stefan Bedreev’s three-year-old son Andrei, completely blind from smallpox, and sent the patient with his father to the Svensky Monastery. Andrei, who was blind, was completely healed in the monastery, and is still in military service.”
The pious residents of Bryansk greatly revered the Svensk Icon and prayed earnestly in front of it in all important circumstances of their lives. Whether they were getting married, whether ships were setting off on a long voyage, or convoys were carrying goods, in joys and sorrows, they always came to the Svensk monastery and fervently prayed before the Holy Icon of the Mother of God.
Often pious citizens of the city of Bryansk and residents of the surrounding area and other places received the Holy Icon of the Mother of God into their homes. Since ancient times, the raising of a miraculous image was accomplished this way. When those wishing to raise the Holy miraculous icon came to the monastery, the cathedral announcement began to sound the large bell with translation and all the bells. The abbot and the brethren went to the temple; Residents of neighboring villages also gathered. The rector with a congregation of brethren in vestments came out of the Altar, stood before the miraculous image and gave his blessing to begin the prayer service. During the singing of the troparion, two hieromonks took the Holy Icon and carried it out of the temple. The abbot, the hieromonks and all the people followed her. Upon exiting the monastery gates, with the ringing of bells and the singing of stichera, the hieromonks with the Holy Icon stopped in the square facing the monastery. The rector stood before the miraculous image with the Cross in his hand, and the hierodeacons with censers. The hierodeacon pronounced the litany, and there was dismissal. The abbot venerated the icon and asked the Queen of Heaven not to leave the monastery, then he gave those who raised the Holy Icon to venerate the Cross. Having received the blessing, those who lifted the miraculous image into their home received it from the hieromonks. The hieromonk appointed to accompany the Holy Icon accepted the Cross from the rector. Then they set off while singing and ringing bells, and the abbot and the brethren returned to the monastery.
In the city of Bryansk and in the villages, when the miraculous icon was carried, bells rang in churches, and reverent Christians greeted and escorted it with joy and trembling, paying veneration to the Queen of Heaven Herself. When meeting and seeing off the Svensk Icon, they fell to their knees, lay down on the ground, placed infants under the Holy Icon, and brought the youths so that the miraculous image would be carried over them. This time was a holiday for the entire village: courtyards, streets and squares were swept clean, huts were decorated. The Holy Icon was also solemnly escorted to the monastery. The abbot with the brethren in vestments, deacons with censers and sextons with candles left the monastery to meet the Shrine. When all the bells were ringing, the rector incensed the miraculous image, accepting the Holy Cross from the hieromonk, and the hieromonks accepted the Holy image from the Bogomolets. In the church the icon was put in place, the deacon pronounced the litany, then there was a dismissal and a kissing of the Holy Cross and the miraculous image. In the cathedral monastery Church of the Assumption, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God occupied the first place in the iconostasis on the right side of the Royal Doors, and in the warm church a special place was arranged for it.
In the Svensky Monastery there was a very ancient copy of the miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Holy Icon was decorated with a golden robe, the same one that was previously on the miraculous icon and was built in 1778 under the abbot of this monastery, Nicodemus. With the same robe were pearl decorations, which were added to the miraculous icon by Tsars Grand Duke John Vasilyevich in 1583 upon its return from Moscow to the monastery.
After the Bolshevik coup, the Svensky Assumption Monastery was closed and the Assumption Cathedral was blown up. The miraculous icon of the Mother of God was transferred to the Main Science of the People's Commissariat of Education for restoration, and from there to the Tretyakov Gallery, where it is currently located. In 1992, monastic life was revived at the Svensk monastery. Since 2000, the annual procession with the Svensk Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been resumed, which now takes place on the very day of its celebration, August 30, and since 2004 has been running from the Svensky Monastery through the city of Bryansk to the Cathedral in the Name of the Holy Trinity.
MIRACLE-WORKING ICON OF THE HOLY VIRGIN OF PECHERSK
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The Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God depicts the Mother of God sitting on a throne, on whose lap sits the Baby Jesus. The head of the Mother of God is decorated with a precious crown, a symbol of Her royal greatness. The Savior's hands are raised in a blessing gesture. At the same time, the hands of His Mother are placed on the heads of two venerable elders: the right one on the head of Theodosius, and the left one on the head of Anthony. The venerable wonderworkers are depicted on this icon kneeling with scrolls in their hands. This is the only difference between the Orthodox Pechersk icon and the Svensk one. Other similar icons are depicted in the same way: Yaroslavl-Pechersk, Svenskaya and Pskov-Pechersk. Celebration days in honor of the Orthodox icon of the Mother of God of Pechersk are established twice a year: May 3 (May 16) and August 17 (August 30).
How the Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God will help believers
History stores many cases of miracles from the Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God. She helped keep the borders of her native land intact from enemy troops. Universal fervent, sincere prayer and faith in the intercession of the Queen of Heaven led to such a global effect. But there were also many more local, small cases, but no less great, and in no way detracting from her glory and veneration. One of such cases, documented, occurred in Yaroslavl with the image of the Yaroslavl-Pechersk Mother of God. By praying before the image, a woman who had suffered from them for many years was healed of depression and pain and aching joints.
You can come to the church icon of the Pechersk Mother of God with a prayer for healing from ulcers, complete or partial blindness, and other serious illnesses. The icon has a particularly beneficial effect on the mentally ill and people possessed by demons. But you don’t have to bring only sorrow and pain to her; you can come to her with words of gratitude too.
Where to buy the Pechersk Icon of the Virgin Mary
You can buy the Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God, like many other icons, in a traditional Orthodox shop for our country, located at a church or temple. Here you will also be offered interesting and educational literature about the icon and a prayer book.
Or you can buy the Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God without leaving your apartment or house at all, via the Internet. Today, the range of icons offered for sale is very diverse. The materials from which or on which the icon is made, as well as the materials used for decoration, differ. Separately, it is worth noting that it is embroidered with a cross or beads. It is very beautiful and elegant. And needlewomen can do this kind of embroidery themselves by purchasing a set or pattern for embroidery.
