The history of the Christian Orthodox faith goes back about two thousand years. During this time, its traditions have become firmly entrenched in our lives. Icon veneration is no exception. The Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament say that even the holy prophet Moses, during the construction of the Tabernacle, received instructions from God to arrange in the place where the stone tablets with the inscription of the commandments were kept, images of Cherubim and Seraphim from “gold and sewn work,” that is, embroidered.
Today one of the most revered images in Russian Orthodoxy is the icon of the Savior in Power. This is what we will discuss in our article.
Icon "Savior in Power"
The meaning and symbolism of the icon “Savior in Power”
As a rule, in Orthodox churches this icon is located on the right side of the central part of the iconostasis. The very tradition of painting the image is associated with the visions of the prophet Ezekiel and the apostle John the Theologian: the Lord is depicted in the center, surrounded by the Heavenly Forces. Red and blue colors denote the combination of the divine and human natures of the Savior, the open book in His left hand is the Book of Life, in which, according to the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament, the names of the saved are inscribed. The book also symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who is the Word of God who came into the world for the sake of its salvation.
The lion, lamb, angel and eagle depicted at the four corners of the image represent symbols of the four evangelists - the holy apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In general, it would be correct to call the icon of the Savior in Powers a prophetic image of the coming Last Judgment, which is narrated by the holy Apostle John in the Apocalypse.
Why is the image in the center of the iconostasis?
When constructing an iconostasis in Orthodox churches, there is a tradition of placing icons of the Lord and the Mother of God in its center (on both sides of the Royal Doors). This is explained by the fact that the iconostasis was originally conceived as displaying a brief picture of the history of the world and humanity. The coming of Christ, the crucifixion, the Last Judgment - all this is captured in the iconostasis. According to this logic, the icon of the Savior in Powers should be located in its center.
The icon “Savior in Power” is one of the most revered in Orthodoxy
Where to place the icon in the house
In the Orthodox tradition, there is a custom of allocating a special place for holy icons, popularly called the “red corner”. As a rule, it is located on the eastern side of the room. This does not mean at all that icons should be collected in one place: for example, in the refectory (in the kitchen) there is an image of the Last Supper, in the nursery there are icons of saints in whose honor the children are baptized. There is also no strictly defined “set”. Images of the Lord (for example, the Savior in Powers) and the Most Holy Theotokos are traditionally placed in the home iconostasis.
The meaning of the holy image
A distinctive feature of this icon is that it has very complex symbolism, unlike the rest of the Pantocrator iconography. The image itself consists of several important elements:
- Jesus Christ sits on a throne, holding a book in his hands. He is dressed in white, which characterizes his purity and purity, and also in golden robes, which symbolize his holiness;
- Behind Him is a red square with elongated ends. The square symbolizes the earth. At its four ends there are evangelical symbols: an angel, a lion, an eagle and a calf, which correspond to Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John;
- the blue oval means the spirituality of the whole world;
- the blue oval depicts angels, which are considered heavenly powers. This determines the name of the icon;
- On top of the oval there is a red diamond, which symbolizes the invisible world.
The best article for you, go to: Icon of Gregory the Wonderworker
The meaning of the “Savior in Power” icon lies in the combination of geometric figures against which Christ is depicted, which are interpreted as a sign that the Son of the Lord has both human and divine qualities. This image of the Savior is a depicted biblical treatise about the Second Coming of the Son of God, who will fulfill the will of the Lord and unite all things heavenly and earthly together.
How to pray and what to ask the Lord for in front of the icon
Requests for earthly affairs are based on reasoning about whether God’s will is for what is being asked, whether it will bring harm to the person asking. Of course, a Christian does not dare to demand anything from God: “Take it out and put it away, otherwise I’ll be offended.” This practice is pagan and has nothing in common with Orthodoxy. The tradition of turning only to miraculous icons is widespread. The words of our Savior about faith the size of a mustard seed, which can “remove mountains,” are forgotten. Traditionally, all the great and twelfth feasts of the Lord are considered days of special veneration of the Lord in front of the “Savior in Power” icon.
A Christian must ask the Lord for the salvation of his immortal soul
Meaning of the Shrine
Jesus Christ, seated on a throne, is the main center of the image. The whole image symbolizes the union of three states - divine, earthly and human. Unlike other icons, this one depicts a complex plot.
The composition includes several components:
- on the first line, the Almighty sits on a triple and holds the Holy Scripture, he is dressed in white and golden clothes, which testifies to his divine essence;
- in the background there is a rectangle of red tones, with corners stretched in all directions, as the personification of earthly life;
- on the sides of the square are the main divine symbols - the heavenly spirit, the eagle, the king of beasts, the ox, which represent the saints John, Luke, Matthew, Mark on the icon;
- the blue circle means the unification of all religions;
- the faces of the holy spirits on a blue background represent the heavenly powers;
- The diamond, which is painted red, represents weightlessness and invisibility of the spiritual world.
Fig 2 In the image of the icon of the Savior in the Silts, the main theme of the biblical treatise on the reunification of the divine and human worlds into one can be traced.
The second coming of Jesus Christ will take place under the auspices of His Father, the Most High. The main difference between the icon of the Savior in Strength and other paintings is precisely the multiplicity of the plot, the combination of the human and the divine. According to researchers, the main meaning of this image is the unification of the worldly and divine worlds into one, with the help of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Miracle-working icons “Savior in Power”
The revolutionary events of 1917 not only radically changed Russia, but also opened a wide way for the export of church valuables abroad. Many icons were irretrievably lost and fell into the hands of people who had nothing to do with the Church. Among those found are the Savior in Powers of 1500 by Dionysius, stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery, and the Savior in Powers by St. Andrei Rublev from the beginning of the 15th century, which is kept there.
The Icon of the Savior in Power, painted by Saint Andrei Rublev, is valuable to a Christian not for its age or beauty of the image. It has no price, because it reminds us of what is impossible to appreciate - the immortal human soul, the rapid passage of time, the inevitability of the righteous retribution of the Last Judgment.
What it protects from, what it helps with
Orthodox Christians rush to offer prayer to the holy image in various life situations: in case of fatal illnesses, financial collapse, or the loss of a loved one. People come to Jesus asking for help from nervous and mental disorders, for peace of mind and to receive blessings for important matters.
The Icon of the Savior protects against:
- serious illnesses;
- complex financial problems;
- loss of loved ones;
- loss of confidence in your abilities;
- drug and alcohol addiction;
- psychosomatic illnesses;
- accidents.
A petition to the Savior is allowed in any worldly situation, as long as it does not contradict the biblical commandments and cannot harm other people. Ascension to the image protects from emotional shocks, strengthens the strength of spirit, and helps to achieve spiritual harmony.
Important! The icon of the Savior in power is one of the most effective images in the fight against devilish forces. It is a talisman against sins, rash decisions and dangerous acts.
Thousands of pilgrims annually visit the Shrine to restore peace and tranquility in the family, asking for happiness and harmony in relationships with children. Regular prayers impart patience and teach you to be attentive to your loved ones.
The biblical legend says that in times of fierce persecution, world wars and terrible godlessness, only faith in the power of prayer to the Almighty helped people withstand all the torment and suffering. The Orthodox sincerely believed in the help of the Heavenly Patron, day and night, offering him thanksgiving offerings. The prayers were heard, and peace came on earth, but in order to preserve it, one must ask for repentance even more earnestly and ask from the bottom of one’s heart for peace.
The veneration of the miraculous icon of the Savior in Power is performed by Orthodox believers on all great Christian holidays. Special days in the church calendar are marked: August 14, 19, 29 - the dates of the celebration of the Savior (walnut, apple, honey).
Text of the prayer to the icon “Savior is in power”
Oh, holy new martyr and confessor of Russia: saints and shepherds of the Church of Christ, royal passion-bearers, noble princes and princesses, valiant warriors, monastics and worlds, pious men and wives, who suffered for Christ at all ages and classes, who testified to His fidelity even to death and those who have received the crown of life from Him!
During the days of the fierce persecution that befell our land from the godless, at the courts, in captivity and the abysses of the earth, in bitter works and all sorts of sorrowful situations, you courageously showed to nature the image of patience and unashamed hope. Now, enjoying sweetness in paradise, you stand before the Throne of God in glory and offer ever praise and intercession to the Triune God with the Angels and all the saints.
For this reason, we, unworthy, pray to you, our holy relatives: do not forget your earthly fatherland, aggravated by the sin of Cain’s fratricide, the desecration of shrines, atheism and our iniquities. Pray to the Lord Almighty that He may establish His Church unshakable in this rebellious and evil world; may the spirit of brotherly love and peace revive in our land; may we again be the royal priesthood, the race of God, chosen and holy, ever with you glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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How to pray correctly
The prayer offered during the celebration of the great days of the Savior has powerful protection. It is allowed to apply for healing from serious illnesses on other twelve holidays, with mandatory attendance at Sunday services. The prayer book contains several prayers that are recommended for reading for this image. Christians have the right to choose for themselves which holy text to recite.
There are no specific rules on how to pray in front of the icon of the Savior. The priests only recommend listening to some advice:
- women must cover their heads with a scarf;
- before the beginning and at the end of the prayer service, you need to make the sign of the cross three times;
- during the period of the great twelve holidays, when making appeals to the Heavenly patrons, bows to the earth are made, on other days - bows;
- It is not necessary to read prayers in church; it is permissible to turn to Jesus Christ in front of the home iconostasis.
Advice! During the prayer to the icon of the Savior, you need to light candles or a lamp; after reading the main text, words of gratitude are offered to Jesus Christ.
Fig. 3 True faith, repentance and heartfelt hope with which a Christian turns to the icon of the Savior in Power will certainly find a response from the Almighty.
Blessings and support from heavenly patrons will always be nearby. You cannot read the text with negative feelings or a desire to harm another person. All prayers are said with sincere faith in the fulfillment of plans and a pure heart. Otherwise, the prayer will not be heard by the Almighty. People who wish evil upon someone when turning to Jesus Christ may soon experience negative changes and troubles. All dark thoughts, envy, violation of biblical commandments are sure to return with the Trinity.
