One of the most revered miraculous icons in the Orthodox Church is the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which, according to legend, appeared to people in 1383 near the city of Tikhvin. In 1560, the first stone of the Tikhvin Monastery was laid on the banks of the Tikhvinka River.
Day of celebration: July 9
History of the icon
It is believed that the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the famous evangelist Luke. He presented the icon as a gift to Theophilus of Antioch, supplementing the gift with the text of the Gospel. After some time, the miraculous icon ended up in Byzantium. In Constantinople, the Blachernae Church was built for her, which amazes with its splendor. This church is one of the most significant in the history of Eastern Christians.
In 1383, the Tikhvin Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to people in Holy Rus'. According to legend, the holy image was carried by angels in their arms. So the icon was transported through the air from Byzantium. The first to see the miracle were the fishermen when the icon floated over Ladoga. As the legend about the appearance of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God says, believers and a priest came to the river bank in order to pray to the holy image. For sins, the icon left the Byzantine people, but appeared on the territory of Holy Rus' in the Orthodox Church.
In the place chosen by the Mother of God herself, a wooden Church of the Assumption was soon erected. After some time, it was replaced with a stone one, and now the Tikhvin Mother of God Assumption Monastery operates there, as it is not difficult to understand that in the city of Tikhvin there is an icon where believers can worship this image. During World War II, the icon ended up in a Riga church. The occupiers of the Tikhvin Monastery first sent her to Pskov and then took her to Riga. It was returned to Russian soil, to the city of Tikhvin, in 2004. In this regard, the church established the celebration of the return of the icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God in the Orthodox calendar.
Description and style of iconography
The Tikhvin Mother of God image belongs to the Hodegetria, or Guide, type. The image of the Mother of God on the icon is half-length. The Ever-Virgin is dressed in red clothes with three stars, symbolizing the innocence of the Heavenly Intercessor. With her left hand She holds the Baby Jesus, and with her right hand she points to Her Son as the main Savior.
The Messiah's robe is golden, which signifies the Kingdom of God. Little Christ clutches a scroll with his right hand, which means Christian teaching. His left hand is raised up in a characteristic gesture with which He blesses all the righteous.
You can distinguish the Tikhvin image from other images of the Mother of God by the heel of the Baby Jesus, which is turned towards the worshipers.
Author's advice
The Tikhvin image of the Mother of God belongs to the Hodegetria type
How does the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God help?
The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is considered the patroness of infants. Mothers whose children are sick, capricious and have trouble sleeping come to her.
That is why the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is also called the Child-Giver, that is, she protects children, and also gives healthy children.
It is believed that it protects school-age children from bad influences; the Tikhvin icon helps them find their path in life and helps them make the right choice. The icon strengthens the spiritual connection between parents and children. People who want to find an answer to a question that torments them ask her for help. The icon of the Mother of God protects a person from deception and slander. Therefore, if difficulties arise with other people, many confessors advise taking the image of the Tikhvin Mother of God and praying in front of it in order to clarify the situation and understand how things really are.
The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God has miraculous powers. It always appeared in sparsely populated lands where Christianity was not widespread.
She protected and protected people from disasters, wars and fires.
That is why the importance of the holy image of the Tikhvin icon in Orthodoxy is so great.
Meaning in Orthodoxy
Before Tikhvin, the icon of the Mother of God appeared in several northern regions that had not been converted to Christianity. Thus, the Mother of God blessed the Russian lands for the full adoption of Orthodoxy and the reunification of territories. The centralization of Russia began in 1478 with the unification of the Novgorod and Moscow principalities.
With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks in Russia in 1917, persecution of the church began and the veneration of religious relics ceased. The Tikhvin monastery was closed, the painting was sent to the local history museum. During the Great Patriotic War, the image was brought to Pskov, where services were resumed during hostilities. In 1944, the relic was exported abroad: first to Germany, and then delivered to the USA. In America, the image was placed in the custody of Archbishop of Riga John Garklavs.
Only on July 8, 2004, the Orthodox shrine arrived forever at the Tikhvin Monastery. The event is symbolic for post-Soviet Russia: the country has returned to the path of Orthodoxy, indicated by the Most Holy Theotokos.
Miracle lists icons
The most interesting is the list of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow, which was brought to the Assumption Cathedral back in the 17th century. At the very beginning of this century, the Swedes came to Novgorod, who wanted to conquer the city and people planned to flee from the monastery where the icon was. As soon as they wanted to move the image, it seemed to be chained to the ground and moving the seemingly not super-heavy icon turned out to be inaccessible to the inhabitants of the monastery. People understood the hint of lack of faith and remained in the city, in particular in the monastery.
The Swedes continued to attack the walls of the monastery, and the Tikhvin Icon helped the defenders and brought various images to the Swedes. They saw the army approaching from the direction of Moscow and also saw the Heavenly Army, which stood over the monastery. The invaders did not succeed, and over time, ambassadors arrived from Moscow who made a list of the holy image, which they sent to the capital, and thanks to this image they concluded a truce with the Swedes. In addition, in many cities there is a church of the Tikhvin Icon: Bryansk, Suzdal and many other cities.
What can you ask for before the image?
Since 1384, the image of the Most Holy Theotokos saved Russia from disasters and enemy invasions, and gave hope for changes for the better to thousands of believers. In modern Orthodoxy, the tradition of turning to the icon of the Mother of God in difficult circumstances has been preserved.
Help for the mentally ill
The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God helps to cope with mental disorders. Relatives in prayer in front of the icon find strength to care for their mentally ill loved ones. In patients, depression and paralysis recede, the frequency of nervous breakdowns and the intensity of epileptic seizures decrease. A sincere prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos will save a person from harmful addictions to his loved ones or acquaintances.
Finding the Right Answer
Before making an important decision, it is advised to venerate the image of the Tikhvin Mother of God with the Eternal Child. The icon protects against deception, wards off intrigue, and gets rid of false and even harmful goals. Prayer will help you find a way out of a difficult situation.
Help for newborns
For a long time, prayers have been read to the Tikhvin Icon by mothers of restless and sick children. For newborns, they ask for pacification and sound sleep, good appetite and development, protection from unkind views and thoughts.
Relief from serious illnesses
People turn to the Tikhvin Icon when doctors are powerless. The Mother of God helps with bodily ailments (especially with musculoskeletal pathologies, nervous system disorders, heart diseases), and restores mental balance. If the prayer for health is sincere, turning to the Mother of God alleviates the condition of a seriously ill person and gives strength to support loved ones.
Strengthening relationships between children and parents
The Tikhvin icon protects family relationships, strengthens the spiritual connections between children and parents, spouses, and other relatives. They ask the image for protection from bad influence, deception, slander and all kinds of troubles. If you place the image of the Mother of God in the house and read prayers in front of it, conflicts between household members will cease.
Help for infertile women
The Giver of Children is also called the Tikhvin Icon. Childless women pray for the return of reproductive capabilities after many years of childlessness, and believers in labor ask for an easy birth and quick restoration of strength.
Prayer before the Tikhvin Icon
Troparion, tone 4
Today, like the bright sun,/ Your all-honorable icon, O Lady, has risen for us in the air,/ illuminating the world with rays of mercy,/ even great Russia,/ like some gift from the Divine from above reverently accepting, / glorifies Thee, Mother of God, the Lady of all, / and from Thee He magnifies the birth of Christ our God with joy./ Pray to Him, O Lady Queen Theotokos,/ may all Christian cities and countries/ be preserved unharmed from all slander. living / and will save by faith those who worship His Divine / and Your pure image, / / Virgin Unartificed.
Translation: On this day, like the bright sun, Your all-holy icon, O Lady, shone for us in the air, illuminating the world with rays of mercy! Her great Russia, having reverently accepted a certain Divine gift from above, glorifies You, Mother of God, the Lady of all, and joyfully magnifies Christ, our God, who was born from You. Pray to Him, O Lady Queen Theotokos, that He may preserve all Christian cities and countries unharmed from all the machinations of the enemy and save with faith those who worship His Divine and Your most pure image, the Virgin who has not known marriage.
Kontakion, tone 8
Let us, people, come to the Virgin Mother of God Queen, / thanking Christ God, / and, looking tenderly at that miraculous icon, let us fall and cry out to Her: / O Lady Mary, / having visited this land of Yours The appearance of the honest image is miraculous, / save us in peace and prosperity our fatherland and all Christians,/ heirs showing heavenly lives,/ we faithfully call to you // Rejoice, O Virgin, salvation of the world.
Translation: Let us resort, people, to the Virgin Mother of God Queen, thanking Christ God, and, looking at Her miraculous icon with tenderness, let us fall and exclaim to Her: “O Lady Mary, having visited this country of Your sacred image with a miraculous appearance, preserve the Fatherland in peace and prosperity ours and all Christians, revealing them to be heirs of Heavenly life, for we cry to You with faith: Rejoice, Virgin, salvation of the world!”
First prayer
We thank You, O Most Blessed and Most Pure, Most Blessed Virgin, Lady, Mother of Christ our God, for all Your good deeds, which You have shown to the human race, especially to us, those named in Christ Russian people, about them below the most angelic language will be pleased with praise. We thank You, as even now You have surprised Your ineffable mercy on us, Your unworthy servants, with the natural self-coming of Your Most Pure Icon, which You have enlightened all of Russia Russian country. Likewise, we, sinners, worshiping with fear and joy, cry out to Thee: O Most Holy Virgin, Queen and Mother of God, save and have mercy on Thy people, and grant them victory over all their enemies, and preserve the kingdom ruined cities, and all Christian cities and countries, and deliver this holy temple from every slander of the enemy, and grant everything for the benefit of all, who have now come with faith and as Thy servants praying, and who worship Thy Most Holy Image, for blessed art Thou with the Son and God born of You, now and ever and unto ages of ages . Amen.
Second prayer
O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord of the highest powers, Queen of Heaven and earth, our city and country, Almighty Intercessor. Accept this laudatory song of thanksgiving from us, unworthy Thy servants, and lift up our prayers to the throne of God Thy Son, that He may be merciful to our untruths and add His goodness to those who honor everything. Your name and with faith and love those who worship Your miraculous image. For we are not worthy of being pardoned by Him, unless You have propitiated Him for us, O Lady, for all things are possible for You from Him. For this reason we resort to You, as to our undoubted and speedy Intercessor; Hear us praying to You, cover us with Your all-powerful protection and ask God, Your Son, for our shepherd zeal and vigilance for souls, for the city ruler wisdom and strength, for the judges of righteousness and impartiality, reason and humility as a mentor, love and harmony for spouses, obedience for children, those offended patience, fear of God to those who are offended, complacency to those who mourn, self-control to those who rejoice: to us all the spirit of reason and piety, the spirit of mercy and meekness, the spirit of purity and truth. To her, Most Holy Lady, have mercy on your weak people: gather the scattered, guide those who have gone astray to the right path, support old age, keep the young chaste, raise babies, and look upon us all Through Your merciful intercession, raise us up from the depths of sin and enlighten our heart’s eyes to vision of salvation, be merciful to us here and there, in the land of earthly advent and at the Last Judgment of Your Son: those who ceased in faith and repentance from this life, fathers and our brethren forever create life with her from the Angels and with all the saints. For you are, Lady, the glory of Heaven and the hope of earth. According to God, You are our Hope and Intercessor of all those who flow to You with faith. We pray to You, and to You, as the Almighty Helper, we commit ourselves and each other and our whole life, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
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In what temples and churches can you find
The miraculous image is kept in the Assumption Cathedral of the Tikhvin Mother of God Assumption Monastery. Lists of the image can be found in other monasteries and churches in Russia. Here are the most famous:
- Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery;
- Church of Our Lady in Sushchevo;
- Novodevichy Convent (Virgin of Smolensk);
- Church of the Transfiguration (Bogorodskoe);
- Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lyshchikova Gora);
- Church of the Sergius Compound (Paris).
In Tikhvin there is the oldest copy of the icon of the Mother of God with the Savior in her arms (15-16th century). You can turn to the image in any Russian church, because almost everywhere the miraculous face is present and prayer is strong.
Real examples of help
There are many examples of healing and protection from the Tikhvin icon. Some of them are supported by the memories of believers, others are attested by eyewitnesses of historical events:
- An elderly resident of St. Petersburg suffered from arthritis. Medicine was of little help, and she decided to pray for the health of the miraculous Tikhvin icon in St. Isaac's Cathedral. In front of the temple, the woman felt increased pain, but after applying it to the image, the unpleasant sensations receded and freedom of movement appeared.
- Field Marshal B.P. Sheremetyev, military leader and associate of Peter the Great, was saved from an enemy bullet in the Battle of Poltava thanks to a small icon image on his chest. For the glory of the Mother of God, the general founded the Borisov Tikhvin Convent, revered by his descendants.
- During the Great Patriotic War, when the threat of capture by the Germans loomed over Moscow, the icon of the Mother of God was taken on board a military fighter. As soon as the plane took off and began to fly over the capital, a large service began in the churches. Soon after the religious ceremony, the defeat of the invaders near Moscow began.
From its first appearance in Russia, the image of the Tikhvin icon has been accompanied by miracles and good events. But only true believers receive help. If prayer is offered sincerely, from a pure heart and with good intentions, the Most Holy Theotokos will grant help to those suffering.
