Prayer of the Mother of God before Her Jerusalem Icon

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The “Jerusalem” icon of the Mother of God is one of the most famous and most important icons. The image has faithfully accompanied Christianity since the beginning of time. It depicts the lifetime face of the Mother of God and embodies her facial features. Throughout the history of Christianity, the Most Pure One has helped our people in everything: be it illnesses or misfortunes of individual people or terrible epidemics.

The image of the Mother of God was painted by Saint Evangelist Luke in the 15th year after the Ascension of the Lord. It is believed that this image was the first of 70 other images of the Mother of God. From the very beginning, this shrine was supposed to protect the Jerusalem community. It is considered miraculous and there is a lot of evidence for this. The first miracle was the healing of the Venerable Mary of Egypt from the evil eye.

Where is the Jerusalem Icon of the Mother of God located?

In the 5th century, the shrine was transported from the Church of the Resurrection of Christ to the Cathedral of Our Lady, which was located in Constantinople. In the VI-VII centuries the city was subjected to brutal attacks and sieges by the Scythians. But due to miraculous circumstances, Constantinople survived. Many attributed this miracle to Our Lady of Jerusalem.

Throughout the XII - XVI centuries, the Face of the Most Pure One resides in the St. Sophia Cathedral of Veliky Novgorod. In this city, the image was treated with respect and special love. This is due to the fact that, while in Novgorod, the “Jerusalem” icon helps many people get rid of their troubles, fears and ailments.

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In the 16th century, by order of Ivan the Terrible, the miraculous icon was transported to the Moscow Assumption Cathedral. And at first the 19th image was transferred to the Kremlin, where it was surrounded by universal veneration.

In 1812, the famous shrine disappeared. To this day it is not known exactly where the original is. However, some sources claimed that it was captured by the French. And to this day it is kept in the Notre Dame Cathedral, which is located in the capital of France. In 1977, a request was submitted to France to find the Virgin Mary of Jerusalem, but the chief inspector of French monuments responded that there was no such image in the cathedral.

Where are the image lists located?

For the Russian people, the icon of the Mother of God “Jerusalem” was of great importance. The loss of this priceless shrine in 1812 greatly upset people. There are several copies of this holy Face of the Mother of God left for the consolation of Russians:

1. In the altar of the Assumption Cathedral
2. In the New Jerusalem.
3. In the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Izmailovo;
4. In the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Veshnyaki;
5. In the Church of the Resurrection of the Word.

The celebration of the day of veneration of the shrine takes place on October 12/25.

Author of the holy image

“How can someone paint an icon who not only does not have before him, but has never seen the prototype, or, to put it in the language of painting, nature?” - asked P.A. Florensky, emphasizing that real icon painting is a reflection of the icon painter’s personal experience, his meeting with God.

From this point of view, the experience of the creator of the Jerusalem Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is unique.

The Apostle Luke personally knew the Most Holy One - this is evidenced, for example, by the fact that the Gospel of Luke contains many details of Her life that are not known from other evangelists. Therefore, the iconographic images of the Mother of God created by him are also valuable, because they captured Her appearance during her earthly life

We do not know the circumstances of the appearance of the image. Tradition, coming from the first centuries of the history of the Church, has preserved only the place where the icon was painted - Gethsemane, and the year of its creation - the 48th after the Nativity of Christ. 15 years have passed since the Ascension of the Lord.

Icon of the Mother of God “Jerusalem” - what it helps with

Throughout the history of the existence of this image, there have been many cases of relief from various ailments and disasters. First of all, prayer before the face of the Mother of God helps against paralysis, eye diseases and even blindness. There were known cases when the common prayer of the “Jerusalem” Mother of God stopped outbreaks of cholera and plague. Prayer can also help get rid of accidents and fires.

What do they pray to the “Jerusalem” Icon of the Mother of God?

• Most often they pray in front of this image on the eve of unpleasant events, sorrow or despondency;
• Since the icon is healing, many people ask the Mother of God to help get rid of bodily ailments;
• Common prayer before the Most Pure One can stop the invasion of enemies;
• It is worth praying before going on a long journey or business trip - this will protect you from difficulties along the way;
• You can ask the Most Pure One for family well-being, help in conceiving a child and preserving the family hearth.

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Two prayers that are read before petitions to the Most Pure Mother of God

First prayer

“O Most Holy and Most Blessed Mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Most Pure Ever-Virgin Mother of God Mary, our Patroness and Intercessor! We fall down and worship You before the holy and miraculous Jerusalem icon and humbly pray to You, hear the voice of our prayers offered to You from the soul, seeing our sorrows and temptations, and like a truly loving Mother, trying to help us who are helpless, sad, falling into many sins and constantly angering the Lord and our Creator. Pray to Him, O Lady, that He may not destroy us with our iniquities, but for the sake of Your intercession He will show us Your humane mercy; ask us, O All-Good One, mental and physical health, complete repentance for sins, success in Christian virtues, a grace-filled, peaceful and pious life, fruitfulness of the earth, goodness of the air, well-timed rains and blessings from above on all our good deeds and undertakings. Preserve and keep us in peace and prosperity, and hasten to all to bear the good and easy yoke of Christ in patience and humility, for the salvation of our souls, protecting us with Your Mother's protection from the temptations of the devil and all evil.

Oh, all-singing Queen, all-merciful Mother of God! Extend Your God-bearing hand in supplication to Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and receive prayers to Him, together with You on Your icon, Your righteous parents, Joachim and Anna, with them beg Him to have mercy on us and deliver us from eternal destruction, and just as sometimes in great sorrow before this icon of Yours you gave consolation and good promises to the praying Nile, so even now we humble and sinners praying, hear and show us Your great generosity: heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing, deliver the needy from troubles, those who travel and preserve those who sail unharmed, and grant us all the honor to end our earthly life in a pious manner, to receive a good Christian death, to be partakers of the Holy Mysteries, and to inherit the kingdom of heaven: that in the light and joy of the saints we sing and magnify Thy mercy and our Lord Jesus Christ, born of Thee . To him, together with his beginningless Father and the Most Holy Spirit, is due all glory, honor and worship, forever and ever. Amen".

Second prayer

“Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos, the hope of all who trust in You, the Intercessor of the sad, the Refuge of the desperate, the Nourisher of widows and orphans! Hear and have mercy on us, Thy sinful and unworthy servants, who fall with tenderness before Thy most pure image: pray, O Merciful Lady, Thy Son and our Lord Jesus Christ, that He may turn away His righteous anger from us, that He may forgive our sins and iniquities, for that we may be worthy By His goodness we may end our life in repentance and receive His mercy with all His chosen ones, for Thou art blessed and glorified forever and ever. Amen".

God bless you!

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Description and meaning in Orthodoxy

The original was written during the life of the Mother of God. Perhaps the author of the shrine managed to convey the real face of the Mother of God. The most holy icon depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary with the divine child. The Patroness holds Jesus on one hand, and her other hand lies on her chest.

The Most Holy Jerusalem image belongs to the Hodegetria type, that is, the Guide. To the side of the image of the Immaculate Virgin there may be her parents, that is, Joachim and Anna, or the apostles and other saints.

There is a deep meaning hidden in this most holy image. The icon symbolizes love for the Son, who gave his life to save humanity from sins, as well as humility before the will of the Almighty, who prepared such a fate for him.

The image depicts the Mother of God with her hand pointing to Jesus Christ as a person who is able to save people from sins. Mary holds the Savior and the Wonderworker near her chest. The baby depicted on the Jerusalem shrine has a mature expression beyond his years. In one hand he holds a scroll symbolizing his holy teachings. The fingers of Jesus' other hand are folded in a blessing gesture.

Russian churches in the name of the icon

The veneration of the Mother of God on Russian soil is such that many churches have been built in the name of her holy icons. One of the most beautiful architectural sights of Moscow is the Temple of the Jerusalem Icon, the work of the architect S. Voskresensky. The parish was allocated a plot of land, but the church was built in parts, using donations from townspeople. The work was completely completed in 1915.

The spacious temple was distinguished not only by a beautiful upward dome, but also by an original high iconostasis. The new government, however, did not need the church; it was decided to reconstruct it as a factory. In the 50s there was a factory here. Only in 1996 the historical building was returned to the Church, the temple behind the Intercession Gate became the Patriarchal Metochion. There is also a representative office of the Jerusalem Convent and charitable activities are conducted here.

On the holy land, near the Garden of Gethsemane, where the last free hours of the Savior’s earthly life passed, there is the Gethsemane Jerusalem Icon of the Mother of God. It was here that the body of the Queen of Heaven resided after her dormition. The coffin of the Mother of God is located in a small cave, where there is now an Orthodox chapel. There is a very narrow passage leading there. The miraculous image is located under a gilded robe, in a massive stone icon case. Near it, tireless monks regularly offer prayers.

They pray at the Jerusalem Icon of the Mother of God about what hurts their souls the most. The Blessed Virgin can perform many miracles:

• Protects the home (not only in the narrow sense, but also the native state) from attacks by enemies and bandits.
• Protects from the elements.
• Maintains prosperity and peace in the family.
• Heals various diseases, including those that cannot be treated with modern medicines. There are known cases of insight and recovery from paralysis.

Just having an icon is not enough for a miracle. It is necessary to have a strong faith; anyone can cultivate it in themselves if they wish. Then any icon can become a “window into another world” and will bring the joy of communication with the Lord.

• Akhtyrskaya Icon of the Mother of God
• Pryazhevskaya Icon of the Mother of God - here
• Icon of the Mother of God of Kozelshchanskaya -

When and how to read the prayer “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”

The prayer “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” is included in the liturgy (morning service) and the evening troparion, where it is solemnly performed three times. The complete Theotokos rule is to read the prayer “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” 150 times a day. While reading every ten prayers, one must remember an event from the life of the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven:

1. Birth of the Virgin Mary. 2. Entering the Church of the Virgin Mary. 3. Annunciation. Meeting with the angel Gabriel. 4. Date with Elizabeth. 5. Birth of Jesus Christ. 6. Presentation of the Lord. 7. Flight from Herod. 8. The disappearance of the Son in Jerusalem. Experiences of the Virgin Mary. 9. Miracle when, at the request of the Mother of God, Jesus turned water into wine. 10. Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Suffering of the Virgin Mary. 11. Resurrection of the Savior. 12. The Ascension of the Son of God, which was seen by the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven. 13. The appearance of the Holy Spirit to the apostles and the Virgin Mary. 14. Death of the Mother of God. 15. Glory to the Virgin Mary in heaven.

After ten prayers, “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice,” you should read the “Our Father” and the prayer “Merciful Doors.” To begin with, it is recommended to read forty times a day. Saint Seraphim of Sarov suggested, in the absence of free time, to read “Our Father” 3 times, “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice” 3 times and “Creed” 1 time.

It is better to read the prayer “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” in front of the icon of the Mother of God. The prayer is short and can be read, if necessary, at any time and in any place, most importantly with faith, with all your soul, thoughtfully.

What requests are made to the Mother of God in the prayer “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”

The prayer is read if: – oneself or one’s loved ones are sick; – parents pray for their children; – if you need the mercy of Jesus Christ, the prayer “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice” will also help; – it is necessary to improve relations with relatives; – pray for the missing; - melancholy sets in; – sinful or overcome by sinful thoughts; – need help in business and relief from need; – if it is unclear what to do, the prayer “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” will help you make the right choice; – for the marriage of girls; – travel; – protection of relatives and home from evil and deceit is needed; – asking for a peaceful, serene death; – food must be sanctified.

When you pray for others, ask the Queen of Heaven about this with prayer:

If necessary, change the masculine gender to the feminine gender in prayer.

Cases of using appeals to the Blessed Virgin

For every situation in a person’s life there is a suitable prayer. Sacred words addressed to the Most Holy Theotokos have an impact in all areas of life related to spiritual happiness and material well-being. They call to give strong faith in trials, to deliver from the Fall, to reward the righteous according to their needs, to protect them from evil and injustice.

For a happy family life and childbirth

The Most Pure Virgin, who gave life to the Son of God, patronizes family people. She also protects mothers and children, family ties. If a woman is unable to get pregnant and give birth to a child, then she can turn her request to the Most Pure Virgin at the “Quick to Hear” icon:

When there are problems in marital life or frequent conflicts, you need to pray especially sincerely. The support of the Mother of God will help save the family, revive fading feelings, and find mutual understanding. Prayer awakens awareness of the value of family and loved one:

There are separate texts intended to be read by girls who want to get married or find a worthy spouse. They express the desire that everyone in need receive what they value most. For the bride, this is love and wedding, which she asks for from the Mother of God.

Prayers for health and prosperity

Healing from illnesses often becomes the most desired event in the life of every person. If someone turns to the Mother of God in prayer asking for good health, then his condition will soon improve. The prayer books also contain texts that help fight serious diagnoses - cancer, injuries, addictions.

The prayer for general health is also read for children and relatives:

There are also words about the granting of general well-being. They pray for decent work, protection of the house from a fire or other natural disaster, protection from the machinations of enemies and aggressive others. They ask for peace and joy in the family with these words:

Conversions to strengthen faith and forgive sins

Faith in the Lord God is always a guide to a pious and righteous life, and after death - to an eternal stay in the rays of his greatness. The Mother of God is the closest to both the human world and the Almighty. She acts as a defender of the weak and sinners, and therefore people turn to her to strengthen faith:

The request for forgiveness of sins is also reflected in the prayer to the Virgin Mary. The words express both gratitude for intercession and hope for a better fate. They pronounce it with sincere repentance and awareness:

Prayers of this kind push a person to live his destiny more consciously and be diligent in fulfilling his life mission. And with the assistance of the Most Holy Theotokos, the soul turns to the light - sincere faith.

The strongest prayer for the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On the holiday, October 14, special sacred words are read. They are dedicated to the love, mercy and kindness of the Mother of God. The prayer is said at the morning service in the church in front of the largest icon, after lighting a candle for the health of relatives:

On the Intercession, women can beg for the birth of a child, healing from an illness, or a meeting with a worthy husband. With the help of this prayer, the most favorable changes are made in a woman’s destiny. And sincere gratitude will fulfill the request as soon as possible.

Distinctive features

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The iconographic type of the icon of the Mother of God of Jerusalem is described by experts as a “Guide”. In execution it is very similar to Gruzinskaya, and many other images are written similarly to him - Iverskaya, Sporuchnitsa Sinners, Kazanskaya. The Mother of God is depicted from the waist up, supporting the Son with her right hand (he may also be on the other side in other versions of the “Hodegetria”).

The Divine Infant's body and face are turned to the Mother, his head is raised. In his left hand He holds a sign of knowledge, knowledge (scroll), his right hand is raised in blessing. The fingers are folded two-fingered. The face of the Mother of God is directed towards the Son, her head is bowed, her hand is pressed to her chest. This silent dialogue on the Jerusalem icon has deep theological significance.

The icons depict gestures and poses that conceal not a literal, but a spiritual meaning. The Lord turns his face to the Mother as a sign of his love and attention to her. The unity of God and man is fully represented here in the form of Christ and Mary. Having completely assimilated human nature from her, He remained God, one of the persons of the Holy Trinity.

The Great God humbled Himself so much that He appeared as an ordinary weak baby, completely dependent on an earthly woman. And she herself became a guide to the world of people, while managing to show all the best human qualities. A pressed hand in the figurative language of icon painting means deep empathy - how can a mother not feel all the pain that falls to the Son?

Her soul was pierced with many swords the day He died on the cross. But patience and humility allowed the Virgin Mary to walk her path with dignity. She invites everyone to do this, because in the end there is a worthy reward - eternity with Christ. A trained viewer can understand all this with just one gesture.

There are several types of the Jerusalem icon:

• With images in the margins - these could be apostles, martyrs. They are not part of the composition, they seem to float left and right

• With the upcoming saints are the righteous parents of St. Mary, Joachim and Anna.

Honored Lists

The original icon could not be preserved, but several revered copies remained in Russia, also quite ancient, although much “younger” than the image that was painted by the evangelist. One of the shrines is the Church of the Nativity in Izmailovo. At first, the icon was in the royal estate - as if foreseeing the loss, the sovereigns promptly ordered copies of the miraculous Jerusalem image to be made.

The list is large and therefore heavy - 8 people can hardly lift it. On the sides of the composition are the apostles and martyrs. The Izmailovo icon is different in that the Savior’s fingers are folded differently. In the temple, an akathist is sung weekly in memory of the miracles that were prayed for by the residents of Moscow from the Queen of Heaven.

Revered lists are also found in other temples:

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• Bronnitsy, New Jerusalem (Moscow region);
• Church of the Life-Giving Trinity (Moscow);
• Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Moscow);
• in the Athos Pateleimon Monastery.

Prayers of repentance to the Most Holy Theotokos

The Mother of God dedicated her earthly life to serving people, although the human race crucified her Son, our Savior. We offer prayers of repentance to the Most Holy Lady, lamenting our sins.

Prayer to the Mother of God 1st

Most Holy Lady Theotokos, the only one most pure in soul and body, the only one who surpasses all purity, chastity and virginity, the only one who has completely become the abode of the complete grace of the all-holy Spirit, the most immaterial power here has incomparably surpassed the purity and holiness of the soul and body, look upon me, vile, unclean, soul and the body that has been denigrated by the filth of the passions of my life, cleanse my passionate mind, make immaculate and order my wandering and blind thoughts, put my feelings in order and guide them, free me from the evil and vile habit of unclean prejudices and passions that torment me, stop all sin acting in me, grant to my darkened and damned mind sobriety and prudence to correct my inclinations and falls, so that, freed from sinful darkness, I will be vouchsafed with boldness to glorify and sing songs of You, the only Mother of the true Light - Christ, our God; because you, alone with Him and in Him, are blessed and glorified by every invisible and visible creation, now, and always, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary 2nd

Undefiled, Unblessed, Imperishable, Most Pure, Unbridled Bride of God, Mother of God Mary, Lady of Peace and My Hope! Look upon me, a sinner, at this hour, and from Thy pure blood Thou hast unknowingly given birth to the Lord Jesus Christ, make me merciful through Thy motherly prayers; The one who was ripeningly condemned and wounded in the heart with the weapon of sadness, wound my soul with Divine love! The mountaineer who mourned him in chains and abuse, grant me tears of contrition; With His free conduct to death, my soul was seriously ill, free me from illness, so that I may glorify You, worthily glorified forever. Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary 3rd

O zealous, compassionate intercessor of the Lord Mother! I come running to You, a cursed man and a sinner above all others: listen to the voice of my prayer, and hear my cry and groaning. For my iniquities have exceeded my head, and I, like a ship in the abyss, am plunging into the sea of ​​my sins. But You, All-Good and Merciful Lady, do not despise me, desperate and perishing in sins; have mercy on me, who repent of my evil deeds, and turn my lost, accursed soul to the right path. On You, my Lady Theotokos, I place all my hope. Thou, Mother of God, preserve and keep me under Thy roof, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos on Sunday, St. Nil Sorsky

O all-merciful Virgin Mother of God, Mother of generosity and love for mankind, my most beloved hope and hope! O Mother of the sweetest, firstborn and all-surpassing love of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Lover of mankind and my God, Light of my darkened soul! I fall down to You, a great sinner, and I pray to You, the source of mercy and the abyss of generosity and love for mankind: have mercy on me, I cry out to You painfully, have mercy on me, all the wounded, who fell into cruel robbers, and from clothes, clothed me in nakedness, Father, woe is me, naked In the same way, my wounds became stale and rotten in the face of my madness. But, my Lady Theotokos, I humbly pray to You: look at me with Your merciful eye, and do not disdain me, all that is darkened, all that is defiled, all that is immersed in the mire of pleasures and passions, that is fallen in the rage and cannot rise: have mercy on me, and give me a helping hand, raised me from the depths of sin. O my joy! Deliver me from those who have bypassed me; enlighten Thy face upon Thy servant, save the perishing, raise up the fallen: for thou canst do all things, as the Mother of the Almighty God. Pour upon me the oil of Thy mercy, and give me the wine of tenderness; You truly have only one hope in the acquisitions of my life. Do not reject me, who flows to You, but see my sorrow, O Virgin, and the desire of my soul, and accept this and save me, Intercessor of my salvation.

History of appearance

Many people want to know what the Mother of God really looked like; perhaps her contemporaries foresaw the desire of her descendants. Evangelist Luke painted several icons of the Virgin Mary. It was this image that was prepared for the Christian community in Jerusalem, from where it got its name. Tradition calls the year of creation of the icon 48 AD. e. - Almost 15 years have passed since the Ascension, the Gospel had not yet been written, but the history of the Church was being created.

It is believed that it was near this icon that the Venerable Mary of Egypt heard the call to repentance. Many other miracles accompanied the image over the centuries. The Jerusalem shrine has come a long way.

• Moved to Constantinople (during the reign of Leo the Great, 5th century). During the Scythian attack, all the people prayed before the Jerusalem Icon of the Mother of God, the enemies retreated.

• The image was transferred to the main Byzantine temple (Blachernae Church), where it remained for three hundred years.

• In 988, the image was presented to Grand Duke Vladimir, who moved it to Korsun, then to Kyiv. When the Novgorodians also accepted baptism, the image was given to them as a gift.

• In the second half of the 16th century. Ivan the Terrible placed the Jerusalem Icon in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow. There she remained until the Napoleonic invasion, during which she disappeared. In the Assumption Church, the icon was located in the southern part of the iconostasis, then in the western. At the beginning of the 18th century. it was updated, a new precious frame was made. On its fields were the apostles and martyrs. Perhaps the salary was the reason why they decided to steal the shrine.

For many years it was believed that the French took the image to Paris, but an official request made in the 70s of the last century received the answer that there was no such icon in French museums. Today the list is in the Kremlin, in a silver frame. It was probably made during an update of the original.