Wood, tempera. 31 × 26.5 cm, Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art named after. Andrey Rublev, Moscow, Russia
The Mother of God knows all our sorrows and sufferings, therefore it is to her that those who are perishing resort to prayer for deliverance from eternal death. Being on the brink of eternal destruction, in despair, having lost hope of salvation, many are capable of reckless actions. But it is very important to gather our strength and thoughts and remember our first intercession before God.
Veneration of the icon
It is with a request for spiritual salvation that believers resort to the face of the Mother of God “Vp”. Her veneration began in Asia, in the 6th century; in Rus' this image has been revered since the 18th century.
The day of celebration of the icon is February 18.
Origin of the name “Recovery of the Lost” and the legend of an early miracle in Asia Minor
No one knows when and how this image appeared. But this name was given to it by Theophilus of Adan. According to legend, he lived in the 6th century, served as a housekeeper in the bishop's house, was very decent and did his job conscientiously. After the death of Bishop Theophilos, they tried to appoint him to his position, but he refused, because... He considered himself unworthy of such responsible work and remained in his previous rank.
Useful materials
Envious people accused the steward of theft, and the new bishop removed him from office. He grumbled against God, and the thought of revenge arose in his soul. He renounced the Lord and began to serve Satan. The bishop eventually decided to return him to service and then Theophilus woke up from the devil’s captivity. He secluded himself and for several days cried out to the Mother of God for forgiveness and salvation for him, the “perishing” one, kneeling before her icon and calling Her “the seeker of the lost.” Finally, prayers were answered and Theophilus was forgiven.
Subsequently, he led such a righteous life that in the Catholic Church he was glorified as a saint for this; the day of his veneration falls on February 4.
Miracles in Russia
In Russia, the first miracles of this icon were revealed in the 18th century. First, she saved a freezing peasant from certain death. Fedot Obukhov was caught in a snowstorm on the road; the road was so snowy that the horses could not continue on their way. Freezing, Fedot began to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos and promised, if he survived, to write a list of her image “Recovery of the Lost” for the local church. Soon he was accidentally discovered by local residents, and Fedot miraculously survived.
When he came to the icon painter to order an icon, he asked for a very high price for it, for which the Mother of God at that very moment deprived him of his sight. He repented of his greed and agreed to paint the image at any cost.
In the middle of the 18th century, prayers before the icon “Seeking the Lost” saved a widower with three daughters from spiritual decline. He lost his beloved wife, lost his fortune, unable to withstand such trials, he began to drink. In despair, he began to pray in front of the image of the Mother of God for his salvation and for the dispensation of his girls. Soon his life improved, and the girls got married safely. He took the miraculous image to the Moscow Church of the Nativity in Palashi, so that other residents could resort to the intercession of the Most Pure Virgin.
Our Lady of the Seekers of the Lost
The veneration of the Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Most Pure Virgin Mary, began during the earthly life of Christ. After His Ascension into Heaven, the Mother of God, together with the apostles, accepted the grace of the Holy Spirit sent down by Christ and taught many people, telling them about Her Divine Son and His teaching. Evangelist Luke, a doctor and icon painter, according to legend, painted several icons of the Mother of God, drawing Her from life during her lifetime.
The image of the Most Holy Lady “Look at Humility” belongs to the “Hodegetria” iconographic type - in Russian this Greek word is translated as Guide or Showing the Way. Type - these are icons united by one composition, clothing and pose of the Virgin Mary and the Infant God. There are three main iconographic types, the creator of the first icons of which is considered to be the holy apostle and evangelist Luke. Many other miraculous icons, for example, Tikhvin, Smolensk, Kazan, also belong to the iconographic type of Hodegetria.
The theological meaning of the icon “Look at Humility” is similar to other images of Hodegetria. The Mother of God, with a gesture of her right hand, points those praying to Christ, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. She reveals to people the Royal Infant of God, showing that only through faith in Christ can one find the true path of life, the road to the Kingdom of Heaven. And the earthly path must be walked with dignity in order to achieve salvation.
In addition, the Mother of God Herself represents the road to God. She becomes a companion for people through prayers to Her; She is also the bridge that connected man and God, because it was through Her that the Lord accepted human nature.
Since the Hodegetria type, like others, allows for a number of additions, many images were created on its basis, including the icon of the Mother of God “Look at Humility.” But her image sometimes changes somewhat in different temples.
The main feature of the icon is that Little Christ stands on his feet, leaning on the Mother’s right leg and usually touches her cheek with his right hand, as if turning Her to those praying in front of the icon, calling on Her to help people.
Legends associated with Matrona of Moscow
One day Saint Matronushka told her mother: “Mom, I keep dreaming about the icon “Recovery of the Lost.” She blessed the collection of funds for the icon. Many donated large sums with joy, some gave a ruble reluctantly, and some even gave their last penny to a good cause. When the required amount was collected, an artist was found who claimed that he was a master of his craft and that the work would soon be ready. Matrona told him to fast all these days, and before starting work he must confess and take communion.
After some time, the artist announced that he would not paint the image, because... he can't do anything. Matrona realized that he had concealed his sin during confession, and ordered him to go to the sacrament again and correct the disastrous mistake. He repented, asked everyone for forgiveness and painted an image that is still next to Matrona.
Origin story
The first mention of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Seeking the Lost” dates back to the sixth century. According to legend, the image saved the monk Theophilus from eternal death and helped him achieve spiritual perfection. The earliest image in Rus' is considered to be an icon that was located in the St. George Church of the Oryol province, dating back to the beginning of the eighteenth century. She gained her fame after the miraculous rescue of the peasant Theodot Obukhov from death.
Theodotus was engaged in various crafts, buying hemp seed from villages, going to the village temple, donating icons for it. One day he found himself in a terrible blizzard. His horse stopped near the ravine, because due to lack of strength it could hardly move. The peasant was chilled and saw no salvation, so he decided to fall asleep in the sleigh and wait. He prayed to the Mother of God and vowed that if he were saved, he would make a list of the “Retribution” and install it in his local church.
And so it happened - thanks to the help of the Mother of God, Theodotus was miraculously saved. Theodotus woke up in a neighboring village, his friend found him in a sleigh with a horse right near his house. The peasant was warmed and fed, and, having recovered his health, Theodotus began to fulfill his oath and created a handwritten copy of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos with the Baby Jesus in her arms.
Iconography of the image, details, symbolism
On the icons, the Mother of God is depicted with the Child Jesus. He stands on Mother's knees, rarely - She holds Him in her arms. The feet of the Divine Infant are always visible from under the robe. He pressed his face to the cheek of the Most Holy Mother, hugging Her neck. The Ever-Virgin's head is rarely covered with maforia, it is mostly open, the hair is loose and flows to the shoulders.
Vologda, approx. 1783, Wood, tempera, 31.5 × 24.5 cm
Sometimes the Queen of Heaven and Her Son are depicted wearing crowns. The Mother's hands are closed in a ring around the Baby, the fingers are connected into a lock. In some cases, the face is painted among the clouds, both in full height and in a half-length depiction of the Virgin Mary.
What they ask for and how it helps
The icon is a symbol of protection and patronage of people who are in difficult situations and who have lost heart. You can ask her for anything - the Mother of God does not limit believers in their requests and will help in any trouble.
Healing mental and physical illnesses
The Mother of God helps in healing various diseases and mental anguish. There are many known cases when people turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary for help and healing. The Mother of God miraculously assists people in healing and makes it possible to survive illnesses with the least suffering.
Finding the Power of Faith
Traditionally, the image of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Lost” patronizes people who find themselves in a difficult situation and have fallen in spirit, close to apostasy. The very name of the icon does not refer to the dead, as one might think, but to people close to renouncing God and losing faith. An appeal to the Most Holy Theotokos can restore lost faith and help cope with difficulties. The miraculous power of faith helps not to lose heart, walking your path with dignity.
Protection during hostilities
The icon of the Most Holy Mother of God has always been turned to for help in major battles. It is believed that it was the miraculous power of the Mother of God that saved the Russian land from destruction during periods of historical wars.
Search for missing persons
For a long time, people have turned to “Recovery of the Dead” for help in finding missing relatives and loved ones.
There is a lot of evidence when missing people were found after praying to the Mother of God.
About a successful marriage
Women turn to the image of the Most Holy Mother of God with requests to find a suitable husband for them, and men, through prayer, find a faithful wife.
About protection on a long journey or journey
People setting off on a long journey ask the Mother of God for protection and patronage on their journey. Prayer helps you find inner peace and confidence that the journey will end safely. Close people and relatives of people on the road also pray to the image. The Mother of God gives faith that everything will be fine with a loved one, and his journey will be blissful.
For the welfare of children
Parents pray to the Mother of God for the health and well-being of their future, already born and adult children. The miraculous power of the Mother of God helps couples give birth to healthy offspring, patronizes upbringing and education, and helps children find their blissful path in life.
Honored Lists
The most revered copy (copy) is the Moscow icon, the same one that helped a widower marry off his daughters. Now it is in the Resurrection Church, located in Bryusov Lane. The image was badly damaged during the Patriotic War of 1812. Then the French destroyed the Church of the Nativity, and the icon itself split into three parts. The church was rebuilt, the parts of the icon were combined, and it remained there until 1934, then it found its home in Moscow.
Another list is also located in Moscow, in the Church of the Venerable Robe of the Lord in the Assumption Cathedral. There are also such shrines in the Moscow region, both are in Serpukhov, one in the Vysotsky Monastery, the second in St. Nicholas Cathedral.
One of the lists of miraculous icons is located in the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord in Moscow
Where are the lists of the miraculous icon “Recovery of the Lost” kept? One of the lists of the icon is kept in Moscow, in the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, which is located on Bryusov Lane. It was believed that this list was written by an Italian for a wealthy noble family in the early 19th century.
One of the lists of the icon is kept in Moscow, in the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, which is located in Bryusov Lane
Another image is in the cathedral in Samara. Every Tuesday an akathist is performed before the icon.
It is also known that one of the miraculous icons was painted for the Matrona of Moscow. She ordered it for her temple. In a dream, she saw an image, and then decided that she needed this image for her temple, and began to raise funds. Soon the amount was collected. Matrona ordered the icon in Bogoroditsk, and from there it was carried in a religious procession to Sebino.
One of the miraculous icons, “Seeking the Lost,” was painted for the Matrona of Moscow. She ordered it for her temple
The saint predicted when the icon would be in the village, and she was not mistaken. The icon became the main local shrine, which became famous for its miracles. Currently, this image is in the Moscow Intercession Monastery.
In Cheboksary there is a brick church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost.” The temple was founded by Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II.
Temple in Cheboksary in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost.” The temple was founded by Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II
First prayer
Oh, Most Holy and Most Blessed Virgin, Lady Theotokos! Look with Your merciful eye on us, standing before Your holy icon and praying to You with tenderness, raise us from the depths of sin, enlighten our minds, darkened by passions, and heal the ulcers of our souls and bodies. We are not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, do You, Lady, weigh all our infirmities and sins? We resort to You and cry out: do not forsake us with Your Heavenly help, but appear to us ever and with Your ineffable mercy and bounties, save and have mercy on us , dying. Grant us correction of our sinful life and deliver us from sorrows, troubles and illnesses, from vain death, hell and eternal torment. You, Queen and Lady, are the quick Helper and Intercessor of all who flow to You, and a strong refuge for repentant sinners. Grant us, O Most Blessed and All-Immaculate Virgin, the Christian end of our life, peaceful and unashamed, and grant us, through Your intercession, to dwell in the heavenly abodes, where the unceasing voice of those celebrating with joy glorifies the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever , and forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
Zealous Intercessor, Compassionate Mother of the Lord, I come running to You, the accursed one and the most sinful man above all, listen to the voice of my prayer, hear my cry and groans, as if my iniquities have surpassed 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.
Third prayer
O Most Holy Lady and Mother of God, the highest Cherub and the most honorable Seraphim, God's chosen Youth, the Seeker of the lost and the Joy of all who mourn, grant consolation to us who exist in perdition and sorrow, unless You have no other refuge and help than the Imams. You are the only one who is the Intercessor of our joy, and as the Mother of God and Mother of Mercy, standing at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, you can help us: no one else, who flows to You, leaves in shame. Hear us now, on the day of destruction and sorrow, falling before Your icon and praying to You with tears: take away from us the sorrows and troubles that are upon us in this temporary life, so that through Your omnipotent intercession, do not deprive us of eternal, endless joys in the Kingdom son
