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The Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” also has another name: “Guide”. She received this name from the fact that the Mother of God for Christians is considered a guide to eternal salvation. According to some sources, it is known that it was written during the life of the Mother of God by the holy evangelist Luke. The Akathist to the Mother of God “Hodegetria” is read for the salvation of one’s soul, for a prosperous journey.
The meaning of the icon in Orthodoxy
The Hodegetria icon is one of the most impressive and ancient images dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos holding the infant Christ in her arms.
The beautiful name is actually the Greek word “Οδηγήτρια”, which translates as “She who shows the way.” Legend says that the prototype was written by the Apostle Luke himself, the author of the third Gospel. The center of the Hodegetria composition is the infant Christ. In His left hand He holds a scroll, and His right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing. Therefore, the meaning of the icon is to show the coming to the earthly world of the Heavenly King, who will judge all those living in it. The Mother of God herself points with her right hand to the Divine Child, showing whom believers should worship and offer prayers to. That is, the Blessed Virgin, as it were, shows people the path to the true God and to salvation, which perfectly corresponds to the name “Hodegetria”.
The history of the miraculous image of the Smolensk Mother of God
This icon was created by the holy evangelist Luke during the life of the mother of Jesus, Mary. Since that time, it has remained the most revered icon in the Orthodox Church. At first it was kept in Constantinople in the Blachernae Monastery. Since 988, the image of the Mother of God has always been on the lands of Rus'.
Today, many pilgrims come to the icon every day. People turn to the Mother of God with requests for everything, because modern man, unfortunately, has a lot of everyday problems.
The history of the appearance of the akathist
From the Holy Land the Guide began her journey through the Christian world. Until the 6th century, this image was known only in Palestine. He was then transported to Constantinople, which was then the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The icon was placed in the main convent of Panagia Hodegetria. During Easter celebrations, it was transferred to the palace, and when Constantinople was besieged by enemies, the image was raised to the fortress walls.
The icon received its name thanks to this monastery. Next to him was a spring whose waters miraculously healed the blind. This place in Greek was called “ton Odegon” (that is, “place of the Guides”). This name was assigned to both the monastery (it has not survived to this day) and the icon.
Historians disagree on exactly how and in what year the image of the Mother of God Hodegetria ended up in Rus'. But legend says that this happened in the 11th century. He was brought by Princess Anna, daughter of Constantine Monomakh, as part of her dowry. In 1095, the son of Anna and Prince Vsevolod, Vladimir Monomakh, brought this holy icon to Smolensk. There, by his order, in 1101 the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded, where a precious ancient icon was installed. Since then, it began to be called Smolenskaya.
Miraculous icon
Many miracles are associated with Hodegetria. One of the most famous is the rescue of Smolensk from the raid of the Mongol Khan Batu in 1239. In the 15th century, the holy icon was transported to Moscow. Historians do not know why this happened, and there are several versions on this matter. In Moscow, icon painters made a series of copies, and the original went back to Smolensk.
When Napoleon invaded Russia, the icon was sent to the capital. On Borodin Day, it was carried by participants in the religious procession. Before the French broke into Smolensk, the holy image was taken to Yaroslavl, and returned to the city after its liberation.
Unfortunately, the ancient Byzantine, richly decorated original was irretrievably lost during the German occupation of Smolensk during the Great Patriotic War. Today in the Assumption Cathedral you can see a copy of it, written at the beginning of the 17th century. The list is also miraculous.
Akathist (that is, a solemn prayer hymn that must be performed while standing) arose precisely as a song of praise dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos (others appeared a little later). The hymn tells the story of the life of the Mother of God and the painting of the icon by the Apostle Luke. It also commends the defense of Constantinople from its enemies. Each ikos contains cheretisms, that is, greetings beginning with the word “rejoice.”
Path of the Shrine
The main idea of this face is the coming of the Son of God into our world. His image is considered the incarnation of the Lord for the salvation of people. In the image of a small baby they put the face of the Coming Judge and the Heavenly King. The gesture of the right hand of the Mother of God can be interpreted not only as a prayer, but also that it points to the image to which our prayers and thoughts should be directed.
This icon traveled for a long time until it fell into the hands of Vsevolod Yaroslavovich. He got it when he married Anna, daughter of Constantine IX Monomakh. He blessed her on her journey with this icon. After the death of Vsevolod, it passed to his son Vladimir.
In the 12th century he moved it to the Smolensk Cathedral Church. It was named in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was from that time that it received its name, the Smolensk Icon. But during the Second Great Patriotic War, this icon disappeared without a trace. And now there are lists of her in all churches.
The celebration of the Holy Face of the Mother of God is set for July 28.
When and how to read correctly
The reading of the Akathist to the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God can be done both in church and at home. The number of worshipers can be any. Only the sick or infirm are allowed to sit during prayers and chants.
There is no need to look for a special reason to read the akathist. This can be done whenever the need is felt. But there are a number of events when it can be especially useful:
- requests for protection from diseases and troubles;
- in front of the road;
- requests to restore peace in the family;
- seeking solace;
- requests for family well-being;
- requests for healing;
- celebration icon.
The reading sequence is traditional:
- Akathist text;
- the last kontakion is repeated twice;
- 1st ikos is repeated;
- 1-kontakion is repeated;
- closing prayer.
The icon is honored on August 10 (July 28, old style). On this day, reading the akathist brings special joy and benefit. Other important dates:
- November 18 is a holiday in honor of the victory over Napoleon;
- December 7 – liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke is celebrated.
Prayer
O Most Wonderful and Above All Creatures Queen Theotokos, Mother of the Heavenly King Christ our God, Most Holy Hodegetria Mary! Hear us, sinners and unworthy, who at this hour pray to You with sighs and tears before Your most pure image, falling down and tenderly saying: Lead us from the pit of passions, O good Hodegetria, deliver us from all sorrow and sorrow, protect us from all misfortune and evil. slander, and from the unrighteous slander of the enemy: you can, O our Gracious Mother, save Your people from all evil, and provide and save with every good deed, for You have other Representatives in troubles and circumstances and warm Intercessors for us, sinners, to Your Son , Christ our God, not imams, implored Him, the Lady, to save us and grant us the Kingdom of Heaven, so that through Your salvation we glorify You in the future, as the Author of our salvation, and we extol the all-holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity Glorified and worshiped God forever and ever. Amen.
Akathist to Our Lady of Smolensk
A prayer song in front of this icon, first, can help preserve harmony in our monastery and on our planet. Therefore, the praise of the Smolensk image must be chanted every dawn in order to protect oneself:
• from possible illnesses and epidemics;
• from unhappy situations during military work;
• from misfortunes while traveling or on a distant journey;
• from battle or military operations (can help defeat the enemies of the Fatherland).
The textual information of the chant, which must be read before the Smolensk iconographic composition of the Mother of God, contains the following:
Kontakion 1
Chosen from absolutely all families, Heaven and the world, the Queen, the Most Holy Theotokos Hodegetria, as if freed from constant death by the grace of Our Lord who was born to You and by Your incongruous intercession before Him, grateful chanting is brought to you by your slaves. Your mercy, our Patroness of God, free us from all sorts of troubles and sad circumstances, so we call to You: Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, Christians' anticipation!
Ikos 1
We offer God’s hymn to you, pure one: Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, and fill us with spiritual joys, and with a reverent soul and the purest heart we bring to You, who gave birth to the light of the Savior Christ our Lord, these verbs: Rejoice, illuminated by the Lord’s Founder with benevolence; Rejoice, O Lord's Son, Mother without art. Rejoice, holy house of the Lord of the Noble Spirit; Rejoice, sacred expression of the Trinity. Rejoice, Amazement of harmless minds; Rejoice, decoration of the human race. Rejoice, thou who hast added eternity to the last; Rejoice, you who have opened the gates of paradise to earthly creatures. Rejoice, azure ladder; Rejoice, stately God-receiving one. Rejoice, burning Kupino; Rejoice, Holy Table. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, hope of Christians!
Kontakion 2
Seeing the face of your most holy image, Virgin Mary, the always praised John the theologian Luke composed, speaking about her with your most pure lips: “With this icon is my happiness and power.” Having noticed such a promise sent about you, we religiously respect Your Most Holy Image, Lady, and give gratitude to the Son and the Lord: Hallelujah.
Ikos 2
Having understood Your goodwill, Mother of God, towards the real icon, the noble Messenger Luke presented the Council of Antioch as a parting word to Christ, in which the Guide was named and became famous for Amazing sacred things. For this reason, those who thank You, O good Lady, as if You had left something similar to Your pure appearance for our consolation, diligently cry out to You: Rejoice, Queen of the mountains and valleys; Rejoice, Lady of angels and people. Rejoice, the world is moved; Rejoice, ancient evil destroyer. Rejoice, pillar of virginity; Rejoice, deep humility. Rejoice, clothed in light; Rejoice, shining with sacred glory. Rejoice, Mother of the Not Evening World; Rejoice, sublime paradise of sweetness. Rejoice, fragrant heirloom of Christ; Rejoice, O bed of the Great King. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, Christian aspiration!
Kontakion 3
By the power of God, the wonderful miracles that occurred from Your icon, Virgin Mary, Mother of God, when she was quickly brought to Tsar City and placed in the most glorious temple of the Ruler; enlightening the blind, curing every disease in people with Your grace, we will undoubtedly always cry out to the Lord who glorifies You: Hallelujah.
Ikos 3
Calling You the Tsar of the city, the powerful protector, Virgin Mary, and during the attack of mighty and skilled opponents in battle, Your Amazing support from Your blessed icon, they received a lot of beautiful things. For this reason, we exalt ourselves to You, O Most High, just as You saved the above-mentioned ancient city more than once from a disastrous path, so rescue us meek ones from destruction, we constantly present You to the Lord, we undoubtedly call You: Rejoice, King of the city, a strong barrier; Rejoice, Blachernae Cathedral is a favorable value. Rejoice, the assimilation of sinful armies; Rejoice, opponents of Orthodoxy are put to shame. Rejoice, Child of Christ, Leader of victories; Rejoice, quick Helper in trouble to those who flock to You. Rejoice, diligent Intercessor of those who call upon You; Rejoice, pious saint, companion of the gospel of Christ. Rejoice, praise of women and virgins is known; Rejoice, pillar of fire, softening heat of desires. Rejoice, cloudy pillar, driving out the darkness of sin. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, waiting for Christians!
Ikos 4
Having heard about the most amazing and glorious things, the Virgin Mary, how You discovered from Your icon in Constantinople, we are perplexed, as well as the face that was born in the hundreds of cities of the city, who ruled with the power of the Sacred and turned their feet according to Your freedom; So, the Lady, and our feet, should concentrate on the path of implementing the commandments of Christ, and teach us to correctly fulfill the immaculate freedom of Your Son and Lord, we undoubtedly cry out to You like this: Rejoice, O most unquenchable one; Rejoice, never-setting light. Rejoice, shining with the Holy world; Rejoice, you who enlighten the souls of the devotees with grace. Rejoice, fragrance of the land of Christ; Rejoice, sanctification of the earth. Rejoice, cup that draws pleasure from the whole world; Rejoice, source that spreads immortal sweetness. Rejoice, O devil of well-being embellished by the Sovereign of Lords; Rejoice, reddened Eden. Rejoice, clearest morning. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, waiting for Christians!
Ikos 5
Having seen your most glorious defense of the city of Smolensk, Mother of God, Lady, we glorify Your great favor, with which You beautifully delivered the real city from the plunder of Batu, by sending the saint of Christ Mercury with the Holy voice from Your icon into the fight against the leader of Batu’s army; After all, someone has slain him with his own sword and delivered the city from the fiery conflagration. Thou hast crowned him with the crown of martyrdom, and through heavenly prayers grant us in no way condemned to cry out to Thee: Rejoice, thou whost strengthened the sufferer of Christ Mercury in an act of war; Rejoice, You who inspired him with the voice of Your immaculate icon. Rejoice, as if David and Goliath crowned him with victory; Rejoice, the city of Smolensk is greatly protected. Rejoice, Thou who delivered Thy city from destruction; Rejoice, Deliverer from captivity and loss. Rejoice, auspicious pleasure for the Russian state; Rejoice, O Cathedral of Christ, splendid decoration. Rejoice, O gifted ones who adore you; Rejoice, Quencher of despondency. Rejoice, healing those who are sick; Rejoice, encouragement to those who yearn. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, waiting for Christians!
Kontakion 6
The Russian land confesses Your mercy and miracle, Lady Virgin, Mother of God, and the city clearly flaunts, possessing Your miraculous icon, curing any disease and bringing health to the ailing. For this reason, we reverently respect Your healing image, O All-Blessed Lady, and we who worship it, as if it were a guarantee of Your favor towards us, cry out to the Lord: Hallelujah.
Ikos 6
Thou shalt shine in the Russian state with glimpses of Spiritual Amazing things from the righteous icon of Thy emanating, pure Mother of God Lady, to her, after all, from the year of the most ancient our fathers arrived in melancholy and sickness and retreat from poverty. After all, we, who come to You and enthusiastically perform the sacred act, kissing Your miraculous face, ascend to You: quench our sadness, who benefits our ailments, we undoubtedly invite You: Rejoice, rod of old age; Rejoice widows Intercession. Rejoice, orphans of contempt; Rejoice, infant development. Rejoice, provision for the poor; Rejoice, ye captured by deliverance. Rejoice, you who yearn for pleasure; Rejoice, pillar and acceptance of virginity. Rejoice, Patroness of monks; Rejoice, nun Teacher. Rejoice, strengthening of the fasting people. Rejoice, instruction to the ascetic. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, waiting for Christians!
Kontakion 7
Although Thou didst grant the city the Capital the sacrament of grace from Thy holy icon, O Theotokos of God, Thou didst spoil Thy icon to be delivered from Smolensk to the Capital, undoubtedly being present thereafter, Numerous amazing things will thunder. When, according to the tenderness of the inhabitants, the blessed image turned into their city, in the place where Thy icon Hodegetria passed, the house of the virgins was quickly built in Thy name; in it, before the overshadowing of your miraculous icon, with faith and love we sing an incessant hymn to the Lord: Hallelujah.
Ikos 7
The newly created monastery of nuns in the city of the Capital, with a sacred ceremony, honors the immaculate something similar to the miraculous icon of Your Hodegetria, exuding extraordinary mercy with the right, with its overshadowing the faithful people, who gratefully rejoiced and convinced them in heroic acts of fasting and prayer, inciting them to continuously exalt the Maternity of Your generosity and gratefully cry out to To you: Rejoice, beloved Queen of the Most High; Rejoice, O Lady who loved the Lord. Rejoice, you who are indivisibly blessed among women; Rejoice, heavenly joy. Rejoice, earthly intercession; Rejoice, demonic reproach. Rejoice, hell violation; Rejoice, strengthened by the power of the Most High Powers. Rejoice, clothed with the dominion of the Queen of Heaven and earth; Rejoice, good Helper who warred into the flesh with chastity. Rejoice, O blessed Comforter of those who strive in fasting and silence. Rejoice, Mother of God Hodegetria, waiting for Christians!
Second prayer
To whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to You, Lady Lady Theotokos, Queen of Heaven? Who will accept my cry and my sighing, if not You, O Immaculate One, the hope of Christians and refuge for sinners? Incline, O Most Pure Lady, Your ear to my prayer. Mother of my God, do not despise me, requiring Your help, hear my groaning and inspire the cry of my heart, O Lady Theotokos Queen. And give me spiritual joy, strengthen me, who is impatient, sad and careless towards Your praise. Enlighten and teach me how You should pray, and do not leave me, the Mother of my God, for my grumbling and impatience, but be my protection and intercession in my life and lead me to the quiet haven of blessed peace, and count me to your face Thy chosen flock and there deign me to sing and glorify Thee forever. Amen.
Troparion, tone 4
Let us now diligently approach the Mother of God, sinners and humility, and let us fall down in repentance calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, help us, having mercy on us, struggling, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away your slaves, for you are the only hope of the imams.
Kontakion, tone 6
The intercession of Christians is not shameful, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but advance, as the Good One, to the aid of us who faithfully call upon Thee: hasten to prayer and strive to supplicate, ever interceding, the Mother of God, those who honor Thee.
