Prayers to Our Lady of Pochaev
To You, O Mother of God, we, sinners, prayerfully flow to You, Your miracles in the Holy Lavra of Pochaev, revealed in remembrance and lamentation of our sins. We, Lady, we know, as it is not fitting for us sinners to ask anything, except for the righteous Judge of our iniquities to leave us. All that we have endured in life, sorrows, needs, and illnesses, like the fruits of our falls, have languished for us, and I allow this to God for our correction.
Moreover, the Lord brought all this truth and judgment to His sinful servants, who in their sorrows came to Your intercession, the Most Pure One, and in the tenderness of their hearts they cry out to You: Our sins and iniquities, O Good One, do not remember, but more than Your all-honorable hand Having risen up, stand before Your Son and God, so that the evil we have done may be forgiven us, and for our many unfulfilled promises, He will not turn His face away from His servants, and He will not take His grace, which contributes to our salvation, from our souls.
To her, Lady, be an intercessor for our salvation and, not disdaining our cowardice, look upon our groans, even in our troubles and sorrows we lift up before Your miraculous image. Enlighten our minds with tender thoughts, strengthen our faith, confirm our hope, grant us the sweetest gift of love to accept us. By these gifts, Most Pure One, and not by illnesses and sorrows, may our belly be elevated to salvation, but protect our souls from despondency and despair, deliver us who are weak from the troubles and needs that come upon us, and human slander and unbearable diseases.
Grant peace and prosperity to the Christian life through Your intercession, Lady, establish the Orthodox faith in our country, throughout the world, do not betray the Apostolic and Catholic Church to disparagement, preserve the statutes of the saints forever, unshakable, save all who come to You from the perishing ditch. Also, bring the heresy of our deceived brethren or the saving faith of those who have been destroyed by sinful passions to true faith and repentance, so that together with us those who worship Your miraculous image will confess Your intercession.
Vouchsafe us, O Most Pure Lady Theotokos, even in this belly the victory of truth by Your intercession to behold, vouchsafe us grace-filled joy before the end of our perception, just as the ancient inhabitants of ancient times were shown by Your appearance to the victors and enlighteners of the Hagarians, so that we all have a grateful heart, together with the angels, and prophets, and apostles, and with all the saints, glorifying Your mercy, let us give glory, honor and worship in the Trinity to the sung God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
History of the Pochaev Icon
The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is one of the revered images in Orthodoxy. It took its name from the place of glorification - the city of Pochaev (Ternopil region, Ukraine).
Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God
The time when the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God was painted has not been precisely established. The first information about it appears in 1559. The Greek Metropolitan Neophytos (later Patriarch of Constantinople) passed through the Volyn land. He stayed at the estate of Anna Goiskaya. As a token of gratitude for the hospitality provided, he gave her this icon. From prayer before the miraculous image of the Mother of God, Anna’s brother Philip, blind from birth, regained his sight. The icon was taken in a solemn religious procession to the Pochaev Monastery. The monastery was founded by monks of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra who fled from the Tatars back in 1240.
The further fate of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is closely intertwined with the fate of the Pochaev Monastery. In 1721, the monastery was captured by the Uniates (Greek Catholics - former Orthodox Christians who recognized the authority of the Pope). But even at this time, many healings occurred from the miraculous image. All of them were carefully recorded in the monastery chronicle. The addition of crowns over the heads of the Mother of God and the Child of God dates back to this time.
Since 1832, the monastery was again returned to the fold of the Orthodox Church. Currently it has the status of a Lavra. The icon is kept in the Assumption Cathedral, and an akathist is read before it every day. After the reading, the miraculous image is lowered with the help of silk ribbons for veneration by Christians.
The celebration of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God takes place several times a year. September 21 (new style) in memory of the transfer of the miraculous icon to the Pochaev Monastery. August 5 (new style) in memory of the deliverance of the Pochaev Monastery from the Turkish attack (1675).
Troparion, kontakion, magnification
Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her “Pochaevskaya” icon, tone 5
Before Your holy icon, Lady,/ those who pray are granted healings,/ the faiths of true knowledge accept/ and the Hagarian invasions are repelled./ Those Let us also, who come to You, ask for the remission of sins,/ Enlighten the thoughts of piety in our hearts, / and prayer to Your Son
Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Icon of Her “Pochaevskaya”, tone 4
Let us now be diligent to the Mother of God with sin and humility, and let us fall to the wondrous image of Her, likewise on the mountain of despair: looking towards him tenderly and praying to the Queen and Lady from the depths of our souls. opium: O Most Wonderful Virgin, Mother of the Lord Most High, who from ancient times chose the Pochaev monastery as the place His village! Establish our native land in Orthodoxy and peace, and save all those who stand and pray to You with a tender soul and a contrite heart, before Your Most Pure Image with tears. Do not turn away Your slaves from your vanity: You are the only Hope of the imams.
Kontakion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Icon of Her “Pochaevskaya”, tone 1
The source of healing and faith of the Orthodox affirmation/ Thy Pochaev icon, the Mother of God, appeared,/ also we who flow to her,/ freed from troubles and temptations,/ preserved Thy laurel unharmed,/ Orthodoxy in establish a prayer book around the standing countries, / and resolve sins Yours // if you want, you can.
Greatness
We magnify You, / Most Holy Virgin, / and venerate Your venerable icon, / since ancient times // You have been glorified on Mount Pochaev.
This shrine has long been located in one of the oldest monasteries of the Russian Church - the Pochaev Lavra, famous for the steadfastness of the faith of the inhabitants, which was manifested more than once during the history of the monastery, and also for the special choice of this place from the Most Pure One.
Miraculous lists of the Holy Image
Lists of shrines are presented all over the world, including Orthodox churches in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia and Bosnia. However, the most famous are the images that are located in the following temples, churches and monasteries:
- Demetrius of Thessalonica Church in Moscow;
- St. John the Vvedensky Monastery for women, located near Tobolsk;
- Trinity Cathedral, located on the territory of the St. Daniel Monastery in Moscow;
- Church of the Holy Apostles in Lefortovo.
Peter and Paul Church (Moscow)
St. John the Vvedensky Monastery (Priirtyshsky village)
Demetrius of Thessaloniki Temple (Moscow)
History and description of the miraculous image
The history of the holy face is closely connected with the Orthodox monastery in Pochaev, which is located in the Ternopil region (Ukraine). As the elders claimed, back in 1340, two monks went on a journey. After a long journey, they came across a cozy cave in the mountain. Currently, the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra is located in this area. For a long time, wanderers led a hermit life in a cave. They constantly turned to the Lord God with prayers for the granting of liberation to their native land from the Tatar-Mongol invasions.
Once, having climbed to the very peak of the mountain after reading a prayer appeal, Christians saw the image of the Mother of God. The Mother of God stood on a stone around which flames rose. A shepherd passing nearby also witnessed a miraculous vision. The righteous knelt before the image of the Heavenly Intercessor. Soon the vision disappeared. And on the stone where the Mother of God stood, there remained an imprint of her foot. The next morning this trail was filled with clean spring water. Over time, the walls of the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra began to be erected at the site of the miraculous vision.
Depiction of the miraculous vision seen by the monks
The holy image is made in the Byzantine style. The basis was a linden board, which was lined with oak slats at the bottom. The face of the Heavenly Intercessor is painted with oil paints. Initially, the holy image was covered with a thin silver plate, which, unfortunately, was lost over time. Then the miraculous image was decorated with a chasuble with small pearls.
The Most Pure Mother of God is depicted with the Child of God seated on her right hand. The faces of the Infant God and the Most Pure Virgin touch. At the same time, the head of the Virgin Mary bows to the Son of God. Such a “gesture” is a symbol of boundless maternal affection and love.
The left hand of Jesus Christ rests on the Mother's shoulder. With his right hand the Infant God blesses. The back and legs of the Son of God are covered with a cloth.
Uniqueness and distinctive feature of the Holy Face
The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God has several characteristic features:
- The image was painted with paints based on egg yolk.
- At the bottom of the icon is the footprint of the Mother of God.
- The Infant and the Mother of God are depicted not in full height, but waist-deep.
- There should be a golden glow around the faces of the Saints.
Days of veneration of the icon
Icon veneration of the holy face falls on August 5th. It was on this day in 1675 that the Pochaev Lavra was liberated from the siege of the Turks.
Other days of veneration of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God are April 13 (variable date) and September 21.
Location of the icon
The original of the shrine is kept in the Pochaev Lavra. The image of the Mother of God and the Child of God is located directly above the Royal Doors in the Holy Assumption Cathedral. On the days of singing troparions, the monk on duty lowers the shrine down so that pilgrims have the opportunity to read their petitions in front of the icon.
The original copy of the holy face is kept in the Pochaev Lavra
Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God: what it helps with (what needs to pray for)
The Most Holy Theotokos, Intercessor of the Christian race, gives healing, consolation, and protection to those who flock to Her Pochaev Icon. People turn to this miraculous icon for everyday needs. They pray for peace, protection from various troubles, to strengthen strength in the fight for truth. They ask for family well-being, for the granting of health and healing from various diseases.
In front of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God they pray for serious illnesses, for strengthening faith, admonishing the lost, as well as for protection from enemies and liberation from captivity.
Miracles and healings given by the Mother of God
The history of the holy face includes at least 600 miraculous acts and healings. Let's look at a few of the most interesting of them:
- In 1664, trouble came to the house of the nobleman Zhabokritsky - his son died. The grandmother, not wanting to come to terms with the death of her beloved grandson, spent the whole night in prayer. When the sun rose, the dead boy came to life.
- During the siege of Pochaev, believers asked for help and protection from the Lord God and His Mother, reading prayer petitions before the face of the Most Pure Virgin. Suddenly the face of the Mother of God appeared before the attackers. Frightened by what they saw, the Turks lost their minds and began to maim their own brothers.
- In 1950, a miracle happened in the healing of the crippled nun Varvara, who lived in the city of Orenburg. For 48 years, the unfortunate woman could not walk. Desperate, the nun turned to the Most Pure Virgin with prayerful speeches. After the prayer, a miracle happened: the woman stood up and walked on her own feet. The crutches of the nun Varvara are still located near the icon.
- Blind from the moment of birth, Anna Yakimchukova came from the city of Kamenets-Podolsky to the top of the mountain, where the Mother of God appeared to the pilgrims. After washing herself with spring water from a footprint, the woman instantly regained her sight.
- After suffering an infectious disease, a boy named Yura lost his hearing. This grief happened in our days. The child was hospitalized, but he spent only one night in the hospital. All night the child held in his hands the icon of the Mother of God given by his grandmother. In the morning, doctors examined and discharged the boy as he was healthy.
