The Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan is the most revered Face in the Russian Orthodox Church. Its history goes back about five centuries and is associated with extraordinary events that occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries AD.
On the days of celebrations in churches, the Magnification, Kontakion and Troparion are performed in front of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God - traditional solemn poems and chants.
Troparion of the Mother of God before Her Kazan Icon:
O zealous intercessor,/ Mother of the Lord Most High,/ pray for all of Thy Son, Christ our God,/ and cause all to be saved,/ to those who flee to Thy sovereign protection./ Intercede for all of us, O Lady Queen and Lady,/ those in adversity and sorrow , and in illness, burdened with many sins, / coming and praying to You / with a tender soul and a contrite heart, / before Your most pure image with tears, / and those who have irrevocable hope in You / deliverance from all evils. / Grant useful to everyone / and save everything, Virgin Mary // For You are the Divine protection of Your servant.
Liturgical texts for general folk singing: KAZAN Icon of the Mother of God (November 3-4)
In many churches in Moscow, parishioners try to sing along; in some churches, “folk singing” is even practiced. You can also participate in worship silently. But in any case, it would be good to understand the liturgical texts, it would be convenient to follow with your eyes the text of the key liturgical chants. We post the text for general folk singing for the festive all-night vigil and liturgy
MAIN TEXTS OF THE SERVICE AND CHANTS FOR NATIONAL SINGING ALL-NIGHT VIgil Celebration in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (1612) Equal to the Apostles. Averkia, ep. Hierapolis, miracle worker. The Seven Youths of Ephesus: Maximilian, Jamblichus, Martinian, Dionysius, Antoninus, Constantine (Exacustodian) and John. Sschmchch. Seraphim, Archbishop. Uglichsky, and with him Vladimir, Alexander, Vasily, Alexander the presbyters and martyrs. Herman and Mina. Sschmchch. Nicholas, Nicholas the presbyter and martyr. Gregory. BLESSED IS THE HUSBAND Blessed is the man who does not follow the counsel of the wicked. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. For the Lord knows that the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked will perish. Alleluia (three times). Work for the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling. Alleluia (three times). Blessed are all who hope. Alleluia (three times). Arise, Lord, save me, my God. Alleluia (three times). Salvation is the Lord's, and Your blessing is upon Your people. Alleluia (three times). Glory, And now: Alleluia (three times) Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God (thrice) VERSES on the Lord I cried: Lord, I called to Thee, hear me. / Hear me, Lord. Lord, I have called to You, hear me: / Hear the voice of my prayer, / Sometimes I will cry to You. / Hear me, Lord. May my prayer be corrected, / like incense before You, / the lifting of my hand, / an evening sacrifice. / Hear me, Lord. From the depths I cried to You, Lord, Lord, hear my voice. [Stichera of the Theotokos]: Like the beautiful words of the chamber, / and the light-bearing throne of the Theotokos Lady, / the co-throne word of the Father / in your wombs you contained, / and having given birth to an unstoppable light, / on Thou hast enlightened darkness: / Thou hast driven away the flattery of the serpent, and thou hast consumed corruption : / you gave eternal life to the world by your birth: / you opened the gates of paradise, / and you gave all the good things to human nature: / but even now, Lady, / with your prayers You, / deliver your servants from all troubles. Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my prayer. Like the great being of the Queen and Mother, / in Heaven the supreme powers of the king, / your most pure hands stretched out, / stood in prayer for us, / and on earth like a sovereign helper / to your Divine with the icon / and in spirit you remain with your servants, / and cheerfully save, / and deliver you from all misfortunes / piously confessing the Mother of God. If you see iniquity, Lord, Lord, whoever stands; / for You have purification. Like a golden paradise, / and a beautiful place, and God-enlightened, / and a holy tree. Overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, / the receptacle of the unevening light, / leading you, / clearly unflickering with the Divine ray, / shining with your infant all creation, / praying to him, Queen God oro, / save your city and people, / who come running to you from all troubles. For Thy name's sake I have endured Thee, O Lord; my soul has endured in Thy word; / my soul trusteth in the Lord. Like the royal purple and visor, / your icon, and your Son, O Mother of God, / the Church of God has been enlightened, / boasting miracles. / today the appearance of everyone convenes to celebrate, / more than the radiance of the sun / shining with the grace of the Holy Spirit, / on the sick and sick healing / springs emanating, / and bestowing on all rich mercy. From the morning watch until the night, from the morning watch, let Israel trust in the Lord. The high, incomprehensible king, with his father seated on the throne and the Divine Spirit, who was pleased to be born on earth from a virgin not made of art, Jesus: having spared your creation human nature, unspeakable good Here, accept to your Mother the prayers offered to you for us, and do not remember our iniquities, but have mercy and save our souls, for you are merciful. For the Lord has mercy, and He has much deliverance, and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities, the High King, incomprehensible, with his father seated on the throne and the Divine Spirit, deigning to be born on earth from a Virgin not made of art, Jesus: thy bounty. the creation of human nature, with ineffable kindnesses , accept to your Mother the prayers offered to you for us, and do not remember our iniquities, but have mercy and save our souls, as you are merciful. Praise the Lord, all nations, praise Him, all people. Having bowed to the Heavens, the King of Glory, descended from renewing Adam, who through the crime of all that had decayed, dwelled in you, pure Virgin, and was born, without destroying the keys of virginity, and in your arms the child was humbled The same king of the archangels carried: and now he accepts your prayer, and your petition into fulfills everything, Mother of God, as your Son and God. We pray to him earnestly, that he may save our souls, as he is merciful. For His mercy is established upon us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. More than the tabernacle of Moses, created in the image of Heaven, God sanctified all of you, the Mother of God, with the Holy Spirit, dwelling entirely in you, quickening the whole person: thus also your icon, moreover Aaron's ark, fill yourself with the grace of God, exuding sanctification to souls and bodies. We kindly bow to her, we ask great mercy from you, may you save our souls, blessed helper. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Come, let us rejoice at the sovereign intercessor of our family, the Queen Theotokos: come to her wonderful quiet, revered by the angels, let us worship the honest image. For the Mother of God grants to the faithful abundant healing gifts from the inexhaustible source of the holy icon, inexhaustible grace flowing: darkness delivers us, temptations and troubles, and all sin , piously and God-pleasingly glorifying and honoring the bright and wonderful holy icon of the Mother of God. Let us therefore cry out in hymn to the archetype: Rejoice, dear helper to the world, for the salvation of our souls. Quiet light of holy glory, / Immortal, Heavenly Father, / Holy Blessed Jesus Christ. / Having come to the west of the sun, / having seen the evening light, / we sing of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, God. / Thou art worthy at all times / to be a reverend voice, / to the Son of God, giving life, / in the same way the world glorifies Thee. Prokeimenon, tone 8: Behold, now bless the Lord / all servants of the Lord. Verses: Standing in the temple of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. PROMES of the Feast of Genesis reading (chap. 28:10–17) (translation into Russian) Jacob left Beersheba and went to Haran, and came to a certain place, and stayed there to spend the night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place, and put it at his head, and lay down in that place. And I saw in a dream: behold, a ladder stands on the ground, and its top touches the sky; and behold, the angels of God ascend and descend on it. And behold, the Lord stands on it and says: I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; don't be afraid. The land on which you lie will I give to you and to your descendants; and your descendants will be like the sand of the earth; and you will spread to the sea, and to the east, and to the north, and to the noonday; and in you and in your seed all families of the earth will be blessed; and behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go; and I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you. Jacob awoke from his sleep and said: Truly the Lord is present in this place; but I didn’t know! And he was afraid and said: How terrible is this place! this is nothing other than the house of God, this is the gate of heaven. Ezekiel's prophecies reading (chap. 43:27; 44:1-4) Thus says the Lord: At the end of these days, on the eighth day and beyond, the priests will offer your burnt offerings and thanksgiving offerings on the altar; and I will be merciful to you, says the Lord God. And he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, facing east, and it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “This gate will be shut, and it will not be opened, and no man will enter through it, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it, and it will be shut.” As for the prince, he, like a prince, will sit in them to eat bread before the Lord; He will enter by the porch of this gate, and will come out the same way. Then he brought me by the way of the north gate before the face of the temple, and I saw, and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. Proverbs reading (Ch. 9:1-11) Wisdom built herself a house, hewed out its seven pillars, slaughtered a sacrifice, dissolved her wine and prepared a meal for herself; sent her servants to proclaim from the heights of the city: “Whoever is foolish, turn here!” And she said to the feeble-minded man: “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine that I have dissolved; leave foolishness, and live and walk in the way of reason.” He who teaches a blasphemer will gain disgrace for himself, and he who reproaches the wicked will bring shame upon himself. Do not reprove the blasphemer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you; give instruction to a wise man, and he will be even wiser; teach the truthful, and he will increase knowledge. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding; because through me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. Grant, Lord, that this evening we may be preserved without sin. Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is thy name forever. Amen. May Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we trust in Thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me by thy justification. Blessed art thou, O Lord, enlighten me with thy justification. Blessed are You, Holy One, enlighten me with Your justifications. Lord, Your mercy endures forever, do not despise the work of Your hand. Praise is due to You, singing is due to You, glory is due to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Stichera on LITIA: Voice 2: For truly the ancient ark is more honorable, when David gathered the ranks in jubilation, now is yours, the Mother of God, the icon, which is to be assembled by the bishops, and with There are many angels of the priesthood and all the people named after Christ, they deservedly bless you, the Mother of God, and glorify servilely, and they honor and worship, and pray to you according to God, that you may pacify the world in Orthodoxy, and establish the church, and save your servants from all evils, for they are the only blessed one. Standing before you, Lady Theotokos, in the most pure image, are the class of bishops, the priestesses, and all the people, monastics and pardons, leading you, truly a strong and powerful helper I beggars, I strive to offer you prayers with all my soul, and encourage you to pray to God, requiring your help, may you stretch out your God-bearing hands and beg for peace. Listen and hear, O Lady, and give consolation to your servants, until our grave and fierce sins overcome us: for we always require all your help. Voice 8: First of all, written to your icon, the Gospel mysteries are brought to you by the bearer of good news, and to you, the queen, brought to your heart, so that you may learn it and be strong in saving those who honor you: and I rejoiced. She is truly merciful, the creator of our salvation. Like the mouth and voice of the former icon, like God who was always conceived in the womb, you sang a song: Behold, from now on all generations will bless me! and to that sight you said with authority: with this image is my grace and strength. and we truly believe that this is what you are saying, O Lady, in this way you are with us: we are reverently coming, we worship you, your servants, visited by your maternal bounties. Voice 7: General and Previous, the Mountain of Sinai, the Mother of God: Ona, is not tolerated by the Sleep of the glory of the god in the Obrazkh and the Seven, the fire of the fire, and Grohm and the Molonia were so. You, the whole Divine fire that exists, the Word of God, you carried without burning in your womb, and from your breastfeeders you fed with milk, carrying everything with mania, and you had motherly boldness towards it. cabbage soup, help, Lady, those who faithfully celebrate your honorable holiday, and do not forget to graciously visit : For you have received the gift from God to build and cover the flock of Christ, your servants. GLORY, AND NOW: All the people of mankind bring gifts of praise to you, O Lord, and pray like the queen and Mother of God: the prophets preached wisely, blessed the Levites, apostols and mu Disciples confess, priests worship, bishops preach, monastics and simpletons revere, riches and squalor , orphans and widows, and all ages, and all prosperity, old and young, we come to your sovereign roof with faith: cover and keep, O Lady, with your prayers, and save us from troubles our souls. VERSES on the verse [of the Mother of God]: O receptacle of the pure light of the most pure, Mother of God , / how do we praise you worthyly, servant? as by the appearance of your most pure icon, and the eternal child, you illuminate everything. I will remember your name in every generation and generation. O undefiled God-honored Virgin! When will we bring such thanksgiving? as at your blessed birth, with an all-shining ray, you raised everyone from decay to life. Hear, daughter, and see, and incline your ear. O Virgin Lady, Mother of the Creator! Thou art the joy of the heavenly ranks, and blessed helper to the human race: pray for the salvation of our souls. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Let us sing to the people the bright song of David to the maiden bride of God, and to the Mother of King Christ: the queen appears at your right hand, O Lord, draped in golden robes, and adorned with the Divine benevolence. This, because she was chosen and good as a wife, having fertilized the world above all, you deigned to be born from her for the great sake of mercy: and you gave this helper to your people, to save and protect us from troubles with your almighty and divine power, including prayers, Christ God, have mercy on us . Now do You let Your servant go, O Master, according to Your word, in peace; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light for the revelation of tongues, and the glory of Your people Israel. Troparion of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, tone 4 (three times): Zealous Intercessor, Mother of the Lord on High. Pray for all, thy Son Christ our God, and cause all to be saved, into thy sovereign protection for those who flee. Intercede for us all, O Lady Queen and Lady! even in adversity and sorrow, and in illness, burdened with many sins, coming and praying to you with a tender soul and a contrite heart, before your most pure image with tears, and irrevocably hope I am waiting for those who have it, for the deliverance of all evils. Grant what is useful to everyone, and save everything, O Virgin Mary: for you are the divine protection of your servant. Psalm 33: I will bless the Lord at all times,/ I will make His praise in my mouth.
My soul will glory in the Lord,/ let the little ones hear and be glad. Magnify the Lord with me,/ and we will exalt His name together. Seek the Lord, and hear me,/ and deliver me from all my sorrows. Come to Him and be enlightened,/ and your faces will not be ashamed. This beggar cried, and the Lord heard, and saved him from all his sorrows. The angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear Him,/ and will deliver them. Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who trusts in Nan. Fear the Lord, all you saints, for those who fear Him will have no hardship. The poor and the hungry are rich: those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good. END OF EVENING. BEGINNING OF MORNING (the lights are turned off, the Six Psalms are read: Psalms 3, 37, 62, 87, 102, 142)
God the Lord, and having appeared to us, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord Troparion of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, tone 4 (three times): Zealous Intercessor, Mother Lord on High.
Pray for all, thy Son Christ our God, and cause all to be saved, into thy sovereign protection for those who flee. Intercede for us all, O Lady Queen and Lady! even in adversity and sorrow, and in illness, burdened with many sins, coming and praying to you with a tender soul and a contrite heart, before your most pure image with tears, and irrevocably hope I am waiting for those who have it, for the deliverance of all evils. Grant what is useful to everyone, and save everything, O Virgin Mary: for you are the divine protection of your servant. Next, the kathismas are read (according to the charter, 2 kathismas are supposed to be read, but in different churches, depending on the tradition, the reading of the psalter can be reduced to 3 psalms or skipped altogether)
We magnify You, / Most Holy Virgin, / God’s chosen Youth, / and we honor Your image holy, / who bring forth healing / to all who come with faith. PROKIMENON, tone 4: I will remember Your name in every generation and generation. Verse: Hear, O Daughters, and see, and incline Your ear. Let every breath / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His saints, praise Him in strengthening His power. GOSPEL according to Luke, ch. 1:39–49, 56 (English translation) In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country to the city of Judah, and entered the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried with a loud voice, and said: Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb! And where does it come from for me that the Mother of my Lord came to me? For when the voice of Your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped joyfully in my womb. And blessed is she who believed, because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled. And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, and My spirit rejoices in God My Savior, because He has respected the lowliness of His Servant, for from now on all generations will bless Me; that the Mighty One has done great things for Me, and holy is His name. Mary stayed with her for about three months and returned to her home. Glory: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Merciful One, cleanse our many sins. And now: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your compassions, cleanse my iniquity. Come, let us rejoice at the sovereign intercessor of our family, the Queen Theotokos: come to her wonderful quiet, revered by the angels, let us worship the honest image. For the Mother of God grants to the faithful abundant healing gifts from the inexhaustible source of the holy icon, inexhaustible grace flowing: darkness delivers us, temptations and troubles, and all sin , piously and God-pleasingly glorifying and honoring the bright and wonderful holy icon of the Mother of God. Let us therefore cry out in hymn to the archetype: Rejoice, dear helper to the world, for the salvation of our souls. On the 9th song of the canon: Song of the Most Holy Theotokos: My soul magnifies the Lord / and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. The most honorable Cherub / and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, / who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, / the real Mother of God, we magnify You. As if you have looked upon the humility of Your servant, / behold, from now on all your generations will bless Me. For the Mighty One has done unto Me greatness, and holy is His name, and His mercy throughout all generations of those who fear Him. Create power with His arm, / squander the proud thoughts of their hearts. Cast down the mighty from the throne, / and lift up the humble, fill the hungry with good things, and let go of the rich. Israel will receive His servant, / remember his mercies, / as he spoke to our fathers, / Abraham and his seed, even unto the ages. After the canon: VERSES for praising: Let every breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from heaven, / praise Him in the highest. / A song to God is fitting for you. Praise Him, all His Angels, / praise Him, all His Powers. / A song to God is fitting for you. Praise Him according to His strength, / Praise Him according to the abundance of His majesty. Let us glorify, faithfully, the joyful Mother of God, especially in the mouths of our imams, always her holy and blessed name, constantly resorting to her most pure and celibate icon. Therefore, we find all that is good and useful on earth, and we get rid of those in the air from the demons of stumbling, as if Mother, who gave birth to the creator of all, saves our souls from troubles. Praise Him with the trumpet, / Praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Let us glorify, faithfully, the joyful Mother of God, especially in the mouths of our imams, always her holy and blessed name, constantly resorting to her most pure and celibate icon. Therefore, we find all that is good and useful on earth, and we get rid of those in the air from the demons of stumbling, as if Mother, who gave birth to the creator of all, saves our souls from troubles. Praise Him in the tympanum and face, / praise Him in the strings and organ. Let the host of the wicked weep forever, who do not confess the pure Mother of God at the Nativity, and who do not worship your most holy icon: but faithful people, rejoicing, we confess you the true Virgin God Mother of God, for you truly gave birth to the flesh of Christ our God. You trampled down the corruption of Adam, and you cleansed the whole world from sin, you gave endless life, you opened the entrance to heaven to the faithful through your Divine Nativity. You pray to him that we who sing faithfully your sacrament will be saved. Praise Him with cymbals of good acclaim, praise Him with cymbals of shouting./ Let every breath praise the Lord. The whole multitude of the pious rejoices and rejoices with indescribable joy: falling down they bow down and all revere the Mother of God with fear, thanking God for so many great blessings. intercessor, in whom the angels desire to come, the Mother of God has given to the faithful Christ our God, who has abundant bounties, and great rich mercy. GLORY, AND NOW: Your holy and corresponding icon, Virgin Mary, by your grace the richest source, boiling with all the sunflowers, and shining to the whole world with the radiant rays of the Holy Spirit May you shine, and heal with your lordship. For you have indescribably given birth to the Word of God in flesh, having heard from the Archangel Gabriel: Rejoice, O joyful one, the Lord is with you, and the Holy Spirit will overshadow you to conception. So you advertised to your first-written icon, and on it you saw: with you is my grace, and your word came with power to the icon. and the image and the voice, and the power and the deed, and every mind-surpassing Divine grace, abiding forever, constantly performs signs and wonders, and faithfully bestows soulful healing on all who come. , by your Mother of God unceasing prayers to God. Troparion of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, tone 4: Zealous Intercessor, Mother of the Lord on High.
Pray for all, thy Son Christ our God, and cause all to be saved, into thy sovereign protection for those who flee. Intercede for us all, O Lady Queen and Lady! even in adversity and sorrow, and in illness, burdened with many sins, coming and praying to you with a tender soul and a contrite heart, before your most pure image with tears, and irrevocably hope I am waiting for those who have it, for the deliverance of all evils. Grant what is useful to everyone, and save everything, O Virgin Mary: for you are the divine protection of your servant. MAIN TEXTS OF THE SERVICE AND CHANTS FOR NATIONAL SINGING LITURGY Celebration in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (1612) Equal to the Apostles. Averkia, ep. Hierapolis, miracle worker. The Seven Youths of Ephesus: Maximilian, Jamblichus, Martinian, Dionysius, Antoninus, Constantine (Exacustodian) and John. Sschmchch. Seraphim, Archbishop. Uglichsky, and with him Vladimir, Alexander, Vasily, Alexander the presbyters and martyrs. Herman and Mina. Sschmchch. Nicholas, Nicholas the presbyter and martyr. Gregory.
1st Antiphon: Bless the Lord, my soul, Blessed art thou, O Lord.
Bless, my soul, the Lord, and all that is within me, His holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His rewards. Who cleanses all your iniquities, who heals all your illnesses. He who delivers your belly from decay, who crowns you with mercy and bounties. Who fulfills your desires for good: your youth will be renewed like an eagle. The Lord is generous and merciful, long-suffering and abounding in mercy. Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, His holy name. Blessed are you, Lord. 2nd Antiphon: Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord in my belly, I will sing to my God as long as I am. Do not trust in princes, in the sons of men, for there is no salvation in them. His spirit shall depart and return to his land: in that day all his thoughts shall perish. Blessed is he who has the God of Jacob as his helper; his trust is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and everything that is in them; keeping the truth forever, bringing justice to the offended, giving food to the hungry. The Lord will decide the chained; The Lord makes the blind wise; The Lord raises up the downtrodden; The Lord loves the righteous; The Lord protects strangers, He will accept the orphan and the widow, and He will destroy the path of sinners. The Lord will reign forever. Thy God, O Zion, unto generation and generation. The Only Begotten Son , and the Word of God, is immortal, and desiring for our salvation to be incarnate from the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, immutably made man, crucified Christ God, trampling death by death, the One of the Holy Trinity, glorified to the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us. Blessed: In Your Kingdom, remember us, O Lord , when You come in Your Kingdom. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who cry, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blesseds of mercy, for there will be mercy. Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for these shall be called sons of God. Blessed is the expulsion of truth for the sake of them, for those are the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when they revile you, and mistreat you, and say all sorts of evil things against you, who lie to Me for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is abundant in heaven. During the small entrance with the Gospel: Come, let us worship and fall before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who art marvelous in the saints, singing to You: Alleluia. Troparion of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, tone 4: Zealous Intercessor, Mother of the Lord on High. Pray for all, thy Son Christ our God, and cause all to be saved, into thy sovereign protection for those who flee. Intercede for us all, O Lady Queen and Lady! even in adversity and sorrow, and in illness, burdened with many sins, coming and praying to you with a tender soul and a contrite heart, before your most pure image with tears, and irrevocably hope I am waiting for those who have it, for the deliverance of all evils. Grant what is useful to everyone, and save everything, O Virgin Mary: for you are the divine protection of your servant. Kontakion of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, voice 8: Let us come, O people, to this quiet and good refuge, / to the quick Helper, ready and warm salvation, to the protection of the Virgin, / let us hasten to prayer and sweat to repentance, / for the Most Pure Mother of God exudes unto us endless mercies, / advances to help and delivers from great troubles and evils // His well-behaved and God-fearing servants. Prokeimenon, tone 3, hymn of the Mother of God: My soul magnifies the Lord,/ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Verse: As I look upon the humility of My Servant, behold, from now on all my generations will please Me. Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Philippians (Chapter 2:5-11) Brethren, let this mind be in you as was in Christ Jesus: He, being in the image of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God; but he made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, becoming in the likeness of men, and becoming in appearance like a man; He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. GOSPEL according to Luke (ch. 10:38–42; ch. 11:27–28) At that time Jesus came to a certain village; here a woman named Martha received Him into her home; she had a sister named Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His word. Martha was taking care of a great treat and, approaching, said: Lord! or do you not need that my sister left me alone to serve? tell her to help me. Jesus answered and said to her: Martha! Marfa! you care and fuss about many things, but only one thing is needed; Mary chose the good part, which will not be taken away from her. While He was saying this, one woman raised her voice from among the people and said to Him: Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts that nourished You! And He said: Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Greatness: We magnify You, / Most Holy Virgin, / God-chosen Youth, / and honor Your holy image, / through which you bring healing / to all who come with faith.
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Story
The discovery of the icon occurred in 1579 after a fire that destroyed half of Kazan. The Mother of God appeared in a dream to a ten-year-old girl and pointed out the place in the ashes where the icon was. This miracle is known from the story of the holy Patriarch Hermogenes, who personally participated in the discovery (then still as a simple priest).
Pre-revolutionary photograph of the icon case and frame of the “revealed” miraculous Kazan icon
The “revealed” icon, that is, the one that appeared at the fire in the 16th century, has not survived to this day. In 1904, it was stolen from the Kazan convent. The criminals were found, but the shrine was not. Most likely, they burned it to cover their tracks: the thieves did not want the icon itself, but the precious setting.
Lists
There are more than twenty revered copies of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (some have not survived). The most famous is Moscow. In 1611, it was transferred to Moscow, occupied by the Poles, where it became a symbol of liberation from foreign invaders.
Citizen Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. 1612 Philip Moskvitin, 2009
The militia of Minin and Pozharsky prayed before this image when they were facing a decisive battle for the liberation of the city. Having survived the Time of Troubles, the miraculous list did not survive the godless period. After the 1917 revolution, the icon and its frame were stolen from the Kazan Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin.
A few words of history
This Orthodox shrine was first opened in the city of Kazan in the summer of 1579, when a fire occurred there that destroyed the temple and the homes of many Orthodox people.
Those who did not understand gloated, and those who believed with all their hearts in the help of the Lord and the Queen of Heaven soon found hope of salvation.
One girl named Matrona had a dream several nights after the event in which the Mother of God indicated where Her icon was hidden under the rubble of houses.
And when the adults believed the child and dug up the “treasure,” Christian joy knew no bounds.
And they called this shrine the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, and the celebration of this day continues to this day.
And after the incident, a new temple was built in the city, in which the shrine was placed. And people’s lives improved, even miracles began to happen—healing from illnesses.
The second time the shrine saved the people of Moscow from the Poles who wanted to capture the city. The leaders of the Russians were Minin and Prince Pozharsky. They believed very much in the One God and called out in prayer to the icon of the Kazan Mother of God before the battle.
And the enemies left. This was in the autumn of 1612. And from that event they also began to celebrate an Orthodox holiday in honor of the icon.
Vatican list
The icon dates back to the 18th century and is decorated with a precious frame. The list was named after its last location - these are the chambers of Pope John Paul II. The Kazan icon came to the West after the 1917 revolution and was in a private collection. The icon was purchased by a Catholic organization and exhibited for temporary veneration in Portugal. In 1993, it was placed at the disposal of Pope John Paul II.
Photo tatmitropolia.ru
In 2004, the icon was solemnly handed over to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, who, in turn, handed it over to Kazan.
hramnevskogo.ru
Now it is located in the Holy Cross Church of the Mother of God Monastery - in the very place where until 1904 the ancient “revealed” icon of the Kazan Mother of God was located.
Kontakion: text and description
Such a laudatory poem is also read on the holiday (like the Troparion) of the Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan.
Kontakion (text):
“Let us hasten, people, to a quiet and kind refuge - an ambulance, who is salvation for us. Let us pray and repent to the Virgin, since the abundance of mercy from the Most Pure Mother of God does not cease. She is the first helper in delivering those who believe in Her from great troubles and troubles.”
It says here that a righteous and believing person perceives the Queen of Heaven and Her protection as a spiritual refuge and help, in which one can receive protection from all sorts of troubles.
How the Most Holy Theotokos and Christ are depicted on the Kazan Icon
The Virgin Mary is traditionally depicted wearing a purple maforia (a married woman's veil that covers her head and shoulders) blue tunic
Three stars on the maforia - on the head and shoulders - according to one interpretation, indicate the ever-virginity of the Mother of God: before Christmas, at Christmas and after Christmas.
The baptized halo around the head of the Infant Christ symbolizes His future suffering on the cross.
Inscriptions on the icon
Contracture is an abbreviated spelling of sacred words using an initial and final letter. A superscript abbreviation sign is placed above the contractures - titlo.
To the left of the Mother of God: Kazan (icon) of the Mother of God.
Above the halo of the Mother of God: ΜΡ ΘΥ - Mother of God.
Above the halo of Christ: IC XC - Jesus Christ.
Inside the halo of Christ: ΟΩΝ - Existent - one of the Names of God.
Magnification: text and description
Such praise in the form of a hymn before the face (like the Troparion) of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is sung on a holiday by the clergy:
“We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin - Queen of Heaven! We honor Your holy image. From Him is gracious help for everyone who turns to You with sincere faith.”
This song is a real exaltation of the Queen of Heaven. She is revered and everyone who believes in the Mother of God receives grace-filled help from Her.
The Kazan image belongs to the type of Mother of God icons “Hodegetria” - “Guide”
Characteristic features of this iconographic type:
The views of the Mother of God and Christ are turned to the person praying. They express the completeness of communication between two personalities - God and His creation, man.
The head of the Mother of God is slightly inclined towards Christ. This gesture expresses not only the love and maternal tenderness of the Virgin Mary, but also Her admiration for the Son as the Savior of the World.
Christ blesses those praying.
On icons of this type, the Mother of God points her hand to Christ: hence the name - Guide, Showing the Path (of salvation). But Kazanskaya is an abbreviated, shoulder-length image, and we do not see the hands of the Mother of God here.
