"Passionate" icon of the Mother of God: meaning

The name "Passionate" icon of the Mother of God (accent on the second syllable) is primarily connected with the fact that in addition to the image of the Blessed Virgin and the Child, angels with instruments of the Passion passions of the Lord are symmetrically depicted in the upper part. The Archangel Gabriel holds the cross where Jesus Christ died, and Archangel Michael - the sponge given to Christ to quench his thirst, and the copy that the centurion Longinus had pierced into the ribs of Jesus to make sure that he was dead.

general description

"Passionate" icon of the Mother of God, staying in the monastery near the tomb of the Monk Dimitri Prilutsky, has the image of only one angel with instruments of torture. It was created by icon painters in the monastery of Kutlumush. In the XIII century with the help of this icon the Mother of God defended the Athos monks from pirates. The intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos made it so that the monastery was shrouded in fog and turned out to be invisible to the robbers. Since then, the icon has another name - "Fovera Prostasia", which means "terrible protection".

"Passionate" icon of the Mother of God: meaning

The word "passion" in translation from Church Slavonic in this case means "suffering." This image of the Virgin has a special meaning, performs an important sacral function. "Passionate" icon of the Mother of God, the significance of which can not be overestimated, has long been revered in Russia, since it symbolizes the Holy Week before Christ's resurrection. The angels flying to the Infant Christ with instruments of torture of the Lord testify to the future real sufferings of the Savior. He, looking at them, frightenedly grabs the mother with both hands, as if demanding help and protection.

The Most Holy Theotokos, full of humility and virtue, obediently carries her child to torture and suffering, obeying God's will and believing in God's righteousness. This miraculous image is called to deliver the human race from passions, mental infirmities and sufferings, it teaches obedience and humility. Recently there has been a demand for the Passion image of the Mother of God by believers, regardless of education or position in society, since it is a symbol of Christ's and human passions.

Iconographic type

"Belt" image of the Virgin on the icon has an iconographic type "Hodegetria." The "Passionate" icon of the Mother of God is characterized by the fact that the face of the Child is turned towards the angel who holds the Cross. The head of the Holy Virgin is inclined towards the Infant, which softens the strict iconographic type "Odigitria", which includes the Kazan, Iverskaya, Troeruchitsa, Skoroposlushnitsa, Smolenskaya (Odigitria), Czestochowa and others Icons. The Virgin Mary holds the Infant of Christ, frightenedly clasping her right hand.

Pages of History

"Passionate" icon of the Mother of God, the photo of which is presented here, was first mentioned in the sixteenth century. The list from this icon, made on Mount Athos, appears in Russia in the seventeenth century. Its authorship is attributed to the iconographer Grigory from Nizhny Novgorod. Peasant Catherine from the village of Palitsy was sick with insanity from the very beginning of her married life and often attempted her life, then throwing herself into the water, then throwing herself a noose. Turning with a prayer to the Mother of God, she made a promise that in case of healing she would go to the monastery. But after recovery, Catherine forgot about her vow, became a mother and started raising her children.

After some time, she had a vision of the Mother of God, accompanied by another luminous virgin. The Most Holy Lady rebuked her for not following this vow. The Mother of God ordered to announce her appearance, but Catherine did not dare to do it. The Mother of God came twice to her, and the last time for disobedience the woman was punished with ugliness and relaxation. For healing, the Most-Holy Mother of God ordered Catherine to find in Nizhny Novgorod the iconographer Grigory, who painted her image, called "Odigitria." After the prayer before him, Catherine was healed. After that, the icon became famous for its numerous miracles.

Date of celebration

By the order of the Tsar Romanov Alexei Mikhailovich, the holy image was moved from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow, where it was met with honors in the presence of a large crowd of people at the Tver Gate. In honor of this memorable event, the celebration of the "Passionate" Icon of the Mother of God was established on August 13. On the site of the solemn meeting, the icon was later built a temple, and then, in 1654, founded the Passionate Monastery. In 1937 the buildings of the monastery were demolished. The "Passionate" icon of the Blessed Virgin is now placed in the Sokolniki temple - "Resurrection of Christ". Modern society stands for the restoration of the destroyed monastery. On the site of the former "Passion" Cathedral every Saturday and Sunday is read Akathist "Passion" icon of the Mother of God. The second date of the celebration of the icon is the Blind Week, this is the sixth resurrection, following the Passover, in memory of the miracles that occurred on this day.

What are they praying for?

The image of the "Passionate" icon of the Blessed Virgin prayed for salvation from the fire, for healing from illnesses. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, there was a terrible fire, in which only the house where this icon was placed remains intact.

By order of the tsar, the holy image was moved to the palace, and then to the temple in China Town. "Passionate" icon of the Mother of God is revered in the cathedral of the city of Lipetsk. Here in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ (1835) during the cholera the procession with its image was made, and on the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary the epidemic of a terrible illness ceased. However, in 1931 the authorities decided to close the cathedral. The icon was saved from defilement and transferred to a small temple in the village of Dvurechka. In the year of the 2000th anniversary of Christianity the "Passionate" icon of the Mother of God was solemnly transferred to the Cathedral of the City of Lipetsk - "The Nativity of Christ".

Before this image miraculous healings were performed more than once. He is prayed for the retreat of terrible diseases and epidemics. Since this image symbolizes not only the passions of Christ, but also the passions of man, the prayer of the "Passionate" icon of the Mother of God is able to heal spiritual ills, and also to save oneself from thoughts of suicide or the commission of some sinful and pernicious acts.

Importance of the icon

Recently, relations between some sections of society and Orthodoxy have intensified, which resulted in a blasphemous mockery of the holy places. After the well-known events on February 21, 2012 in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, when the members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot desecrated the sacred place, the image of the "Passion" icon of the Mother of God was again in demand. Tens of thousands of believers came to prayer in defense of the faith before the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and participated in the Crusade along with the "Passionate" icon of the Mother of God (April 22, 2012).