"Sovereign" icon. Miracle-working icon of the Virgin. History, description of the icon

On March 15, 1917, two important events took place in the life of Russia. The first is known to all is the abdication of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II. But another event, which has invaluable significance for the spiritual life of the people, was obliterated from his memory. On this day the Most Holy Theotokos showed the Russians its miraculous image, called the icon of the Mother of God "Derzhavnaya".

Prophetic dream of Evdokia Andranova

The Mother of God revealed her miraculous image to people. In one of the villages of the Bronnitsy county there lived a peasant woman, who was called Evdokia Andreyanova. She was a devout and pious woman. And then one day she had a dream in which a mysterious female voice told her to go to the village of Kolomenskoye, find an old icon, clean it of dust and soot and give it to people for prayers and church services, because Russia is facing hard trials and wars.

Evdokia was very serious about what she heard, but not knowing where to look for the icon, because the village is big, she asked in prayer to indicate the exact place. The request was executed, and two weeks later the Holy Mother of God appeared to her in a dream and pointed to the village church. The Virgin added that the icon will not save the people from suffering, but those who in difficult years will pray before it, will receive the salvation of the soul.

Evdokia went on the road and, coming to Kolomenskoye, saw that the local Ascension church is exactly like the one that was indicated to her in a dream.

Wonderful acquisition of the icon

Rector of the church, Father Nicholas (Likhachev), listened to her with distrust, but did not dare to object and together with Evdokiya he went around the entire interior of the church. None of the icons could be the one the Mother of God was pointing to. The search continued in all the back rooms and, finally, in the cellar, among the boards, rags and all sorts of junk, suddenly found a large, darkened and sooty icon. When it was washed, the image of the Most-Pure Mother of God opened.

She was represented in the image of a queen, sitting on the throne with the blessing Infant Jesus in her arms. The red porphyry, power, scepter and crown were added to the regal appearance. Her face was full of sorrow and severity. This image, which was shown on a tragic day for Russia, was called the "Sovereign" icon.

Pilgrimage to the Found Icon

With astonishing rapidity, the news of the incident spread to the surrounding villages, reached Moscow and finally spread all over the country. From the village of Kolomenskoye, pilgrims began to come from everywhere. And immediately began the miraculous healings of the suffering and the fulfillment of prayer petitions. The Ascension church is small in size, and in order for more people to worship the holy image, the icon was taken to nearby towns and villages.

She also visited Zamoskvorechye in the Martha and Mary Convent, where the abbess was the future priest-martyr, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon personally took an active part in the design of the service in honor of the newly-found icon. A special akathist was written for her. It included excerpts from other akathists written in honor of the Mother of God. He was called "Akathist Akathists."

Icon leaves the village of Kolomenskoye

Soon the "Sovereign" icon left the church of the village of Kolomenskoye and was solemnly transferred to Moscow to the Resurrection nunnery. It turned out that there are documents in the archives of the monastery, indicating that the icon was originally there, but in 1812, during the war with Napoleon, it was sent to the village of Kolomenskoye and there it was forgotten.

Even in the hard years for the church, miracles were performed, which were revealed by the holy icon. It is known that after the believers prayed before her, one of the priests of the region was unexpectedly released from prison.

Later, the "Sovereign" icon was for some time in the Martha and Mary Convent, and after its closure it was transferred to museum funds.

Miraculous image returns to believers

To the believing people, the icon returned in the early 90's. During this period the state transferred the property taken away from her. "Sovereign" icon was placed in the altar of one of the temples of the capital. There she stayed for several years. On July 17, 1990, the first to commemorate the Liturgy of the Tsar and his family. In connection with this event, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II blessed to transfer the icon to Kolomenskoye, to the Kazan Church. There she is now. There was a tradition on Sundays to read before this icon "Akathist Akathists," the same one in the creation of which Patriarch Tikhon took part. The holiday of the icon "Derzhavnaya" is celebrated on the day of its acquisition - on March 15.

There are many lists with icons. Many are made especially for temples built and consecrated in her honor. The temple of the icon "Derzhavnaya" exists in Moscow on Chertanovskaya Street and in St. Petersburg on Prospekt Kultury. Restoration in the capital of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior began with the construction of a chapel church next to it in honor of the "Sovereign" icon of the Mother of God.

Importance of icons for Russians

The Orthodox Russians have a special attitude to the icon "Derzhavnaya". In the fateful for our country in 1917, its phenomenon was seen as a symbol of the continuity of power. From earthly kings the power passed to the Queen of Heaven. In addition, it is also the promise of forgiveness and salvation for the people, who are going through a grave and bloody path to repentance. Throughout the history of Russia, during the most difficult trials, Russian people saw in the Most-Pure Theotokos hope and support.

In the manner in which the figure of Christ is depicted on the icon, a symbolic meaning is laid, which is understandable to the few. It is directly connected with those times, tragic for the Russian people, when the miraculous acquisition of the icon took place.

Blessing, the Eternal Infant points to the left side, where according to the Holy Scriptures sinners will stand on the Last Judgment. This gives the gesture a sense of forgiveness to the fallen. In addition, the power in the hand of the Virgin does not have a cross. This is a clear prophecy about the destruction of churches and temples in Russia.

What is the meaning of icons? What helps the sacred image? The icon is not a deity, but it is a guiding star for all who seek God.