The icon of the Mother of God Augustus: a story about what they pray for

The veneration of the Mother of God in Russia has been going on for a long time. She is our intercessor before the Lord. In the Orthodox Church, many images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, many of which are miraculous. The Virgin Mary often appeared in difficult situations, helping people to strengthen their spirits. The icon of the Mother of God Augustus appeared after the appearance of the Virgin before the Russian soldiers in the First World War. The fact is documented.

History of the phenomenon

It is for certain known that a wonderful phenomenon occurred on the night of August 31 to September 1 (old style). A detachment of Russian soldiers and Cossacks was surrounded by Augustus and Mariampol (now the territory of Poland). The mood of the soldiers was depressed. The war was clearly not on the side of the Russians. And suddenly around 11 o'clock in the morning a radiant star appeared in the sky, the light of which intensified, and before the astonished soldiers arose the Virgin with the Infant Jesus in her arms. Her look was warm and kind. With her right hand, she pointed to the west, toward Augustov. The vision lasted more than half an hour, and hundreds of soldiers and officers witnessed it. At the end, the image of the Virgin began to turn pale, as if dissolving in the air, and in its place the cross shone. Soon everything disappeared. Soldiers fervently prayed, shocked by what they saw. This is how the Augustus icon of the Mother of God appeared. The history of this event is recorded in all details.

The next day the train went to the side indicated by the Virgin, and the detachment managed to get out of the encirclement. On the same day, the first victory of Russian soldiers in this war was won. A great miracle was reported to Nicholas II.

You can also add that in 45 km from Augustow fortress Osovets was located, in which there was a significant battle, which went down in history as "attack of the dead". Then the Russians went into battle after the enemy brought down on the fortress tons of poison gas. The enemy generals decided that there was not a single living soul left in the fortress and ordered to take the empty fortification. But towards them came Russian soldiers who survived the suffocating attack with deadly gas. Enemies fled in panic, seeing the "rebellious Russians". It was then that the famous expression "The Russians do not surrender!" Appeared, and it was expressed as a defeated enemy.

The Commission of the Holy Synod

A special commission was created from the members of the Synod, who documented the testimony of eyewitnesses, carefully studied all the details and officially confirmed that the miraculous phenomenon really was. The Commission began work in September, immediately after the events described, and recorded evidence for two years. The decision was the decision that the icon should be imprinted in memory of what had happened to worship in churches and at home prayer. The Synod prepared necessary documents for glorifying the image, but the revolution of 1917, the execution of the royal family and a chain of other tragic vicissitudes delayed the glorification of the icon for many decades. Only on February 28, 2008, by the decree of Patriarch Alexy II, the icon of the Mother of God "Augustine Victory" was officially included in the list of miraculous icons of the ROC.

Image of the Virgin

Rumors about the events that took place under the Augustus event quickly spread throughout the country. The newspapers had notes about the appearance of the Virgin and about the subsequent victory of the Russian troops. In various volosts icon painters painted the icon of the Mother of God Augustus. Unfortunately, when the Bolsheviks came to power, and the persecution of the church began, this icon was destroyed especially zealously. Surprisingly, it was the last icon revealed in tsarist Russia. We can say that with its appearance the time for autocracy ended.

In which temples can be found

One icon of the Mother of God Augustus is exhibited in the lower chapel of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which is in the Russian capital. Another list with this icon is kept in the State Historical Museum. It was this image that was exhibited at the exhibition in Berlin on May 13, 2004.

Another image is in the Kremen-Voznesensky monastery, which belongs to the Volgograd diocese. It is also known that one icon of the Mother of God Augustuska is in Canada, from the descendants of the imperial family and is especially revered by them.

There are several more options for the icon. But what was the first - this opinion of the researchers divided. It is possible that it was lost forever in the harsh years of hard times. Or maybe a new miraculous phenomenon of the icon awaits all believers in the near future.

New Hope

Not so long ago it became known that in the village of Macieha of the Volgograd region an icon was found. Local people claim that it belonged to their countryman. During the years of persecution, the Cossack hid a precious icon, and did not tell anyone about the place of the hiding place. After his death, relatives tried to find a hiding place. But the attempts were futile. And only recently when carrying out repair work on the farmstead under the old barn, a cache was found, in which was a marvelous icon.

From time it darkened, but the faces of the Virgin and the Child of Christ were kept surprisingly well.

The icon was given to the priest of the local church. Rumors of gaining the shrine raced around the neighborhood, and crowds of "interested" people were drawn to a small village, most of which were not interested in the spiritual, but in the material value of the find. After all, even in this form, the newly found relic can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In order to avoid the tragedy, and also not to lose the newly found shrine, it was transferred for storage, study and restoration to the Volgograd administration.

Veneration in the people

The icon of the Mother of God Augustus is revered among the people. Various lists from this icon can be seen in the temples of Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia, Belarus. There is it in Poland and in Serbia.

Icon Description

Initially, there were fifteen lists from this icon, which appeared in the period from 1914 to 1917, but to this day there are only a few.

The icon depicts the Virgin with the Infant in her arms. On Her look kneeling soldiers and Cossacks. The Mother of God hands them the way to salvation, and blesses them.

Symbol of the First World

It so happened that virtually every war, led by Russia, accompanies its miraculous icon. When our troops stood on the Kulikovo Field in anticipation of the battle, the image of the Don Mother of God resided with them. The overthrow of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, which occurred in the decisive battle on the Ugra, was guarded by Vladimir the Mother of God. Minin and Pozharsky went to Moscow during the Time of Troubles with the image of Our Lady of Kazan. The abdication of Emperor Nicholas from the throne was marked by the acquisition of the Sovereign Icon. But the spiritual symbol of the First World was the Augustus icon of the Mother of God. Photos of this holy image can be found in various variations, because during the war about fifteen different versions of this icon were made.

Belgrade

In 2012, two lists were made with the Augustus icon, one of them remained in the church of St. John the Theologian in St. Petersburg, and another was presented to the Patriarch of Serbia Irenaeus. Now the holy image is in the main cathedral of Belgrade - the temple of Alexander Nevsky. This church is a memorial to the memory of the First World War. In the temple there are many relics, somehow connected with the Russian sovereigns and Russian soldiers who fell in battle in these places.

Visiting Augustow

When the icon was sent by the cross to Belgrade, its path ran through the places of the Virgin's appearance to Russian soldiers, through the city of Augustus. The organizers of the procession made a decision to write an exact copy of the icon for the Polish diocese, which was done. The list for Poland was consecrated in a solemn atmosphere on the day of the outbreak of the First World War on August 1 in the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral. At the same time, the icon was performed in Russia, Serbia and Poland. So the miraculous icon united in prayer the believers of the three states.

What are they praying for?

To the Theotokos they pray with prayer for any reason. Her icons are always worth believers, lighting candles. The Augustus icon of the Mother of God did not become an exception. What are they praying for before her? Of course, about intercession, about the victory over the enemies. Soldiers' mothers especially revere this icon. While their sons pay homage to the Motherland, mothers are asked about their return, and then they thank the Virgin for saving her son. Prayer before the Icon of the Augustine Mother of God helps to save the world and defeat the enemies, both explicit and invisible. In the text of prayer, believers are asked about the preservation of the Russian state, its strengthening and prosperity.

Prayer

The text of the prayer and the troparion of the Augustus icon of the Mother of God can be found in timely prayers, for the veneration of this icon was introduced not so long ago. Not in all the churches you can meet this icon and pray in front of her, but in the church benches there is the Augustus icon of the Mother of God on sale. Akathist to her and the prayer rule can also be found in the relevant literature.

The icon of the Mother of God Augustus is the symbol and patroness of all European Christians. After all, the phenomenon of the Virgin took place in the very center of Europe.