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Among Russian believers, the most beloved and revered is considered Vladimir icon Mother of God. Its significance for Rus' is enormous. She saved the country from enemy attacks more than once, thanks to her the Russians avoided enslavement.

History of the icon

Church tradition says that the Holy Face was painted by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke after the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven on an ordinary board from the table at which Mary, Joseph and Jesus ate. Until 450, the image rested on Jerusalem soil, and then was transferred to Constantinople. In the 12th century, the icon was brought as a gift by Patriarch Luka Chrysoverkh to Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky.

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

In the monastic monastery of the city of Vyshgorod, Lik became famous for many miraculous events. But in 1155, Andrei Bogolyubsky, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, transported the icon to Vladimir. For this occasion, the shrine began to be called Vladimir. The image was decorated with gold and silver, pearls and precious stones.

In 1164, during the military campaign of Prince Andrei against the Bulgarians, the Mother of God helped the Russians defeat the enemy. Her Face was preserved even in the strongest fire that raged in the cathedral. It remained safe and sound during the destruction of the city by Batu in 1237.

In 1395, the icon began to be kept in Moscow so that it would survive the invasion of Tamerlane. He invaded the Ryazan lands, ruining them, and soon went to Moscow, destroying and ruining everything that came along his route. Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich gathered troops, at the same time Metropolitan Cyprian was blessed for the post and service. The Moscow prince and metropolitan decided to use spiritual powers, so the image of the Most Pure Virgin was transferred from Vladimir to Moscow. The icon was kept in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. A miracle happened and Tamerlane left the Moscow borders. As it turned out, during the procession with Vladimir Mother of God to Moscow, pilgrims and people standing on both sides of the road along the route of the procession prayed to the Mother of God to grant peace to the Russian Land.

In turn, Tamerlane had a vision: he saw a huge mountain, with saints descending from its top, holding golden rods in their hands. The radiant Virgin rose above the saints, commanding him to leave the Russian borders. Later he realized that the Wife is the Mother of God, a Christian protector and intercessor. He understood everything and ordered his army to go back. In memory of this event it was established church celebration icons.

In 1480, the Mother of God saved Russia from the invasion of the troops of the Khan of the Golden Horde, Akhmat. Russian troops met the Tatars near the Ugra River. The fighters positioned themselves on both sides of the river and waited for the attack to begin. Russian soldiers held the Vladimir Icon in their hands and the Queen of Heaven put the Horde horde to flight. In honor of the miraculous event, a second celebration of the image was established.

In 1521, the Kazan Khan Makhmet-Girey moved to Moscow. The area through which the Tatars passed was a terrible sight: ruins could be seen on the sites of cities and villages, the property of the inhabitants was plundered, the elderly and children were mercilessly beaten, and then killed or sold into slavery. The attack was unexpected and people were very afraid that Moscow would also be ruined. Meanwhile, the khan reached the borders of Moscow and began to burn the city. But suddenly a miracle happened and the enemy troops began to retreat from the capital. And again the Mother of God helped. On this occasion, the Church established a third celebration.

Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God

Important events in Russia took place before the face of Vladimir:

election of patriarchs;
taking an oath of allegiance to the Fatherland;
prayers before military campaigns.

And at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War people day and night begged the Queen of Heaven for the intercession of Christ. Even Stalin himself came to the temple at night, furtively from prying eyes, and prayed to the Mother of God for help, and then gave the order to load the Holy Face into a plane and personally flew with it around the capital.

Iconography of the image

The icon depicts the tender “communication” of the Mother of God with the Son - the human side of family relationships. The Virgin and Child are in close contact, Jesus puts his arm around Mary's neck.

A special feature of the Vladimir Icon is the image of the Baby’s heel.

The icon has two sides, on the second the throne and symbols of the passion are depicted. This idea is not accidental and means the upcoming sacrifice of Christ and the mourning of the Son by the Mother.

This is interesting! No ancient icons like the Vladimir icon have survived to this day. Over many centuries, the image was restored several times, several layers of paint were applied to it. But what is surprising is that the faces of Christ and the Virgin Mary still remain in their original form.

During the entire existence of the image, none of the icon painters decided to tint or correct them.

What does Vladimirsky Lik help with?

The main thing is sincere faith in the power and mercy of the Queen of Heaven, which She reveals to humanity through the iconographic image. The Most Pure Virgin helps:

prayer before the icon affirms the Orthodox spirit and gives it perseverance;
delivers the prayer book from heretical attacks;
protects Rus' from enemies, instilling courage and bravery in the hearts of warriors;
protects against military conflicts, external threats and internal unrest;
promotes reconciliation with the enemy;
provides guidance before making a difficult decision;
eliminates uncertainty and doubts;
gives peace and tranquility;
protects marriage and family from discord;
grants spouses love, unity, understanding and respect;
heals diseases;
grants spiritual and physical insight;
helps in difficult childbirth;
protects mothers and their children in a special way;
heals infertility and ailments of the female genital organs.

The image of the Vladimir Mother of God is the greatest fruit of reflection on the life of Christ on earth, the great humility of His Most Pure Mother, the earthly path they traversed and sacrificial love.

Important! The miraculous Face is kept in the Moscow Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. His memory is celebrated annually on June 3, July 6 and September 8.

Video about the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

ANDhorse of the Mother of God "Vladimirskaya"

IN The Ladimir Icon of the Mother of God (icon of the Theotokos) is considered miraculous and, according to legend, was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Holy Family ate: the Savior, the Mother of God and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: “From now on all generations will call Me blessed. May the grace of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with this icon.”

IN The icon was brought to Russia from Byzantium at the beginning of the 12th century as a gift to the holy prince Mstislav (†1132) from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverkh. The icon was placed in convent Vyshgorod (an ancient appanage city of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga), not far from Kyiv. The rumor about her miracles reached the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who decided to transport the icon to the north.

P riding Vladimir, horses carrying miraculous icon, stood up and could not move. Replacing the horses with new ones also did not help.

IN During the time of fervent prayer, the Queen of Heaven Herself appeared to the prince and commanded that the Vladimir miraculous icon of the Mother of God be left in Vladimir, and in this place a temple and a monastery be built in honor of Her Nativity. To the general joy of the residents of Vladimir, Prince Andrei returned to the city along with the miraculous icon. Since then, the icon of the Mother of God began to be called Vladimir.

In 1395 terrible conqueror Khan Tamerlan (Temir-Aksak) reached the borders of Ryazan, took the city of Yelets and, heading towards Moscow, approached the banks of the Don. Grand Duke Vasily Dimitrievich went out with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka. He prayed to the saints of Moscow and St. Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Cyprian, so that the upcoming Dormition Fast would be devoted to fervent prayers for pardon and repentance. The clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the famous miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the Feast of the Assumption Holy Mother of God The clergy accepted the icon and carried it to Moscow with a procession of the cross. Countless people on both sides of the road, on their knees, prayed: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!” At that very hour when the residents of Moscow greeted the icon on Kuchkovo Pole (now Sretenka Street) , Tamerlane dozed in his camp tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which saints with golden rods were coming towards him, and above them the Majestic Woman appeared in a radiant radiance. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. They answered him that the radiant Woman is the Mother of God, the great Defender of Christians. Then Tamerlane gave the order to the regiments to go back.

IN commemoration of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane on Kuchkovo Field, where the icon was met, was built Sretensky Monastery, and on August 26 (in the new style - September 8) an all-Russian celebration was established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane on Kuchkovo Field

(meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

A second time Our Lady saved our country from ruin in 1451, when the army of the Nogai Khan with Tsarevich Mazovsha approached Moscow. The Tatars set fire to the Moscow suburbs, but Moscow was never captured. During the fire, Saint Jonah performed religious processions along the walls of the city. Warriors and militia fought with the enemy until nightfall. The small army of the Grand Duke at this time was too far away to help the besieged. The chronicles say that the next morning there were no enemies near the walls of Moscow. They heard an extraordinary noise, decided that it was the Grand Duke with a huge army and retreated. The prince himself cried in front of the Vladimir Icon after the Tatars left.

T third intercession Our Lady for Rus' was in 1480(celebrated on July 6). After the resounding victory on the Kulikovo Field in 1380, the Russian principalities remained under Horde dependence for another century, and only the events of the autumn of 1480 decisively changed the situation. Ivan III refused to pay tribute to the horde, and regiments were sent to Rus' Khan Akhmat. Two armies converged on the Ugra River: the armies stood on different banks - the so-called "standing on the Ugra" - and were waiting for a reason to attack. In the front ranks of the Russian army they held the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir. There were skirmishes, even small battles, but the troops never moved in front of each other. Russian army moved away from the river, giving the Horde regiments the opportunity to begin crossing. But the Horde regiments also retreated. The Russian soldiers stopped, but the Tatar soldiers continued to retreat and suddenly rushed away without looking back.

"WITH "the battle on the Ugra" put an end to the Mongol-Tatar yoke. Russia was finally freed from paying tribute. From that time on, we can talk about the final elimination of any form of political dependence of Moscow on the Horde.

R The Russian Orthodox Church established a threefold celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Each of the days of celebration is associated with the deliverance of the Russian people from enslavement by foreigners through prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos:

8 September according to the new style (August 26 according to the church calendar) - in memory of the rescue of Moscow from the invasion of Tamerlane in 1395.

July 6(June 23) - in memory of the deliverance of Russia from the Horde king Akhmat in 1480.

June 3(May 21st) - in memory of the rescue of Moscow from the Crimean Khan Makhmet-Girey in 1521.

The most solemn celebration takes place 8 September(new style), established in honor the meeting of the Vladimir Icon during its transfer from Vladimir to Moscow .

The celebration June 3 was established in memory of the rescue of Moscow in 1521 from the invasion of the Tatars led by Khan Makhmet-Girey.

Invasion of the Crimean Tatars

T Atar hordes approached Moscow, setting Russian cities and villages to fire and destruction, exterminating their inhabitants. Grand Duke Vasily gathered an army against the Tatars, and Moscow Metropolitan Varlaam, together with the residents of Moscow, fervently prayed for deliverance from death. In it terrible time One pious blind nun had a vision: Moscow saints were emerging from the Spassky Gate of the Kremlin, leaving the city and taking with them the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God - the main saint of Moscow - as God's punishment for the sins of its inhabitants. The saints were met at the Spassky Gate Venerable Sergius Radonezhsky and Varlaam Khutynsky, tearfully begging them not to leave Moscow. All of them together brought a fiery prayer to the Lord for the forgiveness of those who had sinned and the deliverance of Moscow from its enemies. After this prayer, the saints returned to the Kremlin and brought back the Vladimir holy icon. The Moscow saint had a similar vision, Blessed Basil, to whom it was revealed that through the intercession of the Mother of God and the prayers of the saints, Moscow would be saved. The Tatar Khan had a vision of the Mother of God, surrounded by a formidable army rushing towards their regiments. The Tatars fled in fear, the capital of the Russian state was saved.

In 1480, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was transferred for permanent storage to Moscow in the Assumption Cathedral. In Vladimir, an exact, so-called “spare” copy of the icon, written Rev. Andrew Rublev. In 1918, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was closed, and the miraculous image was moved to the State Tretyakov Gallery.

Now the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is V Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi (metro station Tretyakovskaya, M. Tolmachevsky lane, 9).

Iconography

Iconographically, the Vladimir Icon belongs to the Eleus (Tenderness) type. The Baby pressed his cheek to the Mother's cheek. The icon conveys the tender communication between Mother and Child. Mary foresees the suffering of the Son in His earthly journey.

A distinctive feature of the Vladimir Icon from other icons of the Tenderness type: the left leg of the Infant Christ is bent in such a way that the sole of the foot, the “heel,” is visible.

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Vladimir” they pray for deliverance from the invasion of foreigners, for instruction in the Orthodox faith, for preservation from heresies and schisms, for the pacification of those at war, for the preservation of Russia.

Troparion, tone 4
Today the most glorious city of Moscow brightly flaunts, as if we had received the dawn of the sun, the Lady, Your miraculous icon, to which we now flow and pray, we cry out to You: O, most wonderful Lady Theotokos, pray from You to the incarnate Christ our God, that He may deliver this city and all Christian cities and countries are unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, and He will save our souls, like the Merciful.

Kontakion, tone 8
To the chosen victorious Voivode, having been delivered from the evil ones by the coming of Your venerable image, to the Lady Theotokos we brightly celebrate the celebration of Your meeting and usually call You: Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her icon,
called "Vladimirskaya"

O All-Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, All-Powerful Intercessor, our shameless Hope! Thanking Thee for all the great blessings, in the generations of the Russian people who were from Thee, before Thy most pure image we pray to Thee: save this city (or: this whole, or: this holy monastery) and Thy coming servants and the whole Russian land from famine, destruction , land of shaking, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. Save and save, Lady, our Great Lord and Father Alexy, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and our Lord (name of the rivers), His Eminence Bishop (or: Archbishop, or: Metropolitan) (title), and all Your Eminence metropolitans, archbishops and Orthodox bishops. May they govern the Russian Church well, and may the faithful sheep of Christ be preserved indestructibly. Remember, O Lady, the entire priestly and monastic order, warm their hearts with zeal for God and strengthen them to walk worthy of their calling. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on all Thy servants and grant us the path of the earthly journey without blemish. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for More Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, give us patience in adversity, abstinence in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for our enemies, success in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensibility, and on the terrible day of Judgment, grant us through Your intercession to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God. To Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Days for celebrating the icon:
June 3 – in honor of the rescue of Moscow from Khan Makhmet-Girey in 1521.
July 6 - in memory of the liberation of Rus' from the Khan of the Golden Horde Akhmat in 1480.
September 8 - Presentation of the Vladimir Icon, in memory of the liberation of Moscow from the troops of Tamerlane in 1395.

WHAT DO YOU PRAY FOR BEFORE THE VLADIMIR ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

Vladimirskaya Icon of the Mother of God always prayed for the preservation of the country, for help in protecting it from enemies. People turn to this icon during various disasters and ask for help in healing from illnesses.
The Mother of God, through this image, helps to reconcile warring people, softens human hearts, helps to accept the right decision, strengthens faith.
There were cases when prayers to the Vladimir Icon relieved infertility or diseases of the reproductive organs. The icon especially protects mothers and their children, promotes easy childbirth, gives health to babies, and helps with diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system.

It must be remembered that icons or saints do not “specialize” in any specific areas. It will be right when a person turns with faith in the power of God, and not in the power of this icon, this saint or prayer.
And .

HISTORY OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE VLADIMIR MOTHER OF GOD

According to legend, the holy image of the Mother of God of this icon was created by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke directly on the surface of the table at which the Savior and the Most Pure Virgin had meals:

“Having written Your all-honorable image, the divine Luke, the inspired writer of Christ’s Gospel, depicted the Creator of all in Your hands.”

Seeing the created image, the Mother of God said:

“From now on, everyone will please Me. May the grace of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with this image.”

At the beginning of the 12th century, this icon was made special list, the Vladimir Icon itself at that time was in Constantinople. The list was given as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky, Grand Duke of Kyiv. The holy icon was brought to Kyiv and placed in the Mother of God Monastery.
Yuri Dolgoruky had several sons, they constantly quarreled with each other over their father's inheritance. One of the sons, Prince Andrei, was tired of the brothers' quarrels and in 1155, secretly from his father, taking an icon from the Mother of God Monastery, he headed to the north of the state to create his own principality there, which would be independent of Kyiv.

They made a platform for the icon and transported it on a special sled. Throughout the entire journey, Prince Andrei fervently prayed to the Mother of God.
After resting in Vladimir, the prince was about to continue moving, but having driven quite a bit from the city, his horses stopped. They tried to force them to move on, but all attempts were unsuccessful. Even after changing horses, nothing changed - the caravan did not move. Prince Andrei began to fervently pray to the Mother of God, and during prayer the Queen herself appeared to him, commanding that the miraculous icon be left in Vladimir, and that the cathedral that the prince would have to build would become its home. So this image received the name - the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
To Moscow Vladimir icon was transported in 1480. It was placed in the Assumption Cathedral, and a copy of the icon, written by the Monk Andrei Rublev, remained in Vladimir.

The meeting place (or “presentation”) of the icon in Moscow is immortalized by the Sretensky Monastery, which was erected in honor of this event, and the street was named Sretenka.

Immediately after the revolution, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was closed. In 1918, the miraculous image of the Mother of God was transferred to the State Tretyakov Gallery, where the icon remained until September 8, 1999. Then it was moved from the Tretyakov Gallery to the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi.

SOME MIRACLES THAT THE ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF VLADIMIR WORKED

In history there is a lot of evidence of unusual miracles that occurred with the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
In 1395, Khan Tamerlane and his troops attacked Rus'. At this time, in a procession of the cross, for more than ten days, they carried the icon in their hands from Vladimir to Moscow. People stood on both sides of the path and prayed to the Holy image on the icon: “Mother of God, save the Russian land!” Following these prayers, Tamerlane had a dream that Christian saints descended from the top of a high mountain, in their hands they held rods of gold, and a Majestic Woman appeared above them and told him to leave Rus' alone. Tamerlane woke up in alarm and sent for dream interpreters, who explained to the khan that the radiant Woman was the image of the Mother of God, the protector of all Christians. Having stopped his campaign, Tamerlane left Rus'.

In 1451, during the Tatar attack on Moscow, Metropolitan Jonah carried the icon in a procession along the city walls. At night, the attackers heard a loud noise and decided that Prince Vasily Dmitrievich was coming with his army to help the besieged; in the morning they lifted the siege and retreated from the city walls.

In 1480, a battle between Russian troops and the Tatar-Mongols was supposed to take place. The opponents stood on different banks of the river and prepared for battle, but it never took place. This “great stand on the Ugra River” ended with the flight of the Tatar-Mongols, to which the Mother of God turned them through her Vladimir Icon, which was in front of the Russian army.

In 1521, Khan's troops Once again approached Moscow, began to burn the towns, but unexpectedly moved away from the city without causing significant harm to the capital. This event is also associated with the protection of the miraculous icon, in whose honor its third holiday was established.

The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God has always taken part in important events of our state. With it, the people went to the Novodevichy Convent to Boris Godunov to install him as king; this icon met the troops of Minin and Pozharsky, who in 1613 expelled the Polish invaders.

For our country, the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God has great value. During times severe tests prayers to her more than once saved Rus' from destructive enemy attacks, which were repelled thanks to the intercession of the Mother of God through Her holy icon.

Interesting fact

Part of the image of the Vladimirskaya icon (eye and nose) was taken for the logo of the film company Icon Productions, created in 1989 by Mel Gibson. This studio has produced films such as The Passion of the Christ and Anna Karenina.

GREATNESS

We magnify, we magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, and we honor Your image
Holy One, grant healing to all who come with faith.

VIDEO

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is one of the most revered Orthodox icons. Her story is mysterious. According to legend, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke on the board of the table at which Jesus Christ, the Mother of God and Joseph the Betrothed had a meal. Until 450, the image remained in Jerusalem, then it was transported to Constantinople, and in the 12th century it came to Rus'.

Orthodox Christians believe that the icon, painted two millennia ago, has reached us in its original form. However, impartial scientists date the Mother of God of Vladimir beginning of XII centuries and believe that if it is related to the icon painted by the Evangelist Luke, it is only a copy of its more ancient copies. According to art historians, the Mother of God of Vladimir was painted in Byzantium.

Around 1131, the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverg sent it to Kyiv as a gift to Prince Mstislav. The icon was placed in the Mother of God Monastery in the town of Vyshgorod, hence the Ukrainian name of this icon - Our Lady of Vyshgorod. In 1155, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky moved it to Vladimir, which is why in Russia the icon is known as the Vladimir icon. The shrine was kept in the main temple of the city - Assumption Cathedral. The prince ordered to decorate it with an expensive frame, the production of which, according to legend, took 5 kilograms of gold.

In 1237 Vladimir was captured Mongol Khan Batu. His troops plundered the Assumption Cathedral, smashed many icons, but only removed the frame from the Mother of God of Vladimir, and left the image itself unharmed.

Many miracles are associated with the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. In 1395, during the devastating invasion of Rus' by Khan Tamerlane, the shrine was brought to Moscow to protect the city from the enemy. Ruining one city after another, Tamerlane's troops, having reached the outskirts of Moscow, stopped and, after standing in one place for two weeks, turned back. According to legend, Tamerlane had a vision: a woman appeared before him. high mountain, from which the saints in golden robes descended, and in the sky, surrounded by radiance, the Mother of God appeared and ordered the commander to leave the borders of Rus'. Tamerlane was seized with inexplicable fear, and he gave the order to retreat.

The miraculous salvation of the city from destruction was associated with the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. At the meeting place (“Sreteniya”) of Muscovites with the miraculous shrine, the Sretensky Monastery was erected, which gave the name to Sretenka Street.

Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God (detail)

In 1451, another miraculous deliverance of Moscow from the invaders took place. The Nogai prince Mazovsha with his army besieged the city. The Muscovites, whose forces were too small to resist the enemy, decided to resort to the help of their Heavenly Protectress. They took the Vladimir Icon from the Assumption Cathedral, where it had remained since the invasion of Tamerlane, and made religious processions with it along the walls of the city, praying for the intercession of the Mother of God. The next day, the countless hordes of Mazowsha retreated. The legend says that the invaders heard an unusually loud noise. They decided that a huge army was approaching them and fled in fear.

The next miracle associated with the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God occurred in 1480, during the epoch-making “standing on the Ugra River”, which put an end to Tatar-Mongol yoke in Rus'. Grand Duke Ivan III refused to pay tribute to the horde, and Khan Akhmat sent his troops to punish the recalcitrants. The Russian and Tatar armies met on the Ugra River, and no one dared to be the first to cross water hazard. The Russian wars kept the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God in the forefront. The Tatars never dared to attack. They retreated and never returned to Russian soil.

The miraculous salvation of Rus' from the invasion of the Crimean Khan Makhmet-Girey in 1521 is also associated with the Vladimir Icon. The enemy army of one hundred thousand, sweeping through the Russian lands like a devastating whirlwind and reaching Moscow, suddenly turned back. This miracle, like other supernatural deliverances from invaders, is considered by Orthodox Christians to be the work of the Mother of God the Intercessor.

After so many miracles associated with the Vladimir Icon, it began to be revered as one of the main Russian Orthodox shrines. Before her, they took an oath of allegiance to Russia, performed prayer services, went on military campaigns, and elected patriarchs and metropolitans.

Until 1918, the image was kept in Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, from where, after the closure of the temple, it was moved to the Tretyakov Gallery. Today the Vladimir Icon is located in the Church-Museum of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi. Her luxurious precious frame became a separate exhibit that added to the collection of the Armory Chamber.

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Video

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God belongs to the iconographic type of Eleus or “Tenderness”. The Child Christ pressed his cheek to the cheek of his mother, whose head was bowed towards her son. The Vladimir icon differs from other icons of the Eleus type in that the baby’s left leg is bent in a special way and we can see its foot.

Over the nine centuries of its existence, the Vladimir Icon was recorded at least 4 times with new painting, and also survived several restorations. During one of the renovations at the beginning of the 15th century, a plot depicting Etymasia, the throne prepared for the second coming of Christ, and the instruments of the Passion of Christ, was written on the back side of the icon board.

The last large-scale restoration of the icon was carried out in 1919 with the aim of freeing ancient painting from later layers. Unfortunately, only small scattered fragments remain from the original letter.

A huge number of copies were written from the Vladimir Icon. Many of them are revered as miraculous, for example, the widely known Pskov-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” (1524). In addition, the famous shrine became the basis for the creation of new iconographic subjects, such as “The Tale of the Vladimir Icon”, “The Vladimir Icon with an Akathist”, “The Presentation of the Vladimir Icon” and “Praise to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Tree of the Russian State."

Based on materials from the works of I. I. Mosin. For other articles about ancient Russian art, see below, in the block “More on the topic...”

The history of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God dates back to the time when the Virgin Mary was still on Earth. Tradition says that ancient image the holy apostle and evangelist Luke himself wrote. The image of the Mother of God was made on the board of the table, at which at one time all members of the Holy Family had meals: the Virgin Mary, her husband Joseph the Betrothed and the baby Jesus. This fact makes the icon special, a shrine that the Savior himself touched. The image remained in Jerusalem for 450 years, after which it was transferred to Constantinople (Constantinople).

Ancient icon of the Mother of God in Kievan Rus

In the 12th century, the holy icon first came to Rus' thanks to the Patriarch of Constantinople, Luke Chrysover. He bestowed a precious Christian relic (together with another icon of the Mother of God, known as the “Pirogovaya”) to the prince of Kyiv Yuri Dolgoruky. The icon of the Most Pure Virgin was transferred to the Vyshgorod nunnery, located near the capital Kievan Rus. The fame of the miracles performed by the holy face quickly spread over many kilometers around. came to the monastery a large number of pilgrims to look at the ancient Christian shrine, ask her for mercy, help and protection. The requests were made, and the glory of the image increased.

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

Once upon a time, the Vyshgorod lands belonged to Princess Olga, who was recognized as an Equal-to-the-Apostles saint after her death. Yuri Dolgoruky handed over (1155) this inheritance to his son Andrei (Bogolyubsky). But the young prince did not want to stay in Vyshgorod, therefore, taking the valuable bright face of the Mother of God from the monastery, and without telling his father anything, he went to Suzdal land, which was native to him. Even while on the road, Andrei and his companions prayed to the image of the Mother of God, asking for her blessing.

Upon arrival in Vladimir-on-Klyazma, the prince was greeted by the residents with enthusiasm and great joy. Then the travelers headed to Rostov, but an amazing thing happened - their horses suddenly stood up, nothing could force them to go further. The horses were replaced with fresh ones, but everything remained the same. After tearful kneeling prayers to the icon of the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God herself appeared before Andrei, holding a scroll in her hand. The Lady ordered to install an image in Vladimir, and at this place (where she appeared) to build God's temple with a monastery. The monastery should have been dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The godly prince fulfilled all orders. And first of all, he placed the image of the Queen of Heaven, where she was punished. Since then (1160) the holy icon of the Mother of God began to be called Vladimir.

Four years later (1164), the Russian prince Andrei Bogolyubsky set out with an army to march to Volga Bulgars. And just before the battle, he confessed properly and took communion. And, kneeling down, he uttered words that became prophetic: that the person who trusts in Mother of Vladimir will be protected by holy intercession and will not perish. Centuries later, each time the power of the icon became a reliable impenetrable shield to protect its Orthodox children, turning enemy troops away from Russian cities, instilling fear and uncertainty in the hearts of the enemy. After the prince, each warrior venerated the miraculous face, begging for intercession and support. The enemy was defeated.

The Vladimir Icon granted many glorious victories to the Russian people over the enemies of the Fatherland. Thanks to her gracious intercession, Moscow avoided the destructive Tatar attacks: Khan Edigei (1408), Mazovsha, the Nogai prince (1451), as well as his father, Khan Sedi-Akhmet (1459).

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God guarding Moscow

Menacing clouds gathered over the Russian lands in 1395, when the hordes of the world-famous Central Asian conqueror, the ferocious Timur, gathered close to the borders. Behind him were already conquered Persia, Khorezm, and the countries of Transcaucasia. The Europeans called him Tamerlane, and the Russian people called him Temir-Aksak, which translated meant “Iron Lame.” The nickname did not appear by chance - the commander really became lame after being seriously wounded in the thigh. Having entered Russian territory, Timur mercilessly plundered and destroyed Christian villages, approaching Moscow.

An army led by Vasily I Dmitrievich came out from the capital to the banks of the Oka River to meet the formidable enemy. But heavy thoughts squeezed the prince’s heart, the army was weak, and this did not add confidence in the successful outcome of the future battle. Only a real miracle could save the Russians. And it happened.

Metropolitan Cyprian addressed higher aid- intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Trusted people delivered the holy miraculous icon of the Vladimir Heavenly Queen from the city of Vladimir to Moscow. Already on August 26, 1395, the townspeople, with glorifying prayers and chants, met the ancient relic at the walls of the capital. Cries of invocation to the Mother of God were heard from everywhere. People asked to save their homes, the Russian land and Orthodox faith. Solemn procession went with the Savior to the Moscow Kremlin, the image was placed in the Assumption Church, and a prayer service was served. And at the very moment when the Vladimir Icon of the Virgin Mary entered Moscow, Timur’s troops retreated.

The chronicle, describing the events of those long ago years, says that Temir-Aksak set up a large camp and remained there for two weeks. But when the image of the Mother of Jesus arrived in Moscow, hitherto unfamiliar horror and fear filled his consciousness. According to old records, the brave commander saw a vision - with big mountains the elder saints walked straight towards him with shining golden staffs. A sparkling woman with thousands of warriors hovered above them. This whole brilliant army was inexorably approaching, filling everything around.

Bad forebodings forced Timur to gather his army to immediately return home. Thus, by the grace of the Lord and His Mother Mary, a great miracle happened that saved Moscow. Having received the good news, the prince, priests, monks, soldiers, all Muscovites thanked the Mother of God for her ambulance, intercession. At the meeting place of the icon, a church and a monastic monastery were erected. The church celebration of this wonderful event was established on the day of August 26 (according to the old style - September 8). Its name became Presentation (meeting of the Vladimir image of the Mother of God). And the new monastic monastery began to be called Sretenskaya.

Troubled times returned again in 1408. The representative of the Golden Horde, Emir Edigei, set out to conquer Rus', punish them for their love of freedom, and force them to pay tribute. There were no signs of trouble, so Moscow did not prepare for an attack. The enemy army quickly reached the walls of the capital when the prince and his family were not there. The administration of the city was handled by Vasily I Dmitrievich’s uncle, Vladimir Andreevich Brave.

Already on December 1, Edigei’s troops surrounded Moscow. But Vladimir Andreevich was an experienced military leader, so properly organized defense did not allow Edigei to storm the city walls. Enemies rushed to destroy cities close to Moscow - Dmitrov, Serpukhov, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov, Pereyaslavl, others. Muscovites tirelessly prayed in front of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, so that she would not abandon them and give them over to their enemies for desecration. And the Queen of Heaven again showed great mercy. Edigei, having received news of unrest in the Golden Horde, urgently changed his plans. On December 20, he took a ransom of 3 thousand rubles and then retreated. By the will of the Lord and the Most Pure Virgin Mary, the Russian land managed to avoid sorrow, destruction, and death.

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God bestowed a new great miracle on the Russian land in 1480. The campaign of the Tatar Khan Akhmat against Moscow began in June. The Horde needed tribute, but the independent people refused to pay it. Since June 23, day and night prayers for the salvation and protection of Rus' from enemies were performed in front of the Holy Icon of Vladimir. Grand Duke Ivan III Vasilyevich gathered an army and set out to meet the army of the horde. When Akhmat approached the Oka River, he saw that the crossings were already occupied by the Muscovites, commanded by the son of the Grand Duke and the governor. Then the Horde headed to the Ugra (the left tributary of the Oka), intending to cross the river there. But the Russians managed to take advantageous positions (near Kaluga). So the Tatars' attempts to cross the river failed. On October 26 it became cold, the surface of the Ugra was covered with a layer of ice. This brought the battle closer.

Moscow could not live in peace; the Orthodox faithful fervently prayed to the Great Defender, bowing before the Vladimir Mother of God image. And so, on October 9, the Tatar troops began to retreat towards the steppe. And on November 11 (1480) Khan Akhmat left. The chronicle reports that the Tatars left the Ugra barefoot, naked, and completely ragged. History shows that, even before reaching the Horde, Akhmat was killed. The stand on the Ugra became a difficult lesson for the enemies, which put an end to the encroachments of the Horde yoke on Rus'.

Orthodox people associated such a glorious deliverance with the holy intervention of the Mother of God through prayers to the Vladimir Icon. And the historical location of the troops on the Eel River was given the name “Belt of the Virgin”. The Grand Duke, together with everyone, extolled praises to the Lord and the Ever-Virgin for the miracle of salvation from the horde of Akhmat. That same winter another one was installed religious holiday, honoring the Vladimir Intercessor for saving Moscow from Akhmat - the second Candlemas on June 23 (according to the old style on July 6).

Another significant event associated with the intervention of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which remained a bright date in church calendar The Russian Orthodox Church got rid of the Crimean Khan Muhammad-Girey. In the summer of 1521, a message was brought to Moscow that Muhammad-Girey with a large army was quickly approaching the border of Rus'. Prince Vasily III sent an army to stop the enemies. But the Oka warriors were defeated. The invaders mercilessly ravaged the Moscow and Kolomna villages and monasteries. And people were killed or taken prisoner. Chronicle records report that Muhammad-Girey himself became a camp near the right tributary of the Moscow River - Severka. And the army scattered around the surrounding area in search of profit.

At that time, Muscovites were sitting in a besieged city. The Grand Duke managed to get out to start collecting a new army. The accursed Mohammed-Girey left without waiting for the defenders, but the area around the capital was almost completely devastated, not a house or a living soul remained. Despite big losses, the Orthodox Christians thanked the All-Merciful Intercessor for preserving the heart of the country - Moscow.

Eyewitness accounts

The entire time the siege of the capital lasted, Moscow Metropolitan Varlaam and all the Orthodox Christians prayed to save the city and avoid death and captivity. Different written sources have preserved to this day evidence of the miracles that occurred at that time.

So, one elderly nun had an amazing vision. The woman saw how the saints with the Vladimir image of the Virgin Mary began to leave the Kremlin. They also took with them church shrines, prayed icons, as if they wanted to punish the city residents for their sins. But near the exit from the Kremlin territory, the mournful procession was stopped by the Monks Varlaam of Khutyn and Sergius of Radonezh. They begged the saints to stay to perform a large prayer service in the name of saving the Russian capital. After a fiery prayer to the Lord and the Mother of God for the forgiveness of all those who have sinned and the divine protection of Moscow from its enemies, the saints returned to the Kremlin again along with the holy Vladimir icon.

A similar vision arose before the Moscow saint, Blessed Basil. He said that through the intercession of the Mother of God and the prayers of the saints, the city of Moscow would be saved. Three other righteous women saw the same thing, which they told the sexton about. The Russian people judged that the holy intercession of the Moscow saints Varlaam and Sergius stopped the loss of grace, and the prayers to the Vladimir face of the Most Pure Mother of God were heard. Through the intercession of the Lord Jesus and the Virgin Mary, the Tatars fled, and Moscow was saved. Over time, perpetuating the memory of the divine deliverance of the capital from Muhammad-Girey, a holiday was established to honor the main Orthodox Russian shrine on May 21 (June 3, old style).

It's just short description the most significant wonders in the history of the country from an ancient relic. Until now, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is the main, most ancient all-Russian shrine, the most revered image of all that exists in Russia. The Christian relic is kept in special careful conditions in the Church-Museum of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Tolmachi. The church exists at the State Tretyakov Gallery. People come to the icon on excursions and church services are held.

The Vladimir icon has many copies kept by various churches and monasteries. Most of Izvods became famous and are revered by parishioners and pilgrims as miraculous.