Icon "The Exposure of the Dead": meaning. "Execution of the Dead" - a miraculous icon

It is reliable to establish when and how images with such a name appeared in Russia today are not possible. Information about this in different sources is at times significantly different from each other. Let's try to collect together the disparate data. Perhaps, we will get a whole picture. But first, let's talk about the appearance of such icons in Orthodoxy in general.

History of appearance of the image

Church legends say that the first icon of the Mother of God "The Execution of the Dead" appeared in the VI century. According to the legend, the monk Feofil, slandered and banished from the house of the bishop, held a great resentment in his soul. He turned away from God and His Mother and entered into an alliance with the devil.

But on the verge of spiritual death Feofil was frightened of what he had done and hotly asked the Mother of God for salvation, calling it "Execution of the Dead." The Most Holy Mother, having heard his sincere prayers, accepted the sincere repentance of the fallen, granted forgiveness and freed from obligations to the devil.

The saved Theophilus devoted the rest of his life to the service of God and was glorified in the face of saints.

Early Russian images "Execution of the Dead"

In the Moscow Temple, the Resurrection of the Speaker, the Russian icon "The Execution of the Dead", which was first mentioned in the church records of 1548, is kept. Presumably, the harassment belongs to the brush of the Italian master.

Legends tell us that in 1666 the wounded governor of Saratov, Kadyshev, was healed at the moment of appearance of such an image to him. The warrior, preparing for death, saw in the Volga a wonderful icon and rose to his feet. Many other miracles were created by this icon of the Virgin "Execution of the Dead".

Two hundred years later Kadysheva, a descendant of the famous governor, organized a convent in the village of Rakovka and became its first abbess. The main sacral of this monastery was the family value: the icon of the Mother of God "The Execution of the Dead". The miraculous icon healed many believers and became famous far beyond the Volga region.

Count Sheremetev, in gratitude for the cure of his son, ordered for this icon an expensive gilded kiot, adorned with jewels.

Miraculous Bor Icon of the Virgin "The Execution of the Dead"

A special veneration of images with this name in Russia began with the glorification of the Bor Borowsky.

A beautiful legend speaks of the miraculous rescue of Obukhov Fedot. In a frigid frost the peasant left the house and lost his way along the way. By nightfall, the wretched man was completely exhausted and frozen. He lay down in a sleigh and began to pray fervently to the Mother of God. At that time he gave a vow that, if he were alive, he would order the list of the image of the Mother of God "Recovering the Dead" and present it to the parish church.

Miraculously the sleigh was at the peasant's house. The owner of this hut suddenly heard a woman's voice, who ordered: "Take it!" Going out into the street, he found Fedot, freezing in a sleigh.

Miracles continued. Faithful to this vow, Fedot turns to the iconographer Gurov. But he requires such a sum for a job that Obukhov does not have. As soon as Fedot went out the door, the iconographer went blind - another miracle of the Blessed Virgin. Realizing that this punishment for greed, Gurov promises to write a lawsuit at any price. And then the vision returned!

Other miracles of the holy image

The Icon of the Mother of God "The Execution of the Dead" was written and donated by Fedot Obukhov to the church in the village of Bor. Many came to worship this icon and ask for its intercession. Soon a new beautiful temple was built for the donations of the parishioners.

And again a miracle: the church elder in a dream saw where this icon would later stand. And soon the Synod received a decree on the construction of the temple in this place.

In 1871 the Bor icon of the Virgin "The Execution of the Dead" saved the city of Serpukhov from cholera. At the time of the sacrifice, another miracle happened: a dumb boy who had not walked before that day, suddenly spoke and got to his feet. In gratitude the Serpukhov residents brought the Gospel with a picture of this icon and records of the created miracle as a gift to the Church of Borsa.

This image was lost with the advent of Soviet power. But in 1985 in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in the Tarusa District was given a list of boric icons. The fact that it is a copy of the well-known revered image is indicated by the inscription on it.

"Execution of the Dead" in Serpukhov

Every year, beginning in 1892, the solemn Cross procession delivered this shrine to the city of Serpukhov. Every believer could worship the shrine and ask the Mother of God for help. A special success for Orthodox Serpukhov residents was the opportunity to take this image for a prayer in their own house.

The custom was violated with the establishment of Soviet power in Russia after the October Revolution. The temple in which this miraculous icon was kept was leveled with the ground. Many images were lost.

But the faithful continued to worship this shrine and carefully kept its copies. One of these lists was in the Trinity Church. However, this church was also closed in 1961. And the miraculous icon for 35 years became inaccessible to believers, since all this time was in the repositories of the historical and art museum of the city of Serpukhov.

Return of the holy image to the bosom of the church

But in June 1996 the holy icon "The Execution of the Dead" reappeared in Serpukhov: it was temporarily placed in the Elijah temple for prayers. This event was a great holiday for many residents. Flowers, bell ringing and church singing filled the city on this day.

The procession brought a miracle-working image from the Vysotsky Monastery to the church of Elijah. Since early morning, the area at the monastery was filled with numerous pilgrims. And many even slept there.

In the city churches solemn divine services were held. The endless stream of believers, who wanted to receive Communion and confession, moved to the Three-Sainted Church. Several priests were confessing this day at the same time. A lot of people gathered in the central square where Acathistus was read the icon "The Exposure of the Dead."

Finally, the image of the Mother of God "The Execution of the Dead" was returned to believers in 1997. May 18, the shrine was transferred to the Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum Vysotsky Monastery. This day was a great holiday for Orthodox Serpukhov residents. Now the image is available for believers and continues to work miracles.

Moscow icon "Recovery of the Dead"

The love of the Mother of God is great to people and her mercy is unlimited. In Russia there is not one miraculous icon "The Exposure of the Dead". In Moscow there is a temple of the Resurrection of the Speaker, the erection of which is attributed to the middle of the XVII century. Divine services here never ceased. The icon "The Exposure of the Dead" is one of the main shrines of this temple.

Tradition says that the representative of a once wealthy noble family began to pursue troubles: first the death of his wife, and then the threat of complete ruin. Many days of hot prayers before this house shrine brought misery and misery from his family.

As a token of gratitude, the rescued donated this icon to the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the Palashi. In 1812 the troops of Napoleon destroyed the church, and the icon "Recovery of the Dead" was cut into several parts. But even in this form the image did not lose its power, brought healing to the sick and performed miracles. The restored church worked until 1934 and was closed. Utensils and icons were transferred to other churches and monasteries. The holy image of "The Execution of the Lost" did not immediately find a new home.

The Mother of God chooses her own abode

It is interesting that when trying to transport an icon to the Pimenov Church, the cart did not budge. Deciding that the Virgin herself does not want to be there, they chose a new place for keeping the shrine - the Sunday Church, located on Malaya Bronnaya. This time the horses literally flew to their destination.

And when this church was demolished, the icon "The Execution of the Dead" found its last resting place in the Temple of the Resurrection of the Speaker.

Other famous Russian images "The Execution of the Dead"

In Marienburg, in the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God, the list of the Samara image "The Execution of the Dead" is kept. This icon was created in 1888 by the nuns of the Rakovo Women's Convent.

After the revolution, this image was lost, but miraculously found in the 50s of the last century in Marienburg. For a long time he was literally under his feet: he was placed as a board on a pedestrian bridge. The find was placed in the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God in Marienburg. It is noteworthy that on the eve of the commemoration of the day of the memory of the icon "The Execution of the Dead" in February 1994, this icon began to melt.

The icons "The Exposure of the Dead", which are kept in Moscow churches, are especially venerated.

The Holy Assumption Monastery, located in the Tula region, has become a place of keeping and honoring the list of the icon of the Mother of God "The Execution of the Dead", created for the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God in the village of Sebino.

Interesting facts about the icon "The Execution of the Dead" from the Rakovsky Monastery

There are preserved manuscripts in which miraculous changes in the appearance of this image are witnessed. At the usual time, the Rakovskaya icon of the Blessed Virgin "The Execution of the Dead" was dark, the images on it were barely visible. But sometimes the image suddenly enlightened, as if the light was pouring from within. This was considered God's message of joyful events. The cases of appearing on the face and hands of the Mother of God and the Infant Myrrh are described. This occurred during the period from May to October months of 1895, since the consecration of the new stone church of the Holy Trinity Monastery.

Iconography of images "Execution of the Dead"

Divines of this type show us the Mother of God sitting. On her knees stands the Infant Christ. He hugs the Mother with his hands behind his neck, presses his left cheek to her face. Hands of the Queen of Heaven form a ring around the figure of the Child, her fingers tightly adhered.

There were several variants of icons of this type - with a covered or uncovered head, sometimes the hands of the Virgin were depicted as not linked.

Sometimes the composition included additional elements: a window with a landscape or images of saints. Thus, in the Moscow image the Virgin is depicted with an uncovered head surrounded by saints.

The dimensions of the Borsk icon are noteworthy. Its width is 1 meter 25 centimeters, and the height exceeds 2 meters. At the top of the icon is an image of the Baptism of Christ. This is due to the fact that the peasant Obukhov was saved from death precisely on the Feast of Baptism. According to legend, Fedot brought this huge icon to the temple on his hands. So he honored the Virgin for the miraculous salvation.

Why do they call these images?

Let's try to figure out what is the meaning of the icon "Execution of the Dead". What does this name mean? It speaks for itself: The Mother of God in her infinite love for humanity is always ready to forgive (seek) and help someone who is on the brink of death. These images are a symbol of the Virgin, who tirelessly prays for hopeless patients. The Blessed Mother saves the perishing in poverty and returns to the faith of people drowned in vices.

"The Exposure of the Dead" is an icon whose meaning can be briefly described as follows: this is the last hope for someone who has fallen into despair and can not help himself.

It is to these images that mothers come with a request for the salvation of babies. The icon, which has repeatedly shown the miracles of delivering children from sickness and suffering, is considered a patroness and intercession of minors.

What do the believers pray before the icon of the Virgin "The Execution of the Dead"?

To this image seriously patients and their relatives address with hot requests. It helps to get rid of vices, for example, from alcohol dependence. To these icons are repentant sinners who turn their backs on God. Women ask in their prayers before the "Execution of the Dead" about a happy marriage and the health of children.

To this image go to ask for healing for sick relatives who are at death. In wartime, believers cry out to the Theotokos, begging to protect the soldiers on the battlefield.

Prayer for the icon "Execution of the Dead" helps with eye diseases, fever, headache. It is important that the requests come from a pure heart and full of faith in God. Only then will the Mother of God reveal her mercy and the power of intercession.

To address the Holy Mother can be simple sincere words that go from the heart. But it is better to learn the prayers that can be found even on the Internet. And it is even better for this to go to the temple.

In the church calendar on February 5 (18), a day is fixed for the memory of the icon of the Virgin "The Execution of the Dead".

Orthodox traditions continue

In Russia there are all the new temples of the icon of the Mother of God "The Execution of the Dead". Only one example - on the initiative of the Kharkov Union of Afghan Veterans in 2007, the construction of a chapel was started in memory of the victims of local wars.

The chapel was designed to perpetuate the memory of the 19-year-old frontier guard Yevgeny Rodionov, who died "for faith" in 1996. 100 days in captivity did not change the convictions of the young soldier, he courageously met death. Eugene is venerated by the Orthodox as a martyr for his faith.

And in the summer of 2008 Metropolitan of Kharkov and Bogodukhov Nicodemus blessed the transformation of the chapel into the temple. The main shrine was the icon "The Execution of the Dead." Photos of this temple you can see below.

A 26-meter church is crowned with a cross made in Ukraine. The project of the temple complex includes a bell tower and a parish church.

August 23, 2008 became a double holiday for Kharkiv citizens: the anniversary of the liberation of the city from the Nazi invaders and the consecration of a new church in honor of the icon of the Virgin "The Execution of the Dead".

"The recovery of the dead" is an icon, the value of which for Orthodox people can not be overestimated. There are not many such images of God, but almost all of them are miraculous.