Icon "The Sign of the Blessed Virgin": what helps? Miracles associated with the icon

History remembers a lot of cases when the images and relics of saints worked miracles, helped to overcome severe illnesses and other life difficulties. That is why Orthodox people pay a lot of attention to religious attributes. One of these is the icon "The Sign of the Blessed Virgin." What helps it and how to properly refer to the image?

Description

This icon dates back to the 12th century. The author is not exactly known. The Mother of God is depicted in the traditional maforia with prayerfully raised hands (the iconographic type of Oranta). On her breast is a baby - Jesus Christ. Our Lady stands. The original image is two-sided. The turnover contains images of the righteous Anna and Joachim, who are in prayer before Jesus Christ. Initially, the holy face was decorated with a golden rhizome with precious stones.

Four centuries after the creation of the icon "The Sign" was restored. The master was supposedly Archbishop Makarii (future metropolitan of Moscow). Then from the ancient painting only fragments of the Virgin's clothing were preserved. The reverse side remained unchanged. Currently, the image is in the St. Sophia Cathedral (Novgorod).

History

According to sources, in 1170 Suzdal troops led by Andrei Bogolyubsky besieged Veliky Novgorod. The forces proved to be unequal. And the townspeople turned in prayer to the Lord for salvation. On the third night of the siege, Archbishop John ordered a voice from heaven to take the image of the Virgin from the church on Ilinskaya street and take it to the city walls. During the procession, opponents began to shell the fortress. One of the arrows hit the icon. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Mother of God. After these enemies, an inexplicable horror suddenly appeared. Bruting among themselves, they rushed away from the city walls. Taking advantage of this confusion, the Novgorodians began to pursue Suzdal and won.

This historical case is described in detail in the well-known icon-painting plot. And the Novgorodians themselves remember and honor the icon, which depicts the savior-theotokos (The Sign). The value is also supported by other miracles, which at various times were a holy image.

Celebration

In the 12th century, after the military events, a celebration was celebrated in honor of the icon (December 10 according to a new style), which is being performed in the Russian church today. On this day the service is conducted. Priests read prayer-appeals and canons, asking the Mother of God for intercession and confirmation in the faith.

Miracles

Two centuries the image was in the "native" wooden church on Ilinskaya street. However, in the middle of the 14th century a fire broke out in it. And the icon showed another miracle. The fire died down near the prayer, where the holy face hung. After that, next to the ashes was built a new, stone church, which received the status of the Znamensky Monastery. The icon has found a new home.

In the 16th century, after the restoration of the image in Novgorod, there was another, more large-scale fire. The fire spread to several streets. No effort by the citizens could not pacify the terrible elements. Then Metropolitan Makarii turned with prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos and with his well-known image made a religious procession along the bank of the Volkhov. Suddenly a strong wind blew in the direction of the river - the fire stopped.

In 1611 the Swedes attacked Novgorod. They brutally killed the townspeople and ruined houses and temples, carrying out sacred utensils and desecrating icons. There is a well-known case when several aliens approached the same temple on Ilinskaya street. At this time, it was a service. Hardly stepping on the threshold, the Swedes invisible force were thrown back. Further attempts to penetrate the temple did not succeed. Upon learning of this, the enemies no longer approached the temple, and the Novgorodians, on the contrary, could be saved in it.

During the October Revolution (1917), the icon was moved to the Novgorod Museum, during the Great Patriotic War - evacuated, and then - returned to the museum-reserve. And, finally, in 1991 the Novgorod diocese defended the salutary image. In St. Sophia Cathedral , accompanied by a wonderful heavenly phenomenon - a rainbow around the dome of the temple - was moved icon "The Sign of the Blessed Virgin." What helps the holy person to individual people and with what requests can I apply to him?

Meaning and prayers

It is known that in 1352 hundreds of people miraculously healed during the plague. And later, there were recorded cases of recovery from severe mental ailments and blindness. This, according to the confessors, was favored by the icon "The Sign of the Blessed Virgin", as it still helps today.

Also, people come to the image who want peace in their family or country, they want to find missing relatives. However, the clergy are convinced, whatever the believer asks, with sincerity and purity of thoughts the Holy Mother of God will certainly help. Its importance since the birth of Christianity on earth was enormous. The Gospel describes many cases when it helped needy and sick people, turning them into faith.

Also important is the question of how to pray to the Blessed Virgin. There are many lines written specifically to address it. So, there is also a petition for the icon "The Sign". However, according to all the same confessors, with whatever text a person applies to the image, in the first place will always be his inner faith.

Miracle-working lists

The history of icon painting knows several lists or copies made on the basis of the icon of the Virgin "The Sign". They are in Russia and beyond. Their names correspond to the location of the images: Abalak, Kursk, Vologda, Pavlovskaya, Solovetskaya, Tsarskoselskaya and others. All of them have holy power and demonstrate miracles, as well as the original icon "The Sign of the Most-Holy Theotokos." What helps the image of Christians? First of all, gain faith.

For this purpose, in the autumn of 2009, the "Orthodox Expedition" took place - the flight of icons on a spaceship around the Earth. During the project 176 turns were made. The permission and blessing for such a procession was received from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Cyril.