Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God (photo)

Since ancient times, Orthodox people have offered their prayers to the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven with special love and hope. In all sorrows and sorrows, they rely on her all-merciful intercession. Many icons are written glorifying Her maternal feat, but the most revered between them are the miraculous.

What icons are called miraculous

One of these images is the Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God. Where is this shrine and what icons in general are called miraculous? First of all, those through which miracles were revealed by Jesus Christ, the Mother of God or any saints. It is important to understand that it is not the icon itself, not the board on which it is written, namely the Divine power works wonders, but through the means of separate, most cherished images. Such shrines are a rarity. In their honor, temples and monasteries are sometimes built, and special days of holidays are set.

A special place is occupied by miraculous icons of the Mother of God. In full, her veneration in Russia began in the 16th century. This is due to the special favors manifested at that time. Suffice it to recall a number of military victories. Kazan and Crimean Khanate, Livonian lands felt the power of Russian weapons. And more often than not, God's Mother showed her mercy through icons, which they called miracle-working for it. One of them is the Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God, about which the story will go.

Characteristics of the face

The miraculous icon of the Mother of God, called Kozelshchanskaya, is small, only 30 x 40 cm, and is written on a tree. As for her Italian origin, the opinion of art critics coincides with the version that is presented in the above story and is generally accepted. The infant Jesus lies on the knees of Our Lady of Reclining. The stars that adorn the Mafia of the Most Holy Theotokos and Her open brow, as well as the cross in the hands of the Eternal Child, are typical for the western icon-painting school.

A characteristic detail of the composition are the bowl and a liar (a small spoon used during the sacrament of Communion), pictured slightly to the side. Their meaning is symbolic and has a twofold interpretation. First of all, the artist's intention can be seen in the desire to emphasize the grandeur of the Eternal Infant as the Instructor of the sacrament of Communion, which opens the way to eternal life. At the same time, these symbols suggest the sacrifice of Christ himself, who brought his flesh and blood to eat. In addition, the image of the vessel appears in many texts of Christian prayers and hymns, glorifying the Most Pure Virgin. In particular, in the widely known akathiste it is called "a cup that draws joy."

History of the Holy Image

Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God, a photo of which before you, appeared in Russia in the XVIII century. During the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna , a young Italian appeared at the court. Her story did not preserve the name, but it is known that she liked the Empress-mother and was elevated to the rank of court maid of honor. It was she who brought from Italy the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was subsequently destined to become famous under the name of the Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God.

Soon one of the close associates of Hetman Polubotka, Syromachi, glowed tenderly at the young maid of honor. They played a wedding. The wedding gift, received by young people from Elizaveta Petrovna, was truly royal - extensive land in the Poltava province. From now on they became the family property of the family of Siromachs, and the icon, brought from Italy, is their family relic.

In the next century, more precisely in the second half, according to the will, the lands are transferred to the possession of Pavel Ivanovich Kozelsky. In his honor the main village was called Kozelshchina. All these years the image of the Virgin remained on the estate.

The misfortune in the family of the Count

The next stage of the history of the famous image refers to the end of the XIX century. The owner of the estate at this time was Count Vladimir Ivanovich Kapnist, to whom the land and the estate passed by donation from the previous owners. The Kapnist family lived peacefully and happily in the gardens and fields of Poltava, praying for the image of the Most Pure Mother of God and asking for its blessings. But the Lord gave them a trial.

Once a misfortune happened. Daughter of the owner Maria, going down the stairs, accidentally twisted her leg. This, it would seem, minor trauma was not given importance. When the pain intensified, they turned to the local doctor. He diagnosed the dislocation and applied a plaster bandage. The pain did not subside, and the injured leg was visibly twisted. I had to resort to the help of a Kharkov doctor, more qualified. He confirmed the diagnosis and tried to use the shoe of a special design used in those years for treatment.

However, despite the measures taken, the patient's condition did not improve, but the same symptoms appeared in the right leg. The same pain and strong curvature. The Kharkov doctor ordered to put on the second leg the same shoe and take Maria to the Caucasus, hoping for healing properties of mountain air and mineral waters.

But apart from the new torment, the journey brought nothing. Soon the disease spread to the girl's hands. They lost sensitivity and stopped moving. To top it off, severe pains appeared in the spine. Maria became a complete invalid.

Trip to Moscow

Grief of unfortunate parents there was no end. In 1880, they took a sick daughter to Moscow, hoping for the help of doctors known at the time. With them went and Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God. What do dissatisfied parents pray in such cases? About help. But the trip brought only new torment.

The last hope was the famous professor Charcot, but he practiced in Paris and did not expect to return to Russia soon. Vladimir Ivanovich stayed in Moscow, and Masha and her mother returned home, having agreed that they would be informed of the doctor's return, and they would immediately come.

The accomplished miracle

But the trip was not destined to take place. When the telegram about the arrival of the professor was received, the mother and daughter proceeded to gatherings on the road. It was here that a miracle happened that changed the life of the Kapnist family. Just before she left, Mary knelt in front of their family heirloom, the image of the Mother of God, and began to pray. In this prayer she invested all the strength of her faith and the hope for the help of the Most Pure Lady. And her prayer was heard.

Evidence of a miracle

Remained the memories of contemporaries, written from her words. From them it becomes known that suddenly Masha felt a strong pain in the spine, so strong that at first she lost her senses. When consciousness returned to her, the girl was overwhelmed by the sensation of something extraordinary and supernatural happening to her in those moments. She suddenly felt the warmth of life in her arms and legs. There was a pain in the spine. Still not believing herself, she cried joyfully, and her family ran to her cry.

Urgently brought a doctor who took off her already unnecessary shoes. For a moment - and for the first time in a long time Maria made some insecure, but independent steps.

A few days later, a girl standing firmly on her feet and her mother went to Moscow, taking with them a miraculous image. Moscow doctors, re-examining the girl, ascertained full recovery and said that from a scientific point of view, such a phenomenon has no explanation. Even the most accomplished skeptics were forced to admit - a miracle happened.

Glory of the Wonderworking Image

Moscow and in those years was a big city, but the rumor of the appearance of a new miraculous icon flew around it with astonishing speed. The Kozelschans icon of the Mother of God in Moscow turned out to be the second time, but now crowds of pilgrims began to flock to the hotel where the count's family lived. Crowds filled the surrounding streets.

When Kapnisty returned to their estate, they already knew about the miraculous healing and that the Count's family was carrying a shrine with him. Upon their return, the village of Kozelshchina became a place of mass pilgrimage.

From the chapel to the monastery

It was absolutely impossible to keep the icon in the house . Having received a blessing from Poltava archbishop John, Count Kapnist transferred the miraculous image to a specially built chapel. This event took place on April 23, 1881. Since that time the memory of the Kozelshchansky icon of the Mother of God is revered in the people. A year later in the same village a temple was erected for the miraculous icon, and on March 1, 1885, by the decree of the Holy Synod, a women's community was established, which was transformed in 1891 into a nunnery dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. Its main shrine was the miraculous image, now known as the Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God.

History of the monastery

Today, the holy image is kept in Poltava, in the women's Nativity-Theotokos Monastery. The stream of pilgrims who want to bow to the shrine and receive healing is not exhausted all year round. On the day of the memory of the Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God, which is celebrated on March 6, there are especially many. Sometimes their number reaches 10 thousand people. The Kozelschans icon of the Mother of God in Murom is represented by one of the lists kept in Diveevo.

The history of the monastery began on February 17, 1891, when by the decree of the Holy Synod the women's community became a monastery. After the revolution, he shared the lot of many holy monasteries of our country. In 1929 it was closed. Repression began. Many of those who have recently devoted their lives to prayer work have received a martyr's crown. It is known that in those gloomy days, one of the miracles occurred. It happened on March 6, the very day when memory is honored. Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God was above the main gate of the monastery. Suddenly bloody tears appeared on her face. There were many witnesses, but the authorities demanded that all of them give a subscription in that the icon did not show blood, but simply flushed paint. Those who did not want to do this were sent into exile.

Revival of the monastery

In 1941 the monastery was opened, but not in full. In 1949, the monastery was closed again, and only in 1990, when the mass return of believers to churches and other religious buildings began, services began at the Nativity of the Mother of God.

The whole period of hard times Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God was preserved in a private apartment with people loyal to Orthodoxy. In 1993, the miraculous image solemnly returned to the walls of the monastery, where it is now. The monastery continuously works on the reconstruction of the original appearance of all its structures. The parishioners of the temple and numerous pilgrims render great assistance. Soon the monastery will have its historical appearance.