“Angel” translated from Greek means “messenger, messenger.” His task is to convey God's will to people. Guardian Angel is a person’s protector and assistant in overcoming difficulties. It promotes spiritual growth and successful passage of life.

The Guardian Angel does not always manage to positively influence a person. Refusal of faith, a tendency to aggression and anger destroys the spiritual principle. Changes for the worse begin to occur in a person’s life - troubles, illnesses, failures.

The Icon of the Guardian Angel helps visualize the image. Helps you start communicating with your bright spirit. Through prayers, a person is able to restore the lost connection with his protector and take the path of goodness and purification.

Why is a Guardian Angel needed?

Guardian Angel is a mediator between man and God. He is a messenger of good thoughts and communicates through an inner voice. For Christians, the Guardian Angel is a protective spirit. The clergy claim that only those who have undergone baptism receive a Guardian Angel. Therefore, they try to baptize a newborn as early as possible so that he has his own protector.

The Guardian Angel warns of dangers and helps to avoid temptation. The miraculous rescue of people who survived disasters, intuitive insights or prophetic dreams - this is how the Guardian Angel protects his ward. He will never harm a person. Daily prayer to the Guardian Angel will help you find a common language with him and overcome life’s difficulties. The Holy Fathers advise talking to your bright spirit, asking him for advice or help.

The more faith a person has, the closer the Guardian Angel is to him. If a Christian does not listen to his inner voice, then the bright spirit can leave him. Then troubles and illnesses appear in a person’s life. The Christian is deprived of his personal protective spirit.

Guardian Angel Icon

In Orthodoxy, a bright spirit is assigned to a person to take care of him and help him spiritually develop. The Guardian Angel communicates with his ward through his inner voice and intuition. Warns him of the danger that has arisen and inspires him to do good deeds.

The Guardian Angel never conveys God's will through third parties. Only through direct communication, in prayer or internal dialogue, contact with a bright spirit is possible.

The Icon of the Guardian Angel can be worn on the body or in a home iconostasis. She protects a person day and night. A home icon will protect the house and promote peace in the family. The Guardian Angel will help you listen to yourself and avoid troubles. The body icon will protect you from misfortunes and accidents. The defender does not interfere with the main life path person.

Features of the Guardian Angel icon

The Icon of the Guardian Angel has symbolic features. In iconography, each object or gesture carries its own meaning. A special feature of the icon with the Guardian Angel is the “eye in the forehead”. The third eye is a symbol of clairvoyance and intuition. There are other elements needed when writing guardian angels.

• The wings symbolize the speed of the Angel, his ability to move from real world to the world of spirits.
• The staff means the messenger of God, his spiritual mission on earth.
• A mirror and a rod - a ball with a cross - in the hand of an Angel help to see danger and warn a person about it.
• Toroki - gold ribbons in hair - symbolize communication with God and obedience to his will.

Invisible protection is bestowed by the Guardian Angel icon. Its meaning lies in blissful instruction and creative insight. She helps you get through spiritual path in harmony with yourself and the world around you.

Guardian Angel and Patron Saint

One should distinguish between a Guardian Angel and a patron saint. The latter is selected by name and date of birth. Patron Saint - a real man, who went his own way in life and was canonized (for example, Alexander Nevsky, Seraphim of Sarov).

Baptismal names are chosen in honor of a saint whose birth falls during the same period as that of the newborn. IN Orthodox calendar All days of veneration of patron saints are marked. The birthdays of a person and his patron, identical in name, are located nearby (within a period of up to 8 days).

Nevertheless, the patron saint is also called the Guardian Angel. And his birthday is an angel's day. The patron saint has its own prayers, icons, and akathists. The Icon of the Guardian Angel by name also protects other people with the same name and date of birth. A person can choose a patron saint himself or receive his protection after baptism.

The Guardian Angel is not a real person. This is a bright spirit that does not have a name or gender, but has personal qualities. One Guardian Angel is assigned to each person. On icons he is depicted with white wings. There is a hierarchy of disembodied spirits. It includes seraphim, cherubim, archangels, angels. For the Guardian Angel, their morning and evening prayers, canons.

How to pray to the Guardian Angel

Prayer in front of the icon helps to visualize the bright spirit and tune in to spiritual communication with it. Priests recommend listening to your inner voice, because it is at this moment that the bright spirit talks to a person.

The prayer rule for a Christian contains daily prayers guardian angel They are small and easy to remember. The prayer to the Guardian Angel is said thoughtfully and with love. You can write it on a piece of paper and carry it with you as a talisman.

Morning prayer will protect for the whole day from negative influences, will help avoid conflicts, set you up for good deeds.

Evening prayer will protect the sleeper from the invasion of evil spirits. Will promote prophetic dreams or warnings.

Exist different prayers guardian angel They can be pronounced at any time life situation, requiring advice or help from a bright spirit.

• Prayer for success in business.
• To find happiness.
• To protect against misunderstanding.
• About abundance on the table.
• About prosperity in the house.
• For protection from enemies and ill-wishers.
• About healing.
• To protect against accidents.
• Prayer of thanksgiving.

Icon of a spiritual protector for a child

One of the most revered is the icon of the Guardian Angel for a child. It will help you cope with fear, protect you from troubles, and protect you from danger. The icon can be placed next to the baby’s bed to avoid illness and the evil eye. You can explain to the child that he has a heavenly protector who will help in troubles and failures.

It is in the house that the icon should be located. The Guardian Angel, whose meaning for a child is to prevent negativity, will save you from many troubles. Energy protection children are weak, so an evil look or an unkind word can cause harm. The Guardian Angel protects the baby from troubles.

Icon of the patron saint for a child

If the Orthodox calendar lists several patron saints with a date close to the child’s birthday, then you can independently choose the patron you like. You should familiarize yourself with his life. Find out why and why he was canonized.

For example, the icon of St. Cyril (Guardian Angel) has several options in the iconography. It may depict Cyril of Radonezh or Cyril of Alexandria.

There are other patron saints with this name. Their celebration days are January 31, February 8, 17, 27, March 22, 31, April 3, 11, May 11, 17, 24, June 22, July 22, November 20, December 21.

The Guardian Angel Kirill icon will help boys and men with the same name. When choosing a patron saint, you can start from the date of birth or from his biography. In Orthodoxy, spiritual kinship is more valued. If the biography of the patron saint appeals, then it is not necessary to adhere to specific date birth.

Icon-intercessor

In addition to guardian angels and patron saints, there is also an intercessor icon. You can also select it by date of birth. However, each image has its own meaning, and then great value an intercessor acquires in a specific life situation.

The Intercessor Icon and the Guardian Angel are called upon to protect the home, family, specific people. People turn to them in grief and illness. They ask you to protect your family and friends from misfortune, to save your family, and to prevent the anger or hatred of other people.

It is most convenient to select an intercessor icon and patron saint based on the horoscope. We should not forget that not only help should be asked from heavenly powers. But also thank them for the successful completion of affairs, invisible help, protection.

Aries

Saint George the Confessor, Sophronius and Innocent of Irkutsk will help. Icon of the Kazan Mother of God. Prayer before it will protect you from visible and invisible enemies, give you strength, and help with eye diseases.

Taurus

Patron saints are John the Theologian, Stephen and Tamara. The Iveron Mother of God icon and the “Helper of Sinners” will help in healing from diseases, grant forgiveness and repentance. They bring comfort in despondency and grief, sorrow and illness. Patron saints grant understanding to spouses.

Twins

You should ask for protection from the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, the images “The Burning Bush”, “Recovery of the Lost”. Patron saints are Alexei of Moscow and Konstantin. You can pray for the health of your children and the safety of your marriage. About healing for fever, toothache. Icons-intercessors will help to enlighten people who drink and renounce their faith.

Cancer

The icon of St. Cyril (guardian angel), “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” and the Kazan Mother of God will help. Miraculous images grant physical and spiritual healing. They will deliver you from pride and the sin of unbelief. The patron saint will help in sorrow and troubles.

a lion

Elijah the Prophet, Nikolai Ugodnik will protect you in everyday difficulties. The Intercessor Icon “Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos” bestows strength and patience. It will help in realizing sinful deeds and will guide you on the path of truth and goodness.

Virgo

Patron saints - Alexander, Paul, John. Icon-intercessor - “Passionate”, “Burning Bush”. They will help in grief and misfortune. They give healing and consolation. They will help you to know yourself and your spiritual path.

Scales

Patron Saint - Sergius of Radonezh. Guarded by the icon of the Pochaev Mother of God, “The Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord”, “The Burning Bush”. Protect the house from fires, bad people. They will bring spiritual revival, the joy of repentance.

Scorpion

Saint Paul, the Guardian Angel, will protect and help. Icon - Intercessor of the Mother of God of Jerusalem, “Quick to Hear.” Heal from oncological diseases, will bring comfort and forgiveness. They will help pregnant women and protect small children. They will show the way in confusion and bewilderment.

Sagittarius

Protected by Nicholas the Pleasant, Saint Barbara. The icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God “The Sign” strengthens the relationship between parents and children. They will protect against diseases and prevent the baby from being exposed to the evil eye. They give a long-awaited baby to desperate parents.

Capricorn

Saint Sylvester, Seraphim of Sarov - heavenly patrons. The “Sovereign” intercessor icon will help you find truth and love and heal you from illnesses. Gives peace and tranquility in the family and country. Reconciles enemies, strengthens family ties.

Aquarius

Protected by Saints Cyril and Athanasius. Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, “The Burning Bush”. They will help in healing from cardiovascular diseases, protect from enemies and slander. They will save the house, get rid of quarrels and swearing.

Fish

Milentius of Antioch, Alexius - patron saints. The icon of the Iveron Mother of God will help in intercession before God, giving consolation in sorrow and troubles. It will help in difficult life circumstances and increase the fertility of the land.

Everyone has their own cross, their own icons,
your own poems, your own silence.
In front of the mirror, we often bow,
not noticing that there is still the same emptiness in them..

Everyone has their own guardian angel and their own intercessor icon, which is given from birth.

Pray to your icon, ask the Lord through it for healing and it will definitely come.

Every profession, every direction has its own unspoken heavenly patron. According to tradition, in ancient times all believers had an icon of their saint at home. All icons are sacred.

Many of them emanated a radiant light, others streamed myrrh or smelled fragrant.

Icons have more than once saved cities from fires, capture and destruction. There are countless icons in temples, and they are all revered.

First of all, icons give people help - they heal, they deliver from death and destruction.

All icons somehow manifest miracles, with their help we find peace and strength.

For each person, the word “faith” means something different.

Some people go to church and pray, others simply believe in their souls and believe that going to church every week is not at all necessary.

And everyone is right in their own way.

After all, faith is in our soul, in our heart. Almost every believer has Orthodox icons in their home, and if someone doesn’t, then these people go to church and pray there. Although an icon is not at all necessary for prayer. In the history of Christianity, icons play a huge role.

In essence, an icon is a certain form of Divine revelation.

And its purpose is to cleanse the souls of people who contemplate it and pray in front of it. They pray in front of the icons. And prayer can be different. Sometimes people ask for help, sometimes they thank you for it. At the same time, the icon is revered, but not worshiped, since only God can be worshiped.

The past is an endless distance, and the more we look into it, the more we see how deep the roots go into centuries human history.

But there are events that unite all centuries, all peoples, and then time, which, at first glance, mercilessly measures out the earthly human path, seems to cease to exist.

Those who were born from December 22 to January 20, will be protected by the “Sovereign” icon of the Mother of God, and their guardian angels are Saint Sylvester and Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.

Before Yours Sovereign Icon
I stand, embraced in prayerful trepidation,
And Your royal face, crowned,
Draws my tender gaze towards Him.
In a time of unrest and inglorious cowardice,
Treason, lies, unbelief and evil,
You showed us Your Sovereign Image,
You came to us and meekly prophesied:
"I myself took the scepter and the orb,
I myself will hand them over to the King again,
I will give the Russian kingdom greatness and glory,
I will nourish, console, and reconcile everyone."
Repent, Rus', unfortunate harlot...
Wash away your desecrated shame in tears,
Your Intercessor, Heavenly Queen,
He pities you and protects you, the sinner.

S. Bekhteev

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Sovereign” they pray for truth, heartfelt joy, unfeigned love for each other, for peace in the country, for the salvation and preservation of Russia, for the protection of the throne and the state, for deliverance from foreigners and for the granting of healings of body and soul.

Born from January 21 to February 20 are guarded by Saints Athanasius and Cyril, and will be protected by the icons of the Mother of God “Vladimir” and “Burning Bush”. "Vladimir" icon Mother of God has been revered as miraculous for several centuries. Before her they prayerfully ask the Mother of God for healing from bodily ailments, in particular heart disease and of cardio-vascular system. People turn to her for help during disasters, when they need protection from enemies. Before Vladimir icon In all centuries they prayed to the Mother of God for the preservation of Russia. Every home should have this icon, because it reconciles those at war, softens people’s hearts, and helps strengthen faith.

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Savior dined with the Most Pure Mother and Righteous Joseph. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: “From now on, all generations will bless Me. May the grace of the One born of Me and Mine be with this icon.” In 1131, the icon was sent to Rus' from Constantinople to the holy prince Mstislav († 1132, commemorated April 15) and was placed in the Maiden Monastery of Vyshgorod - the ancient appanage city of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga.

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “The Burning Bush” they pray for deliverance from fire and lightning, from severe troubles, and for the healing of ailments. The icon of the Mother of God “The Burning Bush” is depicted in the form of an octagonal star, consisting of two sharp quadrangles with concave ends. One of them is red, reminiscent of the fire that surrounded the bush seen by Moses; another - Green colour, indicating natural color bushes, which she preserved, engulfed in fiery flames. In the middle of the octagonal star, as if in a bush, the Most Pure Virgin with the Eternal Child is depicted. At the corners of the red quadrangle there are depicted a man, a lion, a calf and an eagle, symbolizing the four evangelists. In the hands of the Most Pure Virgin is a ladder, leaning its upper end against Her shoulder. The ladder means that through the Mother of God the Son of God descended to earth, raising to Heaven all who believe in Him.

It used to be: the gray-haired church
Burning Bush,
Crouching in a white snowstorm,
Flashes at me from the silence;
In front of the thoughtful icon case -
Unquenchable lantern;
And falls lightly
Under the light there is a pink snowball.
Neopalimov Lane
The blizzard is boiling with pearl barley;
And Our Lady in the alley
He looks thoughtful with tears.

A. Bely

The Iveron Mother of God icon is the intercessor of those born with February 21 to March 20. Their guardian angels are Saints Alexius and Milentius of Antioch. The history of the Iveron Icon can be traced back to the first century, when, out of indescribable love for people, the Mother of God blessed the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke to paint its image during the days of Her earthly life. The Monk John of Damascus wrote: “The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, at the time when Holy Mother God still lived in Jerusalem and lived in Zion, painted Her Divine and honest image on a board with picturesque means, so that subsequent generations and generations could contemplate her, as in a mirror. When Luke presented this image to Her, She said: “From now on all generations will bless Me. May the grace and power of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with you.” Tradition attributes to the brushes of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke from three to seventy icons of the Mother of God, including the Iveron icon.

Before the Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos they pray for deliverance from various misfortunes and for consolation in troubles, from fire, for increasing the fertility of the earth, for deliverance from grief and sadness, for the healing of physical and mental ailments, in difficult circumstances, for help to farmers.

Born with March 21 to April 20 one must ask for protection from the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, and they are protected by saints Sophrony and Innocent of Irkutsk, as well as George the Confessor. We do not know by whom and when the icon of the Russian Mother of God Hodegetria was painted, which translated from Greek means “Guide”. The image of the Kazan Mother of God belongs to this type of icon. An ancient Russian monk-icon painter, inspired by the image of the Byzantine Hodegetria, which is believed to have been painted by the Evangelist Luke during the life of the Mother of God, paints his own version of this icon. Its iconography, compared to the Byzantine one, is slightly changed. The Russian version can always be recognized by its barely noticeable warmth, softening the regal severity of the Byzantine originals.

Our Lady of Kazan and her holy, miraculous, saving icon(she returns sight to the blind, gives strength to the weak) are considered practically official intercessors, defenders of Russia from external and internal enemies. It is also popularly believed that prayer before Orthodox icon The Mother of God protects and frees the praying person from his visible and invisible enemies, i.e. from evil people and from evil spirits...

The icons “Supportress of Sinners” and the Iveron Mother of God will protect those born with April 21 to May 20. Saints Stephen and Tamara, Apostle John the Theologian are their guardian angels. The icon received its name from the inscription preserved on it: “I am the Helper of sinners to My Son...”. Much happened from the miraculous image miraculous healings. Surety of sinners means Surety for sinners before the Lord Jesus Christ. Before the miraculous image of the Mother of God, “Helper of Sinners,” they pray for the granting of repentance, in despondency, despair and spiritual sorrow, for the healing of various ailments, for the salvation of sinners.

For the first time this image became famous for miracles in Nikolaev Odrina monastery Oryol province in the middle of the last century. Ancient icon Due to its dilapidation, the Mother of God “Helper of Sinners” did not receive due veneration and stood in the old chapel at the monastery gates. But in 1843, it was revealed to many residents in their dreams that this icon was endowed, by God’s Providence, with miraculous power. The icon was solemnly transferred to the church. Believers began to flock to her and ask for healing of their sorrows and illnesses. The first to receive healing was a relaxed boy, whose mother fervently prayed in front of this shrine. The icon became especially famous during the cholera epidemic, when it brought back to life many terminally ill people who flocked to it with faith.

If your birthday falls between May 21 to June 21, one must ask for protection from the icons of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost,” “Burning Bush” and “Vladimirskaya.” Protected by saints Alexei of Moscow and Constantine. According to legend, the icon of the Mother of God “SEEKING THE LORD” became famous back in the 6th century in the Asia Minor city of Adana, saving the repentant monk Theophilus from eternal death, who subsequently achieved the highest spiritual perfection and was glorified by the Church as a saint. The name of the icon arose under the influence of the story “On the repentance of Theophilus, the steward of the church in the city of Adana” (7th century): praying before the image of the Mother of God, Theophilus called it “Recovery of the Lost.”

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Seeking the Lost” they pray for the blessing of marriage; people come to her with a prayer for liberation from vices, Mothers come with petitions for perishing children, for the health and well-being of children, for the healing of eye diseases and blindness, for toothache, for fever, for the disease of drunkenness, for headaches, for the admonition of those who have fallen away from the Orthodox faith and the return of the lost to the Church.

Icons of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” and the Kazan Mother of God - intercessors of those born with June 22 to July 22. Saint Cyril is their guardian angel. “Joy of All Who Sorrow” is one of the most popular and widely revered in Imperial Russia miraculous icons of the Mother of God, which has a number of significantly different iconographic options. Many sick and mourning people, prayerfully turning to the Mother of God through Her miraculous image, began to receive healing and deliverance from troubles.

According to custom, the Mother of God is depicted according to the words of the prayer addressed to her. “Helper of the offended, hopeless hope, intercessor of the poor, consolation of the sad, nurse of the hungry, clothing of the naked, healing of the sick, salvation of sinners, help and intercession of Christians for all,” - this is what we call the image embodied in the icons “Joy of All Who Sorrow.”

Queen of heaven and earth, consolation to those who mourn,
Heed the prayer of sinners: in You are hope and salvation.

We are mired in the evil of passions, we wander in the darkness of vice,
But... our Motherland... Oh, incline your all-seeing eye to it.

Holy Rus' - your bright home is almost dying,
We call to You, Intercessor: no one else knows about us.

Oh, do not leave Your children who grieve Hope,
Do not turn Your eyes away from our sorrow and suffering.

Saint Nicholas the Pleasant and Elijah the Prophet protect those born with July 23 to August 23 , and the icon “Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos” protects them. IN Orthodox Rus' The word “veil” means both covering and protection. On the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary Orthodox people they ask the Queen of Heaven for protection and help. In Rus', this holiday was established in the 12th century by Holy Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. Having learned that Saint Andrew, the Fool for Christ's sake, saw the Mother of God holding Her veil over the Orthodox, he exclaimed: “Such a great event cannot remain without celebration.” The holiday was established and immediately accepted by all the people in the joyful conviction that the Mother of God tirelessly keeps Her cover over the Russian land. I've been fighting all my life Grand Duke Andrey is against discord and disunity of his land. He firmly believed that the cover of the Mother of God would protect Rus' “from arrows flying in the darkness of our division.”

The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos is great Orthodox holiday in memory of the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God in the Blachernae Church in 910 during the siege of Constantinople. The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos is a sign of the grace of God covering us, strengthening us, and preserving us. The icon depicts a procession to heaven through the clouds, to the Savior. The procession is led by the Mother of God, holding a small veil in her hands, and behind Her are a host of saints. The icon symbolizes the prayer of the entire Heavenly Church for the human race.

Those who were born with August 24 to September 23. Their guardian angels are Saints Alexander, John and Paul. The “Passionate” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos received its name because near the face of the Mother of God two Angels are depicted with the instruments of the Lord’s passion - a cross, a sponge, a spear. The holy image was glorified during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich.

“When you pray before that image with faith, you and many others will receive healing.”

Those who were born with September 24 to October 23. They are protected by Saint Sergius of Radonezh. Honest and Life-giving Cross The Lord's icon was found in 326 in Jerusalem not far from the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In memory of this event, the Church established a holiday on September 14/27. The legend of the finding of the Cross of Christ is closely connected with the lives of the saints Equal to the Apostles Helen and Konstantin. The Savior showed the life-giving power of His Cross through the revival of the deceased, to whom the Cross was attached. When the Cross was found, in order to give everyone gathered for the celebration the opportunity to see the shrine, the patriarch erected (raised) the Cross, turning it to all cardinal directions.

Now for us the cross is a sacred, most important and most expensive symbol. More than two billion people on earth (more precisely, 2 billion 100 million - that’s how many Christians there are on the planet) wear it on their chests as a sign of their involvement in the true God. Two thousand years ago in Palestine, and in many other places, the cross was just an instrument of execution - just like the electric chair is now in America. And Mount Golgotha ​​near the city walls of Jerusalem was a common place for carrying out death sentences.

About three hundred years have passed since the death on the cross and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity, despite severe persecution, spread more and more throughout the entire earth, attracting both the poor and the rich, the powerful and the weak. Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, his father was a pagan, his mother, Queen Helena, a Christian. After the death of his father, Constantine had a war with the ruler of the city of Rome. On the eve of the decisive battle, when the sun began to set, Constantine and his entire army saw a cross in the sky, with the inscription “This way you will win.” In a dream, at night, Constantine also saw Christ with a cross. The Lord ordered him to make crosses on the banners of his troops and said that he would defeat the enemy. Constantine fulfilled God’s command, and having won the victory and entered Rome, he ordered a statue with a cross in his hand to be erected in the city square. With the accession of Constantine, the persecution of Christians ceased, and the emperor himself was baptized shortly before his death, because he considered himself unworthy to accept this sacrament earlier.

Saint Paul is the guardian angel of those born with October 24 to November 22. The icons of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” and “Jerusalem” protect them. The history of the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” goes back more than a millennium. According to legend, it is contemporary with the founding of the Athonite Dochiar monastery and was written in the 10th century with the blessing of the founder of the monastery, the Monk Neophytos. It is believed that the icon is a copy of the revered image of the Mother of God, located in the city of Alexandria. The icon received its name, now known throughout the Orthodox world, later - in the 17th century, when a miracle occurred from it. In Rus' they have always enjoyed great love and veneration for the miraculous Athos icon“Quick to Hear”, because she became famous for her miracles. Particularly noted were cases of healing from epilepsy and demonic possession, which are ambulance and consolation to all who flow to Her with faith.

In front of this icon they pray for spiritual insight, for various infirmities, for cancer, for help in childbirth and for feeding with milk, for children. And first of all, they pray to the Quick to Hear when they do not know how best to act, what to ask for, in confusion and bewilderment.

According to the pious Tradition of the Church, some of the ancient miraculous images of the Mother of God were painted by the first icon painter, the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, even during the earthly life of the Ever-Virgin. These include Vladimir, Smolensk and other icons. It is believed that the image of the Jerusalem icon was also painted by the Apostle Luke, and this happened in the Holy Land, in Gethsemane, in the fifteenth year after the Savior’s ascension to heaven. In 453, the image was transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople by the Greek king Leo the Great. In 988, Tsar Leo VI presented the icon as a gift to Grand Duke Vladimir when he was baptized in the city of Korsun (present-day Kherson). Saint Vladimir gave the Jerusalem Icon of the Mother of God to the Novgorodians, but in 1571 Tsar Ivan the Terrible transferred it to Moscow to the Assumption Cathedral. During Napoleon's invasion in 1812, this icon of the Mother of God was stolen and taken to France, where it remains to this day.

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Jerusalem they pray in grief, sadness and despondency, for healing from blindness, eye diseases and paralysis, during a cholera epidemic, for deliverance from the death of livestock, from fire, during relaxation, as well as during an attack by enemies.

Born with November 23 to December 21 should ask for intercession from the icons of the Mother of God “Tikhvin” and “The Sign”. Saint Nicholas the Pleasant and Saint Barbara are their guardian angels. The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is considered the patroness of infants; it is called the children's icon. She helps children in illness, calms the restless and disobedient, helps them choose friends, and protects them from the bad influence of the street. It is believed to strengthen the bond between parents and children. Helps women during childbirth and pregnancy. Also, people turn to the Mother of God in front of Her Tikhvin icon with prayer when there are problems with conception.

One of the most revered shrines in Rus'. It is believed that this image was created by the holy evangelist Luke during the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Until the 14th century, the icon was in Constantinople, until in 1383 it unexpectedly disappeared from the Blachernae Church. According to the chronicle, in the same year in Rus' the icon appeared before fishermen on Lake Ladoga near the city of Tikhvin. The miraculous Tikhvin Icon from the Tikhvin Monastery is currently kept in Chicago in the USA.

The Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” became famous in the 12th century, at a time when the Russian land was groaning from civil strife. The Vladimir-Suzdal prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, in alliance with the princes of Smolensk, Polotsk, Ryazan, Murom and others (72 princes in total), sent his son Mstislav to conquer Velikiy Novgorod. In the winter of 1170, a huge militia laid siege to Novgorod, demanding its surrender. After fruitless negotiations, the Novgorodians refused to surrender, and the battle began. The defenders of Novgorod, seeing the terrible strength of the enemy and exhausted in the unequal struggle, placed all their hope in the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos, since they felt the truth was on their side.

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “The Sign” of Novgorod they pray for an end to disasters, for protection from enemy attacks, from fires, for protection from thieves and criminals and for the return of what was lost, for deliverance from the plague, for the pacification of the warring and deliverance from internecine warfare..

In every home it is desirable to have the Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (Goalkeeper), which protects the house from enemies and ill-wishers. The Iveron Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most famous and revered in Orthodox world. According to legend, Iverskaya was written by the Evangelist Luke, for a long time it was located in Nicaea in Asia Minor, and from the beginning of the 11th century. permanently resides in the Iveron Monastery on Holy Mount Athos (in honor of which it received its name).

Not far from the Iveron monastery on the seashore, a miraculous spring has been preserved to this day, flowing at the moment when the Mother of God set foot on Athos soil; this place is called Klimentova pier. And it was to this place that the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, now known to the whole world, miraculously, in a pillar of fire, appeared across the sea. The veneration of this image is evidenced by the fact that the Monk Nicodemus the Holy Mountain alone wrote four canons to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.

Here is what the famous Russian pilgrim-pedestrian of the 18th century Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky writes about the “Goalkeeper”: “In this beautiful, built temple at the inner gates of the monastery, in the iconostasis, instead of the local ordinary Mother of God, there is a certain holy and miraculous icon, named after the ancient monks Portaitissa, i.e., the Goalkeeper, extremely terribly transparent, with great feathers, holding Christ the Savior on her left hand, her face blackened by many years, both showing the entire image, and everything except her face is covered with silver-plated gilded clothing, and in addition, dotted with valuable stones and gold coins, from various tsars, princes and noble boyars given for many of her miracles, where I saw with my own eyes the Russian tsars, queens and princesses, emperors and empresses, princes and princesses, gold coins and other gifts were hung up.”

A family icon is an icon depicting the namesake saints of all family members. A family icon is a shrine that connects all family members and unites their spirit. A family icon is part of a family heritage that is passed down from generation to generation. The presence of a family icon in the house brings the family together, strengthens their faith, and helps in various family matters. The spiritual power of such an icon lies in its conciliarity; when offering their prayers, each family member prays not only for themselves, but also for their parents, children and loved ones.

IN Lately The tradition of the family icon is being revived everywhere. On a family icon, the patron saints of family members are depicted all together. Here, as if outside of time, saints gather who pray for this clan, for this family. Among them may be the patron saints of parents who have already passed away - the founders of the clan. To paint such an image, the names of each saint are selected, and rare saints are also found.

Faith is just that: it doesn’t need proof. Nevertheless, over the past two thousand years, so much evidence has been collected for each episode gospel history, that only... a not very informed person can doubt that all this actually happened.

Performing a miracle, that is, fulfilling a prayer, first of all depends on the faith of the person praying.

If the one who says a prayer with his lips does not have a conscious and heartfelt appeal to God, then even before miraculous icon prayer will remain fruitless...

Many misconceptions exist even among believers about Angels. This is due to the fact that from the theological side, not everything is clear here, because these creatures are inaccessible to direct human observation. However, in Orthodoxy there is a tradition of purchasing an icon of the Guardian Angel and praying to your heavenly intercessor in front of it.

Who are angels

There is a canonical teaching about Angels, which, however, is replete with various gaps. But these creatures are often mentioned in Holy Scripture, directly participating in human history since the times of paradise. God placed the Cherubim at the gates of heaven so that Adam could not return there. The Lord commanded that angels be depicted on the Ark of the Covenant, then in the Jerusalem Temple.

The depiction of Angels was not only not prohibited, but was also encouraged since the time of the Old Testament. According to the Orthodox Church, every person has a personal Angel, which is given after Baptism, although many believe that immediately after birth. The Icon of the Guardian Angel can be given to a baby for a birthday or christening.

Judaism has several complex hierarchies angelic ranks, but after the appearance of the New Testament, Christians developed their own. Gregory the Theologian, for example, gives the following order, starting with the least dignity:

• Angels.
• Archangels.
• Thrones.
• Dominance.
• Started.
• Authorities.
• Strength.
• Armies.
• Century.
• Cherubs.
• Seraphs.

As a rule, in many such systematizations, the angels themselves are the lowest ranks. Maybe that’s why they most often appeared to the biblical righteous, then to the saints. According to the teachings of the Church, Angels are personalities, but their nature is more similar to the Divine. However, it is very different from it: for example, angels cannot be in two places at the same time.

Today the church adheres to a hierarchy where highest rank are the Seraphim, the lowest (ninth in a row) are the angels. Angels are endowed by God with a number of abilities inaccessible to humans:

• Invisibility to the human eye.
• The ability to fly.
• The ability to manifest itself in human world and influence it (in the Old Testament story, Angels, for example, destroyed cities).
• The ability to speak with people in their language.
• The ability to read human thoughts.

Why does a person need an Angel?

God gives angels various responsibilities and uses them as intermediaries between Himself and people. It is believed that the Lord sends them because people simply cannot stand meeting with Him. Even the sight of an angel can terrify a person, although in appearance they resemble people, only with wings. It is difficult to say what the heavenly creatures actually look like (there are various descriptions in the Bible). The icon of the Holy Guardian Angel depicts only a canonical image approved by the rules of the Church.

According to church tradition, the Guardian Angel must instruct a person in comprehending God’s institutions and protect him from attacks dark forces. A person does not see these battles; they are hidden so as not to frighten the weak in spirit. But he can feel supported higher powers. Many have experienced inexplicable events in life - for example, when they miraculously managed to avoid a car accident, inexplicable coincidences occurred, meetings with the right people. In such cases, you need to thank your Angel.

Prayers near the Guardian Angel icon can also be in the nature of a request: first of all, you need to ask for help in the spiritual aspects of your life. It is believed that in afterlife The angel will be accessible to human perception, it will be possible to communicate with him and even be friends with him. During the earthly journey, one must ask him to instruct in faith and every good deed that will contribute to the salvation of the soul.

Image history

In art Ancient East Images of winged creatures are often found: for example, the altar in Megiddo is decorated with them. Figures of winged angels were found in Samaria. Old Testament names a number of objects depicting seraphim that were in the Temple.

In the Russian icon painting tradition, familiar images began to appear at the end of the 16th century. As attributes, the Angels had a cross (for blessing) and a sword (for protection from dark forces). Their clothing resembles a deacon's vestment - of course, angels, being disembodied spirits, do not need it, it is simply a symbol of their service in heaven. The color of the cloak is usually green, the chiton is red, or the robe can be white.

• The image can be half-length or full, in which case the Angel usually stands on a cloud. The meaning of the Guardian Angel icon is to remind of the eternal existence of the soul. The floating figure seems to call a person to the heavenly abodes, from where he was torn out by sin.
• Although outwardly the Angel has human form, its unearthly origin is emphasized by the presence of large wings folded behind its back.
• One hand may be raised in a gesture of blessing, sometimes both hands are folded in prayer. The gaze is usually directed directly at the viewer, but can be directed to the side, and the head is slightly bowed in reverence, as if the Angel bowed before the Lord.
• In the images of modern masters, the heavenly guardian can hold a small soul (in the form of a child) in his arms.

How to find “your” Guardian Angel icon

At baptism, the child receives a name, and a certain saint is considered his patron. Usually it is chosen according to Christmastide, but it can be done arbitrarily, especially if a person is baptized as an adult. If the life path of a particular saint inspires, you can safely choose him as your heavenly patron. Such a saint is mistakenly called a “guardian angel.”

For example, if a child’s name is Cyril, he is given an icon of St. Cyril. But the Guardian Angel is not a saint, not a person, but a heavenly being in the service of the Lord! You can purchase an icon of any saint - Paul, John, Nicholas, there are no restrictions on name or date of birth - and there cannot be. Saints do not reject people's prayers just because they were born on the wrong day. Prayers can only be rejected if they do not come from a pure heart.

It would also be a mistake to “bind” some icon of the Mother of God as a guardian angel by date of birth. Such a classification is inappropriate; it has nothing to do with Orthodox tradition. The Queen of Heaven is the patroness of all people without exception. This is rather a type of modern paganism, which appeared due to widespread illiteracy in matters of religion.

The church holiday is common for all angelic ranks - it is celebrated on November 8 (Cathedral of Heavenly Powers). The names of each specific angel are hidden from people; only a few of them are named in the Bible. However, there is a tradition according to which the icon of the guardian angel is selected according to the name of the person. In fact, it will be the image of a saint who bore the same name, but not an Angel.

What can Angel help with?

People have a special feeling inside them called intuition. After making another mistake, many had to say: “Oh, because the inner voice told me to do the opposite...” In such cases, the “Guardian Angel” icon helps. She warns against annoying mistakes and bad deeds. It also dispels the darkness of bad thoughts when everything seems hopeless.

People cannot directly communicate with their Guardian Angel, but the icon will help focus their thoughts on prayer. Although some saints have seen angels with their own eyes, how many can claim sainthood today? Of course not. Therefore, for most, answers to vital questions that should be asked in prayer come precisely as a certain inner voice.

If there is no answer for a long time, there is no need to despair. You should continue to pray - the Lord never abandons a person. Perhaps the answer will come a little later, or the believer himself is simply not yet ready to accept the answer. Sometimes events in life can themselves be interpreted as warnings. In this case, you need to immediately change your behavior and try to get on the right path. If you can’t do it on your own, turn to a priest for help.

Where to place the holy image

The icon of the Guardian Angel can be located anywhere in the home iconostasis, the main thing is that the central one belongs to the image of the Savior. According to pious tradition, it is customary to place an icon near a child’s cradle - there is nothing wrong with that. It will be good if the child witnesses how parents say prayers. The child's soul is very responsive to everything - the parents' task is to give it the right food. It would be quite appropriate to place at home an icon of the saint, who is considered the guardian of the baby based on his date of birth.

Drivers often hang holy images in the car. This is not done because icons have some kind of miraculous power of their own. They are called upon to turn a person’s mental gaze to Heaven. So that in the hustle and bustle of life he doesn’t get so busy that he forgets about the most important thing. Sometimes it is easy, especially under pressure from circumstances or unbelieving people.

Many people prefer to carry an icon of the Guardian Angel with a written prayer with them - there are small icons intended for storage in wallets. This is something like an amulet, but is not directly condemned by the Church. The main thing is that a person should put in first place not a piece of paper, but communication with the Lord.

The meaning of the Guardian Angel icon is the same as other holy images - it should help focus on God. The veneration of angels is so great in Orthodoxy that special prayers have been compiled for them. It’s good to learn some by heart and read on the road, during monotonous work, so that your thoughts don’t wander anywhere.

It is believed that an Angel accompanies a person until death, after which he is called upon to guide the soul to heaven. Evil, ungodly deeds and words avert this pure creation from a person. Therefore, you should carefully monitor yourself throughout the day. Send, Lord, a Guardian Angel to all Christians!

Prayers to the Guardian Angel

A prayer to the Guardian Angel, which can be repeated in all cases, for example, before starting any important task.

Angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from God from heaven for my protection! I diligently pray to you: enlighten me today, save me from all evil, instruct me in every deed, and direct me on the path of salvation. Amen.

Prayer from “Morning Prayers” in the prayer book (read in the morning)

Holy Angel, standing before my accursed soul and my passionate life, do not leave me, a sinner, nor depart from me for my intemperance. Do not give room to the evil demon to possess me through the violence of this mortal body; strengthen my poor and thin hand and guide me on the path of salvation. To her, holy Angel of God, guardian and patron of my accursed soul and body, forgive me everything, I have offended you so greatly all the days of my life, and if I sinned this past night, cover me on this day, and save me from every opposite temptation May I not anger God in any sin, and pray for me to the Lord, that He may strengthen me in His passion, and show me worthy as a servant of His goodness. Amen.