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| The names of Orthodox icons. Bogolyubskaya icon of the Mother of God. How many icons of the Mother of God are there |
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Orthodox icons The icon is a completely unique phenomenon in medieval culture... There are hundreds of them in the temples, try to find out which one you need. This is where the questions arise: what icons should we pray to? Who should we pray to? What saint? Let's try to figure out which icon is for what. KAZAN MOTHER OF GOD - the most revered icons in Russia, for several centuries revered as the Patroness and Protector of the Russian land and the Russian people. All the main events in life take place with her, starting with baptism. The icon gives a blessing for marriage, she is also an assistant in work. She is blessed with young people entering into marriage, they ask the icon for family well-being and happiness, in addition, they hang the icon by the cribs. An icon that stops the fire and helps those with vision problems. The image of the Kazan icon Mother of God helps in various troubles, misfortunes, diseases VLADIMIR MOTHER OF GOD - one of the most revered, since it was used to crown kings and elect chief priests. Before her, they pray for the softening of evil hearts, the healing of weakness, the humility of those at war, the healing of the possessed. She especially protects mothers and their children, grants pregnant women easy childbirth and healthy babies, relieves infertility and diseases of the reproductive organs. The image of an intercessor mother in all troubles and sorrows. Icon Holy Mother of God DESPERATE ONE HOPE - Despite the fact that this icon is little known, some of the believers (and this is not forbidden by the church) compiled an akathist for it. They pray before the icon in various sorrows and when a person is in despondency. Those who have weakened faith ask the Theotokos to restore their former disposition of spirit and send down spiritual vigor. They pray to the icon for deliverance from enemies, for admonishing those quarreling (especially neighbors), for the eradication of envy. She is an assistant in the treatment of modern diseases - alcoholism, smoking, gaming and computer addiction .. THE MOTHER OF POCHAEVSKAYA - The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is one of the most revered shrines of the Russian Church. When addressing the Mother of God "Pochaevskaya" they pray for protection from internecine enmity, from enemy invasion, for healing from blindness, both physical and spiritual, for release from captivity, pray for the bestowal of health and miracles of help in need.
IVERSKAYA MOTHER OF GOD - Homemaker. She is considered the patroness of all women, their helper and intercessor before the Lord. The icon used to remove the "crown of celibacy" from both men and women. In front of the icon, they also pray for the healing of bodily and mental ailments, for consolation in illness. FADING COLOR -When referring to the icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" they pray for the preservation of a righteous life, for the resolution of family troubles. Prayers to this icon help not to be mistaken in the choice of spouses. The flower in the hands of the Mother of God affirms the integrity of the Mother of God and symbolizes the immortality of virginity. Icon of the Mother of God Catching Up the Dead - seriously ill patients and their relatives apply with requests. It helps to get rid of vices, from alcohol addiction... Repentant sinners who have turned away from God go to these icons. Women ask for happy marriage and children's health, helps with eye diseases, fever, headaches. Speak to Blessed Mother can be done with simple, sincere words that come from the heart. Icon of the Theotokos UTOLI MY SORROWS - pray for deliverance from various diseases, both physical and mental .. Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos BEARING - or “It is worthy to eat”, they pray for mental and physical illnesses, at the end of any business, during epidemics, for happiness in marriage, in case of accidents .. FEODOROVSKAYA icon of the Mother of God - has long been revered by believers not only as miraculous, but also as a particularly patronizing family well-being, giving birth and raising children, helping in difficult childbirth. Tradition connects it with the vocation in 1613 to the kingdom of the founder of the dynasty, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. It is kept in the Epiphany Cathedral in the city of Kostroma. JERUSALEM Icon of the Mother of God - they pray in sorrow, sadness and despondency, for healing from blindness, eye diseases and paralysis, during an epidemic of cholera, for getting rid of the death of livestock, from a fire, when relaxing, as well as when enemies attack .. TIKHVINSKAYA- The icon is considered for children, it is also called a "guidebook". She helps children with illnesses, calms the restless and disobedient, helps them in choosing friends, protects them from the bad influence of the street. It is believed that it strengthens the bond between parents and children, that is, children do not abandon their parents in old age. Helps women during childbirth and pregnancy .. Theotokos POCHAEVSKAYA - pray for protection from internecine enmity, from enemy invasion, for healing from blindness, both physical and spiritual, for release from captivity., pray for the granting of health and miracles of help in need. KOZELSHANSKAYA icon of the Mother of God- pray for the healing of orthopedic diseases, especially helps girls who resorted to her with a prayer to arrange family happiness. TRINESTRESS - before the miraculous image of the Mother of God, they pray for healing from pain in the arms and legs or their injuries, from getting rid of a fire, as well as from illness, grief and sorrow. ... |  Softening Evil Hearts |  Affection |
 Smolensk |  Barskaya |  Zhirovitskaya |  Affectionate mother |
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos SMOLENSKAYA - called "Odigitria-Smolenskaya" has been known in Russia since ancient times. "Hodegetria", translated from Greek means "Guide". The icon for all Orthodox Christians is a guide to eternal salvation, the Smolensk Mother of God helps everyone who turns to her with prayers for healing from incurable diseases, in search of family world and in other difficult and insoluble situations, as the first intercessor for us before God.
BARSKAYA icon of the Mother of God - they pray for good relations in the family, for children and health, she shows miracles of healing and God's mercy to all those who suffer, resorting to her in their sorrows and prayers.
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos ZHIROVITSKAYA - they pray during the persecution of Orthodoxy, in doubt, for deliverance from fires, for any bodily weakness, they also pray for the arrangement of a girl's fate, for a happy marriage.
Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary Affectionate MOTHER - pray for children, so that children will be support in life.
 Unexpected joy |  Three joys |  The Holy Trinity |  SEMISTRAL |
UNEXPECTED JOY
- pray for the conversion of the lost, for the health and well-being of children, for the healing of deafness and ear diseases, for the preservation of marriage in love and harmony, pray for the gift of spiritual insight.
Icon of the mother of God of the THREE JOYS
- They pray for the return of what was lost, for salvation from enemies, for release from captivity, for healing and for the successful resolution of any case. People who come to the image noticed that after earnest prayer, joy comes to their house in threefold size, for which the icon received its modern name.
THE HOLY TRINITY
- The symbol of the "Trinity" is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, or wisdom, reason, love. One of three main icons that should be in every home. Before the icon they pray for the forgiveness of sins. It is considered confessional.
SEMISTRAL
- This is the strongest icon in protecting the house and any premises, as well as the person on whom it is located, from the evil, envious people, from the evil eye, damage and curses. Reconciles warring parties, brings peace, harmony, she is also taken on important matters. At home, she should be located opposite front door to see the eyes of the person entering.
 Healer. |  Inexhaustible Chalice |  Unbreakable wall |  Virgin of the Intercession |
HEALER - they pray for the healing of the soul and body, she protects from various misfortunes, troubles, sorrow, eternal condemnation, takes care of release from imprisonment. Childbirth assistant.
INCREDIBLE BOWL - they pray for all sinners, the icon calls for an inexhaustible source of spiritual joy and consolation, proclaims that an inexhaustible cup of heavenly help and mercy is prepared for those who ask with faith. She is for prosperity in the house, and also helps to heal from addictions, drunkenness, drug addiction, gambling.
STABLE WALL- Before the icon for every need: for the sick - healing, for the grieving - consolation, for the lost - admonition, guard the babies, educate and teach the young, encourage and instruct husbands and wives, support and warm the old, deliver them from all misfortunes. Over the course of more than ten centuries, this miraculous icon remained intact. This is probably why it is so named
THE MOTHER OF COVER - pray for deliverance from troubles, for the protection of the country from enemies ..
BLESSED MATRONA - A very strong saint of our time. They turn to her on any difficult issue. She is our most "fast helper" and intercessor, a supplicant for us before the Lord. The relics are in the Intercession Women's Monastery on Taganka, where countless people come every day and turn to her for help.
NIKOLAY THE WONDERWORKER - This is the most revered saint in the world. He protects from poverty and want: when his icon is in the house, he makes sure that there is prosperity in the house, protects from the need for anything, patronizes women, children, beggars, innocently condemned and animals. In addition, he is the patron saint of all travelers, drivers, sailors, pilots and just people on the road.
HOLY MARTYR PANTELEIMON - pray for healing from serious ailments, is the patron saint of warriors, since warriors, more often than others, receive wounds, and most of all need a doctor-healer.
SERGIUS OF RADONEZH - Founder of the Sergiev - Trinity Lavra in the 14th century. He is the patron saint of all students. They take the icon with them when passing exams and tests. It is very good that the icon is always in the pocket of your purse or briefcase every day when the child goes to school.
GUARDIAN ANGEL - pray: for help with headaches; about his patronage, from insomnia, in grief, about happiness in marriage, about driving away evil spirits, about getting rid of harm from wizards and sorcerers. On the intercession of widows and orphans, in despair, on deliverance from sudden or sudden death, on the expulsion of demons. Those who go to bed pray to him for deliverance from prodigal dreams. The task of the guardian angel is to contribute to the salvation of the ward, intercede for them during their earthly life, pray to God for them, do not leave them, finally, after death and take the souls of those who have finished earthly life into eternity.
SPAS Omnipotent - often just "Savior" or "Savior" is central image in the iconography of Christ, representing Him as the Heavenly King. "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end," says the Lord, "which is and was and is coming, the Almighty." The Chief Physician of souls and bodies, who knows about everything, and to whom, first of all, our prayer appeal should be directed. According to the rules, this icon is placed at the head of the iconostasis ..
NON-CREATIVE SPAS - pray for guidance on the true path, for the salvation of the soul, deliverance from bad thoughts and healing. According to church tradition, the first icon was the image of the Savior - the Savior Not Made by Hands.
Icon- not a portrait and not conversation piece, but the prototype of the ideal humanity. Therefore, the icon gives only a symbolic image of it. Physical movement on the icon is minimized or completely absent. But the movement of the spirit is transmitted by special means - the pose of the figure, hands, folds of clothing, color, and most importantly - with the eyes. There is concentrated all the strength of moral achievement, all the strength of the spirit and its power over the body.
Clothes on icons- not a means to cover bodily nudity, clothing is a symbol. She is the fabric of the deeds of the saint. One of the important details is the folds. The nature of the folds on the clothes of the saints testifies to the time when the icon was painted. In VIII - XIV centuries folds were drawn frequent and small. They talk about strong spiritual experiences, about the lack of spiritual peace. In XV - XVI centuries folds are drawn straight, long, sparse. Through them, as it were, all the elasticity of spiritual energy breaks through. They convey the fullness of ordered spiritual powers.
Around the head The Savior, the Mother of God and the saints of God on the icons depict a radiance in the shape of a circle, which is called a halo. The halo is an image of the radiance of light and Divine glory, which also transforms a person who is united with God.
There are no shadows on the icons... This is also due to the peculiarities of the world outlook and the tasks that the icon painter faced. The heavenly world is the kingdom of spirit, light, it is ethereal, there are no shadows. The icon shows things created and produced by Light, and not illuminated by light.
Symbols of gestures
HAND pressed to the chest - heartfelt empathy.
HAND raised up - a call to repentance.
A HAND stretched forward with an open palm is a sign of obedience and obedience.
TWO HANDS raised up - prayer for peace.
HANDS raised forward - a prayer for help, a gesture of request.
HANDS pressed to the cheeks - a sign of sadness, grief. 
Each person, with his appearance in the world, is called to glorify his God, the one who created him, the world, the earth, animals, people and everything else. But have you ever wondered how much you know about your faith, its traditions and saints, as well as the importance of the Orthodox Church in the world today? Orthodoxy is called true, real knowledge of God.
Traditionally, all Orthodox Christians believe in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But, besides this, in any Orthodox Church you can find icons of saints. Faced with different life difficulties believers turn for help not only to the Almighty, but also to the saints, through their and certain prayers. Each has its own guardian angel and saint, in whom a person believes more than others. But in order for the life situation to be resolved for the better, and the person asking was heard, it is necessary to know all the icons and their meaning.
Icons of all saints photos and their meaning.
To begin with, let's deal with the question of what icons are. Icon - a sacred image of the faces of saints, as well as events church history presented in the bible... In other words, an icon is a way and a way of communication and unification with God. Different icons help in different situations.
Nicholas the Wonderworker will help you in any need. They say that his icon, which is in your home, will protect you and your loved ones from poverty and want. You can ask the saint to have prosperity and prosperity in the house. Nicholas the Pleasant is worshiped by all travelers, pilots, drivers, sailors, and everyone who simply believes in him.
Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker twice a year - on May 22 and December 19. These two dates are fixed, unlike some other church holidays.
2. Mother of God
The Mother of God is one of the most revered icon-painting images among Orthodox believers. The image of the Mother of God has always been and is still considered a symbol of the guardian and intercessor of the Russian people. One of the proofs is the victory of the Russian people in the Great Patriotic War under the protection of the Mother of God. It was from that time that it became customary in Russia that the image of the Mother of God helps and protects the Russian land.
In spite of total value, in Orthodoxy there are different icons Virgin Mary. Each species has its own special meaning for believers. We will give, for example, five types of images of the Virgin Mary:
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Travel guide -
According to biblical data, it was she who was first written by the Evangelist Luke. The Virgin Mary is depicted here up to the waist, less often up to the shoulders. There is also a slight tilt of the head towards Jesus Christ, and right hand points to him. This type means a mutual relationship between mother and son.
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Tenderness - Eleusa
In this case, the Mother of God presses her baby to her cheek, there is no distance between them, and this is a symbol of boundless love and tenderness between the son and the mother. Affection brings God's boundless love for all people, the image reminds us of his great sacrifice for the salvation of all human people.
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Praying - Oranta, Panagia, Omen
The Mother of God is depicted to the waist or at full height with her arms raised upward, her son Jesus is depicted in the center, at the level of his mother's chest. Here the meaning is the foreshadowing of the Nativity of Christ.
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All-merciful - Panahranta,
The Virgin Mary sitting on the throne and Jesus sitting on her lap, all this only shows her greatness as the intercessor of the earth.
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Intercessor - Agiosoritissa
Here the Virgin is depicted alone, without the son of God. Her hands are directed to God, which means a prayer for the protection of humanity by the Most Holy Theotokos before Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist is the last prophet Old Testament who introduced the people of Israel as their savior - Jesus Christ. He is also called by another name - John the Forerunner - emphasizing his specific role as the forerunner and forerunner of Jesus. It was John who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. People turn to the icon for help in soil fertility and a rich harvest.
The feast of John the Baptist is celebrated several times and is associated with various episodes from his life and veneration. July 7 - Nativity of John the Baptist; September 11 - Beheading of John the Baptist; January 20 - Synapse of John the Baptist.
4. George the Victorious
- an Orthodox saint. He is depicted sitting on a horse and holding a dragon's sword. It is he who will help you in dealing with your children, as well as in protecting your domestic animals. Feast of St. George the Victorious is celebrated on May 6.
5. John of Kronstadt
Father John of Kronstadt, one of the most famous saints in recent history, possessed an evangelical zeal and, above all, was Orthodox tradition and the faith and life of the Orthodox Church. Father John, one might say a family saint, was an expressive and impressive preacher, a man who brought the hearts of rejected sinners to repentance, a man with a great depth of love and a spiritual healer. Huge crowds rushed to him from all parts Orthodox Russia to hear it and be healed of it (in body and soul). Until now, people turn to his icon with requests for healing from serious illnesses. The Day of Remembrance of St. John of Kronstadt is considered January 2.
6. Holy Martyr Boniface
If the problem of alcoholism has settled in your home, your advice will be to seek help from Boniface. Plus, it can help you cope with binge eating.
7. Blessed Matrona of Moscow
Matrona was endowed with a special feeling, spiritual insight, miraculous and healing powers. Also in early age her family, as well as neighbors noticed that she knew absolutely everything, not only about people's sins, but also about their thoughts. In addition to all this, she could easily see the impending dangers and social catastrophes.
The icon of the Blessed Matrona is one of those icons that you can come to worship and ask for absolutely everything, especially for healing. It is also worth remembering that believers should know the icons and prayers to them. A holiday in honor of Matrona of Moscow is considered the day - November 22 of each year.
8. Ksenia Petersburgskaya
Everyone should know what icons are needed for what, for example, the icon of Xenia of Petersburg will help everyone in family problems. You can turn to her icon not only with requests for a happy marriage, but also in grief. February 6 is considered the day of Blessed Xenia of Petersburg.
Saint Seraphim of Sarov is one of the most beloved and famous Orthodox saints of the last times. He spent 1000 days and nights on the stone, turning with prayers to God for forgiveness. He was a hermit, spiritual guide and priest. He led many Christian souls along the path of apostolic Christianity in Russia during the 19th century.
There are different icons, for example, family icons, among which. Pray to Seraphim of Sarov for healing from pain in the joints, arms, legs and spine. The holiday of the uncovering of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov in Orthodoxy is celebrated on August 1.
10. Saints Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia.
Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia believed in God and proved that people, strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, have no obstacles to the manifestation of strength of spirit and courage. You can also ask for the intercession of the saints on the day of their prayer service - September 17 - and on any other day.
A few words about how to pray
Regardless of whether you are a woman or a man, before going to the Temple you need to be cleansed both physically and mentally. Only then will he go to the temple with good intentions. A woman must be wearing a skirt, it is desirable that the skirt covers the knees. Men come in regular clothes, but no headdress. All women must cover their heads with a scarf.
Before entering the temple and praying, you need to cross yourself before entering the church. After that, you can go to the icon. Our list will help you with the choice of an icon. Before the icon, you need to be baptized, read a prayer and be baptized again three times. Each icon requires its own prayer, usually a prayer can be found near the icon. After the end of your prayer in the temple, you need to cross yourself three times at the exit, and only then go about your business with a pure soul.
Conventionally, all the variety of types of icons of the Mother of God with the Child can be divided into four groups, each of which represents the disclosure of one of the facets of the image of the Mother of God. An iconographic scheme is an expression of a theological idea.
The first group is the type of iconography "Sign" (an abbreviated and truncated version - Oranta, from Latin orans - praying). This is the most theologically rich iconographic type and is associated with the theme of the Incarnation. The iconographic scheme is based on two texts: from the Old Testament - the prophecy of Isaiah: "So the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, the Virgin in her womb will receive and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name: Emmanuel" (Isa. 7.14) and from the New Testament - the words of the Angel in the Annunciation: "The Holy Spirit will find on You and the power of the Most High will overshadow You, therefore the Holy One being born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1.35). In these words, the mystery of the Incarnation is revealed to us, the birth of the Savior from the Virgin, the birth of the Son of God from the earthly woman.
This is reflected in the iconographic scheme: Mary is represented in the pose of Oranta, that is, praying, with her hands raised to the sky; at the level of Her chest is a medallion (or sphere) with the image of the Savior Emmanuel, who is in the bosom of the Mother. The Mother of God can be represented in full growth, as in the icon "Yaroslavl Oranta, Great Panagia", or up to the waist, as in Kurskaya Root" or in Novgorod's "Sign", this is not so important. The Mother of God through the incarnation of the Logos. At the moment of contemplation of the icon, the praying person seems to open the holy of holies, the inner Mary, in the depths of which the God-man is conceived by the Holy Spirit. The Lord, may it be to Me according to Thy word "(Luke 1.38). Her hands are raised in prayer (this gesture is described in the Book of Exodus. 11.11). In the Yaroslavl" Oranta "this gesture is repeated in the figure of the Child, only Her palms are open, and the position of the fingers of Emmanuel is different - they are folded into a blessing. In other versions of the Sign, the Infant holds a scroll in one hand - a symbol of teaching, the other blesses. The traditional clothes of the Mother of God - red maforium and blue underwear no. Such are the clothes of the Mother of God on all icons (with rare exceptions), and, recall, their colors symbolize the union in Her of Virginity and Motherhood, Her earthly nature and Her heavenly vocation. In the Yaroslavl "Oranta", the clothes of the Mother of God are flooded with golden light (depicted as a large assist), which is an expression of the streams of grace of the Holy Spirit poured out on Blessed virgin at the moment of conception. On both sides of Mary, the heavenly forces are depicted - either archangels with mirrors in their hands (Yaroslavl "Oranta"), or a blue cherub and a fiery red seraphim. The presence in the composition of angelic and heavenly forces means that the Mother of God, with her humble consent to participate in the act of the Incarnation, raises humanity one step higher than the angels and archangels, for God, according to St. fathers, did not take on the angelic image, but put on human flesh. In the chant glorifying the Mother of God, it is sung: "The most honest cherub and the most glorious seraphim without comparison."
The iconographic scheme of the Sign can be very simple, as in the Novgorod version, or it can be developed and complicated, as in the case of the Yaroslavl Oranta. The composition of the latter, for example, includes an infrequent detail that reveals the liturgical aspect of this image. This is an eagle - a rug under the feet of Mary, such are used in bishop divine service... In this case, the eagle symbolizes the cosmic service of the Mother of God, which lies ahead of God for the entire human race. The Mother of God stands on the eagle like on a cloud in the midst of the golden radiance of God's glory - The Mother of God is a new creation, a transformed creation, new person... The scheme of the Kursk Root icon is supplemented with the image of the prophets, connected to each other by the likeness of a flourishing vine. The prophets hold the scrolls of their prophecies. All this symbolizes the fact that the Mother of God and God's Son, born of her, is the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies and aspirations. So, in different iconographic variants, with a common iconographic core, the same theme of the Incarnation is revealed, therefore the iconographic type "Sign" is sometimes called "Incarnation".
One of the variants of the "Sign" iconography is "Oranta". In this case, the Mother of God is presented without the Child in the same pose, with her hands up. An example of such a variant is the image "The Mother of God - the Unbreakable Wall" from St. Sophia of Kiev (mosaic, 10th century). Here the Mother of God is presented as a symbol of the Church. For the first time Augustine saw the Church in Our Lady. This association has received a wide range of interpretations in the history of theological thought.
The second iconographic type was named " Hodegetria"which in Greek means" Travel guide". This name contains the concept of the Theotokos icons as a whole, for the Mother of God leads us to Christ. The life of a Christian is a path from darkness to God's wonderful light, from sin to salvation, from death to life. And on this hard way we have an assistant - the Most Holy Theotokos. She was a bridge for the Savior to come into the world, now She is a bridge for us on the way to Him.
So, the iconographic scheme of Hodegetria is built as follows: the figure of the Mother of God is presented frontally (sometimes with a slight tilt of the head), on one of Her hand, as on a throne, the Infant Christ sits, with the other hand the Mother of God points to Him, thereby directing the attention of those standing and praying. The Infant Christ blesses the Mother with one hand, and in Her face and us (often the gesture of blessing is directed directly at the viewer), in the other hand He holds a rolled-up scroll (there are options when the Infant has a scepter and orb, a book, an unfolded scroll in his hands).
In the gesture of the Mother of God, pointing to Christ, the key to this image - the Mother of God orients us spiritually, directing us to Christ, for He is the Way, Truth and Life. She carries our prayers to Him, She intercedes for us before Him, she keeps us on the path to Him. Having become the Mother of the One who adopted us to the Heavenly Father, the Mother of God becomes the mother of each of us. This type of theotokos icons became unusually widespread throughout the Christian world, and especially in Byzantium and in Russia. It was no accident that many revered icons of this type were attributed to the brush of the Apostle Luke.
The most famous variants of Hodegetria include: "Smolenskaya", "Iverskaya" (Goalkeeper), "Tikhvin", "Georgian", "Jerusalem", "Three-handed", "Passionate", "Czestochowa", "Kiprskaya", "Abalatskaya", "The guarantor of sinners" and many others.
Small iconographic differences in details are associated with the details of the origin story of each particular image. So the third hand of the icon "Three-handed" was added by St. John Damascene, when the Mother of God restored his severed hand according to his letter. The bleeding wound on the cheek of "Iverskaya" brings us back to the times of iconoclasm, when this image was attacked by those who rejected the icons: from the blow of the spear, the icon bleed, which plunged the witnesses into indescribable horror. The icon of Our Lady "Passionate" usually depicts two angels flying to the Infant with the instruments of passion, thereby foreshadowing His suffering for us. As a result of this plot twist, the pose of the Infant Christ is somewhat changed - He is depicted half-turn, looking at the angels, His hands are holding the hand of Mary. Each of these details is worthy of careful consideration, but in the absence of such an opportunity in this case, we will leave it for solitary contemplation.
As a rule, in the "Hodegetria" the Mother of God is represented in a half-length image, but there are also shoulder-length compositions of the Theotokos icons; these include "Kazanskaya", "Petrovskaya", "Igorevskaya". The same topic is being developed here, but in a somewhat abbreviated version.
The third type of the Theotokos icons in Russia received the name " Affection"which is not quite an accurate translation of the Greek word" Eleusa"(έλεουσα), that is," Gracious. "This epithet in Byzantium was called the Mother of God herself and many of Her icons, but over time, in Russian iconography, the name" Tenderness "began to be associated with a certain iconographic scheme. In the Greek version, this type icons called "Glycophilus" (γλυκυφιλουσα) - "Sweet kiss." This is the most lyrical of all types of iconography, revealing the intimate side of the communication of the Mother of God with Her Son. Mary is inclined towards the Son, and He embraces the Mother by the neck with His hand.This touching composition contains a deep theological idea: here the Mother of God is revealed to us not only as the Mother caressing the Son, but also as a symbol of the soul in close communion with God. God is the mystical theme of many writings of the Holy Fathers The Mother of God Tenderness is one of the most mystical types of the Mother of God icons.
This type was also widespread in Russia. Icons of the "Tenderness" type include: "Vladimirskaya", "Volokolamskaya", "Donskaya", "Fedorovskaya", "Zhirovitskaya", "Grebnevskaya", "Akhrenskaya", "Yaroslavskaya", "Recovery of the perished", "Pochaevskaya", etc. .d. In all these icons, the Mother of God is represented in a belt composition, in rare cases there is a shoulder composition, as, for example, in the icon "Korsunskaya".
A variation of the iconographic type "Tenderness" is the "Leaping" type. Icons of this kind were common mainly in the Balkans, but such images are rarely found in Russian art. The iconographic scheme here is very close to "Tenderness", with the only difference that the Infant is presented in a more free pose, as if playing out. An example of this type of icons is "Yakhromskaya". In this composition, there is always a characteristic gesture - the Infant Christ touches the face of the Virgin with a pen. In this small detail, an abyss of tenderness and trust is hidden, which open to an attentive contemplating gaze.
Another kind of "Tenderness" iconography is "Mammal". It is clear from the name that hallmark of this iconographic scheme is the image of the Mother of God breastfeeding the Christ Child. Such a detail is not only an intimate detail of this iconographic version, but it reveals a new mystical aspect in reading the image of the Virgin. The Mother feeds the Son, in the same way She feeds our souls, in the same way God feeds us with the "pure milk of words" of the Word of God (1 Peter 2.2), so that we, as we grow, pass from milk to solid food (Heb. 5.12).
So, the three iconographic types we have named - "Sign", "Hodegetria" and "Tenderness" are the main ones leading in the iconography of the Mother of God, since they are based on whole directions in theological understanding of the image of the Mother of God. Each of them represents to us some one of the aspects of Her ministry, Her role in the saving mission of Christ, in the history of our salvation.
The fourth type does not have such a theological content as the first three. It is rather collective; it should include all those iconographic variants that, for one reason or another, were not included in the first three. The name of the fourth type is conditionally - " Akathist", since mainly iconographic schemes are built here not according to the principle of theological text, but according to the principle of illustrating one or another epithet with which the Mother of God is magnified in the Akathist and other hymnographic works. The main meaning of icons of this type is the glorification of the Mother of God. The main focus of these images is to show the Mother of God as the Queen of Heaven. In this form, this image entered the Byzantine iconography - especially often such compositions were placed in the conch of the apse. In this version, the Mother of God is also present in St. Sophia of Constantinople. In Russian iconography, an example of such an image is the fresco of Dionysius in the apse of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin of the Ferapontov Monastery.
But most of the icons of this type are a combination of the central scheme of the previous types with additional elements. For example, the iconographic scheme " Burning Bush"consists of the image of the Mother of God Hodegetria, surrounded by symbolic figures of glory and the powers of heaven (similarly to how the image of heavenly glory is depicted in the iconography" The Savior is in Powers "). Life-Giving Source"includes the image of the Mother of God with the Child, seated on a throne, which looks like a kind of font inside a reservoir, and around there are angels and people who have come to drink from this source. - The Mother of God and the Child Christ (like Hodegetria) sit on the throne, against the background of figures and around them various symbols are depicted that directly illustrate akathist epithets: the watered fleece, Jacob's ladder, burning bush, light-receiving candle, not-hand-cut mountain, etc. And, finally, the icon "Unexpected Joy" is built on the principle of "icon in an icon", that is, the plot inclusion of the image of the icon inside the action. Here is usually represented a kneeling man praying before the image of the Mother of God Hodegetria, who gave him moral insight and healing.
The pinnacle of akathist iconography should be recognized as the image "The delighted whole creature rejoices in You". This is an interesting iconography in its own way; it is based on the idea of the cosmic glorification of the Mother of God. In the center, the Mother of God is depicted with the Child Christ on the throne in the radiance of glory and surrounded by the powers of heaven. The image of the universe is presented in the form of a many-domed temple surrounded by flowering trees - it is at the same time an image of Heavenly Jerusalem. In the lower part of the icon, at the foot of the throne, people are depicted - prophets, kings, saints of different ranks, just the people of God. We see - the Icon represents the new earth and the new heaven (Rev. 21.1), - the image of the transformed creature, the beginning of which was laid in the mystery of the Incarnation (here the central image partly resembles the scheme of the Sign).
The iconographic variants, where the Mother of God is depicted without the Christ Child, are few in number, it is not possible to combine them into a special group, since the iconographic scheme in each of them is determined by its own independent theological idea. But to one degree or another, they adjoin the four types already named by us earlier. For example, "The Mother of God of Ostrobramskaya-Vilna" is a variant that gravitates towards the "Sign" type, since the image of the Mother of God is revealed here at the moment of her acceptance of the Good News ("behold the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word". Luke 1.38). The position of the arms crossed on the chest (a gesture of humble prayer worship) is semantically close to that of Oranta. Consequently, this iconographic version can be attributed to the "Sign" type. In addition to Ostrobramskaya, this type corresponds to the icon "The Bride of the Unmarried" (mistakenly called "Tenderness"), which was the cell icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
The well-known ancient Russian icon "Our Lady of Bogolyubskaya" also depicts the Mother of God without the Infant, but standing before God with intercession for her worshipers (a group of worshipers is sometimes depicted at the feet of the Mother of God). Since here the Mother of God is depicted as an intercessor and as showing the way to those who are praying, this icon can be conditionally attributed to the "Hodegetria" type. The Mother of God holds a prayer scroll in her hand, and with the other hand points to the image of Christ, written on the left in the segment of the sky. Thus, the same gesture is preserved as in the Hodegetria: Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
But for the most part, the Theotokos icons, in which the Mother of God is presented without the Child, belong to the fourth type - akathist icons, since they were written for the glorification of the Mother of God. So, for example, the iconography "Theotokos Seven-shot" or "Simeon's prophecy" can be attributed to this type; this iconographic version is also known under a different name - "Softening of Evil Hearts". Here is depicted the Mother of God with seven swords piercing Her heart. This image is taken from the prophecy of Simeon, who at the time of the Meeting uttered the following words: "And the weapon itself will pass through the soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2.35). Such iconography, as a rule, of late origin, most likely came from the Western European tradition and is distinguished by literary quality. Nevertheless, they also have their own meaning, revealing to us the image of the Mother of God, which is so necessary for the growth of the Orthodox soul.
Iconographic variants, semantically corresponding to the third type of the Theotokos icons, known as "Tenderness", are practically not found, since it is difficult to imagine how it is possible to depict the intimate relationship of the Mother of God and Her Son in the image of the Mother of God alone. Nevertheless, such a turn in iconography is possible. This is the so-called type of the Mourning Mother of God ("Mater Dolorosa"), when the Mother of God is represented immersed in prayer grief for the crucified Christ. Usually, the Mother of God is depicted with her head bowed and prayerfully folded hands near her chin. This option became widespread in the West, but also in Orthodox iconography he is also well known. Some researchers believe that he was not originally independent, was part of a diptych, in the second half of which the suffering Jesus Christ was depicted (in a crown of thorns, with the signs of the Passion). We can see the same plot in the icon "Do not weep for me Mati", well known in Balkan art and less known here, in Russia. This icon usually depicts the Mother of God and Christ (sometimes standing in a tomb), the Mother mourns the death of the Son, embracing His dead body. In practice, this is a modification of the "Mourning" plot, but the iconographic scheme is built according to the "Tenderness" principle - only on icons like "Don't cry for Me Mati" The Mother of God presses not Little Jesus to Herself, but an adult after being taken down from the Cross. The tragedy of the plot reaches an extraordinary intensity - the grief of the Mother is inconsolable, but, as in any icon, there is news of the resurrection, it is in the name of the icon, which is built on the text of the passionate chant: "Do not weep for Me Mati in the grave of seeing ...". The appeal to the Mother of God comes on behalf of Christ, who conquered death.
Traditionally, it is customary to depict the Mother of God in clothes of two colors: cherry maforia (red modification), a blue tunic and a blue cap. On the maforia, as a rule, three golden stars are depicted - as a sign of her purity ("she conceived immaculately, immaculately gave birth, died immaculately") and a border as a sign of her glorification. The plat itself - maforia - means Her Motherhood, the blue (blue) color of the dress covered by it - Virginity. But occasionally we can see the Mother of God, dressed in a blue maforia. So She was sometimes portrayed in Byzantium, in the Balkans. This is how Theophanes the Greek wrote the Mother of God in the deisis tier of the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. Apparently, in these cases it is more important for the icon painter to emphasize the Virginity, the innocence of the Mother of God, to highlight the aspect of Her purity, to focus our attention on this facet of the image of the Virgin and the Mother.
The Orthodox tradition in exceptional cases allows the image of women with bare heads. Usually they write Mary of Egypt as a sign of her ascetic and penitent way of life, which replaced her former dissolute way of life. In all other cases, whether it be the image of martyrs, queens, saints and righteous wives, myrrh-bearing wives and other numerous characters inhabiting the Orthodox icon world, it is customary to depict women with their heads covered. Likewise, the Apostle Paul writes that it is good for a woman to cover her head, for this is "a sign of authority over her" (1 Cor. 11.5, 10). But in some iconographic versions of the Theotokos icons, we see, quite unexpectedly, the image of the Mother of God with an uncovered head. For example, "Our Lady of Akhtyrskaya" and some others. In some cases, the circuit board is replaced by a crown (crown). The custom of depicting the Mother of God with an uncovered head is of Western origin, where it came into use since the Renaissance, and in principle is non-canonical. The maphoria on the head of the Mother of God is not just a tribute to the Eastern Christian tradition, but a deep symbol - the sign of Her Motherhood and complete devotion to God. Even the crown on Her head cannot replace maforia, for the crown (crown) is a sign of the Kingdom, the Mother of God is the Queen of Heaven, but this royal dignity is based solely on Her Motherhood, on the fact that She became the Mother of the Savior and our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is correct to depict a crown over the board, as we see in such iconographic versions, like "Our Lady Sovereign", "Novodvorskaya", "Abalatskaya", "Kholmovskaya" and others. The image of the crown (crown) on the head of the Mother of God also came to Eastern Christian iconographic tradition from Western Europe. In Byzantium, this was not accepted at all. Even when the Mother of God was depicted with the upcoming emperors (as can be seen in the mosaics of St. Sophia of Constantinople), which is an expression of the superiority of the Kingdom of Heaven over the kingdom of the earth, on Her head we see nothing but a maforia fee. And this is very characteristic, since in the development of iconography there is, over time, a departure from laconicism and pure semantics (sign structure) towards illustrativeness and external symbolism.
Hello dear readers. Arriving at the temple, it is important to know the icons and their meaning in order to immediately approach the image you need.
How to pray before an icon
Many people think that it doesn't matter which icon to pray in front of, because prayer comes from a pure heart. But we offer prayer not to the icon itself, but to the one whose image is conveyed on it, because all the saints have their own strengths.
- Stand in front of the shrine, cross yourself to attract God's blessing.
- After you have asked for help, that is, prayed, kiss the image. By doing this, you show your respect to the Lord.
- After the end of the prayer service, you must cross yourself three times.
Pray with bright thoughts, forgiving everyone who offended you.
Meaning of icons
This is one of the strongest icons. The Most Holy Theotokos had to endure many torments, which symbolize the seven arrows. When a person feels bad, he goes exactly to this image. "Seven-shot" will help in protecting housing, protect from troubles, envious, evil people, from curses, damage, the evil eye of the person who wears her little icon on his chest.
If you need to reconcile the warring ones, bring peace, peace, and harmony to the house, then you need to kneel before this relic, prayerfully ask for help. They take her with them when they go to important matters.
At home she is placed opposite the front door, above half of the wall, so that she can “see” the eyes of the person entering. Before installing the relic, it is necessary to read the prayer service. You may notice: a person with unkind thoughts will cease to cross the threshold of your home.
The Most Holy Theotokos will become a protector from criminals, thieves and any unkind people... Those living in this house can be sure that their family is reliably protected.
Put it on your desktop, it will protect you from quarrels with your bosses and work colleagues. If a person's soul is embittered, then he can approach the face, the Most Holy Theotokos will help to return to good thoughts again.
2. "UNEXPECTABLE BOWL"
Icon of the Mother of God. The Mother of God comforts, prays for all who have stumbled, calls to touch the inexhaustible spring of spiritual joy. The purpose of this holy power can hardly be overestimated.
The inexhaustible cup will help all who turn to it with faith. She proclaims that heavenly help and mercy are destined for all who ask. She will help heal from drunkenness, drug addiction, those who are passionate about gambling.
The image of the Virgin must be installed at the head of the bed of a patient with alcoholism or drug addiction and prayed every day.
There are many known cases of healing from drunkenness and other addictions. There is evidence that the relic helped solve housing issues, facilitate the conclusion of transactions for the purchase and sale of apartments and houses.
Parents letting their children go adult life are obliged to ask for help, saying prayers in front of the shrine every day.
3. Icon of the Mother of God "HEALER"
It will help heal a person not only from physical diseases, but also from mental ones. The relic can be recognized by the image of the Mother of God standing at the bedside of a sick person.
4. "UNEXPECTED JOY"
Our whole life consists of small joys, which we often do not notice in pursuit of an ephemeral dream, forgetting about our loved ones, about words of gratitude. Therefore, many dreams, becoming obsessive, do not allow to enjoy the new day, and therefore are not heard.
What to pray at the face Unexpected Joy
Prayer at the shrine grants:
- Get spiritual strength;
- To get what they always dreamed of, but no longer believed in getting it. It can be someone's forgiveness, remorse;
- Grants healing of ailments, especially with hearing loss, ear diseases;
- The Mother of God will help to find and return the missing people;
- Help a pregnant woman to bear and give birth to a healthy baby;
- For parents whose children have gone the wrong way, the Mother of God will give them the opportunity to bring them to their senses;
- Resolves conflicts, helps to come to a happy decision;
- At the relic they pray for the preservation of marriage, love and harmony.
5. "TRINESTRESS"
The miraculous image of the Mother of God grants healing from hand diseases. Prayer services protect from fire, various diseases, sorrow and grief.
6. "QUICK-HERE"
The painting of the image dates back to the 10th century. If you need quick, urgent help, they kneel before the shrine. They also ask:
- about the healing of mental ailments;
- about healing from cancer, paralysis, blindness;
- prayerfully ask for the birth of healthy children;
- pray for the release of those who languish in captivity.
7. "SERAFIM OF SAROV"
Saint, especially revered in Russia. Prayer to Seraphim of Sarov helps to heal from pain in joints, arms, legs, spine.
Patron saint of Moscow. Those who work with weapons, risk their lives, as well as athletes and entrepreneurs who start their own business pray to him.
9. NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER
Defender against want and poverty. If his face is in your house, then he takes care of the prosperity in the family, protects from want. He is worshiped by all travelers, pilots, drivers, sailors and everyone who reveres this saint.
In Russia, a particularly revered image of the Most Holy Theotokos. Before this holy power, the coronation of kings and the election of chief priests took place.
Prayer services will help to pacify people at war with each other, soften evil hearts, heal from bodily and mental weakness and those who have been possessed by a demon.
People have always resorted to the help of the icon of the Holy Mother of God. When can it help:
- She protects the house from fires.
- Doctors, military men, firefighters, pilots ask her for help.
- The miraculous fire helps to cleanse oneself from perfect sins and mental illnesses.
12. IVERSKAYA ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
Virgin Mary grants:
- Healing the sick
- Replenishment of stocks,
- Getting rid of the raids of enemies.
13. FADING COLOR
She is the personification of purity, purity, therefore, she stands up for young girls, helping them to maintain their innocence and chastity.
Prayers for the image of Fadeless color help to marry the person whom fate itself sent. Married women can ask for a prosperous family life.
The miraculous face protects and helps women to preserve purity, endurance, good disposition. If you ask the Virgin Mary for support with faith, she will certainly fulfill your request. The Mother of God will certainly help girls find a worthy life partner.
When a woman experiences severe life trials or she experiences a mental shock, then she must kneel at the image of the Most Pure, then life will definitely improve.
15. KAZAN ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
Intercessor. She helps everyone who is in trouble or has difficulties at work, as well as in his personal life.
The guide will help you make the right decision, save you from mistakes. Blessing the young before marriage, they also turn to Our Lady of Kazan. The life of the young will be very happy if the wedding takes place on the day of the celebration of the Holy Image.
Spouses can always turn to this image for help. Saint MARIA will help anyone who turns to her with any pure request. If the request is negative, then it will not be heard.
How to ask for help
If you pray at home, then you need to pray in the morning:
- Wash your face before prayer, cross your hands;
- Leave all annoying thoughts;
- Light the candles, get down on your knees, read the prayer service;
- Say the request in your own words, coming from a pure heart.
16. OSTROBRAMSKAYA ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
A rare but extremely powerful image that protects the home from evil spirits, the family from outside interference, helps spouses find happiness and love, and everyone else gets rid of despondency and depression.
Place it at the entrance, then it will protect the home from all evil spirits, and from malevolent guests. Many people confirm that after a solitary prayer in front of this Holy Face, the problems were solved by themselves.
17. Icon "UNREMOVABLE WALL"
It is named in honor of its perseverance, not being damaged, no matter what disasters, disasters and wars the image of the Mother of God, located in the Kiev monastery, has experienced.
A miracle beyond the control of the human mind makes this icon a defender in all troubles, illnesses and misfortunes. The icon will ward off troubles, fires, will not let dashing people into the house, will help to strengthen family happiness.
Pray by the icon when leaving the house, as well as in solitude. The best place in the house for your Protector is the wall opposite or above the front door.
18. SORRY
The icon of the Virgin helps people:
- Gives the necessary benefits to those who need them;
- Brings consolation in grief, helps in difficult life situations;
- Heals physical and mental illness;
- Protects merchants on long journeys.
Pray to the face, and help will come to you in your work, business and family life.
19. JOY OF ALL JOYS
Miraculous icon it will help if you pray without fuss and anger in your heart:
- Returning lost items;
- For salvation from slander and slander;
- On release from prison;
- Successful completion of court proceedings;
- About assistance during a trip to a foreign country;
- About those who serve in "hot spots".
20. TRINITY
A prayer appeal to the Holy Trinity will help to cope with any trials, to find the right path. Before the shrine, you need to read prayers in order to cleanse yourself of those sins that torment you, do not allow you to live in peace. It is believed that the prayer uttered at the “Holy Trinity” icon is a direct conversation with God.
In the Orthodox tradition, the icon occupies a special place, and this place is determined by the fact that the icon is not only a decoration and an object of veneration, the icon has a meaning. Since ancient times, the icon has been called “for the illiterate,” “the picturesque Gospel,” “wordless preaching,” “theology in paints”.
Christianity originated in the Jewish environment, where the visual arts were strongly limited by the second commandment of the Decalogue, but already in the II century. Christians have symbolic images - on the walls of the catacombs, on sarcophagi, in small plastic, etc. After the Edict of Milan, which granted Christians freedom of religion, the construction of churches began, they were decorated with mosaics, frescoes, icons. In this case, images are assigned not only a decorative role; fathers in pictures appreciated, above all, an effective way of teaching.
"Silent painting is the same as the word of the Gospel for the ear."
A (IV century) advises:
“Let the hand of the most excellent painter fill the temple on both sides with images of the Old and New Testaments, so that those who do not know and cannot read the Divine Scriptures, looking at the picturesque images, recall the courageous deeds of those who sincerely served Christ and be excited to compete with the glorious and ever-memorable valor, for which the land was exchanged for, preferring the invisible to the visible. "
Why were icons so important for the Church that people gave their lives for them, and sometimes did not spare someone else's? This is not always clear to a modern person who is used to evaluating fine art from an aesthetic point of view, but here, as they say, there is no dispute about tastes. But for iconoclasts and icon-worshipers, it was about something more than artistic creation, it was about a confession of faith.
Icon - image
Word icon, Greek. εἰκὼν - image, St. the fathers attributed, first of all, to the images of the Savior, as well as to Himself. This is what the Apostle Paul calls Christ:
“He (Christ) is the image (εἰκὼν) of the invisible God, born before all creation” (Col. 1:15).
And this expresses the very essence of faith: God the Word, in the mysterious act of Incarnation, unites with human flesh, the Invisible and Inaccessible becomes visible and accessible to man. John the Evangelist testifies:
“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father ”(John 1:14).
The mystery of the Incarnation - the core of Christian revelation - is the basis for the image of Jesus Christ, as, indeed, for all icon painting.
Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
Not every image on a religious theme can be considered an icon, but only that which corresponds to the dogmas of the Church. In the Oros of the Seventh Council, it is indicated that the creators of the icon are the fathers, while the artist must be executed. At the same time, Oros does not limit artists either in the material (it would be durable), or in the technique of execution, or in the style, or in the location of the icons, the only condition was that the image did not contradict the doctrine of the Church. For this, a special language was developed, which we call canon. The conciliar rules say:
"Christ our God, on icons to represent human nature instead of the old lamb, and through that, contemplating the Word of God, we are brought to the remembrance of His life in the flesh, His suffering and saving death and in this way the redemption of the world accomplished."
The icon shows us not only the image of God, but also the image of man. And man, according to the Holy Scriptures, was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), which means that he is intended to shine with the light of God's glory. Each of us is an icon, but this icon needs restoration, cleaning, strengthening, removal of superficial layers. And we must do this every day of our life, until the image that the Divine artist intended shines through. Looking at the holy icons, at the images of the great ascetics of the faith, at the images of the Mother of God and the Savior, we look at our future, what it can become if we really put on Christ. The icon is the image of the century to come.
It is not enough just to look at the icon, kiss it, honor it, decorate it, etc., it is important to hear the message that it carries. The icon is a message to us, a sermon, a call. The icon is called a window to the invisible world, but it is also a pointer on the way to this world. On the icons, the Mother of God Hodegetria points to Christ, Whom she holds in her arms, the gestures of the saints are directed towards the Lord, the Savior lifts the blessing right hand - all these are signs for us on the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
The icon teaches us a new vision, shows us a different time, a different space, a transformed reality: light without shadow, day without night, life without death, love without hatred. A new heaven and a new earth, where God is all in all.
“The icon is prayer embodied,” says the archim. Zinon. "It is created in prayer and for the sake of prayer, the driving force of which is love for God, striving for Him as for perfect Beauty."
Icons in the Church
In the New Testament church, icons also began to be present in churches from the first centuries of Christianity. Church Tradition speaks of the first icon of the Savior - His image not made by hands. Our Lord Jesus Christ was pleased to depict His face in a miraculous way on the board, and sent this image not made by hands to the prince of Edessa, Abgar. Since ancient times, this image has been revered by the Church. Also, the Church Tradition tells about the icons of the Mother of God, written by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke. There is written evidence of the ancients about the use and veneration of holy icons in the first three centuries. So, Tertullian mentions the images of the Savior at church chalices in the form of a good shepherd. The same Tertullian, Menucius Felix and Origen testify how the pagans reproached Christians for allegedly worshiping crosses, i.e. revered the sacred image of the cross on which the Lord Savior was crucified. Eusebius says that he saw the painted icons of the Apostles - Peter and Paul and the Savior Himself, preserved from ancient Christians who converted from paganism. In the catacombs, caves, tombs of the martyrs, where the first Christians retired to pray, sacred images were also found. These images represent, for the most part, the Savior in the form of the Shepherd, who lifted his lost sheep on his shoulder; The Most Holy Theotokos in a crown or radiance, holding the Eternal Child in her arms, also in a shining crown; the twelve Apostles, the Nativity of the Savior and the adoration of the Magi, the miraculous feeding of a multitude of people with five loaves, the resurrection of Lazarus; from the Old Testament history - Noah's ark with a dove, the sacrifice of Isaac, Moses with a rod and tablets, Jonah, being ejected by a whale, Daniel in a ditch, three youths in a cave.
Photo: http://www.tatarstan-mitropolia.ru
The presence of icons in the first centuries of Christianity is said by St. Basil the Great: “I will also receive the holy Apostles, Prophets and martyrs, and I call them to intercession before God, but through them, that is, by their intercession, God who loves man will be merciful to me and may he grant me the remission of sins. Why do I honor the inscription of their icons and bow before them, especially because they are betrayed by the holy Apostles and are not forbidden, but are depicted in all our churches ”. The veneration of holy icons was enshrined in the dogma of the veneration of icons of the VII Ecumenical Council, which rejected the heresy of iconoclasm: “Like the image of the Honest and Of the Life-giving Cross, put in the saints Churches of God, on sacred vessels and clothes, on walls and on boards, in houses and on paths, honest and holy icons, painted with paints and from fractional stones and from other substances capable of this, are built, like icons of the Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, and Our Immaculate Lady, the Holy Theotokos, who are also honest and all holy and reverend men. Eliko bo often through the image on the icons they are visible, from the ceiling looking at them, they are labored to remember and love the prototypes, and to honor them with a kiss and reverent worship, untrue, according to our faith, worship of God, hedgehog befits a single Divine nature, but worship in that image, like the image of the Honest and Life-giving Cross and the Holy Gospel and other shrines with incense and delivery, honor is given, the yak and the ancients had a pious custom. For the honor given to the image passes to the primitive, and the one who worships the icon worships the creature depicted on it. This is how the teaching of our Saints is affirmed, our Father, there is the tradition of the Catholic Church, from the end to the end of the earth who received the Gospel. "
Icon in the house
Icons should be placed in a separate place from other items. Icons look extremely inappropriate in bookcases where books of a secular nature are kept, on shelves next to cosmetics, photographs of loved ones, toys, figurines, or simply are some kind of interior decoration. Do not place posters of pop performers, politicians, athletes and other idols next to icons this century... Should not be among the icons and art paintings, albeit written on biblical subjects. A painting, even if it has a religious content, such as "The Appearance of Christ to the People" by Alexander Ivanov or "Sistine Madonna" by Raphael, is not a canonical icon. Sometimes one has to see among the icons photographs of priests, elders, people of a righteous life. Canonically, this is unacceptable, since photography is an image that captures a specific moment in a person's earthly life, even if later glorified by the church in the face of saints. And the icon announces to us about him, precisely as a saint, in his glorified, transformed state. Of course, such photos can be in the house. Orthodox Christian, but they must be placed separately from the icons.
Exists misconception that spouses should not hang icons in the bedroom, and if there are any, then at night it is necessary to close them with a curtain. It's a delusion. First, no curtain can hide from God. Secondly, marital intimacy is not a sin. Therefore, you can safely put icons in the bedroom. Moreover, many of our compatriots do not always have the opportunity to place icons in a separate room intended for this. Of course, the icon should be in the dining room or, if the family dines in the kitchen, then there, so that they can pray before the meal and thank the Lord after the meal. Icons can be found in every room, there is nothing wrong or reprehensible in this. But it is naive to believe that the more icons there are in the house, the more pious the life of an Orthodox Christian. Quite often, such gathering becomes common collecting, where there is no question of the prayer purpose of the icon, and can have a completely opposite effect on the spiritual life of a person. The main thing is that prayer should be raised in front of the icons.
It is also a mistake to believe that the icon is a kind of accumulator of God's grace, which can be obtained if necessary. Grace acts not from the icon, but through the icon, and is sent down by the Lord to those who believe in Him. You can endlessly apply to the sacred image, while not having faith in the real power of the life-giving grace of God, and not get anything from this. Or you can venerate the icon once with deep faith and hope for the help of the Lord, and receive healing from bodily and ailments. It must also be remembered that the icon is not a kind of amulet that guarantees the absence of quarrels and problems in the family, as well as some kind of invisible protection from evil spirits and bad people... It is regrettable to see icons in the homes of Orthodox Christians hanging opposite the front door with an unambiguous motivation: “This is from bad people and protected from the evil eye. " The icon is not and cannot be such a talisman. In general, amulets are attributes of pagan and magical cults. In the life of an Orthodox Christian there should be neither paganism nor magic. But over the entrance, according to tradition, it is customary to hang an icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Although it can be any other icon or cross.
Iconography
Sometimes people who have a very secular art education, express a desire to paint icons. Of course, the presence of skills in painting and a certain experience in this matter will be of great help for the future icon painter. But this does not at all limit the requirements for the icon painter. According to the decision taken by the local council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1551, the icon painter must be “humble, meek, reverent, unpalatable, non-mocking, indiscreet, unenviable, not a drunkard, not a robber, not a murderer, especially to keep spiritual and bodily purity with all precautions, ..., to live in fasting, and in prayer, and abstinence with humility, and with great diligence to paint the image of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother of God, and the holy prophets, and the apostles, and the holy martyrs, and holy martyrs, and holy wives and saints, and the reverend fathers in the image and in the likeness of essentially looking at the image of the ancient painters, and imitate good models. " As can be seen from this definition, the requirements for the icon painter are very high. Therefore, the work of the icon painter has always been highly revered in the Orthodox world.
Ideally, the modern icon painter and those who wish to become such should strive to meet these requirements. But our life is very far from ideal and for this moment icon painters are not presented with such high demands as it was in the 16th century. But, nevertheless, the icon painter must be a man of a pious life, a real, and not a nominal member of the Church, diligently observing all the institutions of the Holy Orthodox Church. The same requirements can be presented to a person who wants to embroider icons. It must be remembered that writing an icon is not just writing some kind of landscape or portrait, but an image of the Lord Himself, His Most Pure Mother and holy saints. And this requires a tremendous return of not only bodily, but, first of all, spiritual strength. Therefore, the question of writing icons by this or that person must necessarily be put to the consideration of his confessor, since only he can know about the level of a person's spiritual development. Thus, receiving the blessing of the confessor for painting icons becomes a mandatory requirement for a future icon painter.
Summing up, I would like to recall those people, thanks to whom today they have the opportunity to honor these sacred images and pray in front of them. These are the holy fathers of the VII Ecumenical Council, who restored the veneration of icons and proclaimed the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Of all the victories over many different heresies, only one victory over iconoclasm and the restoration of icon veneration was proclaimed the Triumph of Orthodoxy. This is what we celebrate every year on the first Sunday of Great Lent. And let the oceans of passions rage around us, let the false Christs and false prophets rise up in the world, calling to abandon the holy icons, let the sectarian preachers shake the air with their heresy, in vain seeking justification for themselves in the Holy Scriptures. We, glorifying the memory of the holy fathers of the VII Ecumenical Council and triumphing about the Holy Orthodox Faith, let us answer all those who rise up against the holy icons with the words of St. John Damascene: “Away, you envious devil! You are jealous that we see the image of our Lord and through him we are sanctified; you are jealous that we see His saving sufferings, we are amazed at His perfection, we contemplate His miracles, we cognize and glorify the power of His Divinity; you envy the honor of the saints, which they have received from God; you do not want us to look at images of their glory and become zealots of their courage and faith; you do not tolerate the bodily and mental benefits that come from our faith to them. But we do not listen to you, misanthropic demon! Hearken, peoples, tribes, languages, men, wives, youths, elders, youths and babies, the holy Christian line! If someone proclaims to you something different from what the Holy Orthodox Church has received from the apostles, fathers and councils and what has kept it up to this time, do not listen, do not take advice from the serpent. "
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