Miraculous icon "Inexhaustible Chalice"

Alcoholism is a disease that a person acquires voluntarily, mutilating not only his body, but also his soul. And today it has become not a single instance, but a real disaster of the nation. Therefore, it is obvious that without spiritual help, medicine with the "green dragon" can not cope. The Orthodox Church has a huge and invaluable experience in the fight against drunkenness. Widely known, for example, was the icon of the Mother of God "The Inexhaustible Chalice". In many churches near it there are prayer services. They are aimed at the bodily and spiritual healing of people who are addicted to alcohol. When and by whom the icon was written, no one knows. But it is known which event caused her special reverence.

"Inexhaustible Chalice": glorification

Information about it spread after an event that occurred with a peasant from the Tula province. The retired soldier quickly became a bitter drunkard. On vodka he exchanged everything he had, because of alcohol his legs were cut off. But this did not stop the peasant. He continued to drink until the old man appeared to him in a dream with a command to go to Serpukhov, to find in the monastery of the Lady of the Theotokos the icon "Inexhaustible Chalice" and serve a moleben before her. He crawled to the city on all fours. The icon was found hanging in the passage from the sacristy to the temple. As a result, the peasant returned to his county absolutely healthy. And the rumor about the glorification of this icon went all over Russia. Both the drunkards and their relatives came to the monastery to ask the Mother of God for help and to thank for the favor.

"Inexhaustible Chalice": iconography

By type of writing, it refers to the image of the Virgin "Oranta". The only significant difference is the disposition of the Child in the cup, which symbolizes communion. It exudes a blessing upon all sinners who come to it with faith. The cup is called inept, because the Lamb sacrificed is "always poisonous" and never diminished. And the Mother of God, raising her hands to heaven, like a high priest, intercedes with God, offering him the Sacrifice - His Son, His flesh and blood. She prays for all those who seek the salvation of sinners. The Mother of God calls them to turn away from pernicious attachments and turn to the source of spiritual comfort and joy.

"Inexhaustible Chalice": Celebration

It is honored annually on May 18. This date was timed to coincide with the day of the departure to the world of another Reverend Varlaam Serpukhovsky. In the restored Vysotsky Monastery every Sunday after the end of the Liturgy, a moleben is first performed, then the Akathist "Inexhaustible Chalice" is read before the icon of the Mother of God. And during the final prayer there is a listing of the names of those who suffer from alcoholism and need the help and grace of the Lady. This Akathist is also read in many other churches in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine. By the way, in the same monastery in Serpukhov simultaneously with the traditional veneration of the icon, the celebration of its December 10th is also resumed. It was on this day that it was committed in the 19th century.

"Inexhaustible Chalice": Prayer to the Theotokos in Honor of the Icon

It is lifted up by all who are hungry for healing. It is believed that this prayer helps to get rid not only of cravings for alcohol and drugs, but also to heal illnesses of the spirit and body arising on their background. Since it began to be read by believers, many cases of complete healing have been recorded.