Vilenskaya icon of the Mother of God: what are they praying for?

Among the numerous miraculous images of the Virgin, a special place is occupied by the Vilnius icon of the Mother of God. She has a very rich history, which is still from the apostolic times. Also on her account are many different healings, just help in various human affairs. To date, a list of this image of the Mother of God is in Vilnius, in the Holy Spirit Monastery (and the original icon is lost after the events of the Civil and First World War).

Legend of the origin of the icon

The Vilna icon of the Mother of God has its own special history of origin (as well as many similar ones). It is believed that it was written at the time when Jesus Christ came to earth when the Mother of God was alive. In Constantinople, according to legend, she came from Palestine, which was reflected in her name - "Tsaregradskaya", or "Jerusalem".

History of icons in Russia

The exact version of how the Vilensky icon of the Mother of God appeared in Russia is not. According to one of them, in Moscow this ancient image came with Sofia Paleologus in 1472. The princess subsequently becomes the wife of John III. There is one more version of how the icon turned out to be in Russia. The Greek emperor sent her as a gift to the King of Galicia, and after the capture of the Galicia Principality she transferred to the Moscow ruler.

Whatever it was, but in 1495 this icon was blessed for the marriage of Princess Elena, the daughter of John III. Together with her, she moved to Vilna, the capital of Lithuania. Obviously, that's why she was later named Vilenskaya. While the Princess was alive, the ancient image was in her rooms.

After Helen's death, and this happened in January 1513, the shrine was placed over her tomb in the Assumption Cathedral in Vilna (this was stipulated in her will). It was the residence of the Lithuanian and Kiev Metropolitan, as well as one of the oldest and oldest temples in the capital. Some historians find confirmation that Elena had previously transferred this image to the temple, and not since her death, he was there.

An interesting fact is that this icon has repeatedly tried to regain the Moscow Principality. A lot of bribes were offered for her, but all encroachments were rejected.

History of the icon during the formation of Uniate rule

The Vilna icon of the Mother of God, after the Brest church union was proclaimed, was transferred to the church of St. Nicholas. This happened because the Prechistensky Cathedral, where the image was located, became Uniat, and the Orthodox tried to preserve in their faith the most valuable shrines. However, in 1609 the church of St. Nicholas also went to the Uniates, so it was decided to return the icon of Vilna back to the cathedral.

Further events led to the fact that the Vilna icon was in the Holy Trinity Church of the monastery. After the fire in 1610 in the Prechistensky monastery and the subsequent repair of the metropolitan department was transferred to the Holy Trinity Church. According to some reports, it was said that the icon was immediately taken away, other evidence shows that after the desolation of the Prechistenskaya church the image was transferred to the Trinity Church. Whatever it was, but in 1652 there were already documentary references to the fact that before the Vilnius icon the Akathist was performed every Saturday in the Trinity Church.

In the future, it was repeatedly exported from the city and the temple during the wars. For example, in 1654-1667, during the Polish war, as well as in 1700-1721, during the Northern War. The first time she was wanted by order of the Moscow Tsar Alexis to return, but did not find it.

In 1707, a new kiot was built for the icon (the previous one disappeared a year earlier in a fire), a few years later it was gilded. Attempts to transfer the image to the Russian Empire ceased, since they did not touch it even after Vilna was annexed to Russia, and also after the cancellation of the union.

Since then, she was in this monastery, but she was evacuated during the First World War, her further path is unknown. In the church in Vilnius, now there is an exact list of icons (also, by the way, miraculous).

Iconography of the image

To make this icon, four boards were cut out - two cypress and two lime trees. By its writing, the image is very similar to the Jerusalem icon (obviously, it is with this that the fact that it is sometimes called the "Jerusalem" icon is connected). There are similarities with the Tikhvin and Georgian images.

On the icon you can see the Virgin holding on the left hand of the Child. His heel is naked and peeking out, his left hand is resting on his knees with a scroll, and his right hand is raised in a blessing gesture.

For its long time of being in the temple, the icon was overgrown with offerings of precious materials. In 1677, for the image, a silver chased robe was made. In silver were the clothes of the Mother and the Child, on which eagles and flowers were depicted in gold. It is also clear that the background of the icon is made in the finest technique of filigree. On the head of the Mother of God was a golden crown, supported by gilded angels, and on the crown of the baby were precious stones.

On the background of the icon there were many silver plaques, as well as various precious ornaments (beads, pearls, precious stones, ornaments of gold and silver). When in 1866 they made restoration, repair and cleaning of the image, then of all the jewelry and silver that were removed from the icon, a new salary was made, as well as new halos with diamonds and diamonds. Another icon for the icon was a bronze frame.

Celebrating days

The days of celebrating this image fall on two numbers. The first day is the fifteenth of February, which is timed to the event of the transfer of the icon in Vilna, which took place in 1495. And the second day of celebration is the fourteenth of April.

Prayer to the icon

The Vilna icon of the Mother of God is very famous for various miracles. What are they praying for before this image? Usually, prayer and a request are made to her, to alleviate or cure her ailments both spiritual and bodily. It is these healings that glorify this image. This is exactly what is said in the prayer-address to the Mother of God before this icon.

They also ask for protection from various misfortunes, for deliverance from sins, for protection from various enemies. There is a special prayer with which you can refer to the icon, but there is not a separate akathist, troparion and kontakion to it.

Thus, proceeding from all of the above, the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God is of great importance for all Orthodox.

The Icon of Ostrobram

Also in Vilnius there is no less honored image, which is also sometimes confused with the above. It also has a rich and fairly ancient history, and several variants of its origin. This is the Vilna Icon of Ostrobram, which is currently in Lithuania, in the chapel of Ostra Brama.

The origin of this icon is quite interesting. Some believe that this image was brought from Chersonese (Korsun), so in other sources it is also called the "Korsun Annunciation". He brought her Prince Olgerd from the campaign against the Tatars and gave his wife Maria. However, his second wife presented this icon to the Holy Trinity Monastery.

According to the second legend, the icon itself appeared on the Sharp Gate in 1431 on the fourteenth of April. Still there is a third legend, according to which, the icon was sent by John Paleologus to the Lithuanian prince Olgerd after he adopted Christianity. Thus, a miraculous shrine appeared on the Lithuanian soil.

The days of celebration and the prayer for the icon

The Vilna Icon of the Mother of God also has its days of celebration. The first time in a year falls on the fourteenth of April. This is a day of commemoration of three Lithuanian martyrs. The second day of memory falls on the twenty-sixth of December.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to note that the icon of the Virgin of Vilna, like the Ostrobraska, is very significant for the Orthodox people. Although the last image is venerated by both Orthodox and Greek Catholics due to the events that took place on the territory of Lithuania. This all indicates that true faith has no limits, if we address our defenders with a pure heart and reverence, they will certainly help on this, sometimes such hard, life path.