Image of the Mother of God Tenderness Serafimo Diveevskaya. Icon "Tenderness": how to pray to the Mother of God and what to ask for. What to pray for in front of the icon "Tenderness"

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The icon was in a cell way. With oil from the lamp burning in front of the cell icon, the Monk Seraphim anointed the sick, and they received healing. In front of this icon, the monk departed to the Lord. Another name for the icon is “Joy of all joys”. This is how St. Seraphim himself often called the icon "Tenderness".

After glorification in the guise of saints, Emperor Nicholas II donated a precious riza for the icon of Tenderness. In 1927, the Diveevsky Monastery, where the original Joy of All Joys icon was located, was closed, but the holy image was secretly taken out. It has been kept by pious people for decades. In June 1991, the icon was handed over to Patriarch Alexy II, and now it is in the Patriarchal Residence. Once a year, on the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Seraphim-Diveevo icon “Tenderness” is taken out for general worship at the Patriarchal Epiphany Cathedral.

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The veneration of the icon of Tenderness is associated with the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov (P. I. Moshnin, 1759-1833, canonized in 1903). According to the biography, compiled according to the memoirs of people who knew the Sarov elder closely, his whole life passed under the auspices of the Mother of God. The Mother of God repeatedly appeared to him in visions, healed from deadly diseases. Rev. Seraphim had several icons of the Mother of God. Among them, a special place was occupied by a cell icon called Tenderness, which the elder also called "Joy of all joys." Before her, kneeling in prayer, he died. The icon was painted on a canvas stretched over a cypress board. After the death of Rev. Seraphim, hegumen Nifont transferred the image to the nearby Diveevsky convent, which was under the patronage. In Diveevo, a gilded silver riza was made for the icon. Here in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity a special chapel was arranged for the icon, dedicated to its name - the Tenderness of the Mother of God. The icon was celebrated on July 28 and December 9 (the day the monastery was founded). Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov) composed a special service for the glorified icon. To the opening of the relics of St. Seraphim from the icon was made a list for the Sarov Monastery. After canonization, the production of lists began in the icon-painting workshops of the Diveevo Monastery and its courtyard in Peterhof. The icon was depicted in various printed publications and on hagiographic images of St. Seraphim.

The icon from the Tretyakov Gallery is an exact copy of the revered image. The image of the Mother of God is half-length, with her hands folded on her chest, her head bowed and her gaze lowered. Western iconography, which appeared in Russia in the 17th century. On the icon-copy, a gilded frame and a riza, an ubrus and a crown, decorated with precious stones, are imitated by means of painting. The faces of the hand are made with soft light-and-shadow modeling in the style of academic painting of the early 20th century, which was used for painting icons. The crown is framed by the inscription: "Hail unbridened bride."

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Also read on our website:

Earthly life of the Virgin- Description of life, Christmas, Assumption of the Mother of God.

Apparitions of the Virgin- About the miraculous apparitions of the Mother of God.

Icons of the Mother of God- Information about the types of icon painting, descriptions of most of the icons of the Mother of God.

Prayers to the Mother of God- Basic prayers. - Description of some superstitions.

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ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD "Tenderness" SERAFIM-DIVEEVSKAYA

The icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Serafimo-Diveevskaya belonged to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, was his cell shrine. With oil from the lamp that burned in front of this holy icon, the Monk anointed the sick, who received healing after the anointing. The ascetic called the icon "Tenderness" - "Joy of All Joys", in front of it he died in prayer on January 2, 1833.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Serafimo-Diveevskaya

The celebration of the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" takes place on July 28 / August 10 and December 9/22 - on the day of the founding of the Virgin Mill Community by St. Seraphim.

The greatest ascetic of the Russian land, Seraphim of Sarov, who during his life was honored twelve times with the appearance of the Mother of God to him, had in his wretched cell only one treasure - one of the images of the icon "Tenderness". She accompanied him throughout the entire period of ascetic life, full of service and self-denial. Before Her image, he prayed for the protection of the Russian land, for the salvation of the Russian people: "Our Lady, Most Holy Theotokos, save us." For a thousand days, standing on a stone, Seraphim of Sarov offered prayers to the Mother of God. And during the period of his exploits: pillars, seclusion, silence, the face of the Virgin touched and delighted his soul. The saint called her "Joy of all joys."

In front of this miraculous image of the Mother of God, kneeling in prayer, filled with Her love, Seraphim of Sarov left the earth, embraced by the wonderful light of Her goodness. After the departure of the holy elder, the rector, Father Nifont, gave the miraculous icon to the sisters of the Diveevo Seraphim Monastery, where she became the Supreme Abbess of the monastery. The abbesses of the monastery were called viceroys of the Supreme Abbess.

From the life of St. Seraphim: “With special love, the holy elder received sincerely and humbly penitents and those who showed ardent zeal for the Christian spiritual life. After a conversation with them, the Monk Seraphim used to lay on their bowed heads the end of the stole and his right hand.

At the same time, he offered to say a short prayer of repentance behind him, after which he himself said a prayer of permission, from which those who came received relief of conscience and some special spiritual pleasure; then the elder crosswise anointed the visitor with oil from a lamp burning in front of the icon of the Mother of God of Tenderness, which was in his cell, which he called the icon of the Mother of God - the Joy of all joys, ... then - he christened with every Christian, no matter what time it happened, reminding those of the saving power of the Resurrection of Christ, and gave it to be applied to the image of the Mother of God or to the cross hanging on his chest.

Through the prayers of the monk, many miracles were performed in front of this icon. The Monk Seraphim died on his knees before the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness". He was found in his cell in an ordinary white robe, in front of a small lectern, kneeling with cross-folded hands.

“I entrust and leave you in the care of this Queen of Heaven”

Soon after his death, the image, "written on a canvas stretched over a cypress board," was transferred to the Diveevo monastery. He was the main shrine of the monastery, and later - the locally venerated icon of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. In honor of her, they were going to consecrate the Diveevo Cathedral, but by the special permission of God, the main altar was dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity, and the right chapel to the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”.

Before the revolution, the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Serafimo-Diveevo was in the Trinity Cathedral of the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery. The Mother of God on this icon is depicted half-height, with her arms folded crosswise on her chest, without the Divine Infant at the moment when She pronounces the words to the Archangel Gabriel during the Annunciation: “Behold the servant of the Lord, be me according to your word.” The icon is painted in oil on canvas, mounted on a cypress board, 67x49 cm in size. The iconography of the icon dates back to the Vilna-Ostrobramsk Icon of the Mother of God.

The priest repeatedly said to the Diveyevo sisters, pointing to the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”: “I entrust and leave you in the care of this Queen of Heaven. After the death of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, in fulfilling his will, rector Fr. Nifont gave the holy icon to the sisters of the Diveevo monastery.

At the first opportunity, a gilded riza was made. Another precious riza with stones was donated by Sovereign Nicholas II during the glorification of St. Seraphim. The halo on this riza was made in the form of diverging rays of radiance, consisting of precious stones and pearls. Many lists were made from the icon, some of them also became miraculous. In 1903, the icon "Tenderness" was brought in procession from Diveevo to Sarov for the celebration of the glorification of the Reverend.

After the dissolution of the monastery and the closure of the monastery in 1927, Bishop Seraphim (Zvezdinsky), Archbishop Zinovy ​​(Drozdov) of Tambov, and Abbess Alexandra were arrested and sent to Moscow. After her release, Mother Alexandra and several sisters settled in Murom, managing to save and take with her the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" along with the rest of Father Seraphim's belongings.

After her death in 1941, the nun Maria (Barinova) kept the image. At the end of her life, she decided to give the shrine to Patriarch Pimen, who once, while still a hieromonk, served in Murom, visited the Diveyevo sisters and kissed the shrines of St. Seraphim, carrying love for the Holy Elder and the Diveyevo monastery through all his life. However, the patriarch decided that the shrines should be given for safekeeping to Archpriest Viktor Shipovalnikov, who lived in the village of Kratovo near Moscow.

For nineteen years, Father Victor and his mother carefully kept the belongings of the Reverend Seraphim. Accepting those who came to the shrines, they repeatedly witnessed miracles and healings. In 1991, the icon, salary and belongings of the monk were handed over to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

“For almost twenty years, Archpriest Viktor Shipovalnikov was the custodian of the Diveyevo shrines,” wrote His Holiness Patriarch Alexy in a commemorative homily about Father Viktor. -Among them was the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness". Now this icon resides in the house church of our Patriarchal residence and annually, on the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos, it is taken out for general worship in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral. The rest of the shrines were transferred to the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery.

Now the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness", which belonged to Father Seraphim, - this most precious shrine - is in the Patriarchal House Church at the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill. As under His Holiness Patriarch Alexy, once a year - on the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos - she is taken out for general worship at the Patriarchal Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow.

The miraculous image "Tenderness" is stored in Novgorod

In Novgorod, in the Trinity Church, there is a blessed icon of the Mother of God, known under the name “Tenderness”. In 1337, this icon was marked by the following miracle: at noon on July 8, the church watchman heard a noise in the church and hurried to enter it. With horror, he saw that the icon of the Mother of God, located above the northern doors, raised from its place by an invisible force, stood in the air and tears dripped from the eyes of the Mother of God. Archbishop Alexy was notified that hour, and he immediately, accompanied by all the clergy, the procession of the cross and a multitude of people, arrived at the place of the miracle. The icon was placed by the archbishop in a specially arranged shrine, and at the same time, in memory of this miracle, it was established to celebrate the icon “Tenderness” on July 8.

The handwritten church chronicle also mentions other miracles that were from this icon. In 1337 a pestilence broke out in Novgorod. The people turned to the Queen of Heaven in front of her miraculous icon and the fad stopped. In gratitude for the miraculous patronage of the Mother of God, Archbishop Basil in 1352 established an annual procession from St. Sophia Cathedral to the Trinity Church.

His successor, Alexy, witnessed a new miracle from the icon “Tenderness”: in the summer of 1366, the Trinity Church caught fire, the flames engulfed the entire church, but the miraculous icon of the Mother of God appeared standing in the air above the burning church. All the people saw this miracle, and Archbishop Alexy arrived there with a procession. During the service, the icon descended from a height onto the hands of the bishop, and the fire stopped, and a trace of it remained on the icon: the back of the board was burned by half an arshin.

Grand Duke John the Third took this icon to Moscow in 1497, where it remained until 1508 and then was returned to Novgorod, at the request of Princess Mary, to whom the Mother of God appeared in a dream, commanding to return the miraculous icon. In 1508 the icon “Tenderness” was transferred to the Trinity Church.

Let us fall down to the Theotokos with tenderness, / all, burdened with sins, / kissing Her miraculous icon of Tenderness / and crying with tears: / Mistress, accept the prayer of Your unworthy servants / and grant to us who ask, / I command Your mercy.

Oh, Blessed Lady Mistress, Virgin Mother of God! Accept our unworthy prayers, save us from the slander of evil people and from vain death, give us first and give us joy in sorrow, grant a place. And deliver us, O Lady Lady Theotokos, from all evil, and vouchsafe us, your sinful servants, to the right hand in the second coming of your Son, Christ our God, and be our heirs vouchsafe the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life with all the saints in endless ages. Amen.

Accept, all-merciful, Most Pure Lady, Lady of the Theotokos, these honest gifts, the only applied to You, from us, Your unworthy servants: chosen from all generations, the highest being of all creatures of heaven and earth, for the sake of You, the Lord of Forces be with us, and with You We will know the Son of God and be made worthy of His holy Body and His most pure Blood; even more blessed are you in the birth of childbirth, God-blessed, the brightest cherubim and the most honest seraphim. And now, all-singing Most Holy Theotokos, do not stop praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, to deliver us from every evil advice and every circumstance and keep us intact from every poisonous pretense of the devil; but even to the end with your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if by your intercession and help we save, glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for the whole in the Trinity to the one God and all the Creator we send, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Icon of the Mother of God Tenderness Serafimo Diveyevo Prayer

icon of the Mother of God "SERAFIMO-DIVEEVSKAYA" (Tenderness)

The icon was a private icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov. With oil from the lamp burning in front of the cell icon, the Monk Seraphim anointed the sick, and they received healing. In front of this icon, the monk departed to the Lord. Another name for the icon is “Joy of all joys”. This is how St. Seraphim himself often called the icon "Tenderness".

After the glorification of St. Seraphim among the saints, Emperor Nicholas II presented a precious riza for the icon of Tenderness. In 1927, the Diveevsky Monastery, where the original Joy of All Joys icon was located, was closed, but the holy image was secretly taken out. It has been kept by pious people for decades. In June 1991, the icon was handed over to Patriarch Alexy II, and now it is in the Patriarchal Residence. Once a year, on the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Seraphim-Diveevo icon “Tenderness” is taken out for general worship at the Patriarchal Epiphany Cathedral.

The veneration of the icon of Tenderness is associated with the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov (P. I. Moshnin, 1759-1833, canonized in 1903). According to the biography, compiled according to the memoirs of people who knew the Sarov elder closely, his whole life passed under the auspices of the Mother of God. The Mother of God repeatedly appeared to him in visions, healed from deadly diseases. Rev. Seraphim had several icons of the Mother of God. Among them, a special place was occupied by a cell icon called Tenderness, which the elder also called "Joy of all joys." Before her, kneeling in prayer, he died. The icon was painted on a canvas stretched over a cypress board. After the death of Rev. Seraphim, hegumen Nifont gave the image to the nearby Diveevo Convent, which was under the patronage of Elder Seraphim. In Diveevo, a gilded silver riza was made for the icon. Here in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity a special chapel was arranged for the icon, dedicated to its name - the Tenderness of the Mother of God. The icon was celebrated on July 28 and December 9 (the day the monastery was founded). Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov) composed a special service for the glorified icon. To the opening of the relics of St. Seraphim from the icon was made a list for the Sarov Monastery. After canonization, the production of lists began in the icon-painting workshops of the Diveevo Monastery and its courtyard in Peterhof. The icon was depicted in various printed publications and on hagiographic images of St. Seraphim.

The icon from the Tretyakov Gallery is an exact copy of the revered image. The image of the Mother of God is half-length, with her hands folded on her chest, her head bowed and her gaze lowered. Western iconography, which appeared in Russia in the 17th century. On the icon-copy, a gilded frame and a riza, an ubrus and a crown, decorated with precious stones, are imitated by means of painting. The faces of the hand are made with soft light-and-shadow modeling in the style of academic painting of the early 20th century, which was used for painting icons. The crown is framed by the inscription: "Hail unbridened bride."

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Icons of the Mother of God- Information about the types of icon painting, descriptions of most of the icons of the Mother of God.

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Icon of Tenderness meaning, what helps

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On this shrine, the Most Holy Theotokos is depicted at her happiest moment, even before the birth of her child, Jesus, but after the Annunciation. Against the background of the divine image, the Defender stands out with enthusiastic features and a bright image. The Virgin Mary is depicted with her arms crossed in a prayerful gesture, with her head slightly tilted and her eyes slightly lowered, which in turn is the personification of kindness, chastity and restraint. The Mother of God is captured precisely when the angel Gabriel tells that she will have to give birth to the Son of God.

Initially, the icon of the Mother of God of Tenderness was made on canvas, which is attached to a cypress board. The image of the Saint was presented to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov by Nicholas II. Who was able to see not only the purity of hearts, but also the soul of every person, therefore, just the same, he could ask for healing for Orthodox people.

The oil from the icon lamp burning near the shrine had healing properties, thanks to which, by lubricating the sick, Saint Seraphim could heal from various ailments. The Reverend himself died right in front of the miraculous image on his knees.

Then, in 1991, the face was transferred to Patriarch Alexei II in Moscow to be placed in the patriarchal church, however, for worship, the shrine is annually transferred to the Epiphany Cathedral. Gradually, many copies began to be made from the divine image, and some of them had no less healing properties than the original.

In this article, you will learn the meaning of the Tenderness icon, what the miraculous image helps with, a prayer to the Mother of God, in which temples and churches the shrine can be located, and much more.

When they arrange a celebration in honor of the Holy Image

The Diveevo Icon of the Mother of God Tenderness is revered in many churches and temples, and a celebration is also held in her honor:

• December 22 / 9 (old style) - the day of the Monk Seraphim of the Virgin Mill community;
• August 1/July 19 (old style);
• August 10 / July 28 (old style).

What helps the icon of the Tenderness of the Virgin and its meaning

The miraculous face, in fact, can be considered female, which is why it is mainly aimed at protecting and helping the beautiful female half of humanity. The meaning of the icon of Tenderness is very important for many, and therefore, turning to the Holy Face, young girls can thus maintain a good disposition, purity, and chastity.

It is also believed that if you ask for support from the Mother of God, then she will definitely help, the main thing is to believe, and the stronger she is, the sooner you will get what you want.

What do they pray for the icon of the Mother of God Tenderness

• The miraculous image of the Most Pure, first of all, helps to get rid of various ailments;
• The shrine will also relieve mental hardships, and will also help to overcome the transitional age;
• A prayer service to the Divine image can help in the conception of a child, and can also facilitate the birth process;
• It can also be noted what the icon of Tenderness helps in is the tenderness of evil hearts, getting rid of immoral thoughts and giving harmony;
• The image will help girls to find a worthy person and bring happiness to life.

The meaning of the icon of the Mother of God Tenderness is very important for many Orthodox, because the image itself is distinguished by amazing touchingness, tenderness and the ability to protect from the most painful despondency. It flows in the heart when severe trials fall on the human lot and protects against significant shocks, and before the onset of a depressed state of mind from a series of monotonous gray everyday life.

Where is the icon of the Tenderness of the Blessed Virgin

The shrine of the Mother of God can be found in Golitsino in the Cathedral of Seraphim of Sarov. In the last century, somewhere in the 60s, from the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery, one of the nuns handed over the miraculous copy of the cell image of the Most Holy Theotokos Seraphim of Sarov to the icon painter Alexei Artsybushev for safekeeping.

This miraculous icon of Tenderness, which was painted in the 19th century, was in the artist’s house for over 40 years, but after that he donated the shrine to the Cathedral of St. Seraphim of Sarov (Golitsyno), which was being built.

One of the most revered lists of the divine image is located in the Trinity Cathedral of the Seraphim-Diveevo Church, in honor of which the limit was even consecrated. The face was written somewhere in the late 19th - early 20th century by the nuns of the monastery. Although the image exists relatively recently, however, during this time it has become widely known due to its miraculous properties.

In honor of this face, special days of his veneration were even determined, which fell on December 9 and July 28, and before the start of the service every week on Sunday, the church chants of Paraklis are held in front of the divine image.

The most revered shrine among the Orthodox people is located in the capital in the Patriarchal Epiphany Cathedral.

Miracles performed by the image of the Virgin Mary

• According to the chronicle, in 1337 a terrible plague reigned in Novgorod, which took more and more human lives every day, and there was no salvation from the deadly disease. And then, in despair, all the Orthodox people gathered and marched to the Trinity Cathedral, where they tearfully began to cry out to the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, reading a prayer service for salvation from the cruel embrace of the epidemic. After that, the attack soon receded, and in memory of this divine help, people began to annually make a crusade to the Trinity Monastery from St. Sophia Cathedral.
• There were also cases when the image could stream myrrh, one of these occurred on July 8, 1337, however, not only tears flowed from the face, but the entire image hovered in the air, held by some unknown force. After that, the clergy were called, and a procession was made to the Trinity Cathedral for the service;
• In the settlement of Lokot (Bryansk region) there is a unique divine shrine of the Serafimo-Diveevo Queen of Heaven in the family of Natalia and Viktor Remezov. One day, a sufferer with an oncological disease came to their house, and in the near future she had to undergo a complex operation. The woman diligently and wholeheartedly prayed to the Mother of God for a successful outcome of her illness, and after that she went to the hospital to prepare for surgery. However, after the ultrasound examination, the doctors were seriously surprised, because the ultrasound showed that there were no more cancer cells, and the patient turned out to be completely healthy.

Prayer to the Icon of the Mother of God Tenderness

“Oh, Blessed Lady Mistress, Virgin Mother of God! Accept our unworthy prayers, save us from the slander of evil people and from vain death, give us first and give us joy in sorrow, grant a place. And deliver us, O Lady Lady Theotokos, from all evil, and vouchsafe us, your sinful servants, to the right hand in the second coming of your Son, Christ our God, and be our heirs vouchsafe the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life with all the saints in endless ages. Amen".

“Receive, all-merciful, Most Pure Lady, Lady of the Mother of God, these honest gifts, the only applied to You, from us, Your unworthy servants: chosen from all generations, the highest being of all creatures of heaven and earth, for the sake of You, the Lord of Forces be with us, and By you we will know the Son of God and be honored with His holy Body and His most pure Blood; even more blessed are you in the birth of childbirth, God-blessed, the brightest cherubim and the most honest seraphim. And now, all-singing Most Holy Theotokos, do not stop praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, to deliver us from every evil advice and every circumstance and keep us intact from every poisonous pretense of the devil; but even to the end with your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if by your intercession and help we save, glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for the whole in the Trinity to the one God and all the Creator we send, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen".

God bless you!

You will also be interested in watching a video about the miraculous icon of the Tenderness of the Mother of God.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Pskov - Caves

In the Orthodox Church, several types of icons of the Mother of God are accepted for veneration, one of them is “Tenderness”. On the icons "Tenderness" (in the Greek tradition - "Eleusa"), the Most Holy Theotokos is usually depicted to the waist. She holds the baby - the Savior - in her arms and tenderly bows to her Divine Son.

CELEBRATION: June 12/23, August 26/September 8, June 23/July 6, May 21/June 3, October 7/20 (in memory of the deliverance of Pskov from the invasion of French troops in 1812).

"Tenderness" - Icon of the Mother of God of Pskov - Caves Pskov-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" is a list. It was written by the monk Arseniy Khitrosh in 1521. The image, painted “as befits and as befits in relation to God – with good and honest colors carefully”, was brought to the Pskov-Caves monastery in the abbess of St. Cornelius by Pskov merchants Vasily and Theodore around 1521. This holy icon has become famous all over the world for its miraculous help, supporting and protecting Orthodox Christians in difficult moments of life.

The icon became especially famous in 1524 for numerous miraculous healings, which were witnessed by the inhabitants of Pskov and Veliky Novgorod. The ancient chronicle of the monastery says: “The Mother of God gives healing not only to the Orthodox, but also from non-believers, that is, from the Latins of the German land, who came with faith to the Most Pure Mother of God and to Her miraculous image, gives healing.”

In 1581, the Polish ruler King Stefan Batory attempted to siege Pskov. A few days before the siege of Pskov by the Poles, the Most Holy Theotokos miraculously appeared to the pious elder Dorotheus, warned him of the impending disaster, explaining the reason for the misfortune that befell people for their sins and indicating the way out of it. Then the archbishop summoned hegumen of the Pskov-Pechersk monastery Tikhon with the Pechersk icons of "Assumption" and "Tenderness" to perform prayers at the places indicated by the Theotokos Herself at the time of Her appearance. From the bell tower of the Mirozhsky monastery, the soldiers of the opposing side dropped red-hot cannonballs, one of which hit the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, which hung on top of the city wall. But the image was miraculously preserved, and the core fell near it without causing any damage. The enemy, who had stormed the Pskov Kremlin thirty times within five months, retreated without taking the city.
In commemoration of this event, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” was carried annually on the seventh Sunday after Easter in a procession from the Pskov-Caves Monastery to Pskov “to the holy and great cathedral apostolic church of the Most Holy and Life-Giving. Indivisible Trinity - so that the coming births do not forget the victory over the enemy, thanks to that miraculous icon - in the city of Pskov.
Since ancient times, the Pskov-Caves Monastery has been famous for its religious processions. There is even a separate chapter in the monastery chronicle: “The code of order and custom - how to walk with icons of the Most Pure Theotokos and with honest crosses from the Caves monastery to the city of Pskov,” written on the occasion of the establishment of a procession on the seventh Week after Easter, which took place annually from 1601 to 1918. In 1997, the tradition of this procession was resumed, only now the icon is worn inside the monastery - from the Assumption to St. Michael's Church and back. The same religious procession takes place in the autumn, on October 7/20, for the celebration of the Pskov-Caves icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Tenderness".
On July 24, 2000, on the feast of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, the miraculous image of the Mother of God was again brought to Pskov to participate in the festive procession of the cross of the ancient city.
Now in the main aisle of the Assumption Cathedral of the monastery there are two revered lists from the miraculous Pskov-Caves Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness".

Thanks to the help of the Mother of God, the city of Polotsk was taken from the French. The event took place on October 7, 1812 during the Patriotic War during the invasion of the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte. The commander of the 1st Corps ascribes his victory to the help of the Mother of God and her holy image “Tenderness”. The icon of the Mother of God with its miraculous power helped to win another victory.
Numerous cases of the help of this icon in the miraculous healing of blind people are known. The widow, who prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, received recovery after a fervent prayer in front of the Tenderness icon. The icon of the Mother of God was glorified by a great miracle. The woman was blind for almost three years, and after a fervent prayer in front of the miraculous image she received her sight. Also, a peasant who had not seen before for six years was also healed of blindness. In addition, various cases of recovery from serious illnesses were noted, which occurred with the help of the Virgin after praying before this holy image.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Pskov-Pechersk

"Tenderness" - the icon of the Mother of God of Pskov-Pechersk - refers to the icon-painting type "Eleus", which is the most common in Russian icon painting. It depicts the Virgin Mary holding her Son Jesus Christ in her arms. The baby presses his cheek against the Mother of God, showing the highest degree of filial love. This type includes such icons of the Virgin as Donskaya, Vladimirskaya, Yaroslavskaya, Feodorovskaya, Zhirovitskaya, Grebnevskaya, Pochaevskaya, Seeking for the dead, Akhrenskaya, Degtyarevskaya, etc.

PRAYERS
Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of the Pskov-Caves Icon of Her “Tenderness”

Tone 4
Let us all fall to the Theotokos with tenderness, burdened with sins, Her miraculous icon of Tenderness, kissing and crying with tears: Mistress, accept the prayer of Your unworthy servants and give to us, who ask Your great mercy.

Kontakion to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of the Pskov-Caves Icon of Her “Tenderness”

Tone 6
Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, except for You, Blessed Virgin. Help us, we hope in You and boast in You, Thy servants, let us not be ashamed.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of the icon of Her "Tenderness" Pskov-Caves

O Blessed Virgin Mother of God! Mother of all those who suffer and have heart disease! Our country and city Defender! Abode of Pskov-Pechersk beauty and glory! Look upon us humble, burdened with many sins, weighed down by sorrows and sorrows, and with contrition and tears looking at Your most pure face, manifested in a miraculous icon. Preserve this holy monastery from all evil, reverend Cornelius with the elders Mark and Jonah entrust to You, and all those who labor in faith and hope in it. Save this city, and all the people who faithfully live and resort to You, from the invasion of foreigners, from all fear and cowardice, from pestilence and hunger, from evil people and all kinds of sorrow. Bend down to us with Thy mercy, as if by Thy Divine face Thou graciously bowed to the cheeks of the Divine Infant. Warm us with the breath of Your love and never depart from us, neither in this life nor in the future, yes, expecting Your all-powerful Motherly help, we will be able to comfortably reach eternal life and glorify the Heavenly Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity of the glorious God, forever centuries.
Amen.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Serafimo-Diveevskaya

Celebration - July 28/August 10. The iconographic type of this icon is more characteristic of Western Christianity than of the Eastern tradition of writing. The Most Holy Theotokos is depicted here at a young age, at that moment in Her life, when the Archangel Gabriel proclaimed the good news of the incarnation of the Son of God. The face of the Holy Virgin Mary is pensive, her arms are crossed on her chest, her gaze is turned downward. Above the head is an inscription of the words from the akathist: "Rejoice, Unbrided Bride!"
The Serafimo-Diveevo icon "Tenderness" differs from the others, it depicts the Mother of God alone. Her arms are folded crosswise on her chest, and her whole appearance conveys a state of deep humility and love. This image does not belong to the type of icon painting "Eleus", however, it has an identical name.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Serafimo-Diveevskaya

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" - Seraphim-Diveevo is considered one of the main shrines of the Seraphim-Diveevo monastery. The nuns and nuns of the convent consider her their Heavenly Abbess. This icon was in the cell of Seraphim of Sarov. He deeply revered this icon, calling it "The Joy of All Joys." Even during the life of the saint, a lampada was burning in front of the icon, with oil from which he anointed all the people who came to him, healing from mental and bodily ailments.
Standing in prayer before the image of the Theotokos, the monk peacefully departed to the Lord.

The icon was painted on a canvas stretched over a cypress board. The history of the icon The history of painting and the author of this icon are unknown, its origin dates back to the end of the 18th century. After the death of Rev. Seraphim, hegumen Nifont transferred the image to the nearby Diveevo Convent in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, which was under the patronage of Elder Seraphim. For this purpose, a special chapel was built in the cathedral dedicated to her name - the Tenderness of the Mother of God, and the icon was placed in a special elegant icon case. Since that time, there has been a tradition: for all the nuns of the monastery during the service, to stand behind the icon case of the Virgin.
The icon was celebrated on July 28 and December 9 (the day the monastery was founded).
In 1902, Saint Emperor Nicholas II presented the monastery with a precious gilded riza for the Tenderness icon and a decorated silver lamp.
Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov) composed a special service for the glorified icon. To the opening of the relics of St. Seraphim from the icon was made a list for the Sarov Monastery. After canonization, the production of lists began in the icon-painting workshops of the Diveevo Monastery and its courtyard in Peterhof. The icon was depicted in various printed publications and on hagiographic images of St. Seraphim.
In the post-revolutionary time, when the Diveevo monastery was closed, the icon of the Mother of God was taken to Murom by the Diveevo Abbess Alexandra. In 1991, the miraculous image was handed over to Alexy II, the Patriarch of Moscow, who placed the icon in the patriarchal church, where it is currently located. Once a year, the miraculous image - on the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos - is taken out to the Cathedral of the Epiphany for veneration. It is possible for all Orthodox Christians who wish to venerate it.
The Diveye Monastery now houses an exact copy of the miraculous image.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Serafimo-Diveevskaya

The icon from the Tretyakov Gallery is an exact copy of the revered image. The image of the Mother of God is half-length, with her hands folded on her chest, her head bowed and her gaze lowered. Western iconography, which appeared in Russia in the 17th century. On the icon-copy, a gilded frame and a riza, an ubrus and a crown, decorated with precious stones, are imitated by means of painting. The faces of the hand are made with soft light-and-shadow modeling in the style of academic painting of the early 20th century, which was used for painting icons. The crown is framed by the inscription: "Hail unbridened bride."

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Novgorod

For almost 700 years, the inhabitants of Novgorod have venerated another icon of the Mother of God, "Tenderness". She is known for the numerous miracles that came from prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos. The Blessed Virgin protected the city from fires, ruins and wars. Thanks to fervent heartfelt prayer before this holy image, many people received healing from spiritual sorrows and bodily illnesses.
The history of the icon can be traced from the inventory of the Assumption Cathedral only from the 18th century. Until that time, she is lost in the numerous icons of Tenderness and half-length Virgins. Without specifying the iconographic type, the inventory of 1701 mentions in an icon case near the northern pillar on the northern side an “image of the Most Holy Theotokos from the waist” in a silver setting. The inventory of 1771-1773 repeats this entry, adding to it a list of precious stones in the crowns of the Virgin and Jesus. The fact that this icon is the image of the Mother of God Tenderness of the XII century is evidenced by its schematic image, published in 1911 by N.P. Likhachev from an 18th century engraving. The inventory of 1815-1818 indicates that the icon was in the same place - near the northeastern pillar on the north side, but has a different, simpler setting (probably the ancient precious one was stolen by Napoleonic troops in 1812).
In the inventories of 1841-1843 and 1853-1854, the icon is already called "Athos", and the postscript of the middle of the 19th century to the first of these inventories reports the transfer of the icon to the iconostasis near the southern wall of the cathedral. The name "Athos" is associated with the newly-appeared shrine - the Akathist Hilandar Icon of the Mother of God. During the renewal of the icon and the manufacture of a new silver frame for it in 1875, an inscription was minted on the field of the frame - “The Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos located in the Hilendar Monastery of Savva the Serbian”. At the same time, the iconography of the Moscow icon differs from that of Athos.
From the massive silver setting of 1875, the icon was opened in 1961. At the same time, the darkened drying oil was removed under which painting of the late 17th - early 18th centuries was first discovered (perhaps this record belongs to the royal painter Kirill Ulanov, who during this period was engaged in the renewal of a number of ancient icons of the Assumption Cathedral). Upon further opening of the icon, painting of the 12th-13th centuries was discovered.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Novgorod. End of the XII century.

The icon is of Novgorod origin. The master copied the Byzantine prototype, combining in the icon elements of iconographic types - Hodegetria and Tenderness. The baby Jesus, although he presses his cheek against the head of the Virgin, is depicted in a pose typical of the Hodegetria rendition. In his right hand, he holds a scroll, and the left is depicted with a semblance of a blessing gesture (her fingers are unclenched, as in the iconography of Tenderness, where the left hand of the Divine Infant is depicted directed to the cheek of the Mother of God). According to academician V. N. Lazarev, “this kind of contamination of various iconographic types once again speaks of the work of a local master who, unlike the Byzantines, was not accustomed to copying prototypes accurately.”
The faces and clothes on the icon have been preserved, there are losses on the nimbus, the golden patterns of the Virgin's scarf and the soil in the margins. The icon board is overlaid on all sides.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Smolensk

The Smolensk icon of the Mother of God, called "Tenderness", appeared in 1103 in Smolensk. This image, which played a special, inspiring role during the defense of Smolensk from Polish invaders at the beginning of the 17th century (1609–1611), was located in the camp of the Russian troops of Governor Shein, who for 18 months kept the enemy from plundering the city.

The list of the Smolensk miraculous image "Tenderness" is currently in the Spaso-Trench Church in the city of Smolensk.
In 2003, the 900th anniversary of the appearance of the holy image was solemnly celebrated in Smolensk. On the eve of the holiday, the icon "Tenderness" was delivered to the Holy Dormition Cathedral, where a prayer service with water blessing was served before it. On the feast day, after the Divine Liturgy, a crowded religious procession took place around the cathedral, during which the priests carried two revered miraculous icons of Smolensk at once: Hodegetria and Tenderness, giving them special honor.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Smolensk

On the miraculous icon, the Most Holy Theotokos, raising her hands to her chest, looks with tenderness at the Divine Infant lying on Her robe, who holds in her right hand an orb - a symbol of power and strength. The face of the Blessed Virgin is filled with deep love and at the same time sorrow for Her Son.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Smolensk

PRAYERS
Troparion of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Smolensk, called Tenderness

Tone 4
God-rejoiced Lady, / Glorified Mother of generosity and philanthropy, / All-merciful Intercessor for the whole world! / Diligently, Thy servants, resorting to Divine intercession / and falling down to Your wonderful image with tenderness, we pray: / make a warm prayer to Your Son and our God, / O All-Singing Queen of the Mother of God, / yes, for the sake of all diseases and sorrows, deliver us to You / and free us from all sins, / Heirs of His Kingdom of Heaven will show us, / greatness is inexpressible, like Mother, have boldness towards Him / and all you can, / United in forever Blessed.

John troparion of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Smolensk, called Tenderness

Tone 4
Let us fall to the Theotokos with tenderness / all, burdened with sins, / kissing the miraculous icon of tenderness / and crying out with tears: / Mistress, accept the prayer of Your unworthy servants / and grant us, who ask, / great Your mercy.

Miraculous Icon of "Tenderness" of the Mother of God, meaning for believers

When praying to the Most Holy Theotokos "Tenderness", many Christians ask for the strengthening of faith, for the reconciliation of the warring, for deliverance from the invasion of enemies and the preservation of the Russian state. But most often young girls and women come to her, pouring out numerous requests for a successful marriage, healing from infertility and the birth of healthy children.
Any icon "Tenderness" depicts the state of the holy soul of the Mother of God: her endless love for people, great purity and holiness. Many Christian women, after performing sincere prayer in front of the holy image, note deep peace, faith and hope in the miraculous power of the Blessed Virgin. The icon "Tenderness" of the Mother of God helps in this.
The meaning of this holy image lies in the help of the Mother of God to all people who ask her. Many Orthodox Christian women embroider icons of the Most Holy Theotokos. Recently, beads have been used more often for this purpose. There is a pious tradition to dedicate this work to the Blessed Virgin. While embroidering, believing women pray and work with a sense of repentance. When asked to give birth to healthy children, some mothers take on the task of embroidering icons. When the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" with beads is ready, it is enclosed in a glazed frame and consecrated in an Orthodox church. After that, they pray before the image in the hope of receiving what they ask for.
Hymnography There are many prayers dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. Before the icon "Tenderness" believers read an akathist.
The prayer to the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" contains a deep meaning: the Orthodox praise the Blessed Virgin, calling Her Intercessor and Defender of our Country, the Beauty and Glory of the monastery, and also ask to save people from evil, save Russian cities and protect the Orthodox people from the invasion of enemies, earthquakes, flood, from evil people and other misfortunes. It is customary to say this prayer, turning to the Blessed Virgin Mary for help, in the hope of Her heavenly help and support.
The Akathist to the Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" contains mostly laudatory texts. It contains 13 ikos and kontakia, which cover some of the historical events associated with the appearance and glorification of the holy icon. The akathist also contains various requests to the Most Holy Theotokos for help, protection and prayer for the sinful human race. At the end, the final kneeling prayer is always read, filled with requests to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the salvation and protection of all people.

There are several different types of Orthodox icons of the Mother of God, called "Tenderness": there are miraculous, locally revered and revered images. Despite the fact that all these images are different, they have one thing in common - they always convey the boundless love of the Most Holy Theotokos for Orthodox Christians and all people. The Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" in Moscow is located at the Center for Social Forensic Psychiatry named after. V.P. Serbian. This is a house operating temple, located at the address: Khamovniki, Kropotkinsky lane, 23. Believers who want to pray and find peace of mind are always welcome here. - June 3, July 6, September 8.
- July 1.

Copyright © 2015 Unconditional Love

Video and photos about the amazing miraculous icon "Tenderness" of the Most Holy Theotokos, which travels the world and is of great importance for Christians, is a poster calendar of one believing woman who suddenly began to smell fragrant. A huge number of believers received healing and grace from her. This is a favorite icon of Seraphim of Sarov.

Icon "Tenderness" (settlement Lokot, Bryansk region). This is the only two-sided miraculous myrrh-streaming icon in the world. The myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” has miraculous power, it heals bodily and mental illnesses. Yes, and the appearance of the icon itself can be called a miracle.

A resident of the village of Lokot, Bryansk region, Natalia Shishkova, as usual, went to the local department store and saw calendars with the image of the Mother of God lying around on the counter of the store.

She remarked to the saleswoman that even though the calendars are not church calendars, since there is an image of the face of the Mother of God, it is unworthy to store it in this form, but it is necessary to store the ego in a proper way. To which the saleswoman said that these calendars were expired, and anyway no one would buy them and they would have to be thrown away.

Natalya went home, and on the way the thought occurred to her that she had denounced the saleswoman, but she herself just had to buy this calendar. She came back and bought the last two calendars of the Mother of God with the icon “Tenderness”. I cut off the numbers and hung them at home and at work with ordinary pushpins on the wall.

Time passed, and now, one day, while at home, she was reading a book published by the Trinity-Sergius Lavra “Russia before the Second Coming”. When she read the chapter about the guardian of the Montreal Icon of the Mother of God, Jose Joseph Munes-Cortez, at that moment she felt an unusual aroma, a fragrance.

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" photo

Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" photo

As in the case of the Iberian Montreal Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, at first she thought that someone in the house had spilled cologne or perfume, but when she began to look for the source of the fragrance, she discovered that a large, oily, fragrant spot had formed on the face of the Mother of God.

She invited the priest, who, having looked, noticed that this often happens now, when not only in churches, but also in the homes of worldly people, images begin to stream myrrh, that you don’t need to pay attention to this, you look - it streams myrrh and will pass. But the myrrh-streaming and fragrance did not stop, moreover: over time, the myrrh-streaming increased in such quantity that the myrrh flowed from the image into the wall.

Seeing this, the priest said that this should be treated with caution - suddenly this miracle is not from God: "Let's pray, and if during Great Lent this miracle stops, then this miracle is not God's." But, on Easter, all the icons that they have, and there are quite a lot of them, were streaming myrrh in their house.

It became clear that this was indeed a miracle and they decided to place this image in an icon case, as a salary. They took it off the wall and, to their amazement, found this: you know that myrrh is such an oily substance that soaks through the paper, and since the whole image was covered with the world, it would seem that the calendar should have been soaked with this through the world.

But, when they removed it from the wall, they saw that only the face of the Mother of God was soaked with peace on the reverse side! The rest of the surface of the calendar remained as white and dry as before.

For this reason, the kiot and the salary of this icon were made double. This icon is not ordinary: no matter which side you look at, there is an image and there an image. Over time, they began to notice that healings began to occur from this icon. And people who began to come to this house with their icons, after prayers and akathists, are not always, but mostly covered with peace.

Over the past years, more than thirteen thousand kilometers have been traveled around Holy Russia in religious processions with this icon, which first streamed myrrh in the village of Lokot, Bryansk Region in 1999. The uniqueness of the “Tenderness” icon is that once, through the myrrh abundantly exuding from the image of the Mother of God, the second face of the Most Holy Theotokos, identical to the original, began to miraculously appear on the back of the icon.

Therefore, this icon is double. The study of miracles associated with the icon of "Tenderness" is carried out by a special expert group on miraculous phenomena in the Russian Orthodox Church, led by Professor P.V. Florensky. Over the past eleven years, many cases of healing and grace-filled help in everyday needs have been noted for people who came to her to bow and apply.

The meaning of the icon "Tenderness" of the Blessed Virgin of photography

The meaning of the icon "Tenderness" of the Blessed Virgin of the photo The reverse miraculous side of the icon "Tenderness", below you can see the image of the Savior on the Shroud of Turin - abundant myrrh-streaming with various fragrances;

- several times the icon bled and teared up;

- next to this image, many icons were consecrated, covered with a grace-filled world and renewed;

- during prayers with water blessing, water acquired an unusual smell and taste, the same happened during the consecration of sources;

- through prayers before this image, many receive grace-filled help and healing, and the missing are found.

Unbelievers and doubters, seeing the many miracles revealed from this icon of “Tenderness”, turn to the Orthodox faith and bring repentance.

Troparion, tone 4th

Let us fall to the Theotokos with tenderness, all burdened with sins, Her miraculous icon Tenderness kissing and crying with tears: Mistress, accept the prayer of Your unworthy servants and give us, who ask, great Your mercy.

Kontakion, voice 3

I imitating the barren fig tree, I am accursed, I by no means bring tenderness of fruit and I am afraid of the flogging, but, looking at the miraculous icon of Your Tenderness, Lady, I wall from the heart and cry out: Thou hast been touched, Merciful, and to me, a petrified heart, favor the tribute of the soul and the heart.

Once in 1994, a resident of the village. Elbow of the Bryansk region Natalya Nikolaevna (spiritual daughter of Father Melety (Demina), in the Detsky Mir store drew attention to a wall calendar depicting the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” - a favorite image of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

The calendar was from last year, and frustrated, she left the store. But the heart sank because it looked so lonely in the store, among the crowds of indifferent people, this image is “overdue”, which no one acquired. She returned and bought the two remaining calendars. At home I cut out the images and hung them on the wall.

Once, during an illness in 1999, Natalya Nikolaevna was reading a book, on the cover of which was depicted the image of the Mother of God “Tenderness”. And suddenly she felt a fragrance, very surprised. She had never experienced such an unusually dense aroma of flowers, the feeling of dawn - the whole room was saturated with it.

The fragrance came from the icon from the old calendar. With her husband, they decided to put the miraculous image in a frame and, turning it over, they saw that the face of the Mother of God appeared on the other side. They called a priest, sang an akathist - the icon began to stream myrrh...

Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Tenderness" for which videos and photos pray

Myrrh-streaming continues to this day, except for the periods of Great Lent. She was made a two-sided riza, and on the other side this riza follows the pattern of the image that has come through. Placed in a kiot, the icon streams myrrh inside it, and often the outer side of the glass is also covered with streams of the world.

The front side of the icon, covered with the world for so many years, contrary to the laws of physics, does not soak through the paper. On the other hand, only the tread image is covered with an oil layer. Because of the robe, we do not see it completely, but in the photographs shown, in the area of ​​​​the womb of the Virgin, the face of Christ appears from the Shroud of Turin.

To this day, the icon abundantly streams myrrh itself, and the icons of numerous pilgrims placed in front of it also stream myrrh. The world covers bread and water, exhibited right there. Sometimes the worshipers are sprinkled like a drizzle.

The old icons in this house are being renewed, the split ones are spliced ​​together, the white metal robes are covered with gold before our eyes (although the owner, laughing, noted that no one had done a chemical examination, it was only a question of color so far). The experts presented videos of myrrh-streaming in Lokt. Other amazing events are taking place, according to Natalya Nikolaevna, through the prayers of Elder Meletius and the mercy of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Archpriest Alexander Mitrushin, rector of the Church of All Who Sorrow in the Oryol diocese, noticed that the plants also react to the icon. The priest recalled the case when his parishioner, who received a dried rose that once adorned this image, was forced to stop the car in which he was returning home with his gift: the salon was filled with a strong fragrance, and the windows were covered with dew.

What does the miraculous icon "Tenderness" of the Blessed Virgin Mary mean?

There were also cases of miraculous healing of seriously ill people after praying before this image. So, after a trip to Elbow, an ultrasound scan did not reveal a tumor in a resident of Bryansk, who was preparing for a serious oncological operation. The keeper of the icon, Natalya Nikolaevna, being a doctor herself, strongly advised the woman to have the operation.

During the operation, a small sore was found at the site of the former tumor, which was fixed by X-rays and tests, and the metastases were as if cauterized.

Rector of St. Nicholas Church in the village of Lyamtsino, Domodedovo District, Fr. Alexander Trushin told how, having laid out his icon of St. Nicholas, he secretly planned following the example of Gideon from the Old Testament: "Lord, if it is Your will, then let one icon - mine - remain dry."

And on the screen we saw among the abundantly myrrh-streaming images of the “dry” Saint Nicholas. The priest also gave a spiritual understanding of what he saw in Lokt: the property of all the miracles sent to us by God is in the humility, joy and grace with which they fill our soul.

At the round table meeting held on February 2, 2006. within the framework of the XVI International Christmas Readings at Moscow University, which was attended by members of the expert working group on describing the miraculous events taking place in the Russian Orthodox Church under the Synodal Theological Commission of the Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox priests, icon painters, editors of Orthodox publications, the events under study - myrrh-streaming in settlement Elbow of the Bryansk region, were unanimously recognized as a miracle.

In icon painting, there are several styles of depicting the Mother of God, one of them is “Tenderness”. The icon of the Mother of God in this genre depicts the Mother of God in the form of a waist-length portrait, bowing her gaze to the newborn, looking at him with love and tenderness.

This genre of the image of the Virgin is one of the oldest. He came to Russia from Byzantium, like Orthodoxy itself. This iconographic type is called "Eleusa" in Greek. The icons painted in it have become, over the centuries of Christianity, one of the most revered in Orthodoxy.

Are there many such icons?

The icon "Tenderness" is not any single image of the Mother of God, located in a particular temple and having an author. This is a type, a genre of icon painting, and there are a lot of similar images. The icon "Tenderness" can be found in almost every church, an old rural house, in which the inhabitants did not throw away the image during the Soviet period, in ethnographic museums, both in halls and in storerooms, and in other places.

The image of the Mother of God in this iconographic type is extremely revered. Of course, there is also a praying, well-known among the Orthodox icon "Tenderness", a prayer in front of which has miraculous power. There are several such images.

The most famous are Serafimo-Diveevskaya and Pskov-Pecherskaya, which are a list from the ancient Vladimir icon. Prayer will have no less power in front of other images of this type of iconography. The icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" is in almost every church in any of the Russian cities. The most famous, after Diveevskaya and Pecherskaya, are Yaroslavskaya, Vladimirskaya, Zhirovitskaya, Donskaya. However, in each of the localities that store famous images, there are many more icons in this genre that have not become popular.

For example, in Yaroslavl, the icon "Tenderness" was in every house before the revolution. Now, in every functioning temple of this city, you can see several images in this type of iconography. Both the old ones, preserved during the years of Soviet power, and the new ones, written quite recently, but because of this have not lost either their content or the power of emotional impact on believers.

Seraphim-Diveevo icon

This image is acquired. The meaning of the word "acquired" in the Orthodox tradition in relation to icon-painting images includes the following concepts:

• given from above;
• having no author;
• lost and found.

That is, everything that can be said about is acquired. According to the legend, with which the official representatives of the clergy do not argue, the Serafimo-Diveevo icon "Tenderness" was found in the forest thickets, located near modern Saratov. The icon was given into the hands of the ascetic Seraphim, who did not part with the image throughout his life. That is why the name of the image is associated with its name.

Where is the Seraphim-Diveevo Icon located?

This question does not concern many believers, but only those who are prone to meticulousness and have curiosity. The location of the miraculous image is shrouded in a fog of mystery, just like the history of its acquisition centuries ago.

However, in addition to curiosity and the desire for inquiry, actual originality is sometimes important, for example, when it comes to the need to heal from diseases, for which the real Seraphim image “Tenderness” became famous. The icon of the Mother of God, according to numerous testimonies preserved in church records, possessed such power. Seraphim personally placed before the icon for the duration of the service, and after the end he carried out the anointing of the sick. After his death, other clergy continued to do this.

The Diveevo Monastery, where the miraculous face was kept, was closed, and, most likely, plundered in the distant 1927. For decades, the icon was considered lost by the church. However, in 1991 it was rediscovered. The image was handed over to Patriarch Alexy II by people whose church names are either unknown or kept secret.

Since then, that is, since 1991, the original face has been kept in the residence of the Patriarch. The Diveevo icon “Tenderness” is available, the significance of which is not only great for believers, the history of the Orthodox Russian Church, but also deeply symbolic for the whole country, only once a year, on the day of Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos. On this holiday, the image is exhibited in the hall of the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral and is available for prayer and worship.

The Tretyakov Gallery exhibits a copy of the icon, its analogues, that is, lists from the image are presented in other places. However, such lists do not possess miraculous power, confirmed by evidence. Although the question of the impact of the image on the believer is an open topic for discussion in church philosophy. Many clergy believe that the miraculous power does not depend on the specific icon itself, but on the faith of the one who prays.

What is the name of the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

The question of the name of the miraculous image is also quite interesting. The currently accepted name for this icon is Seraphim-Diveevskaya. However, along with this, other names for this image are common. Among them - just "Tenderness". “Tenderness of the Mother of God” is also one of the options for the name of this image.

Often the icon is called “female”, the names of monasteries are attributed to it, for example, Trinity, where before the revolution the image had its own separate limit, often simply called Serafimovskaya or Sarovskaya. The ascetic Seraphim himself called the image "Joy of all joys."

How can the Seraphim-Diveevo icon help?

The veneration of the image was started by Seraphim himself, who found the icon. The saint had more than one image of the Mother of God in his cell, but only this icon had a meaning. What this image helps with, no clergyman can unequivocally answer, since it affects everything with which the believer approaches the image.

• heals the sick;
• helps women find personal happiness;
• promotes the conception and birth of healthy babies;
• relieves sorrows and misfortunes;
• prevents destruction and misfortune.

Every believer can verify this on the day of the Praise of the Virgin.

When is the Seraphim-Diveevo icon venerated?

This image has special days on which it is customary to honor it. These dates stood out before the onset of the Soviet era. A special service was held in the Trinity Cathedral of the monastery twice a year - on July 28 and December 9. The numbers were chosen for the following reasons:

• July 28 - the day of finding the image;
• December 9 - the date of foundation of the monastery.

July 28 and December 9 are old style dates, now these are different calendar days. In modern realities, the celebration of the Praise of the Virgin can be considered the day of veneration of the icon.

A curious fact is that a large number of copies of the image were made in the icon-painting courtyard of the Diveevo monastery, simply copies of it. In the days of veneration of the icon, before the coming of the power of the Soviets, separate services were held in front of its copies in every church where these analogues were.

Does the Seraphim-Diveevo icon differ from others?

The Diveevo Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" is unique not only in the history of its acquisition, but also in the manner of artistic performance and the materials used.

The original icon was painted not on a board, but on a canvas stretched over a cypress tree cut. This point is of little interest to believers, but extremely curious to historians. Questions about how it was possible to find a canvas stretched on a board of cypress in the wilderness of Saratov icons haunt many students of the history of Orthodoxy.

The image itself is also interesting. It is incorrect to say that the Mother of God is depicted without a baby, although Jesus is absent from the icon. The Mother of God is not alone in this image, she is simply depicted before the fact of the birth of the baby, that is, she is pregnant with him. This is a unique image of the Mother of God, not characteristic of Orthodox iconography.

How to pray before the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

Many believers today are concerned about the question of how to pray so that the icon “Tenderness” will give meaning to what has been said. What helps the parishioners understand the spiritual mentor or the collections of prayers available for sale in shops at each temple.

However, with regard to prayer in front of a miraculous image, the canons are important only for churchmen who conduct services dedicated to the icon. A simple parishioner should remember only the main commandment of any prayer - sincerity. There is no need to memorize the words of prayers from collections, both ancient and modern, they are given only to help true believers, but who find it difficult to choose the right words that can reflect their feelings.

If the icon of the “Tenderness” of the Mother of God is in front of the parishioner, it is not the order of words that matters, but the faith of the person and the purity of his thoughts.

What do they pray for before the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

They come to the miraculous image with various troubles. Of course, there are no statistics on how the “Tenderness” icon affects, what it helps with, what ailments it heals from - does not exist.

• about health, not only one’s own, but also those of loved ones;
• about the well-being of children;
• on the gift of family and heirs;
• about everything "feminine" and maternal.

There is also a conviction that the image is able to prevent destruction, wars and related misfortunes. However, skeptics, who in the modern world are not few even among believers, question these qualities of the icon, citing as an example the war under Nicholas II, who worshiped the original image and even gave the icon one of its vestments. They remember the revolution, and the Chechen military conflict, and terrorist acts.

The question of whether the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" helps in what, and for what it is useless - has no answer. The help of the image depends on the faith and sincerity of a person, on his need for participation, on the depth of despair and misfortune. An equally important role is played by such qualities of the soul as humility, patience, gratitude, which most modern parishioners forget about.

What could be the prayer before the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

Praying for your "feminine" in front of the image can be done in different ways. There are no rules limiting the appeal to the Mother of God, except for the purity of one's own heart.

Prayer before the image can be like this:

“Accept, Omnipotent Most Pure Brideless Mother of God, my prayer (proper name). I trust in you, the One Most Holy Intercessor, in my adversity and infirmities. I beg you to grant me (proper name) from the blessings of the Son of God, but to save him from his sorrows.

I beg you, Virgin Mary about (listing what is asked for). I hope for your infinite mercy in hope and humility. I pray for the preservation of what has been given. I pray for the gift of what I can keep. I pray for strengthening (listing personal, important). I pray for the protection and bestowal of all kinds of blessings (listing the names of loved ones). I beg you, Most Holy Mother of God, with gratitude and humility, with patience and faith, with pure thoughts and hope. Amen".

When praying in this way, it is important to really have all the qualities that are stated in the text. Although the icon "Tenderness" is of great importance for believers, the very fact of standing in front of it already bestows a special state of mind, the request will only be answered by a truthful one, the image is not a robot that fulfills momentary desires.

What could be the mother's prayer before the Seraphim-Diveevo icon?

Mothers who are worried about their children can pray like this:

“The Most Pure Mother of God, our intercessor before the Son of God and the Throne of Heaven. I beg you to accept my worries and resolve them. I pray you for the health and safety of the well-being of my children (names). I pray for their protection from misfortunes and sorrows, unclean thoughts, deceitful paths, demonic temptations. I beg you, most holy Theotokos, to grant peace to my soul, to instruct my foolish children, to protect them and give them the thoughts they need, pleasing to the Lord. Amen".

A mother's prayer always comes from a pure heart and has great power. However, even a mother praying for her children should not only rely on the help of a miraculous image, but also have a sincere and deep faith in the Lord.