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Previously, this image of the Virgin was called differently – the Vyshegorodsk icon. She is among the most revered icons. It is believed that for centuries the image protected people in Our Country from enemies, healed from serious illnesses. The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has become a symbol of hope and salvation for the Orthodox.
In the article we will tell you what believers pray about before the image, when the Day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated in 2022, and why the church has allocated not one day for the celebration of the icon, but three.
When is the Day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God celebrated?
In honor of the three most significant events and in memory of the deliverance of the land from enemies, three dates were allocated in the church calendar for the celebration of the Day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
- 3 June – the deliverance of Moscow from the power of Khan Mehmed Giray in 1521;
- July 6 – the deliverance of the capital of Our Country from the khan’s yoke of Akhmat in 1480;
- on September 8 – the flight of the troops of Khan Tamerlane in 1395.
The first story refers to the end of the XIV century. Tamerlane, known for his cruelty and ruthlessness towards enemies, came close to Moscow with superior forces. A threat hung over Our Country. Then, to maintain the morale of the people, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was sent to Moscow. For 10 days the volunteers walked with the icon, wept and prayed. On September 8, the image arrived in Moscow and a miracle happened: Tamerlane’s army turned around and retreated. Why? According to legend, the famous conqueror saw in a dream the Virgin surrounded by angels with fiery swords, who ordered him to leave Moscow. In the morning, the council decided that this was a sign from above, and Tamerlane gave the order to retreat. The capital of Our Country was saved.
The second historical event associated with the icon is described in history books. This is a victory over the army of Khan Akhmat in 1480 on the Ugra River (known as standing on the Ugra). Once again, the s resorted to the help of a miraculous icon: they took it to a military camp, served a prayer service. And then the troops of Khan Akhmat retreated. This event, by the way, ended the centuries-old history of the Horde yoke in Our Country.
According to church history, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God also helped in the confrontation with the Crimean Khan Mehmed Giray at the beginning of the 3th century. This time Prince Vasily III used the miraculous power of the image. Since then, on June XNUMX, the church has been glorifying the Most Holy Theotokos, and this day is considered a holiday.
Do’s and Don’ts
In memory of these significant events for the country, solemn services are held in all churches of Our Country with the participation of the icon. We will tell you what is allowed to do on a holiday, and what is prohibited.
| What can you do | address prayers to the icon, pray at home, get married, ask for forgiveness and forgive others |
| What not to do | swear, offend relatives and friends, create conflicts, resolve issues related to finances, work (heavy physical labor is implied) |
history of the holiday
According to legend, the icon was painted by one of the 70 apostles, Luke, on a board made from the table at which Jesus Christ, the Mother of God and Saint Joseph dined. According to this theory, the icon is almost two thousand years old. In 1130 the image of the Mother of God was brought to Our Country from Byzantium.
According to beliefs, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God protects the land from foreign invaders, famine and epidemics. Today, it serves as a symbol of hope for believers, who at any time can turn to prayer in the hope of being heard.
Holiday traditions
Each of the three days of memory of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated with prayers in the church, parishioners can light candles for health and repose. If you didn’t manage to go to the service, you can pray at home, starting in the early morning. In front of the icon, you can ask for deliverance from an illness, for well-being and safety, for health for a child or peace of mind.
On this day, you can and should ask for forgiveness for the sins and insults made to other people. There is no strict fast on the holiday, but fatty foods should be excluded from the menu. Troublesome things: hard work, complex material disputes – it is better to transfer to another day. The main thing is to spend the day in grateful feelings for the Mother of God.
Popular questions and answers
We tell where the modern name of the icon came from, and answer other questions from readers.
Why is the icon called Vladimir and where is it today?
What can be put on the table on a holiday?
What prayers are read before the icon?
It is believed that the Mother of God protects the woman during childbirth, gives health to the baby. The Orthodox also turn to the Mother of God when they feel strong anxiety before an important event: she does not allow them to lose heart and gives confidence.
There are several prayers that are customary to read before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God:
• canonical prayer with an appeal to the Most Holy Theotokos,
• prayer for choosing a path and help in difficult times,
• prayer for the health and well-being of the household.