The life path of the intercessor of Orthodoxy and icon veneration, John of Damascus, was not easy. It was thanks to him that the story of the appearance of such a miraculous image as Three-Handed became known. The icon of the Mother of God, whose significance for the Orthodox world cannot be diminished in any way, over the centuries has helped many lay people who believed in its power in difficulties.
Leo the Isaurian (Byzantine emperor) in 717 began a cruel persecution of those who reverently treated the shrines. In that fierce year, icons were massively burned and broken, their defenders were tortured and put to death. Only outside the Byzantine territories, and this is in Muslim Damascus, the holy images were fearlessly revered due to the intercession of St. John. At that time, he served as an adviser to the city governor.
The Three-Handed Icon. History that preceded her appearance
John of Damascus carried out his good mission for some time, but at some point he was accused of treason to the state. The man was slandered before the local caliph. The emperor ordered to cut off his right hand, and then hang it on the maincity squares for intimidation. Toward evening, when the ruler's anger subsided, the monk asked for intercession, and with his hand cut off, shut himself up in his personal cell. Who knew that it was this tragic moment that would become the prerequisite for the appearance of such a unique shrine as the Three-Handed. The Icon of the Mother of God helps many suffering people all over the world today.
The saint indulged in long and tearful prayers before the face of the Most Holy Theotokos. He put the severed hand to his joint and asked her to heal his hand. The Lady herself came into his thin dream with the good news and informed him of the healing of his hand - from now on it was to serve him to glorify God's name.
He who performed a miracle
After the reverend woke up, he felt his hand and found it whole and unharmed. John was incredibly touched, and with a feeling of deep gratitude to the Heavenly Lady, he composed a song of praise and thanksgiving for her mercy. It is called “Every creature rejoices in You, O Gracious One.” Later, in liturgical practice, they began to use it as a meritorious liturgy dedicated to St. Basil the Great.
In order to somehow leave the memory of the miracle that happened, the reverend put a hand made of silver to the bottom of the image, through which he received healing. That is how the Three-Handed (the icon of the Mother of God) got its name.
Inscrutable ways of the Lord
The healing of John quickly spread throughout Damascus. Caliph was enlightened by this miracle. He, realizing his guilt, asked the saintagain to conduct state affairs, however, the monk decided to devote all his strength to the service of God. John was allowed to retire to Jerusalem to the Lavra of Savva the Sanctified. There he accepted his loneliness. The Three-Handed icon was also taken with them (the photo can be seen in the article).
The further fate of a unique creation
The miraculous image stayed in Jerusalem until the 13th century. When the monastery was visited by Saint Savva, the icon of the Three-handed Icon (the history of its appearance has survived to this day) was presented to the blessed Archbishop of Serbia according to the special will of the Mother of God.
During the period of the Ottoman invasions, and this was already in the 15th century, in order for the precious gift to survive destruction, the pious Serbs completely transferred it to the care of the Queen of Heaven. The most valuable image was assigned to the donkey. The unknown animal itself reached the holy Mount Athos. There it stopped at the gates of the Hilandar Monastery, which was founded in the 13th century by the eminent Serbian ruler Stefan (Simeon). The monks accepted this great gift from God. Three-handed (the icon of the Mother of God) was installed on the altar of the local cathedral church. Since that time, an annual procession has been made to her.
The unconditional will of the Lady
One such incident happened. After the abbot gave his soul to God, the brethren could not elect a new head in any way, there was no unanimity. Their troubles were not pleasing to the Mother of God, and then she personally resolved their dispute. When the monks came to the morning service, they saw that the Three-handed icon, whose history never ceasessurprised, ended up in the hegumen's place instead of the altar.
The monks attributed this "miracle" to someone's secret deed. They returned the image to its original place. However, soon the situation repeated itself, although the doors were sealed. Soon the will of the Lady was manifested through the well-known recluse of the monastery. He said that in her vision, the Mother of God told him the following: in order to avoid disagreements between the brethren, she herself would take on this function and begin to manage the monastery, and take the abbot's place with her icon.
Miracles visible
Precisely from that moment until now, in obedience to the will of the Queen of Heaven, the Hilandar monastery does not choose a special abbot. Here they manage with the hieromonk-governor, head of monastic affairs. During the service, he is always near the abbot's place, where the Three-Handed is placed. The icon of the Mother of God, whose significance is very great for all Orthodox, has kept peace and harmony within the walls of the monastery for centuries.
The brethren firmly believe: by applying to the miraculous image, you can receive a blessing personally from the Mother of God, who is their Heavenly Abbess. Her face more than once protected the Hilandar monastery from foreign invasions. According to the testimonies of the Turks themselves during the Russian-Turkish wars, the face of the mysterious Wife often appeared over the walls of the monastery, inaccessible to weapons and people. That is how Three-Handed reminded her of her patronage every time. The significance of the icon for the monastery has always been incredibly great.
How can she help?
The Three-Handed icon repeatedly showed miracles to the world. What helps this face? First of all, it helps to heal diseases of the hands, feet, eyes. If you read a prayer dedicated to him, longing, apathy and sorrowful thoughts will go away. The image of the Mother of God patronizes those engaged in the craft. It also gives strength in housework. The icon is celebrated twice a year: June 28/July 11, and July 12/25.
How does the Three-Handed Protect?
Three-handed will protect from those who threaten the well-being of the house and all its inhabitants. The icon of the Mother of God, whose meaning is to bring salvation and grace to people, also contributes to an increase in well-being. They pray to her with requests for personal healing and the recovery of loved ones.
In the summer of 1889, typhus raged in Kyiv. The Monk Jonah, who went down in history as the founder of the Holy Trinity Monastery on Timiryazevskaya Street, decided to serve a prayer service before the miraculous icon. On the same day, the pestilence ended.
The unique list of the Three-Handed is still kept in the monastery. Already in the 90s of the 20th century, the relics of Jonah were reburied on the territory of the monastery. According to believers, they helped heal a woman who had an acid burn on her arm the day before.
Meaning
On closer examination of the icon, you can see that right in the center is the baby Jesus Christ. He sits in the arms of the Mother of God and seems to bless with his right hand everyone who is in front of him. The mistress points to him as the path to salvation. Traditionally, this is how the Three-handed icon is depicted, which meansthe following: a window to the heavenly world is open to everyone. We can communicate directly with him, and according to our faith, we will be rewarded. From here comes the realization that Hodegetria is not just a talisman or amulet.
The emergence and special veneration of a unique shrine as an important spiritual evidence is also closely connected with the most difficult historical period of Christianity. Such a phenomenon as iconoclasm began with the fact that people were faced with a distorted understanding of the shrines. Pieces were broken off from the images, the paint was scraped off, and they also worshiped not the prototype itself, but only, as Fr. Pavel Florensky, "physical reason".
It is necessary to honor the icon, but to give your love and believe should be the person who looks at the person. If the attitude towards the holy face is appropriate, then through it the good will of the one who is manifested in colors by the blessed hand of the icon painter will appear. With a similar inner content, one should approach such an image as the Three-Handed (the icon of the Mother of God), the significance of which is indescribably great. Her task is to convey to everyone the following: the hand of John of Damascus is an eternal evidence that, at the command and under the guidance of the Lady, salvation can come to those who have given themselves to the service of the Heavenly Father.
What else is unique about the icon?
The hand of silver on the image of the Lady was attached by St. John of Damascus. This is a gesture of his gratitude for the healing of a severed hand during the period of iconoclasm. Since that time, all lists of faces are performed with the attached hand,which is sometimes depicted as the third hand of the Virgin.
If you have difficulties in any activity, then here the first assistant is the Three-handed icon. What else helps the image? Of course, the Mother of God favors everyone involved in needlework or any manual labor. Before her face, they pray for healing if there are diseases of the hands and feet. The icon preserves and strengthens the well-being of the family, protects from people with evil thoughts.
In Russia, Three-Handed has become known since the 17th century, and in 1661 its list was presented as a special gift to Patriarch Nikon of Moscow. Today, various copies of the miraculous icon, helping people in their petitions, are distributed throughout the country. In Moscow, the famous list of the image of the Holy Mother of God is in the Assumption Church on Taganka.
Orthodox reverently treat the icon of the Three-Handed and, according to their faith, receive rich and great graces from the Most Pure One. Honored lists of the image could be found in many churches: Three Saints, Simeonovsky and Borisoglebsky in Tver, in the Shenkursky Trinity Convent of the diocese of Arkhangelsk, in the Zhamensky Sukhotinsky convent of the diocese of Tambov, in the village. Sazhina diocese of Perm and elsewhere.
