The birth of a baby is the main event in the life of every woman. It is during pregnancy and the birth of a child that the Lord most clearly reveals to man the fullness of His power and majesty. When a baby is born, it is a true miracle of God on Earth.
For a successful pregnancy outcome, many mothers pray to the Lord, the Saints and, of course, the Most Holy Theotokos for the entire period before and after childbirth. The icon of the Mother of God "Jumping the Baby" is one of the many miraculous icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Russia, before this image, Orthodox mothers have long said fervent prayers for the well-being of their children. There is a pious tradition before childbirth to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos and to perform prayers with the reading of an akathist dedicated to the icon of the Leaping Baby.
Icon of the Mother of God "Jumping baby"
The icon in question belongs to the most common type in iconography, called "eleusa", which is translated from Greek as "merciful". Such works most fully depict deeply quivering and tenderrelationship between the Holy Mother and the Divine Child. Here there is no distance between the Mother and the Son: the Infant presses his cheek against the face of the Mother of God, showing her his sincere love and trust. Many famous icons of the Mother of God also belong to the “eleus” type, such as: Vladimirskaya, “Tenderness”, Yaroslavskaya and others.
The icon depicts the Savior Jesus Christ, sitting on the hand of the Virgin. Throwing his head back, He seems to be playing with his Mother. With one hand, the Savior touches her cheek, thereby showing tenderness. The entire pose of the Divine Infant conveys His childish direct character. This icon most strongly shows the human side of the Divine Savior, which is rarely found in other icon-paintings of the Mother of God.
Special Notes
According to the opinion of the researchers, the genre of the icon "Jumping the Baby" comes from some of the scenes described in the Gospel. The image reminds us of the Gospel theme of “The Presentation of the Lord,” when the Savior Jesus Christ was brought to the Jerusalem Temple on the fortieth day after birth to perform the rite of consecration to God. Here the Savior is handed over to the hands of the elder Simeon, but the Divine Infant reaches out to His Holy Mother, showing childlike affection and love.
In Macedonia, the earliest images of the icon "Jumping the Baby" have been preserved, where they were called "Pelagonitiss" (after the name of the locality Pelagonia). Here the holy image was venerated with special love and reverence. At a later time, the icons of the Virgin, depicting the themeMotherhood and the future suffering of the Cross of the Savior became common in post-Byzantine art, and most of all among the Slavic peoples.
Many researchers involved in clarifying the history of the origin of this icon are inclined to believe that the icon of the Mother of God "Leaping of the Child" comes from Byzantium. There is accurate information that in Ancient Byzantium this image was revered as a great Christian shrine. This icon received the name "Jumping the Baby" already in Russia, where it gained the greatest fame only in the 16th-17th centuries. It can be assumed that it is a copy copied from the Byzantine model.
Look into the past
The history of the appearance of the miraculous icon in Russia has been going on since 1795, when the Mother of God (“Jumping the Baby”) was revealed in the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery, located on the territory of the modern Moscow region (not far from Dzerzhinsky). This monastery is famous for the fact that in its place in the 14th century an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was miraculously found.
Dmitry Donskoy built this monastery in honor of the victory he won on the Kulikovo field in 1380. The appearance of the icon of St. Nicholas of Myra of Lycia inspired the prince before the battle. Donskoy promised to build a new monastery at the place where she was found.
In the 16th century, it was in this monastery that the icon of the Mother of God "The Leaping Baby" was miraculously revealed. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates this event on November 20 (New Style).
An icon today
In the post-revolutionary period, the icon disappeared, and its whereabouts remained unknown for a long time. In 2003, a certain woman donated to the monastery an icon of the Mother of God, similar to a miraculous list. According to eyewitnesses, this image was brought to the monastery. It was installed in the same place where the miraculous icon had previously stood. All witnesses of this joyful event were convinced of the authenticity of the newly acquired miraculous icon. Currently, the image of the Virgin is kept in the altar of the Transfiguration Cathedral.
Miraculous lists
Besides the Ugresh one, there are other miraculous lists of the Leaping Baby icon. Currently they are in the Tretyakov Gallery. Another image is kept in the Moscow Novodevichy Convent. Also, the miraculous icon "Jumping the Baby" is located in the Vatopedi Monastery. The latter rises on the holy Mount Athos.
Baby Leaping icon. Meaning in Christendom
Before the image in question, many couples bring a prayer for resolution from infertility. It is also customary to ask the Mother of God for help during pregnancy, before and after childbirth.
Pious Christian mothers ask the Blessed Virgin to grant their children mental and physical he alth and help parents in raising children. Some fathers ask the Mother of God to instruct their children in the Orthodox faith so that they grow up to be kind and loving people. In such life situations, the icon “Jumping the Baby” always helps, its significance is very great. The Most Holy Theotokos, through the icon, gives consolation to all who ask, as well as help, support andprotection.
All women who want to give birth to he althy children or who are already carrying a fetus in their hearts should in a special way keep their thoughts pure and strive to live according to the commandments of the Lord. This mindset and godly behavior is necessary to prepare a mother for the great mystery of childbirth. In Russia, it was believed that the behavior of a woman during pregnancy directly affects the future character of the baby. It is the mother who will give an answer to God for the Christian upbringing of her child, therefore, at all times, women began to pray to the Virgin, just getting ready to get married and become a mother. Pious Christian women pray before the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, asking Her for help in conception, pregnancy and childbirth.
Prayer for the gift of children
Infertile couples, unable to have offspring, pray to the Mother of God for sending them the desired child, often they are heard. There are many examples when childless families found great happiness thanks to the help of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Besides the icon of the “Leaping of the Baby”, there are other images of the Mother of God, in front of which one should pray for the bestowal of children. They are no less famous. These are such icons of the Mother of God as “Tenderness”, “Quick to Hearing”, “Feodorovskaya” Icon of the Mother of God, “Blessed Womb”, “Tolgskaya”. In addition to prayer, you can come with a request for the gift of children to the Holy Righteous Joachim and Anna - the parents of the Blessed Virgin.
The parents of the Blessed Mary were barren for many years, they prayed all their livesthe Lord to give them a child. The holy Fathers of God deeply grieved over their childlessness, since among the Jewish people barrenness was considered a punishment for sins. The Lord heard their prayer, and Saint Anna conceived and gave birth to a blessed child, Mary, who became the Mother of the Savior Jesus Christ. That is why in the Christian world it is customary to ask the holy forefathers for permission from infertility.
Also, childless couples can pray to the Holy Matrona of Moscow, Zechariah and Elizabeth and other saints.
Prayer to the Mother of God during pregnancy
Many believing Christians, while waiting for a child, say especially warm prayers in front of various icons. One of the most famous helpers during pregnancy is the icon of the Theotokos “Feodorovskaya”, “Help in Childbirth”, “Softener of Evil Hearts” (its other name is “Seven-shot”), “Help of sinners”, “Tenderness” and, of course, “Jumping baby.”
The icon of the Mother of God matters when a sincere prayer is performed in front of her. Also, while waiting for the baby, the young spouses pray to Saints Joachim and Anna, the Holy Martyr Paraskeva, Saint Rev. Roman of Kirzhach and others.
Prayer of the spouses before the appearance of the heir
Many women in anticipation of a baby are worried about how well the birth will go. In addition to the appearance of restless thoughts, expectant mothers are visited by a fear of pain, which confuses them very much. When preparing for childbirth in the Orthodox Church, it is customary to ask the Most Holy Theotokos for help, who always hearssincere prayers, and especially women's prayers for the safe birth of a baby.
The pious tradition of asking the Mother of God for help has long been known in Russia. Russian women fervently pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary in front of Her numerous icons (“Helper in Childbirth”, “Tenderness”, “Feodorovskaya” Blessed Virgin Mary, “Jumping the Baby” and others). She, in turn, grants what She is sincerely asked for.
Prayer after the birth of a baby
After the birth of a baby, many mothers pray before the icons "Mammary" and "Education", asking the Mother of God for help in raising their beloved child.
The Theotokos Prayer "Jumping the Baby" has a deep meaning. It glorifies the Blessed Virgin, asks for Her help and support during childbirth. The text also contains requests for the preservation of a newborn baby, for his enlightenment in the sacrament of Baptism, for his upbringing in the Orthodox faith. In addition to prayer in front of the icon, you can read an akathist.
“The Leaping Baby” is a miraculous icon, in front of which many Christian women, asking for help from the Mother of God, received Her holy protection and patronage. Akathist also contains various petitions for support.
Conclusion
The Ugresh icon "Jumping the Baby" differs from other versions of this holy image. In some compositions there are slight differences in the depiction of the Divine Infant and His Most Pure Mother. However, they all have the same name - the icon of "Jumping Baby".
Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, uttered from a pure heart, always brings spiritual fruit. Many believing Christians, after praying in front of this icon, received consolation in spiritual anxieties, as well as deep calm and peace. Such is the effect of the help of the Queen of Heaven, who always helps in various life circumstances.
In Russia, on the day of the celebration of the Ugresh Icon of the Mother of God, the feast of all the icons of the Mother of God "The Leaping of the Baby" is celebrated. The Ugresh Icon of the Mother of God is also revered as a miraculous image, to which many believing Christians come to worship and pray.
