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.
The Serafimo-Diveevo icon “Tenderness” differs from the others, the Mother of God is depicted alone on it. 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 the same name.
"Tenderness" - the icon of the Mother of God of Pskov - Pechersk
The Pskov-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” (photo below) is a list of the “Vladimir Mother of God”. It was written by the monk Arseniy Khitrosh in 1521. The icon was brought to the Pskov-Caves Monastery by pious merchants in 1529-1570, when Saint Cornelius was the abbot of the monastery. This holy icon has become famous all over the world for its miraculous help, supporting and protecting Orthodox Christians in difficult moments of life.
"Tenderness" - the icon of the Mother of God of Pskov-Caves - belongs to the icon-painting type "Eleusa", 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 Mother of God as Donskaya, Vladimirskaya, Yaroslavskaya, Feodorovskaya, Zhirovitskaya, Grebnevskaya, Pochaevskaya, Seeking for the dead, Akhrenskaya, Degtyarevskaya and others. One of the images of this type is the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" Pecherskaya.
The history of the glorification of the miraculous icon
In 1581, the Polish ruler King Stefan Batory attempted to siege Pskov. 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. Having lost this war, the Lithuanian Principality was once again forced to conclude a truce with Russia.
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 attributes his victory tohelp 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.
There are numerous cases of this icon helping with the miraculous healing of blind people. 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.
"Tenderness" - Seraphim-Diveevo Icon
The Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" 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 "Joy of all joys." Standing in prayer before the image of the Theotokos, the monk peacefully departed to the Lord. Even during the life of the saint, a lampada burned in front of the icon, with oil from which he anointed all the people who came to him, healing from mental and bodily ailments.
An interesting fact is that the iconographic type of this icon is more characteristic of Western Christianity than the Eastern tradition of writing. The Blessed Virgin Mary is depicted here at a young age, at that moment Herlife, when the Archangel Gabriel announced 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!"
History of the icon
The history of writing and the author of this icon are unknown, its origin dates back to the end of the 18th century. After the death of Seraphim of Sarov, the image was transferred to the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Diveevo monastery. For this, a special chapel was rebuilt, 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 to stand behind the shrine of the Mother of God during the service.
In 1902, the holy emperor Nicholas II presented the monastery with a precious gilded riza for the icon "Tenderness" and a silver decorated lamp. In the year when Seraphim of Sarov was glorified, several exact lists were made from the Mother of God icon and sent to various Russian monasteries.
In the post-revolutionary period, 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 is taken to the Cathedral of the Epiphany for veneration. It is possible for all Orthodox Christians who wish to venerate it. An exact copy of the miraculous image is now in the Diveyevo monastery.
Novgorod icon "Tenderness"
The people of Novgorod have beenFor 700 years, another icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" has been venerated. She is known for her numerous miracles that came from praying to the Most Holy Theotokos.
The Blessed Virgin protected the city from fires, ruins and wars. Thanks to the fervent prayer of the heart before this holy image, many people received healing from spiritual sorrows and bodily diseases. The icon is celebrated on July 8.
Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness"
On the Smolensk Mother of God icon “Tenderness”, the Holy Virgin is depicted with her hands folded crosswise on her chest. She admires her Divine Son playing on the folds of Her clothes. The face of the Blessed Virgin is filled with deep love and at the same time sorrow for Her Son.
The image has been known to the world since 1103. And he became famous thanks to the miraculous intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who defended Smolensk from the attack of Polish soldiers at the beginning of the 17th century.
The 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 he althy children. Any icon of "Tenderness" depicts the state of the holy soul of the Virgin: her endless love for people, great purity and holiness.
Many Christian women, after performing a sincere prayer in front of a holy image, note deep calm, 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 Blessed Virgin Mary. 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. In the request to give birth to he althy 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
Many prayers dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos are known. 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.
Akathist
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.
Conclusion
There are several different types of Orthodox icons of the Mother of God, called "Tenderness": there are miraculous, locally venerated 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 Blessed Virgin Mary 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. V. P. Serbian. This is a house operating church located at the address: Khamovniki, Kropotkinsky lane, 23. Believers who want to pray and find peace of mind are always welcome here.
