Since ancient times, with special love and hope, Orthodox people have been offering their prayers to the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven. In all sorrows and sorrows, they rely on her all-merciful intercession. Many icons have been written glorifying Her maternal feat, but the most revered among them are miraculous ones.
Which icons are called miraculous
One of these images is the Kozelshchanskaya Icon of the Mother of God. Where is this shrine located and what kind of icons are generally called miraculous? First of all, those through whom Jesus Christ, the Mother of God or some saints performed miracles. It is important to understand that it is not the icon itself, not the board on which it is written, but it is the Divine power that works miracles, but through the mediation of individual, most revered images for this. Such shrines are very rare. Temples, monasteries are sometimes erected in their honor and special days of holidays are established.
A special place is occupied by miraculous icons of the Mother of God. Its full veneration in Russia began in the 16th century. This is due to the special graces revealed then. Suffice it to recall a number of military victories. The Kazan and Crimean khanates, the Livonian lands felt the power of Russian weapons. And most often, the Mother of God showed her mercy through icons, which were called miraculous for this. One of them is the Kozelshchansk Icon of the Mother of God, about which the story will go.
Characteristic features of the face
The miraculous icon of the Mother of God, called Kozelshchanskaya, has small dimensions, only 30 x 40 cm, and is painted on wood. Regarding her Italian origin, the opinion of art critics coincides with the version that is presented in the above story and is generally accepted. Reclining on the lap of the Mother of God is the Infant Jesus. The stars that adorn the maphorium of the Most Holy Theotokos and Her open forehead, as well as the cross in the hands of the Eternal Child, are characteristic of the Western icon painting school.
A characteristic detail of the composition is a cup and a spoon depicted a little to the side (a small spoon used during the sacrament of Communion). Their meaning is symbolic and has a double interpretation. First of all, the artist's intention can be seen in the desire to emphasize the greatness of the Eternal Child as the Establisher of the sacrament of Communion, opening the way to eternal life. At the same time, these symbols suggest the sacrifice of Christ himself, who brought his flesh and blood for people to eat. In addition, the image of the vessel appears in many texts of Christian prayers and hymns glorifying the Blessed Virgin. In particular, in the well-known akathist it is called “a cup that draws joy.”
The story of the saintlooks
The Kozelshchansk Icon of the Mother of God, the photo of which is in front of you, appeared in Russia in the 18th century. During the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, a young Italian woman appeared at the court. History did not preserve her name, but it is known that the mother empress liked her and was elevated to the rank of court maid of honor. It was she who brought from Italy the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, which was later destined to become famous under the name of the Kozelshchanskaya Icon of the Mother of God.
Soon, Siromach, one of Hetman Polubotok's close associates, kindled tender feelings for the young maid of honor. Played a wedding. The wedding gift received by the young from Elizabeth Petrovna was truly royal - vast land in the Poltava province. From now on, they have become the family property of the Siromach family, and the icon brought from Italy has become their family heirloom.
In the next century, more precisely in the second half of it, according to the will of the land, they pass into the possession of Pavel Ivanovich Kozelsky. In his honor, the main village was named Kozelshchina. All these years, the image of the Virgin remained in the estate.
Misfortune in the count's family
The next stage in the history of the famous image dates back to the end of the 19th century. The owner of the estate at that time was Count Vladimir Ivanovich Kapnist, to whom the land and the estate were donated by the previous owners. The Kapnist family lived peacefully and happily among the gardens and fields of the Poltava region, praying to the image of the Most Pure Mother of God and asking for her blessings. But the Lord let them test.
One day, misfortune happened. The owner's daughter Maria, going down the stairs, accidentally sprained her leg. This seemingly minor injury was ignored. When the pain intensified, they turned to a local doctor. He diagnosed a dislocation and applied a plaster cast. The pain did not subside, and the injured leg was noticeably twisted. I had to resort to the help of a Kharkov doctor, more qualified. He confirmed the diagnosis and tried to use a specially designed shoe that was used in those years for treatment.
However, despite the measures taken, the patient's condition did not improve, but the same symptoms appeared in the right leg. The same pains and a strong curvature. The Kharkov doctor ordered to put on the second leg the same shoe and take Maria to the Caucasus, hoping for the healing properties of mountain air and mineral waters.
But apart from new torment, the journey brought nothing. Soon, the disease spread to the hands of the girl. They lost sensation and stopped moving. To top it off, severe pain in the spine appeared. Maria became a complete invalid.
Trip to Moscow
There was no end to the grief of unfortunate parents. In 1880, they took their sick daughter to Moscow, hoping for the help of doctors known at that time. The Kozelshchanskaya Icon of the Mother of God went with them. What do inconsolable parents pray for in such cases? About help. But the trip only brought more torment.
The last hope was the famous Professor Charcot, but he practiced in Paris and did not expect soonreturn to Russia. Vladimir Ivanovich remained in Moscow, and Masha and her mother returned home, having agreed that they would be informed of the return of the doctor, and they would immediately arrive.
A miracle happened
But the trip was not destined to take place. When the telegram about the arrival of the professor was received, mother and daughter began to pack for the journey. It was here that a miracle happened that changed the life of the Kapnist family. Just before leaving, Mary knelt down in front of their family heirloom, the image of the Mother of God, and began to pray. In this prayer, she put all the strength of her faith and hope for the help of the Most Pure Lady. And her prayer was answered.
Evidence of a miracle
Remaining memories of contemporaries, written from her words. From them it becomes known that suddenly Masha felt a strong pain in her spine, so strong that at the first moment she lost consciousness. When consciousness returned to her, the girl was overwhelmed by the feeling of something extraordinary and supernatural happening to her in those moments. She suddenly felt the warmth of life in her arms and legs. The pain in the spine disappeared. Still not believing herself, she screamed with joy, and the household ran to her cry.
The doctor was urgently brought in, who took off her already unnecessary shoes. A moment - and for the first time in a long time, Maria took a few uncertain, but independent steps.
A few days later, the girl, already firmly on her feet, and her mother went to Moscow, taking with them a miraculous image. Moscow doctors, re-examiningthe girl, stated a complete recovery and stated that from a scientific point of view, this phenomenon has no explanation. Even the most complete skeptics were forced to admit that a miracle happened.
Glory to the miraculous image
Moscow even in those years was a big city, but the rumor about the appearance of a new miraculous icon spread around it with amazing speed. The Kozelshchansk Icon of the Mother of God appeared in Moscow for the second time, but now crowds of pilgrims began to flock to the hotel where the count's family lived. Crowds filled the surrounding streets.
When the Kapnists returned to their estate, they already knew about the miraculous healing and that the count's family was carrying a shrine with them. Upon their return, the village of Kozelshchina became a place of mass pilgrimage.
From chapel to monastery
It turned out to be absolutely impossible to keep the icon in the house. Having received a blessing from the Poltava Archbishop John, Count Kapnist transferred the miraculous image to a specially built chapel. This event took place on April 23, 1881. Since then, the memory of the Kozelshchanskaya Icon of the Mother of God has been revered by the people. A year later, in the same village, a temple was erected for the miraculous icon, and on March 1, 1885, by decree of the Holy Synod, a women's community was established, which in 1891 was transformed into a convent in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. Its main shrine was the miraculous icon, now known as the Kozelshchansk Icon of the Mother of God.
History of the monastery
Today, the holy image is kept in the Poltava region, in the women's Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery. The flow of pilgrims does not dry out all year round,wishing to bow to the shrine and receive healing. On the day of memory of the Kozelshchanskaya Icon of the Mother of God, which is celebrated on March 6, there are especially many of them. Sometimes their number reaches 10 thousand people. The Kozelshchanskaya Icon of the Mother of God in Murom is represented by one of the lists kept in Diveevo.
The history of the monastery began on February 17, 1891, when the women's community became a monastery by decree of the Holy Synod. After the revolution, he shared the fate of many holy monasteries in our country. In 1929 it was closed. The repressions began. Many of those who until recently devoted their lives to prayerful labors received the crown of martyrdom. It is known that in those dark days one of the miracles happened. It happened on March 6, the very day when the memory is honored. The Kozelshchanskaya icon of the Mother of God was above the main gate of the monastery. Suddenly, tears of blood appeared on her face. There were many witnesses, but the authorities demanded that all of them give a signature that it was not blood that appeared on the icon, but the paint was simply peeling off. Those who did not wish to do so were sent into exile. In 1941 the monastery was opened, but not in full. In 1949, the monastery was closed again, and only in 1990, when the mass return of churches and other religious buildings to believers began, did services begin at the Nativity of the Theotokos Convent. The whole period of hard times Kozelshchanskaya Icon of the Mother of Godwas preserved in a private apartment with people faithful to Orthodoxy. In 1993, the miraculous image solemnly returned to the walls of the monastery, where it is now. In the monastery, work is continuously being carried out to recreate the original appearance of all its buildings. The parishioners of the temple and numerous pilgrims are of great help. The monastery will soon acquire its historical appearance.
Revival of the monastery
