In the churches of pre-revolutionary Moscow there were many miraculous icons that were worshiped and asked for help in all everyday affairs. To the sound of bells, the Orthodox people hurried to them. But some of them were especially revered. They came from all over Russia. One of them is called "Blessed Sky". Our story will be about her.
The appearance of a miraculous image in Russia
There are different opinions about how this wonderful image appeared in Russia. According to one version, in the 14th century, the pious wife of Prince Vasily Dmitrievich, Sofia Vitovtovna, brought the icon to Moscow from Smolensk. It was sent to Smolensk from Constantinople along with other ancient images. According to another version, the icon is of Western origin. But this version is less convincing, as it is based solely on the iconographic features of her writing.
There is a special group of the Mother of God icons, called "akathist". Their main meaning is to glorify the Queen of Heaven. Each of them is a joyful, laudatory hymn in Herhonour. This group also includes the "Blessed Sky" - the icon of the Mother of God. What are they praying for? About much. But the main thing is about guidance on the path that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven. The Most Pure Virgin does not leave everyone who falls to Her with faith.
Prototype of the blessed image
It is generally accepted that the icon of the Mother of God "Blessed Sky" as a prototype has a different image, known as "The Wife Clothed in the Sun". The figure of the Mother of God depicted on it with the Child in her arms stands on a crescent. Her head is crowned, and She is surrounded by rays. The motive for writing it was the lines from the book of John the Theologian.
The Holy Apostle describes how he was honored to see in the sky a woman clothed with the rays of the sun, who gave birth to a baby who was destined to become a shepherd for all the people of the world. Created in Western Europe in the 15th century, this iconographic type came to Russia two hundred years later. He gave rise to the writing of the Virgin icons, including the "Solar" and the icon of the Mother of God "Blessed Sky".
Image from a Moscow church
In Orthodox Russia, these icons were held in high esteem. The most ancient of them was the icon of the Mother of God "Blessed Sky", located in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. It was a copy of an older icon, painted by decree of the pious Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. A chased silver salary was made for her. In 1812 it was stolen, but a few years later it was replaced by a new one. Some of its details, unfortunately, have not been preserved.
Today, the icon is kept in the Moscow Archangel Cathedral. Her wide veneration is associated with the name of the Moscow Metropolitan Filaret (Drozdov). In 1853, he ordered to collect all the available documents related to the image of the "Blessed Sky". The icon took its place in the renovated iconostasis of the cathedral, and, at the direction of the Metropolitan, it was celebrated twice a year. In addition, a special prayer service was performed daily in her honor. Numerous pilgrims carried candles, oil and lamps to her. At the very beginning of the last century, a new list was made from the image of the “Blessed Sky”. The icon is currently in one of the temples of the Yaroslavl region.
The famous fresco by V. M. Vasnetsov
The story about this miraculous image will be incomplete if you do not recall the famous fresco of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv by V. M. Vasnetsov. This work is so significant that it is worth dwelling on it in more detail. His story is not only interesting, but also wonderful.
In 1885, one of the leaders of the design of the newly built temple, Professor A. Prakhov, invited Vasnetsov to paint the walls, but his son's illness prevented the artist from accepting the offer. However, soon the thoughts about the image of the Mother of God took possession of him so much that he changed his mind. The impetus was the scene he witnessed: his wife holding a baby in her arms - a son who threw up his arms in a joyful outburst.
"Blessed Sky" - an icon that has become part of the temple
Meanwhile in Kyivcompleted the preparation of the temple for painting. Professor Prakhov, with a group of assistants, was inspecting the freshly plastered walls. Plaster, as you know, dries unevenly, and dried light areas alternate with dark, still damp. Approaching the part of the wall where the image behind the altar should be, everyone suddenly saw on the dry and whitened part of the wall a still damp and therefore dark area, its outline similar to the image of the Virgin Mary with the baby in her arms.
Prakhov immediately sketched what he saw, and everyone present authenticated it. When Vasnetsov arrived in Kyiv and they showed him this sketch, he was amazed - the outlines of the Virgin exactly corresponded to the image of his wife with her son in her arms. Impressed by what he saw, he set to work.
Two years later, the wall of the cathedral was decorated with the famous fresco "Blessed Sky". The icon, which became part of the cathedral, generously bestowed grace on all those who came to it with faith.
The icon is the patroness of the defenders of the sky
Today, this icon remains one of the most revered among the people. Her celebration takes place on March 19. The icon "Blessed Sky", the meaning of which went beyond the scope of a purely religious symbol, became the patroness of the Russian airborne troops, thus fulfilling an important patriotic mission. By decree of the Russian government, the “Blessed Sky” medal was established.
She is awarded for special merits in protecting the sky of our homeland. It is known that the legendary military pilot A. I. Pokryshkin was born on the day of hercelebration, and throughout the war, the Mother of God took care of him in battles.
