The icon "Blessing the children" belongs to the plot images of the life of Jesus Christ, which describes the action taking place in the Jewish lands, where the Lord came to preach. The power of His teaching was so great that the mothers who listened to His words brought their children and wanted to ask Jesus to bless their children.
The plot of the icon "Blessing the Children"
The very history of this image carries a very strong, from the point of view of Christianity, meaning. The Lord in the Gospel of Mark says that only one who cleanses his soul from worldly impurities, equating the purity of his soul with children - “little ones” - will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The acquisition of the Kingdom of Heaven had a special meaning, since life on earth is considered only a temporary stay. After death comes true life, which has no time, as it is infinite. And it is very important to spend eternity not in torment, but in peace and happiness.
In the time of Jesus, children were consideredthe blessing of God, but there was also an opinion that they were not able to perceive the teaching properly, so adults with their own opinions were usually allowed to talk about God. The speeches of Jesus were often not only instructive, but also theological. Children, not always understanding what was at stake, could distract the Teacher. This is what the apostles feared when they persuaded mothers to take their children away. However, Jesus heard their speeches, invited children, mothers, and apostles. He blessed the children brought to Him, praised the mothers, and rather sharply scolded the apostles, teaching them that the purity of the souls of these little ones is much more valuable to Him than all the knowledge of the scribes, since only such a soul, not overshadowed by many knowledge, which often mentioned punishment for any a fault, it is possible to accept His teaching about love, which does not carry punishment in itself, but to reject it is the punishment itself.
Main motifs of the icon
The blessing of that time was a mere formality - laying hands on the head, which meant some protection and protection from the blessed.
The Blessing of the Children icon has several interpretations, but in each of them Jesus embraces the children or lays His hand on their heads. Usually there are mothers on the icon, who look with gratitude at the Teacher, and the apostles, who are perplexed why Jesus needs people in his environment who are unable to accept His teachings. And yet, when you look at the calmly joyful face of the Savior on these icons, it becomes clear that there is nothinga person can see, he will not hide from God - the soul of a child unstained by sins is priceless, as it is capable of accepting all that is good and beautiful.
Variety of looks
As you can see from the photos proposed in the article, the icons of the "Blessing of the Children" are very numerous and unique in their writing. This is explained by the fact that at different times in different places people tried to capture the story they liked. They show the Lord's love not only for the great ones of this world, but first of all for those who can accept His love without any conventions dictated by this world.
In some images we see a city in the background, and in other icons - a desert, a rock or a tree. Each image carries a symbolic meaning. The tree on the icons means that nothing can grow tall if it does not have deep roots. That is, if the soil is not littered with everyday troubles, then the grain that has fallen on it will give deep roots and grow into a mighty fruitful tree. The city symbolizes a certain opposite. In cities, people are concerned about the opinions of others, of which there are a huge number, and everyone needs to be pleased. Everyone around knows how to live, any deviation is punishable by the Law. In such a fuss, it is difficult for a person to accept the teaching of God's Love for people. The life of such people is overloaded with worldly concerns. And only children remain with pure souls until they start on the path of growing up.
And the Lord teaches those gathered: to seduce a pure, like a child’s soul, is a sin seven times more serious than to be seducedhimself. He calls on adults not only to take care of the purity of children's souls, but also to become like them themselves.
Icon for children
It is believed that the icon "Blessing the Children" should only be a temple icon, so that children, coming with their parents to the temple, could see that Jesus loves and blesses such little ones as they are. In some parishes, a small lectern is specially made for small parishioners, and small candlesticks are placed so that children, without the help of adults, can venerate the icon they love, light candles, and ask the Lord for something of their own. Likewise, children are introduced to temple life from a very early age.
How to pray
What does the icon "Blessing the Children" mean, what helps and how to pray in front of it? Understanding these issues is not difficult.
The family is a small Church where all the laws of Christianity must be observed: the head of the family must, like the Lord, take care of all household members as if they were his own children. All those who depend on the owner of the house should remember to whom they owe a quiet life in love. The hostess is a mother, a prototype of the Church, which teaches to honor and love the host, take care and pray for each other so that the family remains strong. Thus, the icon shows what a family should be like: close-knit, despite the troubles of life and the gossip of strangers.
Praying before the “Blessing of the Children” icon is possible not only for kids, but also for adults: otheir children, whether they are very young or already adults. For this, there are special prayers of parents for children with different needs. But there is also a universal prayer that the Lord Himself gave us: "Our Father …" This prayer can be read before any icon that has an image of the Savior, and it is also recommended to read it any time when the mind is not busy with everyday problems.
What to ask for
How does the Blessing of Children icon help? First of all, parents should not forget that no matter how small their children are, it is their duty to bring them to God, to keep their souls pure. Any need of children, through the prayer of their parents, can be resolved in the best possible way: the recovery of a sick child, help in learning, avoiding conflicts with others, entering into a worthy marriage, finding long-awaited children in marriage, etc.
If the work is related to children, then it is also worth asking for patience, understanding, joy from the work performed. In a family where there is an icon “Blessing the Children”, it is customary to pray with the whole family in front of the holy image: children for parents, parents for children, which strengthens the family, makes it like the Church, where everyone prays for everyone, and everyone prays for everyone. The symbolism of this icon shows that just as Jesus loves all his children and takes care of them, so the head of the family should pray for everyone who depends on him. The rest of the family should accept not only his support, but also his will, like Christians who see the providence of God in everything and adhere to it.
Many parents give the “Blessing of Children” icon for a wedding as a family heirloom that will be passed down from generation to generation and keep all children of this kind.
Where to buy the icon
Recently, this icon has ceased to be only a temple icon. They are happy to purchase it for themselves or for a gift to families where there are or are expected to have children. The meaning of the "Blessing of the Children" icon is becoming more and more powerful for families with children. You can buy it in church shops, via the Internet, or make it yourself by embroidering it with threads or beads, and then take it to the nearest temple and light it up there.
Church lighting for an icon purchased outside the walls of the temple is mandatory, because without this sacrament it will remain just an interior item. If the icon was inherited and its origin is unknown, it is also worth illuminating it in the temple, since during the time of atheistic education in the USSR, icons were treated carelessly, and even if they were not thrown away, they were stored inappropriately.
If it is not possible to pray at home
But there are situations in which the purchase of an icon for the home is impossible. If there is a zealous atheist in the family or an adherent of another faith that denies the holiness of icons, you should not breed enmity in the family because of this. You can always go to the temple and pray there. Which churches have the icon "Blessing of the Children"? Any Orthodox church that is probably close to your home. If suddenly there is no such icon in the temple, you can approach with such a request torector. Most likely, the petition will be granted, and after a while the icon "Blessing the Children" will appear on the iconostasis. Pray to the glory of God!
