The Three Joys Icon: meaning and photo

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Since ancient times in Russia it was customary to bow and ask for protection and help before the holy images. They heal, save, help and revive those who earnestly pray for it, because those who ask always receive. There are many such icons, but those that became famous for their miracles are especially revered. These include the Miraculous Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Three Joys. We will talk about this miraculous image today.

The Three Joys Icon

An interesting story of the emergence of a particularly revered shrine in Russia. A long time ago, at the beginning of the 18th century, during the reign of Tsar Peter I, a fashion appeared among young people to receive education abroad. A young Russian painter was sent to Italy for training, who, after completing his studies, brought with him to his homeland the exact image of the Catholic icon of the Mother of God "Holy Family". Scientists believe that the original of this icon was written by Raphael himself, a great creator and the embodiment of artistic style and taste. The young artist, who was educated in the best Western traditions, presented the holy image to the priest of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Gryazekhi. He was his relative, and, in turn, gave the copies of the icon to the temple. Some time aboutshe heard nothing, but 40 years later, the first miracle happened.

Three joys in joy

Legend says that one noble, respectable lady from an aristocratic society got into a difficult life situation, suffered great losses. She had three troubles at the same time. So, her beloved husband was slandered and put in jail. The family estate was taken away, and her only son was taken prisoner on the battlefields. The unfortunate woman looked everywhere for help in overcoming evil rock. She fervently and sincerely prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos, with prayers and tears, begging her for protection and help. Every night she turned to her for advice, until one day, in a dream, she heard a voice that told her to find the Holy Family icon and pray before the holy icon. For a long time, the unfortunate woman wandered through the churches of Moscow and looked for this icon until she came to the Church of the Trinity on Gryazeh. There, on the porch of the Trinity Church, on Pokrovka, was the icon of the Holy Family. Falling to her knees, the venerable lady prayed fervently beside the holy image.

After some time, she received three good news: her husband was acquitted, and he finally returned home from exile, his son was released from captivity, and the family estate was returned. It was from that time that this image began to be called the icon of the Three Joys. The parishioners who prayed to this image also noticed that the joy from this icon comes in three times.

Holy Face

The icon depicts the Infant of God onkneeling at the Blessed Virgin Mary with a white flower in her hands. To the right of center is Joseph the Betrothed, and to the left is John the Baptist at a young age. Both look lovingly at the Divine Child. The icon of the "Three Joys" is celebrated on December 26 according to the old style (or January 8 - according to the new one). Just once a year, the parishioners of the Trinity Church on Gryazeh have the opportunity to especially honor the memory and ask the saints for protection and forgiveness. However, it always “works”: crowds of believers daily strive to bow to the holy image.

What to pray for in front of a shrine?

A lot of people come to worship the image of the Mother of God with a variety of requests and prayers, because it is believed that she helps in many cases. Those who are in a difficult situation in a foreign land or are in the army in hot spots turn to the icon. A fervent prayer to the icon of the "Three Joys" helps to return what was lost, to free oneself from captivity, to escape from the enemy. Before this image, they ask for healing from an illness, for a successful resolution of an important matter. Very often, undeservedly slandered sufferers or those who have lost the good acquired by honest labor pray. The image became famous for its miracles, there are many cases when the lost was returned to its rightful owner.

Mercy of the Sovereign

Historians know for certain that the icon of the "Three Joys" enjoyed respect and honor in the royal house of the Romanov family. One of the copies of this icon was presented to Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Emperor Alexander II. The maid of honor made a giftEmpress Anna Feodorovna Aksakov, who, after the death of Maria Alexandrovna, took the icon back to herself for a while. But then she returned the icon to the Romanovs' house, handing it to the wife of Tsarevich Sergei Alexandrovich, Elizaveta Feodorovna. At the same time, it was said: “I want your bride to take on the image as a blessing from your mother…”

But not only in the rich chambers of the royal house, the icon of the "Three Joys" was held in high esteem. The common people also fervently prayed before the image and, according to their faith, received miracles. The people of Kuban loved the shrine very much. The icon of the Mother of God "Three Joys" helped the mothers and wives of the Kuban Cossacks. Thanks to sincere prayers before the shrine, their brothers, sons and husbands returned safely from military campaigns.

List icons

Currently, the icon of the "Three Joys" in Moscow is located on the territory of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Gryazakh near the Pokrovsky Gates. This is the oldest list of the icon, which was written in the middle of the 19th century. It was here, to this monastery, that the holy image of the Mother of God “Three Joys” was brought from Italy, which disappeared in difficult revolutionary times, and the temple was closed. The fate of the original image is still unknown.

There are two more revered lists of the Three Joys icon. One is located in Moscow, in the Church of the Deposition of the Robe in Leonov, and the second is in the house church of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, at the Sofrino operational brigade.

When the Trinity Church on Gryazeh was reopened in 1992, the parishioners were presented with several icons. These icons were confiscated at customs whenthey wanted to illegally take them abroad. Among them was the icon of the Mother of God "Three Joys". This is a list of Italian icons, but written in the Russian icon painting tradition of the 19th century. In front of this icon, a lampada miraculously lit itself, after which they began to especially honor it. There is always a divine service near the icon on Wednesdays and the Akathist is always read.

Meaning of the image

The icon of the Three Joys is honored and loved by the people. Its significance is great for the Orthodox people. An ardently crying parishioner always receives what he asks with an open heart and pure thoughts. The image gives those who ask for healing from diseases, including cancer. They pray before him for the gift of children, a successful marriage or marriage. The shrine returns the mind to those who have lost their mind, helps to find a way out of a difficult situation, gives a person strength. That is why the icon of the "Three Joys" is so revered - the importance attached to it by the Russian people is important for every believer.

Pilgrim to help

The icon of the "Three Joys" is the second main shrine of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Gryazakh, located at the Intercession Gates. You can get to the service on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Also, every Monday, a prayer service is performed to St. David of Gareji, and every Thursday - to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. These are two more especially revered shrines of the temple, but we will talk about them another time.