The image of the Virgin of Albazin has a second name. "The word became flesh" is a quote from the Gospel of John.
There is no Divine Child on the icon in the form that is used to on other images. Here the Savior is depicted in the womb of His Mother. Before the icon of the Mother of God of Albazin, what do they pray for? And what is the history of its origin? We will learn about this from the article.
Mystery of origin
In fact, there is no data about when the image was written. Who was its author is unknown. Experts say that the image is over 400 years old.
And his story is as follows. From time immemorial, there have been attacks on Russia. And the middle of the XVII century was no exception. The Chinese could not calm down. They really wanted to conquer the Albazin fortress. How many attacks and provocations were committed by the invaders, now you can’t even count them.
In the end, the Chinese managed to do what they had planned. The fortress was burned down. But time goes bythe year 1665 comes. It was then that Albazin was restored. An ardent faith in the intercession of the Virgin is all that helps people in their confrontation with the Chinese.
It's a very hard time. Soldiers and civilians needed strengthening of the spirit. It was then that an old man named Hermogen came to Albazin. He was the founder of the Ust-Kirensky monastery. The elder brings icons with him. Among them is the icon of the Albazin Mother of God.
In 1671, Hermogen founded a monastery near Albazin. He was one of the first on the Amur. The elder lived in the monastery until 1680, and the icon of the Albazinskaya Mother of God, or "The Word was Flesh" (its second name) was also located there.
But the Chinese are not complacent. The raids continue. The elder leaves the monastery. And the icon is taken to Sretensk in order to save it from encroachment by the Chinese.
New location
In 1865, the icon of the Albazinskaya Mother of God was acquired by the Annunciation Cathedral. Veniamin Blagonravov brought her here. It was the Bishop of Kamchatka. This is where the icon remains. A silver salary (riza) was made for the image.
XX century
With the icon of the Albazinskaya Mother of God they make religious processions. Prayers are held in front of her. From the beginning of the 20th century, annual religious processions began in the Far East. In those places where it was impossible to pass with the icon, it was transported by steamer or train.
Time is ticking, revolution is coming. Everyone knows about its consequences for Orthodoxy. Didn't escape the consequencesBlagoveshchensk. The Cathedral was blown up in 1924.
The icon of the Albazin Mother of God was hidden. Now she has found a place in the Elias Chapel.
Godless power was not going to come to their senses. Temples were closed and destroyed, and church utensils were destroyed. The icon was lucky, it was taken to the Amur Regional Museum of Local Lore. It happened in 1938.
90s
The era of godlessness has passed. For almost 70 years people lived hiding their faith. Others renounced it out of fear.
The "dashing 90s" have arrived. The time of banditry, arbitrariness and the opening of temples. Believers began to receive their parishes back. And the remaining shrines respectively.
The icon of the Albazin Mother of God was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1991. From that time to this day, it has been in the Annunciation Cathedral, restored in the distant 90s.
Address
Those who wish to visit the shrine should know the exact address: Blagoveshchensk, Relochny lane, house 15.
The location of the cathedral is shown on the map.
Every week, on Fridays, an akathist is read in the cathedral in front of the miraculous icon. Start at 07:00 am.
Interesting facts
The first mention of the miraculous properties of the icon dates back to 1900. When there was a Russian-Chinese conflict, our opponents were shelling Blagoveshchensk across the Amur. The Cathedral with the icon of the Albazin Mother of God was locatedin the line of fire. Remarkably, during the shelling he was not injured. And the city remained almost untouched.
As the attacking Chinese later recalled, a very beautiful woman appeared in front of them several times. She was holding a child in her arms. Because of the feeling of pity for the mother, the Chinese could not conduct aimed fire.
And the second miracle happened in our time. It was 2013. A terrible flood began in the Far East. And what were the people to do? Just pray, trusting in the mercy of God. And Bishop Lukian made a decision: to fly around the most affected places with the icon "The Word of the Flesh". Two days passed after such a "heavenly procession". And the water stopped coming. This fact is officially registered.
What are they praying for? Prayer text
Before the icon they pray for help, asking for a safe release from the burden. Prayer to the icon of the Albazin Mother of God is presented below:
Virgin Mother of God, Immaculate Mother of Christ our God, Intercessor of the Christian race! You stand before your miraculous icon, our fathers pray to you, that you reveal your cover and intercession to the country of the Amur River. In the same way, we now pray to You: keep our city and this country from finding foreigners and save from internecine warfare. Grant the world peace, the land of abundance of fruits; preserve in the shrines our shepherds, in the holy temples of those who work: in autumn, with the all-powerful cover of Thy builders and their benefactors. Confirm in the orthodoxy and unanimity of our brothers:enlighten those who have erred and apostate from the Orthodox faith and unite the Holy Church of Thy Son. Be to all who flow to the miraculous icon of Thy cover, comfort and shelter from all evils, troubles and situations, Thou art healing the sick, those who are grieving consolation, the lost correction and admonition. Accept our prayers and offer me to the Throne of the Most High, as if by your intercession we observe and cover with Your protection, we will glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Miracles from the icon
In the Annunciation diocese there are many stories about miracles performed in front of the icon.
Let's start from the recent past. The case was in 2015. A woman named Inessa could have been fired. For her, it was tantamount to death. She was on the verge of despair. She went to the Annunciation Cathedral to the icon of the Albazin Mother of God. How the woman cried and begged for help, only she knows.
At this time, a woman approached her. Warmly hugged, comforted. She said that the Mother of God would not leave Inessa. And so it happened. Help was immediate. For Inessa, this was a real miracle and salvation.
Another resident of Blagoveshchensk testifies that after a prayer service in front of the miraculous icon, her son found a good job in his speci alty.
And the most touching story happened at the end of 1990. A man named Yuri fell ill with his mother. Cancer is a sentence for an elderly woman. Yuri asked the servant of the temple, which then housed the Albazin Icon, to pour him some oil from herlamps. In return, he gave a bottle of excellent oil.
Received treasure sent mother to another city. He ordered her to smear regularly, add to food. Where this oil came from, Yuri did not specify.
Mom followed her son's recommendations. She began to improve, the pain went away. And most importantly, doctors have recorded a positive trend. Yuri's mother lived another 13 years after that. She died from a completely different disease.
Conclusion
The miracles that come from the icon of the Albazinskaya Mother of God, and her help to people - all this gives hope and consolation. If you find yourself in Blagoveshchensk, be sure to go to the miraculous icon.
