The miraculous icon of the Mother of God of the Caves is known all over the world. She is famous for her many amazing stories of people being successfully healed. This article is dedicated to the description of this icon and the temple erected in its honor.
The Icon of the Mother of God of the Caves is a holy image that Orthodox Christians turn to in the hope of getting support in life situations. The Mother of God will intercede before us, turning to the Lord. The sincerity of the holy prayer will be heard as it is spoken by the Virgin Mary.
How was the image created?
The Face of the Mother of God (Pechersk) on the Svenska icon is considered one of the oldest icons that has come down to our generation. It was created within the walls of the Lavra by the efforts of the Monk Alipiy, a hieromonk who lived in the monastery of the Pechersk Lavra. The best masters from Byzantium, who painted the Great Assumption Church, taught him the art of icon painting. So was bornRussian school of painting icons.
Today, the location of the relics of the Monk Alipy and the icon painters from Greece, who became his teachers, are the Near Caves of the Lavra.
Description of canvas
On the Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God, the Mother of God is depicted, who sits on a throne and holds the baby Jesus. Mary overshadows with the blessing of the reverend fathers - Anthony and Theodosius, who are at the throne. Antonia is wearing a schimnic cockle with a sharp top.
The Reverend Fathers are holding parcels with spiritual teachings Anthony has the following words written:
I beg you, children: we hold on to abstinence and are not lazy, for we have the Lord as a helper about this.
It is difficult to read the text of the inscription, which is on the scroll of Theodosius, since the letters are almost impossible to distinguish. The scroll is open and hangs down, covering the throne. It is believed that there was a change in the text on this scroll.
Based on the type of image, iconographers consider the icon of the Mother of God of the Caves to be Panahranta (All-Merciful). The solemnity and severity of this type of iconography is typical for such types of monumental art as mosaics and frescoes.
To create the icon, a solid board of linden wood was used. The dimensions of the canvas are 42 x 67 cm. According to researchers, the events that took place in the Blachernae Church became a prerequisite for writing the icon. Then the architects received the blessing of the Mother of God, who handed them the icon of the Mother of God "Assumption" of Pskov-Pechersk and blessed them on a trip to Kyiv.
The fate of the icon
During the period when the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was the location of the icon, many cases of miraculous manifestations of its power were recorded. At the end of the 13th century, the Chernigov prince Roman Mikhailovich wanted to transport the sacred canvas to the building of the Bryansk Dormition Monastery. She stayed there until the end of the 20th century. Since the river Svena flows near the monastery, the sacred building began to be called Svensky. And the icon also began to be called Svenskaya.
Wonderful manifestations of light power
In history, a fact is known when a holy image helped to heal the blindness of Prince Roman Mikhailovich. He was informed that there was an icon of the Mother of God within the walls of the Lavra, and the prince ordered that this painting be delivered to him. The messengers and monks who accompanied the icon to the prince noticed its disappearance. The search for the holy face led people to the banks of the Svena River, where the icon was located between the branches of an oak tree. Having learned about the miracle, the prince arrived at this place and promised the Mother of God to build a temple here if she returned Roman's sight.
“Oh, Wonderful, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Mother of Christ our God! Hear the voice of my prayer and give me, Lady, to see with my eyes and see the light and Your miraculous image. Everything that I see from this place in all four directions, I will give to Your house. I will build a temple and an abode in this place that You have loved.”
After the epiphany, the prince fulfilled the promise given to the Theotokos and built a temple in honor of the icon, and later the walls of the monastery, at the place indicated by her.
There is both the original of the icon and its handwritten copy. It was made at the time when the holy face appeared before Prince Roman. The copy had the following inscription text:
Laid in the summer of 6796 (1288) by the Right-Believing Prince Grand Roman Mikhailovich and the Right-Believing Princess Anastasia, the month of Septembria on the 26th day, in memory of John the Theologian
The second copy of the icon is in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra at the altar. Since the holy face is highly revered by Orthodox Christians, it has many copies.
The place of storage of the miraculous image today is the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The Far Caves of the Lavra became the location of the most ancient icon before the closure. After the restoration of the Lavra, the icon took its place at the altar, where all the saints of the Caves are kept. Here it can be seen today.
The icon is celebrated on May 16th.
Akathist to the Caves Icon of the Mother of God
Kontakion 1
Chosen from all generations to the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of God, as if truly the flesh gave birth to Jesus Christ, our Savior and God, the Lady of the entire Universe, who chose our Russian country as the second earthly lot and glorified the monastic cloisters with miraculous icons, we bring laudatory singing; But you, O our All-Honorable Mother and Intercessor, keep Your abode and save us all from enemies visible and invisible, let us call Ty: Rejoice, Blessed Virgin Mother of God, Sven Praise and our everlasting consolation.
Ikos 1
Guardian Angel inspire Prince Roman, alwaysbe in the city of Bryansk, remember the miracles from your icon, the Lady, in the monastery of the Caves of the former, and ask the monks of the Caves to release the miraculous icon, written by the Monk Alipiy, healing for the sake of your blindness and cry out to You taco: Rejoice, our all-honorable Mother; Rejoice, wondrous Our Intercessor; Rejoice, Hope of our salvation; Rejoice, Guardian of the city of Bryansk; Rejoice, Protector of Christians living in it; Rejoice, hopeful of Thee, Leader; Rejoice, Blessed Virgin Mary, Svenskaya Praise and our everlasting consolation.
About the temple
The first temple of the Caves Icon of the Mother of God is the church built by Prince Roman Mikhailovich in gratitude for his insight. A modern building in the form of a chapel also adorns the Kyiv railway station in the capital of Russia. The temple is called the Caves Church.
The date of foundation of the sacred building is considered to be 2002. This is a functioning Orthodox church of the Russian Orthodox Church, where Christians come for prayer and consolation.
Summarize
The sacred canvas of the icon of the Mother of God of the Caves is one of the most ancient monuments that have come down to our time. Hieromonk Alipiy worked on its creation. There are versions of the miraculous origin of the first version of this sacred image. It is believed that he appeared on the cave walls without the help of people, and this phenomenon became the reason for writing the icon.
The story of the epiphany of Prince Roman became a prerequisite for the creation of a temple and a malemonastery in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Copies of the canvas are widely distributed today, since the icon has great power of help and healing. The first handwritten copies of the canvas appeared almost immediately after its creation. Through icons, the saints help Christians to decide on a difficult life path and not turn towards temptations.
