"I'm with you. No one will hurt you." Such words, only in the Church Slavonic language, are written on the icon. Thus, the Mother of God notifies people that She is our protector. She is with us, even if we retreat from Her.
The Leushinsky icon of the Mother of God is a rarity. It is almost never found in temples. And by the way, its second name is "The Savior of Russia". And it will be discussed in the article.
The origin of the image
The icon was painted in 1860. The indirect author of the work was the merchant Gavriil Medvedev. He ordered the image, and later presented it to the courtyard of the John the Baptist Convent, located not far from St. Petersburg.
What does the look look like?
The Leushinsky icon of the Mother of God is very unusual and beautiful. Against the background of a blue sky with pale pink clouds, the Virgin is depicted. Her clothes are red and blue. In the hands of the Virgin Maryholding the Savior. The Divine Infant sits on the arms of the Mother, with his back to Her. His arms are open for a hug. The Savior faces those who look at the icon. The inscription on the image, the Divine Infant, stretching out his hands to the people, is a confirmation that the love of God and the Mother of God is given to all people. And one has only to ask for help, as soon as the applicant will receive it.
Interesting facts
What helps the Leushinsky icon of the Mother of God? More on this later. In the meantime, it is worth touching on some interesting points related to this icon.
- At the beginning of the 20th century, with the blessing of John of Kronstadt, a list was made from the image. He was consecrated, and the saint himself blessed with an icon of St. Seraphim of Vyritsky. And gave him the image.
- It is believed that the same list is in St. George's Convent, in the village of Danevka.
- The icon was brought there by Father Seraphim's spiritual children.
- The John the Baptist Monastery was flooded by the waters of the Rybinsk Reservoir in the early 1930s.
- The chapel was consecrated in honor of the Leushinsky Icon of the Mother of God. It is located in the village of Breitovo, Yaroslavl region.
- The image has another name - "The Savior of Russia".
Celebration
The day of the celebration of the Leushinsky Icon of the Mother of God falls on Saturday of the fifth week of Great Lent. Thus, we see that this day is a passing day. It changes annually, depending on the start date of the fast.
What to pray for?
What do they pray to the Leushinsky Icon of the Mother of God? She is the intercessor of the Russian people, the defender of Russia. And they pray before the image for the salvation of our power. They ask for pardon from the Russian land.
The Mother of God Leushinskaya reconciles military and other conflicts.
Pray for peace and harmony in family life.
Recourse to the Lady of Heaven for help in any situation that is characterized by the loss of peace.
How to pray?
So, the Leushinsky icon of the Mother of God helps during strife and conflicts, protects with His cover from the turmoil of the military, everyday and others. But how to pray if there is almost no image in churches? It's a long way to get to Breitovo, and even further to St. Petersburg.
The icon can be purchased for the "red corner". What is a "red corner"? The place in the room where the icons are. And the question immediately arises: where to buy a rare image? In online stores. If this is an Orthodox store, then it is not necessary to consecrate the purchase. When purchasing an icon in a simple online store, you will have to consecrate it.
For needlewomen, there is another option: to embroider the Leushinsky icon of the Mother of God with your own hands. After that, consecrate and hang in a corner with other icons.
But how to pray? Is there a prayer at the icon of the Mother of God Leushinsky? Here are three prayers, the words of which can be addressed to the Virgin:
Victorious to the Chosen Voivode, as if getting rid of the evil ones, thankfully we will write down Thy servants, Mother of God, but as if having an invincible power, free us from all troubles,let's call Ti: hail Bride Unbride.
O All-good Intercessor of the Christian race, Mother of all holding Christ our God in His right hand! Pour out on us His mercies and bounties, and let us not be afraid and not be afraid of the enemy of the visible and invisible, as if Thou didst say to those who trust in Thee: “I am with you and no one is with you.”
Save the true holy Orthodox Church and our monastery from schisms and heresies and lay the foundation for the repentance of the Russian people. Return Holy Russia to the path of undamaged faith granted to her by God, may it be filled with the incense of prayers and bloom, like a green creel.
Let us live in piety and purity, always kept by You from the temptation of the Antichrist, invasion of foreigners, internecine strife, coward, fire, famine and pestilence, from vain death, captivity and family strife; Strengthen the monastic life and save us, Most Pure One, as if we trust in Thee according to what You have spoken: “I am with you and no one is with you.”
Pray for us, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, to the Lord our God, who has mercy and salvation, may he not deprive us of protection and the Kingdom of His appropriation, Even Himself speaking to His faithful: “I am with you and no one is against you.” To him be glory, power, honor and worship, power and majesty, to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
And remember that the most sincere prayer comes from the heart. It is not necessary to stand in front of the images, reading the endless rule, and besides, it is incomprehensible. What is the point of such a prayer? A person stands and reads, but what he reads is incomprehensible to himself. Does the Mother of God need such a prayer? Hardly. It is better to read one prayer, but thoughtfully. Orask for help in your own words, knowing that praying properly will not work.
How to give thanks for help?
Let's say there are constant conflicts in the family. The wife begins to pray before the icon of the Mother of God Leushinsky. Quarrels pass. How to thank our Intercessor for support and help?
Go to church and order a thanksgiving service. Read the akathist at home before the image, if it is not possible to reach the temple. Thank you in your own words, sincerely and from the bottom of your heart.
General rules
We found out the meaning of the icon of the Mother of God Leushinsky, learned how and in what cases to pray before the image. Now it remains to describe the correct prayer attitude and appearance.
- Starting to pray at home, women cover their heads with a scarf.
- Men must wear trousers. Strong representatives of humanity pray with their heads uncovered.
- Should a woman wear a skirt? In home prayer, you can do without it. Let's not go to the point of absurdity and emphasize that prayer does not imply a too pronounced degree of exposure. This is understandable without accents.
- If you are going to the temple, then the presence of a skirt is obligatory. As well as a scarf. No skirt? You can ask for a candle box in the church. In most temples, skirts and scarves hang at the entrance, where they can be freely taken. Returned.
- The temple is quiet. Loud conversations and laughter are prohibited. Do you want to light candles orsubmit notes? Contact the church shop. No such desire? No one forbids just praying before one way or another.
- If a woman has critical days, you can enter the temple. But you can't light candles, drink holy water and kiss icons.
- Icons are not applied with painted lips. Did you go to the temple? Wipe off lipstick. As for the rest of the makeup, it should not be bright and flashy.
- If you came to church during the service, you don't need to run around the church and light candles. Especially in the evening, when twilight reigns in the room, the sexton or altar boy reads prayers in front of the Royal Doors, and people stand with their heads bowed. This is read the Six Psalmia, during which no movement around the temple is appropriate. If this is the case in the morning, the priest is reading something very loudly in the altar, and people are listening attentively, then it is likely that you have come to the reading of the Gospel. Wait, listen. You will have time to put candles, and the notes will not run away.
Summarizing
So, the article described such a little-known image as the icon of the Mother of God Leushinsky. Article highlights:
- The icon was painted in 1860. Later, a list was made from it with the blessing of John of Kronstadt.
- The Compound of the John the Baptist Monastery, where the icon was painted, is located in St. Petersburg.
- Before the image they pray for the salvation of Russia, asking for protection from military conflicts. They ask the Mother of God for help in family troubles.
- Imagenot so easy to find. But you can order it in an online store or embroider it yourself.
Conclusion
Now the reader knows the history of the Leushinsky Icon of the Mother of God. How to pray to her and in what cases to resort to intercession.
