The history of the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God began far beyond the borders of the Russian land - on Athos, and only after it arrived in Russia.
At the origins of history
This venerable event (the arrival of the great icon to the Russian land) took place at the end of the 14th century. The young monk Arseniy went to Athos to spend several years in strict fasting and prayer to God.
After three years, he decided to return to Novgorod in order to resurrect ancient traditions and revive the feat of monasticism in his native land. The abbot of one of the Athos monasteries named John Zidon, from whom the monk asked for blessings for a good cause, not only allowed him to carry out his plans with God's help, but also gave him a miraculous icon of the Mother of God. In admonition to the novice, he uttered prophetic words, indicating that he would soon become abbot.
Upon arrival on Russian soil, the monk immediately went to Archbishop John of Novgorod and Pskov in order to ask for permission and blessing to found a monastery. With a light word from Archbishop Arseniywent to the Konevsky Island of Lake Ladoga. The Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God went with him. There, after a while, the monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos was erected along with the monastery.
The expulsion of demons and the triumph of the Mother of God
Arseniy knew about the miraculous power of the icon since the time when he lived on Athos. And here in the monastery on Russian soil, he was not the only one who felt the unknown grace and calm emanating from the icon.
Before the solemn arrival of the icon on the lands of Russia, almost all the people who lived on the island professed a pagan religion and worshiped the forces of nature, and in the center of the island there was the main object of worship - a sacred stone idol. Arseny, armed with the word of God and taking in his hands the icon of the Mother of God of Konev, walked with a procession throughout the island and stopped at a pagan idol-stone. Arseniy stood at this place and with all his heart, with all his soul, prayed to the Lord God.
The power of the shrine is great: at one moment the stone ceased to carry pagan power in itself, and the demons that escaped from it became black crows and scattered in all directions. Since then, the previously main pagan idol has become the main symbol of the revival of Orthodoxy in Konevskaya land.
Protection and protection of Konevskaya land
Not one of the inhabitants of the island did not have a question, the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God helps a person in what? Yes, in everything, and all the children and adults in the area knew about it.
Not once shesaved these lands from various troubles and misfortunes, and therefore began to be revered as the protector and patroness of Konevsky Island and the surrounding lands. And even when the Swedes attacked Karelia, the Mother of God did not turn away from people, but had mercy, saved and protected them. During the same attack, an attempt was made on the very icon of the Mother of God. The enemies, not ashamed of either God or the Tsar, wanted to plunder the monastery and destroy it. Incredibly, at one moment from the sky, on which there were no clouds, no clouds, there was a strong roar and lightning flashed - a storm began. The ice around Konevsky Island suddenly cracked and broke, so that the Swedes simply could not get to the island and carry out their plan.
This event has become another indisputable fact of the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Chronicles of the Time of Troubles…
After a while, Sweden declared a cruel war on Russia, just when the Russian army was completely unprepared and did not have decent weapons. Unfortunately, the unpreparedness of the Russian soldiers was not in vain - the army suffered huge losses. All novices, monks, abbots and priests of the Konevsky Monastery had to urgently evacuate to safer places. For some time, the Novgorod Derevyanitsky Monastery became a haven for the brotherhood and the Konevskaya Icon itself.
After 18 years, they were able to return to their native lands, but the strained relations between the armed countries did not make us wait long for another military confrontation. Inokam againI had to return to the Derevyanitsky Monastery, and then to the Tikhvin Monastery.
The solemn return of the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God home took place at the end of the 19th century with the blessing of Metropolitan Gabriel. Somewhat later, at the place where hegumen Arseny found his eternal home, a church was erected in honor of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple. But for fifty years now, the miraculous icon has been kept in the New Valaam Monastery in Heinävesi.
Temple of the Konevskaya Icon in the village of Saperny
The Church of the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God in Saperny (Leningrad Region, Priozersky District) was built not so long ago and is now open to parishioners and pilgrims from all over the country and neighboring countries.
The construction and consecration of the temple took place at the end of the twentieth century, but the builders and architects did not stop transforming and improving the appearance for several years after the consecration. This continued until the building took its modern form. This temple is actually not so simple and differs from others in many ways. It consists of two parts: underground and ground.
When laying the foundation, down to the smallest detail, it was thought out how to equip the chapel of St. Sergius of Radonezh, which was dug out and equipped by hand. A marble iconostasis was made specially for the underground part, and the craftsmen worked on the wall painting. The solemn consecration of the underground temple was held in 2003. Many consider itit is an honor to baptize your children, as well as adults in the lower church, where a special bowl the size of a man is built in the ground for complete immersion.
Temple and hospital attached to it
The temple was built according to the project of the talented architect N. S. Veselov, who developed the design in the style of northern wooden architecture. The original idea was to build a temple and later build a monastery around a wooden structure, but now the church is considered part of the local rehabilitation center "Resurrection", intended for the treatment of drug addicts with subsequent rehabilitation in the monastic open spaces.
All the staff of the treatment center professes a charter similar to the monastic one, and the very principle of delivering people from severe drug addiction is built on the Orthodox idea. The patients of the hospital are only men, the rehabilitation period is approximately six to nine months. In small groups, men can come to the temple and walk around in the picturesque area, receiving healing not only with the help of doctors and medicines, but also from nature. The Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God is also kept here. In Saperny near the temple there is a small park with a fountain - this place is very fond of parishioners and pilgrims.
Requests for healing before the miraculous icon
Akathist to the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God is read on a variety of occasions. The Mother of God does not leave without the help of all those who sincerely ask for her help, especially they turn to her to be healed of demons, common eye diseases, blindness,addiction and paralysis. When it is not possible to read an akathist or you do not know how, you can turn to the Mother of God with sincere prayer from the bottom of your heart in your own words.
In such cases, it is important to remember that in prayer before God, it is not words and correct pronunciation that are important, but purity of thoughts, repentance, sincerity of petition. All believers must understand that people can not understand our words, but not God. God always understands everything, but do we understand him? When the need arises, be sure to pray the way you know how. Prayer to the Mother of God has great power and is able to work miracles.
Both parishioners and pastors know that the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God is capable of working miracles, and this is true!
Feast in honor of the icon
Day of the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God falls on July 10/23. Every year, in honor of the holiday in the Konevsky Skete, the memory of the Mother of God is honored by performing a prayer service: Liturgy and procession with the icon at the head.
On normal days, the temple is open every day except Monday. And every week, before the miraculous Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God, an akathist is read.
