Almost every day the Russian Orthodox Church honors one or another image of the Virgin Mary. Only a few of the abundance of such holidays are truly great in terms of the significance of the shrine for the people, the Fatherland, miraculous power and other parameters. But, nevertheless, any of the icons of the Mother of God is important for believers and has its own history.

July 22 is dedicated to two images of the Mother of God at once: Kolochsky and Cypriot. Both are considered miraculous.

First of all, let's take a closer look at the first Orthodox shrine. The Kolochskaya icon of the Mother of God was especially revered and is revered to this day by believers living in the Moscow and Mozhaisk lands. Its history on the territory of our country began in 1413, during the reign of Prince Vasily I Dimitrievich. Then the icon appeared to a poor peasant named Luke. This event took place in Kolocha - a place that, according to the chronicle, "from Mozhaisk 15 miles."

In essence, these were the possessions of Prince Andrei Dimitrievich, the third son of the holy nobles, Prince Dimitri Donskoy and Princess Evdokia. It must be said that the appearance of the so-called "Kolotsky settlement" - the predecessor of the village of Kolotsky or the town of Kolochi (after the name of the river) in a different way - dates back to the 11th century. Until 1303, these lands belonged to the Smolensk province, after which they went to the Moscow province. And since 1389 they began to be mentioned in documents as the Mozhaisk volost.

Let us return directly to the appearance of the icon of the Mother of God of Koloch. It was already mentioned above that it was found by the local peasant Luka. Here is how it is written about this in the annals: “on a certain tree there is an icon with two gates, on it is written the image of the Most Pure Mother of God, holding in her arms the Eternal Infant of our Lord Jesus Christ, on the same gate there was the image of God Zealot and the great Prophet Elijah, and on another gate there is also the image of the great Wonderworker and Saint Nicholas. Luke took the holy image to his house. And immediately a miracle happened: one of the family members of the peasant, who was ill with relaxation of the body, was healed. This case quickly became the property of the local public, and soon crowds of the suffering and wretched began to flock to Luke's house.

After some time, they learned about the miraculous icon in Moscow. Luka was invited to the capital. There he was met by Metropolitan Photius himself and numerous bishops. Representatives of various classes gathered to look at the marvelous icon: boyars, princes, ordinary townspeople, commoners. Prince Andrei Dimitrievich prayed before the holy image and uttered the following words: “My sovereign assistant and great Voevoda and hope for all Christians, do not leave us, always hoping for You.”

Luke with the miraculous icon of the Mother of God visited different cities and ends of vast Russia. And wherever a peasant appeared, everyone treated him with deep reverence and respect: after all, it was this person and no one else who was honored to find the holy image of the Virgin Mary that heals ailments and spiritual wounds! As a result, Luke became proud of his position and the status of the keeper of the icon, especially since high-ranking persons did not spare money for the person who became the owner of the great Orthodox shrine. He returned to his place in Koloch with great wealth. Luke used part of it to build a temple in the name of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos near the place where the icon appeared - a shrine was subsequently placed there.

But he did not offend himself either: he erected stone mansions, brought servants, often began to disappear in the local forests while hunting, taking prey from the prince's dogs, drinking and leading a wild life. The princes tried to reason with him, but in response they heard only rudeness.

It all ended with Luka becoming seriously ill. When this happened, he understood: the punishment of the Lord had come for the atrocities committed earlier. Realizing the truth, the peasant repented of his sins and called Prince Andrei to him, who most of all endured humiliation and insults from a man who had once found the miraculous icon of the Mother of God. A conversation took place between them, after which the prince forgave his subject. Then Andrei Dimitrievich built the Kolochsky Monastery, which became a new place of storage of the holy image of the Virgin Mary. The first monk of the monastery was Luke. He lived in the monastery walls, grieving for his sins, for several years, after which he died.

The Kolochsky Monastery was founded, according to the Book of Powers, in 1413. It established the custom of celebrating the day of the Koloch Icon of the Mother of God on July 9/22 annually. This tradition was approved in 1545 by the Council, convened by Metropolitan Macarius. Under him, by the way, especially solemn religious processions were made to the Holy Well, built on the site of the appearance of the icon and the source that later clogged. There was also a chapel near that place.

Today, in many Russian churches there are revered lists from the Kolochskaya Icon of the Mother of God. There is one in Moscow, in the Assumption Cathedral. Where the original is currently located and whether the original exists at all is unknown. After the revolution of 1917, the icon was forced to leave its monastery due to its closure and found itself first in the Nativity Church in the village of Sukonniki, then in the Ascension Cathedral of Gzhatsk. Her traces were finally lost in the 70s. the last century.

What do Kolochskaya pray for?icon: pray for diseases of the legs and arms; with dumbness; with eye disease and blindness; with ear disease and deafness; with paralysis and relaxation of the body.

Prayer to the Kolochskaya Icon of the Mother of God.

O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Queen of heaven and earth, the highest Angel and Archangel and all creatures, the Most Honest, Pure Virgin Mary, the world’s good Helper and affirmation and deliverance to all in all needs! Look now, O All-Merciful Lady, on Your servants, praying to You with a tender soul and a contrite heart, and falling down to You with tears, and worshiping Your most pure and wholesome image, Your help and intercession in all sorrows, sorrows and misfortunes, earnestly asking. O All-Merciful Virgin, Pure Mother of God! Be an intercessor for us to Your Son, Christ our God. For we are not sinners and other Imams Helpers, unless You, the Lady: You are our hope and hope, You are our Intercessor and Representative, You are the offended protection, the sad consolation, the grieving redovanie, the orphan refuge, the guardian of widows, glory to the virgins, tears of joy, the sick visit , weak healing, sinners salvation. For this sake, O Mother of God, we resort to You, and looking at Your holy image, with love we bow to You with the eternally held Infant in Your hand, our Lord Jesus Christ, and we bring prayer singing, crying out: have mercy on us, Mother of God, and our petitions fulfill it for good, all the essence is possible to your intercession to your Son and our God, he deserves all glory, honor and worship and thanksgiving, with his Father without beginning and with his everlasting Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen."

Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Her "Kolochskaya", voice 4:

Today, the icon of the Mother of God has risen unspeakably to the place of Kolochu, and like a radiant sun, the coming of Toya illuminates that place. The Heavenly Forces and the souls of the righteous mentally triumph, rejoicing, but we, looking at her, cry out to the Mother of God with tears: Oh, All-Merciful Lady, the Lady of the Mother of God, praying from You to the Incarnate Christ our God, may He give peace and health to Christians according to His majestic and indescribable mercy."

Ying troparion, voice 4:

Today, your icon, Bogomati, ascended into Kolochy, and, like a radiant sun, illuminate that place. We, looking at Your image, cry out with tears: O All-Merciful Lady, Lady Theotokos, pray from Thee to the Incarnate Christ our God, may peace and salvation be given to our land to our souls.

Kondak, tone 8:

To the Chosen Voivode, our Intercessor, who guards the land of Mozhaisk from all troubles, we offer reverent singing to Thee, unworthy of Thy servants, the Mother of God, but, as you save the world by Thy unceasing prayer, remember us, Mother of the All-Perfect, let us call Thee: rejoice, rejoiced, angels and people Joy."

magnificence

We magnify Thee, Blessed Virgin, God-chosen Maiden, and honor Your holy image, and bring healing to all who flow with faith.

Cypriot Icon of the Mother of God.

The First Appearance of the Icon The first Cypriot icon of the Mother of God in its most famous form was revealed in 392. It happened in the city of Larnaca in the place where Lazarus was buried. The monastery of Stavruni was built on this site, and after that a church was specially built, where the icon began to be kept. They placed it on the gates of the church, with which the first miracle was connected.

Once a man, an Arabian, passed by this church. What caused his act is not entirely clear, perhaps he just wanted to mock. One way or another, he fired an arrow that hit the knee of the Mother of God icon. Immediately, a large amount of blood poured onto the ground, and after a while the man died on the way, never reaching his home.

The original icon has not survived to this day. However, in the same temple, a copy of it was preserved in mosaic form on the wall.

Stromynsk Icon of the Mother of God.

The Cypriot Icon of the Mother of God in the village of Stromyn is one of the lists of the first image, which have spread to many Orthodox churches. It depicts the Mother of God, sitting on a throne, and in her arms is a Baby. Nearby are two holy martyrs - Antipas and Photinia.

Little is known for certain about his appearance in Russia. According to one legend, Sergius of Radonezh blessed Abbot Savva of the Stromynsky Monastery with this copy of the icon. In 1841, the image became miraculous when an eighteen-year-old girl was healed from an illness that threatened her with death. It was about this icon that the voice spoke in a dream. At his command, she had to take the image into the house and serve a prayer service in front of him. After doing everything, the girl was completely healed. This event led to the fact that believers began to come to the icon in droves, asking for protection and deliverance from bodily ailments.

The days of the celebration of the icon are the twenty-second of July and the first Sunday of Great Lent. In the village of Stromyn, another day is set - the sixteenth of February. It was on this day that the first healing took place.

Other lists of the Cypriot icon.

The Cypriot icon of the Mother of God has other lists. By the way, they may differ in their spelling, but they will all have the same name.

For example, there are lists where the Mother of God does not sit on the throne, and Peter the Athos and Onufry the Great are on the sides. On some images, the Child holds a scepter in his hands.

Another version of the image, also common, where the Mother of God sits on a throne, and the Child is in her arms. Around are angels with palm branches.

So, one of the lists is located in Nizhny Novgorod and became famous for many miracles. On this icon, the Mother of God is depicted sitting on a throne, wearing a crown on her head. The Child sits in her arms, blessing with her right hand. His head is uncovered.

Another list is in Moscow, in Golutvin, in the church of St. Nicholas. And the last, fairly well-known similar image can also be found in Moscow, in the Assumption Cathedral. It depicts the Mother of God with the Child, below is the orb.

In addition, some ancient copies of the icon can be found in the museums of Russia, which are kept there as the greatest shrines.

How the icon protects:

Prayer in front of the Cypriot Icon of the Mother of God will protect in cases of illness associated with disorders of the musculoskeletal system of various origins - such cases have been recorded in history, they are described in the section “What a miracle happened”. Also, prayers before this image protect against epidemics.

What does the icon help with?

They pray before the Cypriot Icon of the Mother of God when it is necessary to ask for the healing of those who are seriously ill, in particular, with various types of paralysis and other movement disorders. Also, in front of the Cypriot Icon of the Mother of God, they pray for deliverance from epidemics, and during them they ask that the disease pass by or leave the sick person.

How to pray in front of the icon:

Before the Cypriot Icon of the Mother of God, you can read all the troparia, kontakions, prayers that are read before all the Mother of God images.

Prayers can be especially read before the Cypriot image:

Prayer one:

Most Holy Lady Theotokos, the one pure in soul and body, the one who exceeded all purity, chastity and virginity, the one who completely became the abode of the entire grace of the Holy Spirit, the most immaterial forces here still incomparably surpassed the purity and holiness of soul and body, look at me vile, impure soul and the body of the one who blackened my life with the filthy passions, cleanse my passionate mind, make immaculate and well-order my wandering and blind thoughts, put my feelings in order and guide them, free me from the evil and vile habit that torments me to impure prejudices and passions, stop every sin acting in me, grant sobriety and prudence to my darkened and cursed mind to correct my creeps and falls, so that, freed from sinful darkness, I would be able to boldly glorify and hymn you, the only Mother of the true Light - Christ, our God; because every invisible and visible creature blesses and glorifies you alone with Him and in Him, now, and always, and forever and ever. Amen."

Prayer two:

Undefiled, Neblazny, Imperishable, Most Pure, Not Bride of the Bride of God, Mother of God Mary, Lady of the World and My Hope! Look upon me, a sinner, at this hour, and from Your pure blood unskillfully gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful to me, make Your motherly prayers; That ripe one is condemned and wounded with a weapon of sadness in the heart, wound my soul with Divine love! Togo, in chains and reproach, the highlander mourned, grant me tears of contrition; with the free passage of that to death, the soul was seriously ill, free me from illnesses, but I glorify Thee, worthy of glory forever. Amen."

Troparion of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Cyprus, (common Mother of God) voice 4:

Now diligently to the Theotokos, we are sinners and humility, and we fall down, in repentance calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, help us, having mercy on us, we are perishing from many sins, do not turn away Your servants of vanity, You and the only hope of the imam.

Kontakion of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Cyprus, (common Mother of God) tone 6:

, presenting ever, the Mother of God, honoring Thee.

Magnification of the Icon of the Mother of God of Cyprus (common Mother of God, in honor of the icon):

We magnify Thee, Most Holy Virgin God-chosen Otrokovitsa and honor Your holy image, and bring healing to all who flow with faith.