Among the Russian Orthodox icons, the image of Kazan Mother of God is one of the most significant and revered. In the people he enjoys great respect and love. The strength of faith in the icon is so great that every day to worship thousands of believing pilgrims and suffering laymen come to her.
History of the icon
The icon of the Kazan Mother of God celebrates its holiday twice a year: in the summer, on July 21 (in the old style it is the 8th day), and in November, 4 (or on October 22, again, the old style). The image has an interesting story, in which the origins of its special popularity lie in many respects. In the middle of the 16th century the Kazan Khanate was annexed by Ivan the Terrible to the Russian state. A huge number of people at that time turned to true faith. And 27 years after this event in the house of a merchant known in the city of Kazan on the nickname Onucha, a fire broke out, from which all the wooden structures in the district went to blaze. The fire literally turned the city into ashes. But a little later the little daughter of a merchant in a dream three times was the Virgin Mary and said that under the charred fireheads of the house long ago, even in the times of the Tatar khanate, her image was hidden. At first, no one could believe that such a symbol of faith, which people dubbed the "icon of the Kazan Mother of God", is exactly where the girl points. However, it was the ten-year-old Matryona who was prepared to open it to the people. It happened on July 8, because in Orthodoxy this day is considered a festive day. The icon looked so vivid, bright, as if it had been painted just now, and the paints had not yet dried. The priest, beloved by the whole of Kazan, Fr. Ermolai, carried the image through the city through the procession and wrote in his honor a sacred hymn-prayer. The image remained in the local church, a decade later a female monastery was opened in its place, and Matryona became the abbess in it. Since then, many glorious deeds and miracles have taken place under the banner of the icon. She helped the militia, led by Minin and Pozharsky, to defend Moscow from the forces of the false Dmitry. It happened this glorious event on October 22 (the second birthday of the image). Since then, the icon "Mother of God of Kazan" has become even more venerated. Its significance and omnipotence was recognized by Peter 1, who prayed fervently and tearfully to the Protector on the eve of the Battle of Poltava. When Petersburg was rebuilt, one of the lists of the image the king moved to the new capital. To the Kazan Mother of God, for assistance and support, he often addressed Kutuzov in prayer services. Russian soldiers during the battle of Borodino seemed to feel Her presence side by side. By the way, the first serious victory over the French army was won just on October 22, as if the Holy Virgin sent them a sign. In all the further - whether the glorious or tragic epochs of the life of the first Russian, and then of the Soviet state, simple people and people, clothed with power, clearly and secretly worshiped the image, brought to it their hopes and tears. It is believed that the icon "Mother of God of Kazan" has its meaning and influence spread throughout the eastern part of Russia. Together with the sacred images of the Theotokos of Vladimir, Pochaev and Smolensk, it forms an invisible sacred cross that overlooks all the boundless Russian land and its people.
Wonderful things of the Lord
There are a lot of lists of the Kazan icon - more than other images of the Virgin. This testifies to the special trust that people feed her. First of all, the icon "Mother of God of Kazan" is of importance to the intercessor and comfort. Before her pray heavily sick - about their own health, and their relatives - about the healing of their loved ones. The way they talk with personal grief, problems in the family, misunderstandings with children. Ask Her for intercession before the face of the Lord. One of the lines in prayer sounds like this: "you are the cover of your slaves ..." During the Leningrad blockade, in order to support the depleted physically and spiritually residents of the city, along his streets, as many local forces lacked strength, the Wonderful Face carried. This event was of great importance: people gained faith in tomorrow, hope for victory and that they will survive. And to this day wears the icon "Mother of God of Kazan" significance of the phenomenon, it is recognized as the main shrine of the present Petersburg. And anyway, this image is necessary in every church, small and large, urban and rural. And in many houses, lighting a candle in front of a home icon, people are meek and gentle, with cleansing tears in their eyes they say: "Gracious, rejoice!"
Meekness and humility, spiritual purity bring up in us Orthodox shrines.