The Vilna Icon of the Mother of God is the oldest image painted by the Evangelist Luke. She is considered miraculous and revered by all believers.

Among all the Orthodox miraculous icons of the Mother of God, the Vilna Icon occupies an important place. The history of this icon is very rich and stretches back to the beginning of apostolic times. She is responsible for a huge number of healings and deeds that have more than once saved people drawn to faith and unity with the Lord.

History of the icon

The Vilna Icon of the Mother of God has legendary history of its origin. It was written in ancient times, when Christ still walked the earth and the Virgin Mary was alive. For a long time, the shrine was considered a family icon in Constantinople. There is no exact version of how exactly the icon of the Mother of God appeared in Rus'.

According to historical reports, the Greek emperor sent the shrine as a gift to the king of the Galician principality, which was subsequently captured by the Moscow ruler. One way or another, the first mentions of the icon are found in sources dating back to 1495. This year, the daughter of John the Third was blessed for marriage with the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God. Together with Princess Elena, the shrine was sent to Lithuania, to the city of Vilna. Most likely, this is why it was named Vilna.

Where is the icon

Only copies of the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God have survived to this day. One of them, the most revered and prayed for, can be found in Vilnius, in the Holy Spirit Monastery. According to the clergy, they repeatedly wanted to return the icon to Moscow, but attempts remained in vain. The original was lost without a trace after the hostilities of the First World War.

Description of the Mother of God Icon

This image has many similarities with the Jerusalem, Tikhvin and Georgian icons. The shrine depicts the Mother of God with the Child of God in her arms. Distinctive feature These images are represented by the bare heel of Christ, which looks out. The Son of God holds a scroll in one hand and bestows a blessing with the other. The Holy Family is dressed in silver, and on the head of the Heavenly Queen there is a golden crown held by angels.

How does the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God help?

Over many centuries, the opinion has been established that the Mother of God acts as the patroness and intercessor of all Christians. People who have lost all support in life turn to her first. Believers offer prayers to the Mother of God, begging her for immediate help, intercession, and to transmit prayers directly to the Lord.

The Virgin Mary is, first of all, a caring and compassionate Mother, who graciously helps everyone. And all Christians perceive it as such, even far beyond the borders of our country.

Days of celebration

There are several days of celebration of this icon. The first one is 28th of February. On this day, they remember the events when the icon of the Virgin Mary was transported to Vilna, where it received its name. Second - 14th of April. At this time, Christians pay tribute to the memory of all the martyrs of Lithuania. True, the main holiday of veneration of the Vilna Icon is considered to be the 28th - this day was established by the Christian Church.

Prayer to the Mother of God

The prayer of the Mother of God before Her image is known for its miraculous power. Most often, believers offer prayers through this icon, asking the Mother of God to alleviate or heal their ailments. This shrine is glorified by ambulance services. Also, the Vilna Icon can help in getting rid of sins and protecting from enemies. The Mother of God should be addressed briefly, without unnecessary words, with sincerity and faith in the heart:

“Intercessor of the faithful, Most Holy and Sinless Mother of God! We pray to You in front of Your miraculous image, do not turn away from us, Holy Intercessor and patroness of all Christians. Your help has saved us more than once, so hear our prayers to You. We need You and we cry to You: deliver us from all troubles and misfortunes, save our souls and help us come to the Lord. Your name and we will glorify Your help forever and ever. Amen".

The Vilna Icon of the Mother of God has great value for all Christians. Everyone turns to her help: both Catholics and Orthodox believers. On February 28, believers pay veneration to the icon, so clergy call on people to visit the temple of God and pray to the Mother of God, without whom there would be no salvation for all Christians. We wish you peace in your soul, and don't forget to press the buttons and

28.02.2018 05:17

Matrona of Moscow is one of the saints beloved and revered by Orthodox believers. Since birth she...

In Vilnius, in the old part of the city, next to the Church of St. Theresa and Orthodox monastery of the Holy Spirit, there is a shrine, revered by both Orthodox and Catholics, - Ostrovorotnaya or Ostrobramskaya Icon of the Mother of God, in the past also called Korsunskaya Blagoveshchenskaya(this is due to the fact that the icon is part of the composition of the Annunciation, and with the legend of its ancient origin from Korsun - the old Russian name for Chersonesos). The icon is located in the chapel above the gate, popularly called the “Sharp Gate” or “Sharp Gate” (from Polish “Gateway” - gate). The name of the image that has long been placed above it comes from the name of the gate. It is considered one of the main Christian shrines of Vilnius and Lithuania.

Vilna Ostrobramskaya Icon of the Mother of God
(Celebration - December 29/January 8, as well as April 14/27 on the day of remembrance of the three Lithuanian martyrs)

Ostrobramsky gate with a chapel above it with the miraculous Ostrobramskaya icon of the Mother of God in Vilnius

Numerous traditions and legends are associated with the icon and the miracles it performs.

Origin

There are several legends about the origin of the Vilna Ostrobramskaya Icon of the Mother of God.

One of them is based on the legend that the icon miraculously appeared in Vilna, the capital of the Principality of Lithuania, on the Sharp Gate on April 14, 1431.

Another is that the icon was sent to the Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgerd by the Greek Emperor John Palaiologos as a sign of the prince’s acceptance of Christianity.

According to the third version, the image of the Mother of God was brought from Tauride Chersonesus (or Korsun) by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgerd among military trophies. It is known that in the years 1341-1373, Prince Olgerd made several successful campaigns against the Crimean Tatars. There is no direct evidence about when exactly the icon was brought. However, researchers are inclined to believe that this happened after the victorious campaign against Korsun in 1363. The version is based mainly on the testimony of the Wenden canon Daniel Lodziata, who lived in the 17th century. When writing the book “Ancient History of the Lithuanian People,” the historian Teodor Narbut had at hand the manuscript of Daniel Lodziata, which he referred to twice. In a note dated 1653, Canon Lodziata reports the following: “ The Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgerd enriched his treasuries with the treasures of Chersonesus; His heirs distributed most of the church decorations to the churches of the city of Vilna. Among these treasures is an authentic image of the Blessed Virgin Mary; She seems to be standing in front of the Divine messenger Archangel Gabriel. Now we see the Lady of Grace in the Carmelite chapel on the eastern gate of the city, usually called Sharp, which is documented by written evidence of the mentioned order". The testimony of Canon Lodziata is the most ancient of the surviving testimonies about the Ostrobramsk Icon of the Mother of God.

The existence of such information is also mentioned by the Carmelite writer Hilarion, who wrote about the Ostrobramskaya icon in 1761.

Catholics see in the Ostrobramskaya icon the image of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, which arose in Western European art in the second half of the 16th century.

The Polish version supports the hypothesis that the Ostrobramskaya Icon was painted in 1619 in Krakow in the workshop of Lukasz Porenbski. The theory was based on the similarity of the Vilna Ostrobramsky icon with the icon of the Virgin Mary from the Krakow Church of Corpus Christi, painted by Porenbsky.

All versions of the origin of the icon are of rather historical interest. For prayerful veneration, the question of who painted the icon and in what century is not of significant importance, since it is not the creation of human hands that is venerated, but the Prototype - the one whose image the icon painter embodied on the board. Revered by both Catholics and Orthodox - the Mother of God.

Story

It is believed that the holy icon was originally donated to the temple Life-Giving Trinity, built with the assistance of the wife of Grand Duke Olgerd, Princess Juliana Alexandrovna of Tver, and then placed above the Sharp Gate. There is evidence that in 1431 the icon of the Mother of God was already above the Sharp Gate.

The further fate of this image is closely intertwined with the fate of Orthodoxy in Lithuania. After the signing of the Lublin Union of Lithuania with Poland in 1569, church union with Rome began to be established in the Lithuanian lands. Many churches, including the Holy Trinity Monastery, passed into the hands of the Uniates, but the Orthodox managed to transfer the icon to the Church of St. Nicholas. However, in 1609 this temple also passed to the Uniates, and the icon returned to former place over the Sharp Gate.

In 1624, a Carmelite monastery with the Church of St. was founded right at the gate. Teresia. The Carmelites built it in 1671. instead of the old one there was a new chapel, and the icon was turned to face the church. After the fire of Vilna in 1741. The icon was transferred to the Terezin monastery, and in 1744. again placed above the gate.

In 1812 it suffered during the French invasion, and in 1829. restored. After closing in 1832 Carmelite monastery, Terezin Church was renamed Ostrobramsky and remained under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic clergy.

Subsequently, the icon stayed in the chapel of the Sharp Gates of Vilna, in a huge icon case. The icon was covered with a gilded robe, as well as many metal offerings in the form of images of saints and various parts of the body, which testified to the benefits of the Mother of God to the human race. A Latin throne was built under the icon, on which at least two liturgies were celebrated daily.

Iconography

The Ostrobramskaya Icon of the Mother of God belongs to a rare type of image of the Mother of God without a baby in her hands.

The icon is painted in tempera on two connected oak boards measuring 1.63 x 2 m and 2 cm thick, covered with a thin layer of soil. The chasuble was made in the Baroque style by Vilnius craftsmen at the end of the 17th century.

The Ostrobramskaya icon is part of the composition of the Annunciation, so the image was sometimes called the Korsun Annunciation Icon. The Virgin Mary is depicted at the moment of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to her; the corresponding part of the image of the archangel is lost. On Her face is an expression of deep peace, concentration and virginal modesty. Above Her head, a two-tiered crown is attached to the chasuble - the baroque crown of the Queen of Heaven, the rocaille crown of the Queen of Poland. Long rays extend from the face in all directions.

Later (in 1849) a large silver vot was placed at the bottom of the icon ( gift given by vow, for the sake of healing or the fulfillment of some desire) in the form of a crescent with engraved text in Polish: " I thank You, Mother of God, for listening to my requests, and I ask You, Merciful Mother, keep me as before, in the love and care of Your Most Holy WII1849».

Vilna Ostrobramskaya Icon of the Mother of God - miraculous icon, widely revered by Orthodox and Catholics in Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland. Currently, public worship before the Ostrobramskaya icon is performed according to the Roman Catholic rite, but Orthodox Christians continue to flock to this image with personal prayer and worship.

Lists of the Ostrobramskaya Icon of the Mother of God occupy their rightful place both in Orthodox churches Lithuania, and in the homes of believers.

Kontakion
To the chosen Voivode and wonderful Intercessor of the Christian race, who deigned to pour out streams of grace-filled healings from Her holy icon, let us sing praises to Thy servants, Theotokos. You, as the good Intercessor of those who honor Thee, free us from all troubles, so we call Thee: Rejoice, Lady, showing us grace and mercy through Your Ostrobramskaya icon.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of Her Icon “Ostrobramskaya Vilna”

Oh, Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord of the highest powers, Heaven and earth to the Queen and our city of Kyiv, omnipotent Intercessor!

Accept this song of praise from us, unworthy Thy servants, and lift up our prayers to the throne of Thy Son and our God, may He be merciful to us sinners, and may He add His goodness to those who honor Thee and worship Thy miraculous image with faith and love.

To whom shall we cry out to the Lady? To whom shall we resort in our sorrows, if not to You, Queen of Heaven? Who will accept our tears and our sighs, if not You, Most Immaculate, the Hope of Christians and refuge for us sinners? Who will protect You more in adversity? In the same way, we earnestly pray to You: cover our sins with Your intercession, protect us from enemies visible and invisible, soften our hearts evil people, rising up against us.

O Mother of the Lord our Creator! You are the root of virginity and unfading color cleanliness. Accept our unworthy prayer and keep us in spiritual purity, save us from the slander of evil people and from sudden death, and grant us repentance before the end. Have mercy on us in the hours of the day, morning and evening, and protect us at all times: protect those who stand, those who sit, those who walk on every path, and those who sleep in the hours of the night, provide, cover and protect. In every place and at every time, awaken for us, Mother of God, an insurmountable wall and a strong intercession. You appear to us as the guardian of all life, Most Pure One; Deliver us from demons at the hour of death; Even after death, ask Thy Son and our God to find peace.

We, sinners, lift up prayers to You with hope and tenderly cry out: Rejoice, O Blessed One; Rejoice, O Delighted One; Rejoice, Most Blessed One; The Lord is with You, with You and with us. We resort to You, as to our undoubted and speedy Intercessor, and to You, as our omnipotent Helper, we commit ourselves and each other and our whole life according to Christ God; to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, together with His beginningless Father, with the Most Holy and His good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Another prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of Her icon “Ostrobramskaya Vilna”

O All-Merciful Lady, Queen Theotokos, chosen from all generations and blessed by all heavenly generations! Look mercifully at these people standing before Your holy icon, earnestly praying to You, and act through Your intercession and intercession with Your Son and our God, so that no one will leave this place empty of their hope and be ashamed in their hope, but may everyone receive from You all according to the good will of your heart, according to your need and desire, for the salvation of the soul and the health of the body.

Most of all, protect the autumn with Your protection, Merciful Mother, Your Holy Church, strengthen our Orthodox bishops with Your highest blessing, protect with peace, and grant the whole, healthy, honest, and long-living Saints of Your Church the word of Your truth, from all visible and invisible enemy, with all Orthodox Christians, mercifully deliver, and in Orthodoxy and the firm faith until the end of centuries, unfailingly and unchangeably preserve. Look with mercy, O All-Singing One, and with the charity of Your merciful intercession over our entire country, our cities and this city [or: this temple, or: and the spiritual city that exists here], and pour out Your mercies unsparingly on this rich one. You are the all-powerful Helper and Intercessor of us all. Bow down to the prayers of all Your servants, to holy icon Those who flow here, hear the sighs and voices in which Your servants pray in this holy place.

If both a non-believer and a foreigner, passing here, pray, hear, O beloved Lady, and do this kindly and mercifully, even to help him and to salvation. Instruct your hardened and scattered hearts in our countries on the path of truth: convert those who have fallen from the pious faith and bring them closer to the holy Orthodox Catholic Church and the Apostolic Church. In the houses of Your people and in the brethren, protect and preserve the holy abodes of sowing peace, establish brotherhood and humility in the young, support old age, instruct youths, make those who are at a perfect age wise, stand up for the orphans and widows, support the oppressed and those in sorrow, comfort and protect them, raise infants Heal the sick, free those captives, protect us from all evil with Your goodness, and comfort us with Your merciful visit and all the benefits to us. Grant, O Good One, the fruitfulness of the earth, the goodness of the air, and all the gifts that are timely and useful for our benefit, through Your omnipotent intercession before the All-Holy Life-Giving Trinity.

Our fathers and mothers, our brothers and sisters, who have gone before, and all who have fallen upon this holy icon of Thy from ancient times, rest in the villages of the saints, in a green place, in a place of peace, where there is no sorrow and sighing. When our departure from this life is ripe and to eternal life relocation, appear to us, O Most Blessed Virgin, and grant a Christian end to our life, painless, shameless, peaceful and partaker of the Holy Mysteries, so that in the future we will all be worthy, together with all the saints, of endless blissful life in the Kingdom of Your beloved Son, Lord and God our Jesus Christ, to whom be due glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

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Icon of the Mother of God of Vilna

Story

Vi-len-skaya iko-na Bo-zhi-ey Ma-te-ri na-pi-sa-na with St. Evan-ge-list-st Lu-ka. For a long time, she was the birth of the holy Greek im- per-ra-to-ditch in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le. In 1472, the icon was carried to Moscow by Sophia Pa-leo-log, the su-pr-ha of the prince of Moscow John III (1462-1505). In 1495, the great prince blessed his daughter Elena with this icon when she married the King of Lithuania Alexandra. In honor of the transfer of the icon to the former capital of Lithuania, Vil-no, a celebration was established on February 15 la. Later, the holy icon was in the Pred-te-Chen-sky church, in which Princess Ele was buried -on the.

Ivan the Terrible, trying to return the miraculously created icon to Moscow, offered 50 nobles to the king of Si-giz-mun-du for it. nyh Lithuanian captives, but the king decided from the courtroom, because the whole clergy is like the right-to-glory -noe, and uni-at-skoe, did not want to lose this co-creation.

In Pre-chi-sten-sky so-bo-re iko-na was pre-va-la until the end of the 18th century, and then it was per-re-ne-se -together with the mit-ro-po-li-her in the Vi-lensky Holy Trinity Monastery, which was then in the race -by-rya-nii ba-zi-li-an. The pre-chi-stensky cathedral was given to the uni-a-there. Only in 1839 was the Holy Trinity Monastery, together with the icon of Odi-gitria, returned to its rightful glory. From that time on, the miraculously created image of the Most Holy God remained there, attracting goodness -the greatest honor to all the right-to-glorious ones.

Iko-on Odi-git-rii on-pi-sa-na on four boards, connected together: the middle ones are made from bales -ri-sa, the rest are made of birch. In 1864, a miraculously creative icon was under-new.

Prayers

Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Icon of Her “Vilna”

Most Pure and Swift Intercessor of the Faithful, Most Pure Virgin Mary! We pray to You before Your holy and miraculous image, that just as from ancient times You bestowed Your intercession on the city of Moscow, so now You have mercifully protected us from all troubles and misfortunes deliver and save our souls, like the Merciful One.

Translation: Most Offering and Swift Intercessor of all believers, Most Pure Virgin Mary! We pray to You in front of Your holy and miraculous image, that just as you previously granted protection from it to the city of Moscow, so now, with mercy, deliver us from all sorts of troubles and misfortunes and save our souls, since You are the Merciful.

Kontakion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Icon of Her “Vilna”

To the chosen Voivode, victorious, for having been delivered from the evil ones, let us sing thanks to You, Thy servants, to the Mother of God, but, as having an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call to You: Rejoice, Unbridled Bride.

- June 3, July 6, September 8.

Among the numerous miraculous images of the Mother of God, the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God occupies a special place. It has a very rich history, which dates back to apostolic times. She is also responsible for many different healings, simply helping in various human affairs. Today, a copy of this image of the Mother of God is located in Vilnius, in the Holy Spirit Monastery (and the original icon was lost after the events of the Civil War and the First World War).

Legend about the origin of the icon

Vilenskaya has its own special history of origin (like many others like it). It is believed that it was written at the time when Jesus Christ came to earth, when the Mother of God was alive. According to legend, it came to Constantinople from Palestine, which is reflected in its name - “Constantinople”, or “Jerusalem”.

History of icons in Rus'

There is no exact version of how the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God appeared in Rus'. According to one of them, this ancient image came to Moscow in 1472. The princess subsequently becomes the wife of John III. There is another version of how the icon ended up in Rus'. The Greek emperor sent it as a gift to the Galician king, and after the capture of the Galician principality, it passed to the Moscow ruler.

After Helena's death, which happened in January 1513, the shrine was placed over her tomb in the Assumption Cathedral in Vilna (this was stipulated in her will). It was the residence of the Lithuanian and Kyiv Metropolitan, as well as one of the oldest and most ancient churches in the capital. Some historians find confirmation that Elena gave this image to the temple in advance, and not from the moment of her death it ended up there.

An interesting fact is that the Moscow principality tried to reclaim this icon more than once. Many ransoms were offered for her, but all attempts were rejected.

The history of the icon during the formation of Uniate rule

The Vilna Icon of the Mother of God, after the Brest Church Union was proclaimed, was transferred to the Church of St. Nicholas. This happened because the Prechistensky Cathedral, where the image was located, became Uniate, and the Orthodox tried to preserve the most valuable shrines in their faith. However, in 1609, the Church of St. Nicholas also went to the Uniates, so it was decided to return the Vilna Icon back to the cathedral.

Further events led to the fact that the Vilna icon ended up in the Holy Trinity Church monastery. After a fire in 1610 in the Prechistensky Monastery and subsequent repairs, the metropolitan see was moved to the Holy Trinity Church. According to some sources, it is said that the icon was immediately taken with them, other evidence suggests that after the desolation of the Prechistenskaya Church, the image was transferred to the Trinity Church. Be that as it may, in 1652 there were already documentary references to the fact that an akathist was performed every Saturday before the Vilna Icon in the Trinity Church.

Subsequently, she was taken out of the city and the temple more than once during wars. For example, in 1654-1667, during the Polish War, as well as in 1700-1721, during Northern War. The first time they searched for her on the orders of Tsar Alexei of Moscow in order to return her, but she was never found.

In 1707, a new icon case was built for the icon (the previous one had disappeared a year earlier in a fire), and a few years later it was gilded. Attempts to transfer the image to Russian Empire ceased, since it was not touched even after Vilna was annexed to Russia, as well as after the annulment of the union.

Since then she has been in this monastery, but she was evacuated during the First World War, her further path is unknown. In the church in Vilnius there is now an exact copy of the icon (also, by the way, miraculous).

Iconography of the image

To make this icon, four boards were cut - two cypress and two linden. In its writing, the image is very similar to the Jerusalem icon (obviously, this is precisely why it is sometimes called “Jerusalem”). There are also similarities with Tikhvin and Georgian images.

In the icon you can see the Mother of God holding the Baby in her left hand. His heel is bare and peeking out, left hand resting on his knees with a scroll, and right hand raised in a blessing gesture.

During its long stay in the temple, the icon was overgrown with offerings of precious materials. In 1677, a chased silver chasuble was made for the image. The clothes of the Mother and Child were in silver, on which eagles and flowers were depicted in gold. It is also clear that the background of the icon is made using the most skillful filigree technique. On the head of the Mother of God there was a golden crown, which was supported by gilded angels, and on the crown of the baby were gems.

Against the background of the icon there were many silver tablets, as well as various precious jewelry (beads, pearls, precious stones, jewelry made of gold and silver). When the restoration, repair and cleaning of the image was carried out in 1866, a new frame was made from all the jewelry and silver that was removed from the icon, as well as new halos with diamonds and diamonds. They also made a bronze frame for the icon.

Days of celebration

The days of celebrating this image fall on two dates. The first day is the fifteenth of February, which coincides with the event of the transfer of the icon to Vilna, which took place in 1495. And the second day of the celebration is the fourteenth of April.

Prayer to the icon

The Vilna Icon of the Mother of God is very famous for its various miracles. What do they pray for in front of this image? Usually they offer prayers and requests to her to alleviate or heal their ailments, both spiritual and physical. It is these healings that this image is glorified. This is exactly what is said in the prayer-address to the Mother of God in front of this icon.

They also ask for protection from various misfortunes, for deliverance from sins, for protection from various enemies. Exists special prayer, with which you can address the icon, but there is no separate akathist, troparion and kontakion for it.

Thus, based on everything described above, the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God is of great importance for all Orthodox Christians.

Ostrobramskaya icon

There is also an equally revered image in Vilnius, which is also sometimes confused with the one described above. It also has a rich and quite ancient history, and also several options for its origin. This is Vilna, which is currently located in Lithuania, in the Ostraya Brama chapel.

The origin of this icon is quite interesting. Some believe that this image was brought from Chersonese (Korsun), which is why in other sources it is also called the “Korsun Annunciation”. Prince Olgerd brought it from his campaign against the Tatars and gave it to his wife Maria. However, his second wife gave this icon to the Holy Trinity Monastery.

According to the second legend, the icon itself appeared on the Sharp Gate in 1431 on the fourteenth of April. There is also a third legend, according to which, the icon was sent by John Palaeologus to the Lithuanian prince Olgerd after he converted to Christianity. Thus, a miraculous shrine appeared on Lithuanian soil.

Days of celebration and prayer to the icon

Vilenskaya also has its own days of celebration. The first time in a year falls on the fourteenth of April. This is the day of remembrance of the three Lithuanian martyrs. The second day of remembrance falls on the twenty-sixth of December.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to note that Vilna, like Ostrobramskaya, is very significant for the Orthodox people. Although the last image is revered by both Orthodox and Greek Catholics due to the events that took place on the territory of Lithuania. This all suggests that true faith has no boundaries, if we turn to our intercessors with with a pure heart and reverence, then they will certainly help on this sometimes difficult path of life.