Icon "Christmas" Holy Mother of God“stands out noticeably among other important ones, since it depicts earthly human life. Although it does not capture any specific significant holiday event, it is imbued with intimate details that reveal everyday nuances. The icon of the Nativity of the Mother of God introduces us to the family of Anna and Joachim, involving us in the sacred event that is taking place.
Saint Anna is located on the left side of the icon. There is joy on her face. On the right, the maids go to Anna and bring her something to drink and eat. The servants are not fictional characters, therefore they are depicted in an extremely life-like manner with detailed depictions. In the lower right corner are midwives preparing water to wash the newborn baby. And it cannot be said that even one little detail is superfluous; all these details of what is happening turn it into a holy sacrament, of which everyone observing and present is a part. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary marks the beginning of not only family happiness, everyday, but also universal happiness, because very soon people will meet with the Great King. Despite the fact that the Mother of God is the main figure of the icon, she is depicted not in the center, but in the arms of a midwife, wrapped in a swaddling cloth or awaiting her ablution. In this way, the icon “Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary” indicates to people that they must always remain humble and modest. And this is despite its importance and significance.
The beginning of the story about the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Virgin Mary was born in a time of human moral decadence, from which they did not have the strength to get out on their own. Knowledgeable minds of that time declared that only God could save the world. The Son of God desired to come to people in human form and return them to the righteous path. And for the role of his mother, he chose Maria, the only one worthy among the others. Her parents were Anna and Joachim, who lived in Nazareth. They were from a noble family, rich and hardworking, but that was not what they were known for. They were known as a pious couple who donated 2/3 of their income to the poor and to the temple. For many years they tried to have a child, but in vain. Anna and Joachim spent all their time in prayer. Anna promised the Lord that if he sent her a child, she would give him to serve him. One day of fervent prayer, an Angel descended to Anna to inform her that God had heard her and would give her a daughter. Nine months later, Maria was born to the couple. Her name means “lady”, “queen”, and this is no coincidence, because she was destined great mission become the Queen of Heaven.
When the girl was 3 years old, she was brought to the temple and given bail to the high priest Zechariah. So she stayed to live there. All that can be said about Maria is that even among the other girls living with her, she stood out for her greatest diligence, hard work and holiness. I prayed three times a day, free time read scriptures and did needlework.
At the age of nine, she lost both her parents.
Meaning of the icon
According to Metropolitan Anatoly of Sourozh, the event that the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary icon commemorates becomes the beginning of the elimination of the distinction between God and man. Before everything happened, there were many miracles and signs from above, foreshadowing the great day. Even the Old Testament mentioned the coming of the Messiah. Speaking about the significance of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one cannot help but notice that this event was accompanied by an endless series of miracles, starting with the fact that she was born to the old, barren Anna.
True, she was barren only for those who do not know, but in reality she was chaste, the same as her daughter Mary. Thanks to such an event as the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the world was given an icon, the meaning of which lies in the principles of piety, which contradict the parting words to people about regular childbearing. But in this way she says that with the blessing of the Lord bestowed during the wedding, an immaculate conception is also possible.
People, celebrating this bright day of the Nativity of the Mother of God, rejoice and thank her for interceding and praying for the entire human race, giving everyone boundless maternal love.
How does an icon protect
The icon “Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” the description of which is stated above, helps everyone who turns their prayers to her, since she hears everyone. She wards off trouble and protects. They come to her with a wide variety of requests, but first of all they ask for the salvation of the human soul, for the eradication of doubts in it that destroy its temptations, for guidance on the true path, which will certainly lead to salvation and healing.
What requests does the icon help fulfill?
The icon “Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary” helps to cope with many earthly troubles. The photo of those praying once again shows how many people rely on her protection and support.
After all, with her arrival in this sinful world, hope for salvation, for life in better times, but already together with the savior Jesus Christ. If you read carefully the prayers addressed to the Queen of Heaven, it becomes clear that for her there are no requests that cannot be fulfilled.
But most often they appeal to her with prayers for the salvation of a lost soul, deprived of strength and faith. The icon “Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary” (photo presented in the article) helps childless couples, for a long time those suffering from this misfortune, as well as those in whose families there are conflicts and discord. As a rule, those asking turn not only to the Virgin Mary, but also to her parents Anna and Joachim.
Glinsk Icon of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
At the beginning of the 16th century, this icon appeared before beekeepers who were busy installing hives in the forest. In 1648, the Glinsk Hermitage appeared in that very place, receiving its name in honor of the boyar family of the Glinskys, who owned local lands. The icon healed many people, as a result of which it became famous, but, sadly, it has not survived to this day. It depicts an arch with three spans, against the background of which Saint Anne, who had just given birth to a baby, and her husband were seated on a high bed.
At the bottom right there is a font, and next to it is a midwife holding a newborn in her arms. The icon of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, painted in the Glinsky style, differs from classic version the presence of the God of Hosts on it. Since 1994, the Glinsk Hermitage belongs to the church and is located on the territory of Ukraine.
Day of the Nativity of the Mother of God
Around the 4th century, the first celebration took place in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, and since then, every year on September 21 (September 8, old style), people, rejoicing and rejoicing, continue to praise the Virgin Mary.
This day is doubly significant for the Russian people, because it was on September 8, 1380 that Russian troops won the battle with Khan Mamai on the Kulikovo Field. This event marked the beginning of the formation of a unified Russian state and put an end to internecine wars and strife between princes.
The Glinsk Hermitage was transferred to the Kyiv Metropolis. Around 1704-1706 with the blessing of the Kyiv Metropolitan. Varlaam (Yasinsky) she was assigned to the Butyrinsky Peter and Paul Monastery of the Glukhov district of the Chernigov province, and in the city, after Mazepa’s betrayal, she was granted the title of prince. A.D. Menshikov, who became a benefactor of the monastery. He gave about five thousand hectares of land to the Glinsk Hermitage, built cells and a wooden church in honor of the Ascension of the Lord (). In a report of 1730 to the Kyiv Archbishop. Varlaam (Vanatovich) in the Holy Synod it is said that the Glinsk hermitage, thanks to the gift of “Prince Menshikov, became very extensive.”
Decrees of the imp. Anna Ioannovna and the Synod of October 11, the Glinsk hermitage came under the jurisdiction of the Synodal region and was assigned to the Putivl Molchensky monastery, in the city it became independent, unemployed.
The monastery introduced a special Glinsky chant, the partes singing of St. Filaret did not allow it. In the desert there was continuous reading of the Psalter and daily commemoration according to a special synod. In the 1st week of each month, the blessing of water took place. Among the features of the Glinsk Hermitage service was the carrying of tabernacles around the church by deacons and the burning of censers with censers (censers with handles).
The second and third sections of the charter regulated the duties of the abbot, senior and ordinary brethren. The monks had no property, did not receive anyone in their cells, and met with relatives occasionally and only in a hotel. Everyone who entered the monastery was entrusted with spiritual guidance to an elder, who assigned the student a cell rule, obedience, and received confession and revelation of thoughts daily. In addition to the existing obediences of the confessor and treasurer, St. Philaret introduced in the desert the positions of dean, sacristan, charterer, ecclesiarch, housekeeper, sick man, hotel attendant, etc. According to the 25th chapter, the brethren who did not fulfill the charter were removed from the desert.
Among the elders who labored in the Glinsk hermitage under the abbot. Philaret, hieromonks Vasily (Kishkin) and Anastassy are known; the confessors of the brethren were hieromonks Avvakum, Barsanuphius, who took monastic vows on Mount Athos. Pachomius (Frying Pan), since 1824 - hieroschim. Porfiry (Mamchich), since 1826 - hieroschim. Panteleimon the Hermit (+ 1831). The disciples of St. John labored in the desert. Philareta mon. Theodotus (Levchenko) (+ 1859); hieroschema Macarius (Sharov) (+ 1864), schema. Evfimy (Lyubimchenko) (+ 1866) and schema-archim. Iliodor (Golovanitsky) (+ 1879), schema. Mark (Karlov) (+ 1893), hieroschim. Iliodor (Zakharov) (+ 1895), schema. Arkhipp (Shestakov) (+ 1896), schema. Luka (Shvets) (+ 1898), mon. Peter (Leshkov) (+ 1898), confessor and monastery leader Hierarch. Theoktist (Borodin) (+ ca. 1911), hierome. Aristoclius (Wind), Hierom. Iulian (Gagarin) (+ ca. 1911), priest. Sophrony (Yudenkov) (+ ca. 1911) and others. Some of them cared for both the brethren and the laity. Before 2010, novices could go to any elder or fraternal confessor for the revelation of their thoughts. Igum. Ioannikiy introduced a more strict order: upon entering the monastery, everyone was assigned an elder (they could not be elected at will), who had to reveal their thoughts and actions every day; nothing could be done without his blessing.
In the buildings of the Glinskaya Hermitage a town was formed for the children of the Volga region, in the city - an agricultural artel, reorganized in the city into the collective farm "Red October" (Sosnovka village), in the city - into an industrial plant for the production of agricultural implements. Some of the brethren moved to the Rylsky St. Nicholas Monastery, the Dransky Assumption and other monasteries, some served in parishes, lived with relatives, and were in exile. Andronik (Lukash), schiarchim. Seraphim (Romantsev), schema-higum. Nikolai (Khondarev), Hieroschim. John (Primakov), schema. Simon (Hondoshko) and others. The last rector was Archimandrite. Nektary (Nuzhdin) lived in Putivl.
By the end of 1942, 12 inhabitants lived in the desert, approx. 25, per year - 60 (34 monks and 26 novices). In 1942, the Glukhovsky forestry transferred to the monastery a hospital with the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross and a two-story bishop's building, in which cells, a refectory, a kitchen, and a prosphora were built. The library consisted of approx. 600 books. The Glinsk hermitage was supported by donations from parishioners; upon entering the monastery, the monks brought whatever they could (food, clothing, pets). There was not enough clothing, shoes, liturgy was performed in bast shoes. Often the meal included boiled beets instead of bread. In the year of the desert, she received from the Sosnovsky village council 5 hectares of marshy land, which was used for a vegetable garden; no grain was sown. In the spring, the Shalyginsky District Council allocated about 10 hectares of land to the Glinskaya Hermitage, on which oats, millet, barley, corn, and beans were sown. By the year in the Glinskaya Hermitage there were two horses, two oxen, three cows, a bull, and an apiary with 14 hives.
The brethren observed strict liturgical rules, largely thanks to the experienced guide, the blind hieroschim. Nicodemus (Kalius) (+ 1953). At 4 o'clock in the morning, the Midnight Office and Matins were served, then the 3rd and 6th songs of the canon followed, the patristic teachings and the Prologue, the first hour, were read. At 7:30 a.m. an akathist was read to the Savior, on Saturday - to the Mother of God. At 9 o'clock the liturgy was celebrated, from 11 o'clock - the services. At 16:00 Vespers began, at 18:00 Compline with canons. After the evening rules, meetings and conversations were not allowed. The cell rule was given by the elder, usually including the Gospel, the Apostle, the Psalter, the Pentecostal with prostrations to the ground and from the waist. The monks got up at 2 am for cell prayer before the morning service. Sunday and holiday services began at 16:00 Little Vespers, from 18:00 to 1:00 a.m. all-night vigil. At 6 o'clock the Sunday or festive midnight office began, then the cathedral Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, hours and liturgy, which ended at 13 o'clock. On holidays, small bells and hanging slats were rung. As before, they burned incense with cations, with a “tomb” on their shoulders. The singing was performed by two choirs in voices and similar. The left choir adhered to the chants of the Glinsk Hermitage, the right - the everyday life and chants of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. In the temple, the monks stood separately from the pilgrims, in a special room.
In the 1940s and 50s, the tradition of eldership was preserved in the Glinsk Hermitage. Under the schiarchim. Seraphim's fraternal confessor was the schema-abbot. Anthony (Wind), then Archimandrite. Anthony (Prohoda), schiarchim. Seraphim (Romantsev), dean - hieroschim. Job (Polkhov), then schiarchim. Andronik (Lukash). Since the mid-1940s, Archimandrites Tikhon (Belyaev), Artemy (Minkovsky), Hieroschemamonks Job (Polkhov), Peter (Drobyazka), Melety (Shechko), Alexy (Zayarny) and others labored in the hermitage. Among those who entered the Glinsk Hermitage after 1945 There were experienced ascetics, skhiier. Optina Hermitage Paisiy (Grishkin), schema. New Athos Monastery Simon (Khondoshko), tonsure of the Holy Mountain schema. Barsanuphius (Sereda). The elders looked after pilgrims who came to the Glinsk Hermitage from all over the country and carried on correspondence.
The buildings
According to the officer’s inventory of Second Lieutenant A. Ryazantsev, by 1764 there were
- wooden on a stone foundation, the Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral with a carved gilded four-tier iconostasis, on the southern gate was the miraculous Glinskaya icon;
- warm church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (burnt down in 1769 along with the monastery archive);
- a wooden bell tower with five bells, the abbot's and brethren's buildings, a refectory, a kitchen, a bakery with a cellar and an icehouse, six barns, a stable, two sheds, and a hotel behind the fence.
In - years, a stone cathedral was erected in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary: an octagon on a two-story quadrangle. On the lower floor of the cathedral there was a main altar in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and a vestibule with a warm chapel in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, on the top floor there is a small chapel in honor of the Transfiguration (according to the 1817 inventory - Ascension) of the Lord.
About a year ago, a stone bell tower was added to the vestibule of the temple. In the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God, to the right of the royal doors, there was a Glinskaya icon, decorated with a gilded robe and a silver lamp. The cathedral also housed the revered Molchensk Icon of the Mother of God in a silver robe, images of the Apostle John the Theologian, St. Gennady I, Patriarch of Constantinople, etc.
The Cathedral in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (XVIII century) was overhauled under the abbot. Philaret and consecrated on September 6 of the year of Bishop. Evgeny (Kazantsev). As a result of perestroika 1852-1864. Two chapels were added to the cathedral, consecrated in September 1864 by Bishop. Kursk Sergius (Lyapidevsky): southern - in the name of St. Mitrofan of Voronezh and Tikhon of Zadonsk, northern - St. Alexy Moskovsky and MC. Alexandra. The chapels were decorated in the same style with pilasters, two tiers of windows (the lower light windows had triangular broken pediments), and three decorative keel-shaped kokoshniks above the cornices of the northern and southern facades. The drum was crowned with a massive onion-shaped head with ribs corresponding to the sides of the drum. Probably at the same time, close to the corners of the main quadrangle, four domes were built on high octagonal drums mounted on octagonal bases decorated with blind arches. Three small domes appeared on each apse. At the expense of the Kharkov landowner K. D. Khrushchov, a carved, gilded, two-tier iconostasis was installed in the church.
The gate church in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God was built in - . and consecrated in October of the year by abbot. Filaret. This is a three-tiered building: in the lower tier there are St. a gate decorated with a four-column portico; the second tier is a quadrangle with a semicircular apse and a volume symmetrical to it, decorated on the west with pilasters with windows between them; the third tier is an octagon with windows on each side, topped with a ribbed dome and a bulbous dome on a high drum. In the niches between the columns of the first tier and above the windows of the quadrangle there are images of saints. A carved, mahogany, gilded iconostasis was installed in the temple. At the entrance from the Gostiny Dvor, the brethren and parishioners venerated the one placed over the saint. gates of the Iveron icon sent from Athos.
In the years to the south of the cathedral, a warm stone Assumption Church with a right side chapel was built in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and to the left - VMC. Barbarians: a two-height quadrangle, completed with triangular pediments on the northern and southern sides, topped with a bulbous dome on a drum, with a three-part apse, a refectory with a porch on the west. The temple was decorated with pilasters at the corners, triangular pediments over the doorways and semicircular niches with double windows on the northern and southern facades. IN
To display page content correctly, you must enable JavaScript or use a browser that supports JavaScript.
Kontakion 1
Chosen from all generations to the Most Holy Virgin and Mother of God, we offer praise in front of the miraculous icon of Your glorious Nativity to the Theotokos. But You, the Most Pure One, who has good providence for us, free us from all troubles, sorrows and shameful death, and in tenderness we call to You: Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who with Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Ikos 1
The Angel Representative to the Throne of the Almighty was sent to quickly announce to barren parents about Your birth, Lady, and the army of Angels now in heaven glorifies You, the Most Honest Cherub and Mother of our God. We are earthly-born, rejoicing at Your birth and the appearance of the icon, even with mortal lips we offer praise to You like this: Rejoice, Immaculate, born of righteous parents; Rejoice, earthly Daughter, blessed Mother of God. Rejoice, joyful solution to barrenness; Rejoice, great consolation to elder parents. Rejoice, you have asked God by prayer; Rejoice, Holy One, raised by saints. Rejoice, wonderful vegetation of Joachim and Anna; Rejoice, true salvation of the world. Rejoice, overshadowed by the power of the Most High; Rejoice, exalted Glory of heaven. Rejoice, friend of joy, who destroyed the ancestral oath; Rejoice, having conquered the ancient serpent born from You. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 2
Having seen in Your Nativity the deliverance of the reproach of childlessness, Your righteous parents glorified God. Likewise, we, imitating them, humbly want to bear the reproach of those who slander us, Thy Son, for the sake of, Orthodoxy confessing and glorifying His Holy Name, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The Angelic Mind was perplexed about Your birth, about the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God, how an unartificial Virgin could conceive. Now all believers, having understood the mystery of the Divine vision for the salvation of the human race, glorify Your virginity, Most Pure One, earnestly crying out to You like this: Rejoice, fulfillment of the prophetic prophecies; Rejoice, Virgin, fulfillment of good desires. Rejoice, Holy and Immaculate Virgin; Rejoice, chosen by God as a wife. Rejoice, dedicated to God from infancy; Rejoice, covered by the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, new and living ark, kept in the Holy of Holies; Rejoice, Unfading Flower, worthily praised. Rejoice, visited Archangels and Angels; Rejoice, nourished by heavenly food. Rejoice, you who shone with holiness more than all others; Rejoice, you who received the Lord into the virgin womb. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 3
The power of the Most High, which overshadowed Joachim and Anna, resolved their distressed infertility, for the Lord will remember the humility of His servants. For this reason, in honor of Your righteous parents, Most Pure One, we pray that through their prayers and Your intercession the infertility of our virtues will be resolved to the increase of prayer and humility, patience and abstinence, by the grace of all the blessings of the Giver of God, to Him we sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having great humility, you were worthy of being chosen, O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of Christ God, our Savior, showing us many good deeds, and enjoying the image, we sing in gratitude: Rejoice, humble Servant of the Lord, teaching us humility; Rejoice, you who help God's servants. Rejoice, blessed preservation of infants; Rejoice, wise instruction to the young men. Rejoice, joyful praise of mothers; Rejoice, to those who exist in marriage, there is loving unanimity. Rejoice, thou who are kind to goodness; Rejoice, evil hearts softening. Rejoice, Giver of Divine goodness; Rejoice, O author of all joy. Rejoice, Thou who, with Thy help, hast sought out the earth-born; Rejoice, Thou who hast received Christians under Thy roof. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 4
Although the Lord quenched the storms of our passions and misfortunes, in the most honest icon of Thy Nativity He showed us Thee, the Mother of God, the Intercessor. For this reason, for the sake of those near and far, you have gathered to confess your miracles, and to cry to the Benevolent God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing about Your icon, the Mother of God, all believers flock in the hope of Your intercession, no one departs from it empty, and cannot, according to the heritage of Your blessedness, Lady, otherwise accept our grateful praise: Rejoice, chosen by God, who made your parents happy with Your Nativity; Rejoice, good teaching for schoolmasters. Rejoice, giver of spiritual reason; Rejoice, punisher of seducers. Rejoice, you who cleanse sins with sorrows; Rejoice, you who deliver us from the sorrows of the faint-hearted. Rejoice, you who teach us the angelic life; Rejoice, you who distract us from earthly blessings with heavenly blessings. Rejoice, faithful strengthening of those who struggle with temptations; Rejoice, quick help for those who are exhausted in struggle and exploits. Rejoice, O Gracious One, who has shown grace to us by the appearance of the icon; Rejoice, for you who performed great miracles with her. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 5
The God-bearing star was Your holy icon, Mother of God, when it invisibly marched back from the surrounding cities to the place of its appearance, marveling at such a miracle, we offer praise to the Lord God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing the threefold miraculous return of Your icon from the city of Sevsk to the place of its appearance, Archpastor Kirill knows that he will not keep it in his city, and in glorification of the icon of Your Nativity, Abiye creates a temple and improves the monastery. Rejoicing in such Thy providence for us, we cry out to You, our Patroness, with a voice of joy: Rejoice, Lady, who did not favor human self-will; Rejoice, you have destroyed human desires that are displeasing to You. Rejoice, carried by the Angels; Rejoice, praised by the human race. Rejoice, blessed sanctification of the air; Rejoice, purification of destructive plagues. Rejoice, sending rains in good time for the fruiting of the earth; Rejoice, you who cease the harmful abundance of rain. Rejoice, preserving our pastures from all harm; Rejoice, teaching us all for the good. Rejoice, thou who enlightened the whole universe; Rejoice, you who have revived those killed by passions. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 6
They preach miracles of the wealth of grace of Queen Matera, from the wondrous icon of the former, for the Most Pure Mother of God does not abandon those who flow to Her with faith and delivers them from all misfortunes. Moreover, the Virgin Mary, having written thanks to You, we send ever glory to the All-Bountiful God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Thy icon appeared like a weed in the desert, the Mother of God, giving beneficial help to all, but did not deign to eat those who opposed Thy will: the punishment was death for destroying the tree, on which Thy icon appeared. For this reason, with fear and tenderness, everyone says: Rejoice, Queen, punishing those who are disobedient to Your will; Rejoice, cutting off human wisdom. Rejoice, taming human malice; Rejoice, you who plead with the Righteous Judge for our sins. Rejoice, healing of my body; Rejoice, salvation of my soul. Rejoice, my hope in this life; Rejoice, hope after my death. Rejoice, for through You we are delivered from eternal death; Rejoice, for through You we are worthy of a blessed life. Rejoice, thou who hast abundantly planted the monastic monasteries of Thy name in our fatherland; Rejoice, having strengthened piety in the hearts of the faithful. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 7
Desiring to show Your mercy to the Christian race, You have given us a wonderful icon of Your Nativity, O Theotokos, and as we all rejoice in Your blessings, even if we are unworthy, we sing the angelic hymn to Christ our Savior: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
You showed us a new source of grace, O Lady, when You delivered the city of Glukhov from a deadly plague, instructing us to resort to the quick, grace-filled Helper in troubles and illnesses, calling You: Rejoice, O God-pleasing, ever-present consolation for the sad and weeping; Rejoice, forgiveness of repentant sinners. Rejoice, endless treasure of healings; Rejoice, quiet resting place for those who labor. Rejoice, intercessor of the offended; Rejoice, you who admonish those who offend. Rejoice, justification for the slandered; Rejoice, retribution for the perishing. Rejoice, city and great hope; Rejoice, our shameless calling. Rejoice, Thou who bestowed grace upon Thy icons; Rejoice, you who united the faithful of the Lord. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 8
Strange is your Christmas from the barrenness of your elderly parents; How strange it is that the appearance of Your icon, O Lady, even God, where He wants the order of nature to be overcome, says: “What is impossible with man, is possible with God.” For this reason, we offer praise to the Almighty Provider who works miracles for us: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All creation rejoices in You, O Blessed One, the Council of Angels and the human race brightly triumphs in Your glorious Nativity. Thou, as the Queen of heaven and earth, accept the prayer of Thy servants, who worship Thy honorable image and cry out for love: Rejoice, Most Blessed One, most honorable of the Angels; Rejoice, most glorious Seraphim without comparison. Rejoice, Most Holy of all Saints according to God; Rejoice, more beautiful than the daughters of the earth. Rejoice, Queen, coming to the Throne of the King of Glory; Rejoice, you who bring prayers to Him for us. Rejoice, magnificent decoration of the temples of God; Rejoice, true consolation flowing to You. Rejoice, clothed in Your icons with golden garments; Rejoice, thou strewn with precious stones. Rejoice, you who have contained all the virtues within yourself; Rejoice, you who served as the incarnation of the Son of God. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 9
You rule over every angelic nature in the heavenly abodes, O Mother of God, but without abandoning those below you, protecting our monastery with the holy icon and all resorting to You, we pray to You, our Supreme Patroness, to grace us with mind and heart to the Source of salvation, earnestly cry out: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The superstitious spirits are perplexed as to how they can receive Divine grace by resorting to the icon of Your faithfulness; we have been notified formerly a verb Lord, as all things are possible to the believer, we undoubtedly flow to Your miraculous icon in the hope of Divine reward. In the same way, Thy warm intercession for us is leading with the verb: Rejoice, O Mother of God who exalts the faithful; Rejoice, teacher of unbelievers. Rejoice, you who sweep away superstition and ignorance; Rejoice, teaching the lost the right to believe. Rejoice, bringing to the knowledge of the truth; Rejoice, fear of unrepentant sinners. Rejoice, you who want death for no one; Rejoice, and leading the desperate to hope. Rejoice, invisible enemies our torment; Rejoice, our visible enemies have been put to shame. Rejoice, you who confirmed our faith with miracles; Rejoice, the wrath of God, righteously moved upon us, has quenched us many times over. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 10
The beginning of our salvation was Your glorious Nativity, Mother of God, and Your revealed icon was the beginning of the salvation of monks in this place, where believers flock to You, praying warmly: “Forget us not, O Lady, by giving all that is useful to souls, so that we may be saved by You to our Hero and Savior.” sing: Alleluia."
Ikos 10
Thou art an indestructible wall to all who come running to You and Thy icon; for there is no imam of any other hope in God; are You, the Lady, our refuge and strength in the sorrows that have come upon us greatly, delivering us from all adversity, and to You, our Joy, we cry : Rejoice, Most Pure One, looking down on Christians from heaven; Rejoice, thou who deliverest our monastery from troubles. Rejoice, fasting abstinence is not exhausting; Rejoice, acquisition of our virtues. Rejoice, taming of passions; Rejoice, correction for the repentant. Rejoice, driving away temptations; Rejoice, rise of the fallen. Rejoice, remover of the stench of sins; Rejoice, you who provide the fragrance of holiness. Rejoice, you who laid the foundation of our monastery; Rejoice, O Most Holy Virgin, who by Her Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 11
We offer all-hearted singing to You, Lady, about Your great blessings that have been upon us, but we do nothing worthwhile for everyone that You have given to us, Your Son, crying out: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
As a light-receiving candle, we see your whole-bearing icon, the Most Pure One, kindled by grace for us, illuminating all ends for salvation for all who come running with faith, for this reason you have shown many signs to Christians, we honor these titles: Rejoice, Guide, instructing on the path of salvation; Rejoice, Goalkeeper, opening the doors of heaven to the faithful. Rejoice, Fragrant Flower, fragrant in mountain Zion; Rejoice, Life-Giving Source, abundantly exuding grace. Rejoice, indestructible wall, strengthening Orthodoxy; Rejoice, Burning Kupino, who delivers you from the fiery blaze. Rejoice, Intercessor, crying out to Your Son for us; Rejoice, Quick to Hear, who gives ambulance to those in need. Rejoice, joy to all who mourn; Rejoice, our spiritual lives are sweet. Rejoice, O Most Merciful One, who has shown Your mercy many times over; Rejoice, you who freed many from troubles and torment. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 12
Fill Thee with the grace of God at Thy Nativity, O Blessed One, which Thou hast poured out from Thy icon to us, who with faith resort to Thy intercession and give thanks to the Merciful God to those who offer: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing Your Nativity, we venerate Your miraculous icon, glorify all Your miracles for us and, having learned to bless Your holy name for your good deeds, we cry to the Blessed One among women: Rejoice, Dawn of the King of glory, shining with Divine beauty; Rejoice, thou who illuminatest all the ends of the universe. Rejoice, you who received the Archangel's voice about the incarnation of Emmanuel; Rejoice, you who have contained God, who cannot be contained by all, in Your womb. Rejoice, you who gave birth to the promised Messiah through the influx of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, you who revealed the Sun of Truth to the world. Rejoice, God-given Representative to Christians; Rejoice, O never-sleeping Prayer Book for us. Rejoice, praised by the human race on earth; Rejoice, exalted in heaven by the saints. Rejoice, you who abolished the ancestral sin; Rejoice, thou who hast enriched spiritual well-being. Rejoice, Most Holy Virgin, who through Your Nativity proclaimed the joy of salvation to the world.
Kontakion 13
O All-Sung Virgin, who gave birth to all the saints, Most Holy One, in praise of Your Nativity, accept this small prayer, beg Christ God for us to deliver us from all misfortune, and free us from eternal torment, crying out to God for You: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Icon of Her “Pustynno-Glinskaya”
First prayer
O Most Holy Lady, God-chosen Mother of Christ our Savior, asked from God by the holy prayers of righteous parents, dedicated to God, and beloved by God. Who will not please You, or who will not sing of Your glorious Nativity? Your Christmas was the beginning of man’s salvation, and we, sitting in the darkness of sins, see Your dwelling of impregnable Light. For this reason, the florid tongue cannot praise You according to your heritage, especially since Seraphim exalted You, the Most Pure One; In any case, accept the present praise of Your unworthy servants and do not reject our prayers, We confess Your greatness, We fall down in tenderness to You and boldly ask Your child-loving and compassionate Mother, who is quick in intercession: beg Your Son and our God to grant us, who have sinned a lot, sincere repentance and a pious life, let us be able to do everything pleasing to God and useful to our souls, and therefore we will hate all evil, strengthened by Divine grace in our good will. You, our shameless Hope in the hour of death, grant us a Christian death, a comfortable procession through the terrible ordeals of the air and the inheritance of the eternal, ineffable blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven, so that with all the saints we silently confess Your intercession for us and let us glorify the One True God, worshiped in the Holy Trinity Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Second prayer
Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, Thy miraculous image falling, touchingly we say: look mercifully on Thy servants and by Thy omnipotent intercession send down the need for everyone: save all the faithful children of the Holy Church, convert the unfaithful, guide those who are lost to the right path, support old age and weakness of strength, grow young people in the holy faith, guide husbands to the good ; bring sinners to repentance and hear the prayers of all Christians; Heal the sick, satisfy the sorrows, travel with those who travel. Weigh you, O All-Merciful One, as weak, as sinners, as embittered and worthy of God’s rebuke; Otherwise, come to our aid, so that we will not anger God through any sin of self-love, temptation or the devil’s seduction. Thee, Imams, the Representative, the Lord will not reject You, if He so desires, He can bestow upon us all, as a blessed source of those who faithfully sing to You and extol Your glorious Nativity. Deliver, O Lady, from sins and misfortunes of all who piously call Holy Name Yours and those who worship Your honest image, You, through Your prayers, cleanse our iniquities. In the same way, we fall down to You and cry again: drive away from us every enemy and adversary, every misfortune and destructive pestilence, through Your prayers you give timely rains and abundant fruit to the earth; put Divine fear in our hearts to fulfill the commandments of the Lord, so that we may all live prosperously, quietly and peacefully in Christian love, piety and purity for the salvation of our souls, for the good of our neighbors and for the glory of the Lord. For to Him, as our Creator, Provider and Savior, all glory, honor and worship are due, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
This icon of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary miraculously appeared to beekeepers who were setting up hives in the forest at the beginning of the 16th century. In 1648, on the site of the appearance of the icon, the Glinsk Hermitage was founded, which received its name from the benefactors of the monastery - the family of Glinsky boyars who owned the surrounding area. The icon became famous for its multiple healings. Currently, unfortunately, the miraculous icon is lost.
On the ancient icon, against the background of a 3-bay arch, the figure of the holy righteous Anna is depicted on a high bed; in the openings of the arch are depicted: a wife bearing gifts, and the holy righteous Joachim. In the lower right corner of the icon is a maid with the baby Mary in her arms, next to her is a font, reminiscent of the renewal and purification of the human race.
Later, the icon was placed in a silver icon case with an independent image: on the clouds, angels standing before the miraculous image support the shrine, over which the Lord of Hosts is blessing, surrounded by cherubim. In modern iconography, the presence of an image of the God of Hosts on the icons of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary serves as a sign of belonging to the Glinsky version, regardless of whether the depicted figures are separated by the outlines of an arch or not. However, in the Glinsk Hermitage there is an ancient list of icons without the image of God the Father.
The Holy Nativity of the Virgin Mary Glinsk Hermitage after decades of oblivion and destruction, in 1994, was returned to the Church. Located in Ukraine: Sosnovka village, Glukhovsky district, Sumy region.
September 21 - Icon of the Mother of God “Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary” Glinskaya (Pustynno-Glinskaya) This icon of the “Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary” at the beginning of the 16th century miraculously appeared to beekeepers who were building hives in the forest. In 1648, on the site of the appearance of the icon, the Glinsk Hermitage was founded, which received its name from the benefactors of the monastery - the family of Glinsky boyars who owned the surrounding area. The icon became famous for its multiple healings. Currently, unfortunately, the miraculous icon is lost. On the ancient icon, against the background of a 3-bay arch, the figure of the holy righteous Anna is depicted on a high bed; in the openings of the arch are depicted: a wife bearing gifts, and the holy righteous Joachim. In the lower right corner of the icon is a maid with the baby Mary in her arms, next to her is a font, reminiscent of the renewal and purification of the human race. Later, the icon was placed in a silver icon case with an independent image: on the clouds, angels standing before the miraculous image support the shrine, over which the Lord of Hosts is blessing, surrounded by cherubim. In modern iconography, the presence of an image of the God of Hosts on the icons of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary serves as a sign of belonging to the Glinsky version, regardless of whether the depicted figures are separated by the outlines of an arch or not. However, in the Glinsk Hermitage there is an ancient list of icons without the image of God the Father. The Holy Nativity of the Virgin Mary Glinsk Hermitage after decades of oblivion and destruction, in 1994, was returned to the Church. Located in Ukraine: Sosnovka village, Glukhovsky district, Sumy region. First prayer O Most Holy Lady, Christ our Savior, God-chosen Mother, asked from God by the holy prayers of righteous parents, dedicated to God, and beloved by God. Who will not please These, or who will not sing of Your glorious Nativity? Your Christmas was the beginning of man’s salvation, and we, sitting in the darkness of sins, see Your dwelling of impregnable Light. For this reason, the florid tongue cannot praise You according to your heritage, especially since Seraphim exalted You, the Most Pure One; In any case, accept the present praise of Your unworthy servants and do not reject our prayers, We confess Your greatness, We fall down in tenderness to You and boldly ask Your child-loving and compassionate Mother, who is quick in intercession: beg Your Son and our God to grant us, who have sinned a lot, sincere repentance and a pious life, that we may be able to do everything pleasing to God and useful to our souls, and therefore we will hate all evil, strengthened by Divine grace in our good will. You, our shameless Hope in the hour of death, grant us a Christian death, a comfortable procession through the terrible ordeals of the air and the inheritance of the eternal, ineffable blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven, so that with all the saints we silently confess Your intercession for us and let us glorify the One True God, worshiped in the Holy Trinity Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Second Prayer Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, to Your miraculous image we fall, tenderly saying: look mercifully on Your servants and through Your omnipotent intercession send down to everyone in need: save all the faithful children of the Holy Church, convert the unfaithful, guide those who are lost to the right path, old age and support weakness of strength, grow young people in the holy faith, guide husbands to goodness; bring sinners to repentance and hear the prayers of all Christians; Heal the sick, satisfy the sorrows, travel with those who travel. Weigh you, O All-Merciful One, as being weak, as sinners, as embittered and worthy of God’s rebuke; Otherwise, come to our aid, so that we will not anger God through any sin of self-love, temptation or the devil’s seduction. Thee, Imams, the Representative, the Lord will not reject You, if He so desires, He can bestow upon us all, as a blessed source of those who faithfully sing to You and extol Your glorious Nativity. Deliver, O Lady, from the sins and misfortunes of all those who piously call on Your Holy Name and worship Your honorable image, for with Your prayers You cleanse our iniquities. In the same way, we fall down to You and cry again: drive away from us every enemy and adversary, every misfortune and destructive pestilence, through Your prayers you give timely rains and abundant fruit to the earth; put Divine fear in our hearts to fulfill the commandments of the Lord, so that we may all live prosperously, quietly and peacefully in Christian love, piety and purity for the salvation of our souls, for the good of our neighbors and for the glory of the Lord. For to Him, as our Creator, Provider and Savior, all glory, honor and worship are due, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Glinsk Icon of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was revealed at the beginning of the 16th century to beekeepers (beekeepers) in the forest, where they were creating new hives. The image hung on a tall pine tree, from under the roots of which flowed a healing spring. Later, a hermit monk settled at this place, who became the founder of the future monastery. The monks of the nearby Putivl monastery who came here tried three times to remove the image from the tree, but it returned to its original place.
The monastery that arose here in 1648 was named the Glinsk Hermitage in honor of the family of Glinsky boyars who owned the surrounding lands (now it is Ukraine, Sumy region).
The icon became famous for its many healings and was revered as miraculous. In 1768, Bishop Kirill of Sevsky and Bryansk transferred the image to the cathedral of the city of Sevsk, but the icon miraculously returned back to the Glinsk Hermitage. The monks called their monastery the wonderful property of the Queen of Heaven, and before the miraculous icon they pronounced monastic vows. In honor of such miracles through prayers before this image, such as healing from a cholera epidemic in 1848 and deliverance from locusts in 1856 and 1857, annual religious processions were established.
In 1922, the monastery was closed and the image was lost. In 1994, the Glinsk monastery was returned to the Church. Currently there is a revered copy of the ancient image here.
The icon itself is a small version of the iconography of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, only 20 by 16.7 cm, painted in an academic manner. The architectural background of the icon is a three-span arch, symbolizing the Old Testament tabernacle. Against her background, reclining on a high bed, we see the figure of the righteous Anna, near which stands a table symbol of the altar. In the openings of the arch are depicted a maid carrying gifts and Saint Joachim. In the lower right corner, a maid holds the Baby Mary near the font, a symbol of the renewal of the human race. Later, the icon was placed in a silver icon case, larger in size than the icon itself. On it, the image was complemented by the figures of two angels supporting the icon and the image of the God of Hosts at the top. Later, when the Glinsk icon was copied, this framing also began to be reproduced. The copy from the Glinskaya icon located in the monastery is an ancient version of the icon without the angels and the Lord of Hosts.
Troparion, tone 4
Today, faithful people, / overshadowed by the holy image of the Mother of God, / in tenderness we say: / to the Lady. help Thy servant / in adversity, sorrow and illness, / for they are burdened with many sins, / and deliver us from all evil, / praying to Thy Son, Christ our God, / to save our souls.
Kontakion. voice 8
Often and many times Your icon, Mother of God, / was carried away from the place of its appearance, / but miraculously returned to the desert, / from there it gives the good things needed to all the faithful.
