Tenderness icon of the Mother of God, what to ask for. “Tenderness” – Seraphim-Diveyevo Icon. Novgorod Icon “Tenderness”

Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” (SERAPHIM - DIVEEVSKAYA)

_____________________________________________________

The icon of the Mother of God was a cell image. With oil from the lamp that burned in front of the cell icon, the Monk Seraphim anointed the sick, and they received healing. In front of this icon, the monk departed to the Lord. Another name for the icon is “The Joy of All Joys.” This is what Saint Seraphim himself often called the icon of TOUCHING.

After glorification St. Seraphim In the ranks of saints, Emperor Nicholas II presented a precious robe for the icon of Tenderness. In 1927, the Diveyevo Monastery, where the original “Joy of All Joys” icon was located, was closed, but the holy image was secretly removed. For decades it was kept by pious people. In June 1991, the icon was handed over to Patriarch Alexy II, and now it is in the Patriarchal residence. Once a year - on the holiday of Praise Holy Mother of God– The Seraphim-Diveyevo Icon of “Tenderness” is brought out for public veneration at the Patriarchal Epiphany Cathedral.

_______________________________________________________

Veneration of the icon Tenderness is associated with the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov (P.I. Moshnin, 1759-1833, canonized in 1903). According to the biography, compiled from the memoirs of people who knew the Sarov elder closely, his entire life passed under the patronage of the Mother of God. The Mother of God repeatedly appeared to him in visions and healed him from deadly diseases. At Rev. Seraphim had several icons of the Mother of God. Among them, a special place was occupied by the cell icon called Tenderness, which the elder also called “The Joy of All Joys.” Before her, kneeling in prayer, he died. The icon was painted on canvas stretched over a cypress board. After the death of Rev. Seraphim Abbot Nifont transferred the image to nearby Diveyevo convent, who was under the patronage of Elder Seraphim. In Diveyevo a silver gilded robe was made for the icon. Here in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity a special chapel was built for the icon, dedicated to its name - the Tenderness of the Mother of God. The icon was celebrated on July 28 and December 9 (the founding day of the monastery). Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov) composed a special service for the illustrious icon. To the discovery of the relics of St. A copy of Seraphim from the icon was made for the Sarov Monastery. After the canonization, the production of lists began in the icon-painting workshops of the Diveyevo Monastery and its courtyard in Peterhof. The icon was depicted in various printed publications and in hagiographic images of St. Seraphim.

Icon from Tretyakov Gallery is an exact copy of the revered image. The image of the Mother of God is half-length, with her hands folded on her chest, her head bowed and her gaze downcast. Western iconography, which appeared in Russia in the 17th century. On the copy icon, the gilded frame and chasuble, ubrus and crown, decorated with precious stones, are imitated by means of painting. The faces of the hand are filled with soft black and white modeling in the style academic painting beginning of the 20th century, used for painting icons. The crown is framed by the inscription: “Rejoice, unbrided bride.”

____________________________________________

Also read on our website:

The first Orthodox radio in the FM range!

You can listen in the car, at the dacha, wherever you do not have access to Orthodox literature or other materials.

In the Orthodox Church, several types of icons of the Mother of God “Tenderness” (in the Greek tradition - “Eleusa”) are accepted for veneration. Eleusa (Greek Ελεούσα - merciful from έλεος - compassion, sympathy) is one of the main types of depiction of the Mother of God in Russian icon painting. On them, the Most Holy Theotokos is usually depicted from the waist up and holding the baby - the Savior - in her arms and bowing with tenderness to her Divine Son.

The Seraphim-Diveyevo icon “Tenderness” is different from the others - the Mother of God is depicted alone on it. An interesting fact is that the iconographic type of this icon is more characteristic of Western Christianity than Eastern tradition writing. According to iconography, it goes back to the revered in Lithuania and western Russia Ostrobramskaya Icon of the Mother of God, from which it differs in the absence of Western attributes - a crescent moon below and stars around the halo. The Blessed Virgin Mary is depicted here in at a young age, at that moment in Her life when Archangel Gabriel announced the Good News about the incarnation of the Son of God. The face of the Holy Virgin Mary is thoughtful, her hands are folded crosswise on her chest, her gaze is turned down, her eyes are half-closed, and her whole appearance conveys a state of deep humility and love. Above the head there is an inscription of words from the akathist: “Rejoice, Unbrideless Bride!” This image does not belong to the “Eleusa” type of icon painting, however, it has an identical name.

The Seraphim-Diveyevo Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” belonged to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov and was his cell icon. The history of writing and the author of this icon are unknown, its origin dates back to late XVIII century.

With oil from the lamp that burned in front of this holy icon, the Reverend anointed the sick, who received healing after the anointing.

The ascetic called the icon “Tenderness” - “Joy of All Joys”, and in front of it he died in prayer on January 2, 1833. After the death of St. Seraphim, the Sarov rector, Fr. Nifont gave the holy icon “Joy of All Joys” to the sisters of the Diveyevo Seraphim Monastery. They transferred it to the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Diveyevo monastery, where the icon was located until Soviet period. For this purpose, a special chapel was built, and the icon was placed in a special elegant icon case. Since those times, there has been a tradition: all nuns of the monastery stand behind the icon case of the Mother of God during the service.

In 1902, Saint Emperor Nicholas II presented the monastery with a precious gilded robe for the Tenderness icon and a decorated silver lamp. In the year when Seraphim of Sarov was glorified, several accurate copies were made from the icon of the Mother of God, which were sent to various Russian monasteries.

In 1927 The Diveyevo Monastery, where the original “Joy of All Joys” icon was located, was closed, but the holy image was secretly taken to the Diveyevo Abbess Alexandra in Murom. For decades it was kept by pious people.

In 1991 the miraculous image was handed over to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, who placed the icon in the Patriarchal Church Vladimir icon Mother of God of the working Patriarchal residence in Chisty Lane, where she is currently located.

According to tradition, once a year - on the Feast of the Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary (5th Sunday of Great Lent (Saturday of the Akathist)) - the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church brings the Seraphim-Diveyevo Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” to the service in Moscow Epiphany Cathedral in Elokhov to read the Akathist before her. On this day, the miraculous image is brought out for veneration - all Orthodox Christians who wish can venerate it.

The Diveyesky Monastery now houses an exact copy of the miraculous image., which is considered one of the main shrines of the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery. The nuns and nuns of the convent consider her their Heavenly Mother Superior.

Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” Pskov-Pecherskaya
O Most Holy Lady Lady, Virgin Mary! Accept our unworthy prayers, save us from the slander of evil people and from vain death, grant us repentance before the end, have mercy on our prayers and grant joy in sorrow a place. And deliver us, O Lady Lady Theotokos, from every misfortune, adversity, sorrow, illness and all evil, and vouchsafe us, Thy sinful servants, to the right hand at the second coming of Thy Son, Christ our God, and make us heirs vouchsafed the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life with all the saints for ever and ever. Amen.

Orthodox Christians treat the Seraphim-Diveevskaya icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” with special reverence. For believers, this is not just an image. This is embodied evidence of forgiveness, eternal life. The face of the Mother of God “Tenderness” foretells chosen one death for the sake of infinite love and mercy.

Synonymous names

The “Tenderness” icon from the Diveyevo Orthodox convent is known by several names. The name "Diveevskaya" indicates that long time the image was main shrine Trinity Cathedral in the monastery of the village of Diveevo Nizhny Novgorod region. Local Orthodox Churches venerate this monastery as the fourth “earthly inheritance of the Most Holy Theotokos” (after Iberia, Athos, and the Kiev Pechersk Lavra). Since 1861, the monastery began to be called “Seraphim-Diveevsky Trinity”.

This renaming is connected with the fact that the founder of the Diveevo Monastery was the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov. He also gained the status of patron of the monastery. The great ascetic often prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Tenderness icon. Through the prayers of St. Seraphim, many miracles were performed before this image. The great elder rested next to this icon. Therefore, the part “Serafimo” was added to the definition of “Diveevskaya”.

Along with the name “Serafimo-Diveevskaya” they use the name “Seraphim Tenderness”. The elder himself called the icon “Joy of All Joys.”

Description

The Seraphim-Diveyevo Image of the Mother of God belongs to the category of “found” icons. Their origin is a hidden and sacred secret. According to legend, the icon of “Tenderness” was found by the Monk Seraphim in the Sarov forest wilds. The image of “Tenderness” was painted on canvas gesso stretched on a cypress board. The size of the icon is 70x50 cm.

A distinctive feature of the Diveyevo image is the image of the Virgin Mary without the Infant God. The Ever-Virgin is depicted in the icon at a very young age. The image captures the moment of the announcement of the good news to the Virgin Mary. At the Annunciation from Archangel Gabriel, the Mother of God humbly replies about her consent to accept the will of the Lord.

The canvas depicts the pensive face of the Virgin Mary with her arms folded crosswise on her chest. The head is tilted slightly to the right. The downcast eyes are directed into the inner depths. The whole appearance conveys deep humility and endless love.

Above the head of the Mother of God, depicted at half height, are inscribed the words from the akathist “Rejoice, Unbridled Bride!” The captured moment of the beginning of the Incarnation heralds the fulfillment of the promised salvation of all mankind.

The spiritual meaning of the concept of “tenderness” comes down to a special state human soul. She experiences the moment of contact of a believing heart with the Grace and mercy of the Lord.

Historical fate of the shrine

Sarov rector Fr. After the death of St. Seraphim, Nifont handed over the “Tenderness” icon to the sisters of the Diveyevo monastery. The nuns placed the icon in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where a chapel was specially built. The shrine was dressed in a special elegant icon case. Since then, a tradition has been established according to which the nuns of the monastery were behind the icon case of the Mother of God during divine services.

In 1902, Saint Nicholas II presented a gilded robe for “Tenderness” and a silver lamp as a gift to the monastery. On the initiative of the emperor, in 1903 Seraphim of Sarov was glorified as a saint. At the same time, several accurate copies were made of the Mother of God icon. They were sent to various Russian monasteries.

1927 marked the closing stage of the Diveyevo Monastery. The original Holy Image was secretly taken by Abbess Alexandra to the city of Murom. For decades, the shrine was carefully preserved by pious and true believers.

1991 The miraculous image is handed over to Patriarch Alexy II. Since that time, the shrine has been located in the Patriarchal Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

Traditionally, once a year on the Feast of the Praise of the Ever-Virgin (Saturday of the Akathist), the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church brings the shrine to the Epiphany Cathedral. The Great Akathist is read before her at the morning of the holiday. Then the miraculous image is brought out for worship. Anyone can join the image.

In the Seraphim-Diveevo monastery there is now an exact copy of the “Tenderness”. The copy is revered as one of the main shrines of the monastery. The nuns and nuns consider the icon to be the “Heavenly Mother Superior.” The celebration of Seraphim-Diveevo “Tenderness” falls on July 28 (August 10).

The revealed miraculous power of Tenderness

The iconographic image of the Virgin Mary has more than once bestowed grace on the Orthodox and brought them to the mercy of God. Tenderness as a Christian virtue is embodied in a state of joyful sadness. In contact with Tenderness, people's souls are filled with tender, touching and warm feelings.

Through Tenderness, the realization that no mortal is unworthy of God’s immeasurable love becomes more obvious. But a person receives the mercy of the Lord as a priceless gift and the highest grace. Under the influence of Tenderness, in a simultaneous combination of joy and sadness, the souls of people are brought to contrition and filled with love for God and their neighbors.

Rescue from pestilence

According to chronicles, in 1337 Novgorod was conquered by a terrifying pestilence. Every day the deadly disease reaped a bountiful harvest human bodies. It seemed there was no escape from the epidemic disease.

Approaching despair, the Orthodox people gathered under the arches of the Trinity Cathedral. There, believers tearfully called out to the image of the Ever-Virgin. With these requests, prayer singing was performed. The laity asked the Mother of God to send mercy and save the unfortunate from the deadly embrace of the epidemic.

After this, the attack hastily retreated. Grateful believers cemented this phenomenon of Divine help in the memory of generations. There is an annual veneration of the miracle created: from St. Sophia Cathedral A procession of the cross takes place to the Trinity Monastery.

Blessing from the Holy Elder

According to the biographies compiled, Seraphim of Sarov spent his entire earthly existence under the protection of the Mother of God. The image of the Mother of God appeared to the Reverend many times. Thanks to this, Seraphim was healed from deadly diseases and protected from malicious intent. evil people.

Seraphim-Diveyevo “Tenderness” was the cell icon of the Venerable Elder. He anointed the sick with oil from the lamp that burned in front of the shrine. Those who asked and suffered received healing after anointing.

Double-sided (Lokot) myrrh-streaming icon

The fame of one of modern images“Tenderness” is associated with the place where it was found in the village of Lokot (Bryansk region). The image appeared in the most wonderful and incomprehensible way.

One woman saw the calendar of the Mother of God on one of the store shelves. The numerator was overdue. The woman brought the image home. After some time, the image began to stream myrrh. Thus a unique two-sided myrrh-streaming icon appeared.

Miracles and amazing healings began to happen in the woman’s house. Numerous testimonies have been collected about the healing of mental and physical illnesses. The prayer before the Lokot Mother of God “Tenderness” has more than once helped to overcome serious illnesses and cope with difficult life difficulties.

There is a known encounter of one sufferer with this modern miraculous face. The woman was awaiting a complex oncological operation. Therefore, the sufferer prayed for successful overcoming of the illness. An ultrasound examination was performed at the hospital. The disappearance of cancer cells was discovered. The patient has fully recovered.

What do they pray for and what does the Seraphim-Diveevo “Tenderness” help with?

The meaning of the Seraphim-Diveyevo icon “Tenderness” has many interpretations. One of them becomes the embodiment of purity. Therefore, the people perceive this image of the Mother of God as a faithful assistant in choosing a worthy groom.

Before the miraculous image they ask:

• liberation from illnesses, diseases, mental burdens;
• overcoming adolescence;
• facilitated childbirth;
• tenderness of evil hearts;
• getting rid of immoral thoughts;
• giving inner harmony.

The restrained joy radiated by the Ever-Virgin instructs chaste maidens. “Tenderness” tells girls to choose the right path. You can ask the Mother of God for a successful marriage, a long-awaited conception, a happy birth. They also pray before the holy image for the gift of a meek and noble disposition.

The image of “Tenderness” protects from painful despondency. The miraculous face will relieve mental depression caused by a series of monotonous, gray and spiritless everyday life.

The miraculous Seraphim-Diveyevo Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” bestows the highest spiritual understanding. The miracles sent down through the iconographic face are associated with humility, hope, and love for God. Filling the souls of believers with joy and grace, Seraphim-Diveevsky’s image of “Tenderness” reveals the Lord’s mercy and effective condescension towards man.

The icon “Tenderness of the Most Holy Theotokos” is associated with the name of the great Russian saint - St. Seraphim of Sarov. His life and spiritual exploits have extraordinary power and protection for all of Christianity. His name is inextricably linked with the name of the Mother of God “Tenderness”. The meaning of the “Tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary” icon and the question of how it helps interests many.

Father Seraphim also called this image “The Joy of All Joys.” He was the founder of the amazing spiritual women’s monastery of Seraphimo-Diveevo Monastery, so the image began to be called the “Tenderness” icon of Seraphimo-Diveevo. This spiritual center is the fourth portion of the Mother of God, where the famous groove of the Virgin Mary is located, along which She walked with her feet.

Father Seraphim called this image “The Joy of All Joys”

A prayer request to the Most Holy Theotokos is a thin, but very strong thread between heaven and us sinners, if the heart and soul are kindled and imbued with the words of prayer. The name of the icon is very pure, gentle, warm. Sincere prayer before the icon “Tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary” will acquire the same properties.

Accept, O all-powerful, Most Pure Lady, Lady Theotokos, these honorable gifts, the only one applied to You, from us, Your unworthy servants: chosen from all generations, the highest of all creatures of heaven and earth, who appeared, because for Your sake the Lord Almighty was with us, and with You by knowing the Son of God and becoming worthy of His holy Body and His most pure Blood; Blessed are you, too, in the birth of generations, O God-blessed One, the brightest of the Cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, all-sung Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil council and every situation and that we may be preserved undamaged from every poisonous pretext of the devil; but even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if through Your intercession and help we are saved, we send glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity to the one God and the Creator of all, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

The history of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary “Tenderness”

The image of “Theotokos of Tenderness” was the cell shrine of St. Seraphim. His entire life passed under the visible and invisible cover of the Virgin Mary from childhood. She came to him and said: “This one is of our kind.” The monk departed to the Lord while praying in front of this icon.

When the monastery was closed during October revolution, the shrine was secretly taken out and saved from desecration. For many years it was kept by pious Orthodox Christians.

Today, the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, returned in the early 1990s, lives in the residence of the Patriarch. Alexy II did not bless the return of the shrine to Diveevo. Once a year it is taken to the Epiphany Patriarchal Church on the day of celebration of the praise of the Virgin Mary.

The image of “Theotokos of Tenderness” was the cell shrine of St. Seraphim

A large number of copies have been made from this image and they have acquired, as it were, additional “patronymics”: “Tenderness” Lokotskaya, Smolenskaya, Pskov-Pecherskaya. This is due to the manifestation of the miraculous properties of icons in the spiritual abodes where they are located.

The meaning of the icon “Tenderness of the Virgin Mary”

Having acquired this image for home cell prayer, the question arises: what is the correct way and where to hang the icon of the “Tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, what does it mean, what does it help so that these properties are not lost.

The icon must be freely available

Basically, the answer of the priests today sounds like this: the icon should be freely available so that you can calmly pray in front of the home shrine. The meaning of an icon is acquired not by its location, but by the attention and veneration that the believer pays to it.

Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”: what it helps with

Despite the fact that the image and name are more commonly considered “feminine,” this does not mean that men will not be helped by prayer in front of her.

On the contrary, the meaning of what the icon “Tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary” helps with is establishing relationships with a mother, wife, and in finding a soul mate to start a family. And if parents of daughters pray for the chastity of their daughters, their pious prayer will be heard.

Icons do not have any “narrow specialization” problems

Remember that icons do not have some kind of “narrow specialization” of problems. The Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” is an image that reflects a specific quality more clearly than others. But this does not mean that they do not exist, it just dominates in this image.

You can pray before her about any of your pure intentions or your needs:

• well-being in household chores;
• success at work;
• about children and their problems;
• about health;
• creating a family;
• about giving compassion and heartfelt mercy.

They pray for health in front of the icon

An interesting fact is that no matter how the icon is made - fresco, list, photo, the meaning of the icon “Tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, and in what way it helps, manifests itself in an inexplicable way. This is clearly evidenced by the icon found in the village. Elbow of the Bryansk region. This is a miracle that has already happened in our days.

A woman, having seen an expired calendar with the image of the Tenderness icon in a store and learned that the saleswoman wanted to throw it away, did not allow this desecration and bought the publication. Having cut the numbers and hung a lithograph of the icon at home, it began to flow myrrh and smell fragrant.

The woman informed the clergy about this; the ruling bishop who arrived, taking the icon in his hands, was amazed because the myrrh began to flow down his hands. He blessed the family to keep the image at home, adding a small chapel.

The meaning of the Tenderness icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary was so important that it was taken to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, where the divinely inspired elder Hermogenes spoke about the special gifts of this icon. Those praying before her will:

• successfully resolved during childbirth;
• receive healing from cancer;
• find missing people;
• change sinner life path on a godly path.

In which churches is the “Tenderness” icon located today?

Wherever the list of the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” is located, the meaning in which it helps is not lost. Each list of icons has its own evidence of miracles. Many Orthodox churches have a copy of this image.

Also in churches built in memory of the miraculous icon - in Arkhangelsk, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Kostroma, Leningrad, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novgorod, Pskov, Samara, Sverdlovsk regions; the republics of Karelia and Tatarstan; Cyprus, Ukraine. This is only a small part of the geography of the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, confirming the meaning and special grace of this wondrous image.

In Moscow, you can attend the feast of praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary and venerate the great shrine to which Seraphim of Sarov himself prayed.

Download the text of the prayer before the icon “Tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” Pskov-Pecherskaya