The image of the icon is unexpected joy. The spiritual significance of this icon is great

The Orthodox icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” has an amazing history and the ability to help all stumbled and confused people. She instructs on the true path and forgives sins. Find out what to ask for from the image of the Virgin Mary.

History of the icon of the Mother of God

The icon appeared in the 18th century and reflects a repentant sinner, in front of the face of the Most Holy Theotokos with his son in his arms. Recognized from the stories of Dmitry of Rostov, who prayed every day before the holy image, and then committed the evil he had planned. One day, the sinner had a vision that the ulcers and wounds on the body of the baby Jesus were bleeding, as if he were on the cross for crucifixion. The man, in horror, turned to the Mother of God for an answer, to which he heard her speech, in which she spoke about the suffering of her son, which he endures for all human sins.

Dmitry Rostovsky persistently begged the Mother of God for forgiveness and asked Jesus Christ to pray for him. Having agreed, she turned to her son, and was refused twice. The third time she said that she would lie with the sinner in the lap of Christ until he forgives his sins. And only then did the Savior agree to help the man, pointing to his wounds and ordering him to venerate the bleeding wounds from the crucifixion. After the Divine vision, Dmitry of Rostov got rid of all unclean thoughts and took the true path, strengthening his faith in God.

The icon illustrates everything that happened. In the left corner there is a picture of a sinner, sometimes ribbons with prayers come from his mouth, and in the right corner there is a Virgin Mary with a baby whose wounds are bleeding and clothes are torn.

What to ask for the “Unexpected Joy” icon

The image of the Mother of God protects from all troubles and misfortunes. People turn to the icon when it seems that there is no one to expect help from. She helps in difficult life situations and in solving complex issues.

People who have strayed from the right path and are unable to come to terms with their own conscience turn to the image in prayer.

Parents pray to the “Unexpected Joy” icon for their children, so that they choose the right destiny and do not give up on God.

The image patronizes people who made mistakes in life and committed terrible sins in the past, but sincerely repented and turned to God.

They ask the holy icon, in accordance with the name, for unexpected joy, for example, the birth of children or a meeting with the chosen one. And also about miraculous healing and resolution of difficult life situations.

Prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy”

“Oh, Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Patroness of this city, faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Accept this prayer song from us, unworthy of Your servants, offered to You: and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Your honorable icon every day, You did not despise, but You granted the unexpected joy of repentance, and through Your zealous intercession with Your Son for the forgiveness of the sinner Thou hast bowed thus, and now do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, but pray to Thy Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness before Thy celibate image, who, according to each need, grant unexpected joy: may all in heaven and on the lands lead You as a steadfast and unashamed Representative of the Christian race, and this leading, they glorify You and Your Son with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen"

Remember, the icon will only help those whose thoughts are pure and whose prayers are sincere. She is able to show you the right path if you are ready for this yourself and help a believer who needs an Orthodox miracle. We wish you good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and

If God were fair, say the holy fathers, we could not hope for forgiveness. On the pages of the Old Testament Scripture, the Lord appears as a formidable Judge and Accuser, punishing the slightest crime against the Law, and today the earth does not open up even under inveterate sinners. Why this happens is explained by an instructive story shown in a pictorial image known as the “Unexpected Joy” icon.

Miracles resulting from miraculous icons are carefully studied and recorded. They did the same at the Holy Trinity Elias Monastery near Chernigov. In 1662, the first miracle was recorded from the icon of the Mother of God, painted by the monk Gennady. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Most Pure Virgin, holding the Divine Infant in her arms, for 10 days. All of Chernigov “looked with great horror” at the weeping Virgin.

The miracle of the Ilinsk-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God became famous and has come down to the present day thanks to St. Dmitry of Rostov.

Interesting. St. Dmitry Rostovsky is a church writer and educator who has written many books, including the lives of saints, sermons on faith and repentance, discussions about gospel stories and God's miracles.

Resurrection of the Youth

Traveling through the monasteries of Little Russia, St. Demetrius wrote the book “Irrigated Fleece,” based on stories about miracles from Our Lady of Chernigov. The stories were accompanied by teachings. One of the chapters, “The Dew of Resurrection,” talks about a youth who suddenly died. There was no illness or other reasons indicating the approach of death. The hieromonk of the Elias Monastery, who was then nearby, advised the parents to pray before the miraculous icon of Chernigov.

Saint Dmitry of Rostov

The parents went to the monastery and fell to the Intercessor. And a miracle happened: the child came to life. No one expected such happiness, although they believed in the mercy of the Mother of God. To the story of the resurrection of the youth, which occurred in April 1679, St. Demetrius attached a parable, on the basis of which the icon “Unexpected Joy” was written.

About other icons:

Parable of St. Dimitri and writing a new image

A certain sinner had the custom of praying to the Blessed Virgin with the words of the angelic greeting “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”, setting off to his iniquity. One day, kneeling in front of the icon and about to say the usual prayer, he saw a terrible vision: blood flowed in streams from the feet and hands of the Infant God, and the Mother of God Herself appeared to him as if alive.

“Who did this, Lady?” - the sinner shouted in horror. “You and those like you constantly wound My Son, like the Jews on the Cross, with your iniquities,” answered the Mother of God. Instantly repenting, the man began to beg for forgiveness, but the Lord did not look in his direction. Then he appealed to the Mother of God: “Let my sins not overcome Your mercy, Lady, ask the Lord for me!”

Icon “Unexpected Joy”, Pokrovsk

The Mother of God turned to her Son with a prayer for forgiveness for the sinner. The Lord answered Her, like a Son, with respect: “I cannot forgive, for I endured his iniquity for a long time.” The petitioner, who watched this with fear, completely despaired of his salvation. Then the Most Pure One stood up and wanted to fall on her knees before Christ: “I will lie at Your feet until this man receives forgiveness!” The Lord did not allow this to happen, saying that although He is God, He honors His Mother and is ready to fulfill Her prayers. The forgiven sinner rushed to kiss the wounds of the Lord, which immediately healed and the vision ended.

After reading “The Irrigated Fleece,” an unknown artist painted an icon based on the parable where a man prays to the Mother of God, calling it “Unexpected (unexpected) joy.”

The connection between the miracle and the parable is obvious: just as the parents of the dead boy did not expect to see him alive, so the sinner from the parable did not expect forgiveness from the Lord. But through the prayers of the Intercessor of the Mother of God, everyone received what they asked for, which became an “unexpected joy” for them.

Meaning of images

Interesting. The image of “Unexpected Joy” is unusual in that the Blessed Virgin and the Lord are depicted addressing a sinner and are inscribed in the interior of the temple. In terms of the type of iconography, the image of the Mother of God resembles the Ilyinsko-Chernigov one, only the royal crown on the head of the Mother of God is missing. This means Her humility in prayer to the Lord.

The Lord, depicted as a Youth, does not hold a scroll in his hand, but shows his hands with traces of sores to a kneeling sinner. The tunic has been thrown off, wounds on the rib and legs are visible. According to the Gospel, Christ received four wounds when He was crucified on the cross, and the fifth, in the rib, when the guards wanted to make sure of the death of the condemned man.

Icon “Unexpected Joy” in the temple dedicated to her in Maryina Roshcha

On old copies of the icon there is always a drawn-back curtain in the background - a symbol of the church's royal doors, the entrance to heaven, slightly opened for the sinner. The red color of the veil is a symbol of resurrection.

The sinner himself is dressed in a green chiton. Green is the color of the earthly, human world. In such clothes they depicted the Old Testament prophets, who were righteous, but did not know Divine grace, only foreseeing the coming of Christ. The praying sinner is not yet forgiven, but expects forgiveness and renewal of life.

Inscriptions on the icon

In the field under the image of the Virgin Mary there is the text of the parable, written in illegible Church Slavonic script. Usually the initial words are placed: “A certain lawless man has a daily rule of praying to the Most Holy Theotokos...”, sometimes the title “The Unexpected Joy of the Most Holy Theotokos” is written.

Radonitsa in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” in Maryina Roshcha

It is believed that the word sanctifies the image; it must be included in the composition. Due to lack of space for text, it is placed in a greatly abbreviated form, symbolizing the entire inscription. On large images the words of the sinner are sometimes written: “Oh, Lady, who did this?” and the response of the Mother of God “You and other sinners with your sins...”, in lines directed from the sinner to the Mother of God.

Location of the “Unexpected Joy” icons and miracles

Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv. Miraculous image of the 19th century. has been in the cathedral since the Great Patriotic War. The Mother of God and the Lord are depicted wearing royal crowns. Unfortunately, now the Vladimir Cathedral is in the hands of schismatics.
“The Burning Bush” in Khamovniki (before the revolution). The oldest known list was kept here. In 1838, on Easter week, he miraculously healed a woman who suffered from complete deafness. Anisya Stepanova could not even hear the bell ringing. After serving the prayer service to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy,” Anisya heard the singing of the Easter troparion and the deafness disappeared. In 1930, the temple was destroyed and the miraculous image was lost.
The Tretyakov Gallery houses a unique icon “Unexpected Joy” (1st half of the 19th century), where the main picture is surrounded by 120 small images of other miraculous icons of the Mother of God. The central image carries the main meaning: the Lord forgives sins through the prayer of the Mother of God - the Prayer Book and Intercessor for the human race.

Icon “Unexpected Joy”, private collection

Moscow, Church of Ilya the Ordinary. Here is an ancient icon in a beautiful metal frame, restored in 1959. Before the revolution, it was in one of the Kremlin churches, then the image was hidden from the renovationists. After the Great Patriotic War, “Unexpected Joy” was moved to the Church of Ilya the Ordinary. The icon's robe is completely hung with rings and crosses brought by people who received healing from prayer in front of the icon.
Maryina Roshcha, Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”. This temple was built in 1904 and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The image itself (painted in the 19th century) appeared there later; numerous decorations on it spoke of former miracles, which, unfortunately, were not recorded. A symbolic event took place in the temple in 2003. A 90-year-old naval officer approached the priest with a request for baptism. In a dream he was commanded to be baptized and wait for death. The old man endured Lent in preparation for Baptism. His death followed immediately after the completion of the Sacrament, in the temple itself.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, Ryazan. In the Transfiguration Cathedral of the monastery there is “Unexpected Joy”, which recently became famous for its miracles. The mutilated icon was found and bought at the market by Moscow resident Georgy. After some time, misfortune befell him: he was seriously injured, leading to partial paralysis. Sincere prayers before the found image bore fruit, George rose to his feet. For a long time he did not want to part with his beloved icon, but finally decided to donate it to the Transfiguration Monastery. The board and paint layer were restored, and a carved icon case was made. During the stay of “Unexpected Joy” in the monastery, several cases of healing from eye disease, cancer and drunkenness were recorded.
Holy Trinity Cathedral in Odessa. During the Great Patriotic War, the cathedral, closed by the Bolsheviks, was reopened by the occupation authorities. At this time, from nowhere, the icon “Unexpected Joy” appeared in it. It is interesting that in her name back in 1840 one of the chapels of the cathedral was consecrated. The parishioners of the temple were mainly women and children. In front of the new image of the Mother of God, they prayed for the return of their husbands and fathers from the front. Although no high-profile miracles were recorded, the icon is highly revered by Odessa residents; they pray in front of it for the military in “hot spots.”
Holy spring in the village. Zhaisk, Nizhny Novgorod region. According to legend, at this source in the 18th century. The icon “Unexpected Joy” was found. The Murom noble princes Peter and Fevronia were hiding here. At this place, the saints granted forgiveness to the residents of Murom who expelled them, just as the Most Holy Theotokos forgave the repentant sinner. The source is located in a picturesque place, with a chapel built above it.

About other Orthodox churches in Russia:

This is not a complete list of temples under the protection of the Queen of Heaven. In the 2000s, many churches were built in honor of “Unexpected Joy”; charitable institutions are named after her, and springs are consecrated. This image of the Mother of God can be found as a revered icon in other churches.

Important. “Unexpected Joy” is prayed before the image of the Mother of God in difficult life situations, when hope has dried up. During the war, mothers prayed for their sons, for whom “funerals” were received; later it turned out that the letters were sent erroneously and the soldiers returned alive.

Nothing is impossible for the mercy of the Mother of God, but first of all, before prayer, you need to remember and realize your sins, from which the wounds of the Lord bleed.

Unexpected joy symbolizes the highest miracle for Orthodox Christians, which they no longer hoped for in moments of despondency and loss of spiritual strength. It is something unexpected, unpredictable, sudden. A believer turns to the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” when hope has faded and faith is not enough.

The shrine is a vivid example of physical and spiritual rebirth, when a person, giving up pride, comes to the Mother of God to thank her for the joy she has given her. The Most Pure Mother of God with the Lord Jesus Christ himself remind man of repentance. What is the significance of the icon of the Mother of God of Unexpected Joy, how does the face help and what are the rules for pronouncing prayer in front of it, read on.

The history of the miraculous image

The history of the appearance of the icon “Unexpected Joy” can be divided into two parts: the first is the appearance of the image of the Most Holy One with the Infant Christ to one of the ancient sinners; the second is the writing of a divine image.

The verbal image of the Saint was brought to life by the wonderful Russian saint Demetrius of Rostov in his work “The Irrigated Fleece.” He told in the book a story about a man who was greatly tormented by sinful passion - presumably fornication. The sinner knew that he was violating church laws, but, being a highly moral person, he constantly came to the face of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” to pray. He asked to forgive his sins, not to punish him for his weakness.

One day the man was again about to commit a deliberate sinful act, but before doing so he decided to pray at the image. He felt sincere repentance, tried to justify his destructive passion and asked the Most Holy One to keep him from rash actions. When the sinner was already leaving the shrine, he suddenly saw how the image of the Mother of God turned to him and looked at him. At the same time, blood flowed from the wrists, ankles and side of the Infant Christ. The man was overcome with confusion and began to tremble. He asked the face: “Who did this to you, Mistress?” The sinner heard the Holy Mother’s answer that this is done to her by those who consciously follow the wrong path, committing sinful deeds. Each time the Jews crucify her son with their actions, but at the same time they want mercy and forgiveness from her.

The man repented and began to ask the Mother to forgive his actions. “Beg,” the Orthodox Christian began to repent. During the sinner's prayer, the Mother of God turned to her Son. The Infant Christ accepted the man’s petitions, forgave him, but insisted that he kiss his sores. At the moment when the forgiven one kissed the wounds on the body of Christ, he experienced joy and relief. The man received a chance from the Lord to change his life, to be cleansed from spiritual torment. Having found unexpected joy, he began to live according to God's laws.

This story did not have a visual embodiment for a long time. The image of this divine scene appeared only at the beginning of the 18th century and represented an entire iconographic composition. The icon in the lower left corner depicts a man kneeling before the image of the Virgin Mary and praying to her with the Child. Under the scene is usually written the beginning of the story by Dmitry of Rostov, the words “A certain lawless man...”, or part of the prayer to the face of “Unexpected Joy”. On the image are placed in the form of a ribbon the question of a sinner man to the Mother of God, the words of her answer, as well as what the Infant of God said. One of the characteristic features of the face is that the Most Holy One and her Child are depicted facing the petitioner.

The “Unexpected Joy” icon belongs to the “Guide” or “Hodegetria” type, that is, the one that leads to the Holy One. In this case, the Mother of God is represented as the leader of people to Christ. It is her prayer for the suffering Orthodox that has the greatest significance before the Lord. She becomes a guide, which is why sinners first turn to the Mother of God.

The veneration of the divine face takes place on May 14, December 22. The main shrine is kept in the Moscow Church of Elijah the Prophet. Several lists were copied from it, which have the same miraculous properties as the original.

How does an icon help, and who can turn to it?

A person in his life tends to follow an illusory hope. His essence is that he does not notice the small joys that make up his everyday life. Many people forget to sincerely and openly thank each day for the happiness of living, do not pay attention to loved ones, and demand excessive material wealth. A person elevates petty things that obscure his new day into a cult of obsession. The meaning of existence is instantly crossed out; an Orthodox person, captive of his emotions, lives in sin.

The meaning of the face “Unexpected joy” is in hope and admiration for God’s will; it also speaks of renunciation of immoral deeds and sinful thoughts. Every day a person should be grateful, peaceful and grateful.

It is difficult to pray in front of an icon, forgetting pride, envy, anger and bitterness. After all, these feelings overwhelm people, but the Mother of God teaches differently. This is daily work that requires the pacification of bad thoughts and criminal acts. People are weak - they are prone to sin, but the Intercessor allows them to receive forgiveness and open the way to the right path.

What is asked of the holy image “Unexpected Joy”:

About inner balance, spiritual strength that allows you to resist worldly temptations.
About the fulfillment of the most secret dream, which they no longer hoped to realize. We are talking exclusively about intangible things - forgiveness, repentance, saving a lost soul.
Ask the face for healing of diseases, especially for diseases of the heart system and hearing loss. In this case, heart disease and deafness are associated with a loss of moral guidelines that manifest themselves at the level of the body.
The Mother of God and the Lord help those who are looking for their loved ones. With a thin thread, the Family brings lost relatives to each other, restores trust in married couples with care. Many women turn to the image when their men are at war.
The icon protects pregnant women. This helps them bear healthy children and give birth without complications.
The meaning of the image lies in guidance on the right path and admonition. Therefore, parents whose children have gotten out of hand can turn to the Saint so that she can show them their way. There are cases when the most notorious immoral offspring realized their mistakes and confessed.
The Mother of God resolves disputes, smooths out the sharp edges of conflicts, reconciles those who have long lost hope of forgiveness, and turns failures to a happy ending.

If a person asked sincerely, from a pure heart, freeing his thoughts from the material and mortal, then the Mother of God and the Lord will definitely help him. They will give such joy, the most amazing, which will become a reward for the suffering experienced and the repentance gained.

In 1683, Saint Dmitry of Rostov, the wonderworker, created a wonderful work - one of the most amazing books in Russian patristic literature, “The Irrigated Fleece.” He wrote it in honor of the Most Holy Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, inspired by the miraculous healings that occurred under the icon of the Mother of God in the Chernigov St. Elias Monastery in the 17th century. There, before each miracle of healing, tears appeared on the image of the Mother of God. Saint Demetrius compared this event with the Old Testament story about how the Divine dew sprinkled the fleece through the prayer of Gideon 1. Among the 24 miracles, one is described that inspired the icon painters of the 18th century to paint an icon dedicated to the miracle of the Mother of God, of which the Intercessor showed many to the world, and each of them can be called an unexpected joy. But the icon with the name “Unexpected Joy” has its own miraculous story.

Dmitry Rostovsky begins the story of this miracle with the words: “A certain lawless man...” A certain sinful man who led a very vicious lifestyle, nevertheless was heartily attached to the Queen of Heaven and felt reverent love before Her. And although he could not deny himself sin - apparently, he was too weak-willed, he prayed daily before Her icon and said in prayer the words of the Archangel Gabriel, which he said to the Virgin Mary in his appearance before Her: “Rejoice, full of grace!”, when he brought Her the news about Her future Motherhood.

It so happened that, getting ready for a sinful task, he stood in front of the icon to pray before leaving. Then he felt a strange heart and body trembling, the image on the icon seemed to move, breathe, and the sinner saw with horror how terrible wounds opened on the arms and legs and on the right side of the Baby sitting on Her lap, from which blood flowed in streams.

The man fell in front of the icon with a cry of horror, asking the Mother of God who did this. To which he was given a sorrowful answer from the Mother of God that sinners, just like him, day after day crucify and crucify Her Son with their sins, and they hypocritically call Her merciful, insulting Her maternal love with their iniquities.

Hearing this, the sinner, in whom, apparently, a particle of faith and purity remained, prayed to the Queen of Heaven, calling Her Lady, so that the measure of his sins would not exceed Her goodness and mercy. He began to pray to the Mother of God that She would intercede for him before the Son.

For the first time, the Lady turned to Her Son, but He refused Her to atone for the sinful deeds of the intercessor.

The second prayer appeal to the Mother of God by St. Dmitry of Rostov is described at length and very instructively. In the icon of the Mother of God, depicted inside the icon “Unexpected Joy”, the one in front of which a sinner is depicted kneeling before Her image, we see Hodegetria, with the Child sitting on Her knees. As the saint writes, the Intercessor seated the Son separately and wanted to fall on her face before Him, but the Son exclaimed, stopping Her: “What do you want to do?” The Mother of God replied that she would lie at the feet of Her Son until He forgives the repentant sinner. To this, the Lord told Her that the Law commands the Son to honor the Mother, but the truth demands that the One who issued the Law Himself honors it and fulfills It. He said that He is the Son of His Mother, and therefore must honor Her by listening to her prayers to Him. Therefore, let it be as Mother wants. The sinner will be forgiven, but let him first kiss His wounds.

Shocked by what he saw, the sinner stood up, joyfully kissed the wounds of the Child, they immediately closed, and the vision stopped. Here he experienced both awe at the greatness of what he saw and great joy, from which he burst into tears of cleansing tears. Again he fell to the icon, praying to the Most Pure One and Her son to preserve the gift of seeing their sins and begging for pardon. From that hour, the soul of this man turned away from sin, and he began to lead a virtuous and godly life. It should be noted that the saint does not indicate what kind of sin accompanied the life of this person, leaving the reader to see his own sins and vices in himself and to pray with faith and strength for healing from them.

What a miracle happened

Starting from the 18th century, when the first copy of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” was created, a variety of miracles occurred from these icons - the sick, especially those who had lost their hearing, were healed, and with the return of spiritual hearing, physical hearing also returned. Prayers in front of this icon helped desperate parents whose children had lost their way and went, as they say, along a crooked path.

Many miraculous healings occur in front of the icons of the Lady, but the most magnificent, undoubtedly, is the healing of the human soul, its salvation through a deep spiritual change.

We are just people. And they are not sinless. Let's admit it. But if we are able to see our reflection in the figure of the sinner on the icon “Unexpected Joy”, and, seeing ourselves from the outside, we begin to understand what a disastrous situation we are in, this is not a disaster. This is a miracle. And it’s wonderful if suddenly a person realizes that he is doing something that urgently requires prayer for himself, following the example of the sinner from the story of St. Demetrius, a petition for the salvation of his soul, because otherwise there will be no joy in life, much less unexpected, like the Lord's grace, which is given like this - unexpectedly... And the Mother of God again and again for each of those who are ready for a change of soul and desired it, is ready to fall on her face before her son. Queen of Heaven - just think about it! – he will again decide to pray for our sins on his knees. And when the miracle of human insight occurs, Divine history within history will be repeated, lifting the veil of the true, as they should be among us, created in His image and likeness, the perfect relationship of Mother and Son and the relationship of the Son to His limitless power, paradoxically limited by His own Law .

Meaning of the icon

By type, the icon “Unexpected Joy” refers to Hodegetria - a guide to Christ; all ancient images are executed in the Byzantine style. A sinner is kneeling in front of the icon, holding out his hands to it. Sometimes from his lips, in the form of ribbons, icon painters depicted the text of prayers addressed to Her. Under the image of the icon of the Mother of God inside the general icon are the initial words from the description of this miracle in the “Irrigated Fleece” - “A certain lawless man...”

Hodegetria “Unexpected Joy” once again testifies that everyone who sincerely wants to be forgiven will be forgiven. Moreover, in the narrative of St. Dmitry of Rostov it is said that the repentant sinner prayed for the gift of a vision of his sins, and this does not mean that he was going to lead a vicious life again. The saint shows us that every person is a sinner - such is our dual nature, but if sin suddenly, unfortunately, due to human weakness, happens, then, seeing it in person, we get the opportunity to repent and, perhaps, complete repentance, which will become another the stage of salvation in the spirit.

And other! The sinner was enlightened in spirit when he saw that the Mother of God was ready to fall on her knees before the Son for every sinner who cried out to Her for mercy. However, this is not the only shock in this amazing story. The height of the relationship between Mother and Son is a stunning example of the true - already heavenly! – the relationship between Mother and Son, which gives us an understanding of why the Lady is our first Intercessor and Intercessor to the Lord. This is how you should treat your Mother, how to honor Her. The Lord Himself, the Almighty King, cannot fail to fulfill Her prayer, because the petition comes from the Mother, whose request He cannot resist only because She is His Mother.

How many conclusions can we draw for ourselves! Such a reassessment of values, an audit of the soul, is periodically simply necessary. From the events that became the inspiration for painting the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, by learning about the icon and its history, we are enriched morally. Comparing our own life in our family, we see: this is how children should respect their parents and how parents should respect the status of their grown children. To a status that is not only social – the status of an adult who must be spared from parental tyranny, which often drags on for a very long time.

We are further given an example of reverence for the law, first of all, by the legislators themselves - another sore subject in our society. Here it is, the highest example of the attitude towards the execution by those in power of the laws they themselves publish. The law established by the Lord commands us to honor the Mother, and since He established this Law, then first of all the Lawgiver Himself is obliged to follow it. Christ stands as a model of a true attitude towards power; He Himself is evidence of the exceptional decency of the Ruler, which is so difficult to meet on earth.
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1 “Rejoice, watered fleece, hedgehog Gideon, Virgin, before seen” - akathist to the icon “Unexpected joy”. The sign of wool and dew, given by God to one of the judges of Israel, Gideon. Old Testament. Book of Judges of Israel. Ch. 6. pp. 36–40.

Celebration: December 9 (old style) - December 22 (new style), May 1 (old style) - May 14 (new style)

The ancient miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” - one of the shrines of Moscow is located in the Church of the Prophet Elijah the Ordinary. The time and place of origin of the prototype are unknown.

Currently, the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” enjoys great veneration among believers; copies of the image are in almost every Orthodox church, although the distribution of the holy icon in Moscow began in the middle of the 19th century.

The Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is named in memory of the healing of a certain sinner through the holy icon through the prayers of the Most Pure Mother of God.

The story of this icon is told by St. Demetrius of Rostov in his work “Irrigated Fleece.” According to legend, one robber, spending his life in sins, however, had the habit of praying for a long time before the image of the Mother of God, asking for help in his affairs.
Each time he began his prayer with the Archangel’s greeting: “Rejoice, O Blessed One!” One day, as he was about to go on a sinful deed, during prayer he was attacked by a sudden strong fear, and he saw that the Mother of God and the Child appeared before him alive. Christ's wounds opened on his arms, legs and side, and blood began to flow from them, as during the Crucifixion. The robber was horrified and exclaimed: “Oh, Lady! Who did this? The Mother of God answered him: “You and other sinners; With your sins you again crucify My Son, like the ancient Jews.” The amazed robber began to pray to the Mother of God to have mercy on him.
Then, before his eyes, She began to ask Christ to forgive his sins, but He refused. Then the Most Holy Theotokos came down from her throne and wanted to fall at the feet of the Child. “What do you want to do, O My Mother!” - exclaimed the Son. “I will remain at Your feet along with this sinner,” She answered, “until You forgive his sins.” Christ said: “The law commands every son to honor his mother; and justice requires that the legislator be also the executor of the law. I am Your Son and You are My Mother. I must honor You by doing what You ask Me to do. Be it according to Your desire. Now his sins are forgiven for Your sake. And as a sign of forgiveness, let him kiss My wounds.” Then the shocked sinner stood up and touched with his lips the wounds of Christ open on the icon. With this, the vision ended, and it was not in vain for the man: from that time on, he corrected himself and began to live pleasing to God.
Shocked to the depths of his soul, with a contrite heart, the man prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos to be his Intercessor before God and Intercessor for the forgiveness of his sins. That man realized the depth of his fall and, with the help of God, left his sinful life. Until the end of his days, with tears and gratitude, he prayed to the Mother of God, through whose intercession he received the unexpected joy of repentance and forgiveness of sins from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This image, very revered in Orthodox Moscow, can be found in almost every church in the city.

By type, the icon “Unexpected Joy” refers to Hodegetria - a guide to Christ. It depicts a sinner kneeling in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and stretching out his hands to her with a plea for mercy. Sometimes from his lips, in the form of ribbons, icon painters depicted the text of prayers addressed to Her. It turns out an icon within an icon: the Mother of God holds Her Son on her left hand, and the Infant Christ raised His small hands up. The face of the Mother of God is turned to the sinner. Under the image there is an inscription outlining the story of the sinner’s salvation...

Hodegetria “Unexpected Joy” once again testifies that everyone who sincerely wants to be forgiven will be forgiven. Moreover, the story about the icon says that the repentant sinner prayed for the gift of a vision of his sins, and this does not mean that he was going to lead a vicious life again. Any person is a sinner - such is our dual nature, but if sin suddenly occurs due to human weakness, then, seeing it in person, we get the opportunity to repent and, possibly, complete repentance, which will become another step of salvation in the spirit.

This image has many lists distributed throughout Russia. He is glorified for his miracles, we are revered and loved everywhere, because Unexpected Joy is the Mother of God Herself, immeasurably loving, persistently in prayer before Her Divine Son for the entire human race, not leaving people without hope for forgiveness of the most serious sins, giving the unexpected joy of meeting and faith , love.

Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

Many who with faith and love resort to the help of the Most Holy Theotokos receive through this icon the unexpected joy of forgiveness of sins and grace-filled consolation. This icon awakens in every believer a comforting faith in the help of the Queen of Heaven and, through Her, in the mercy of the Lord in all our affairs, as well as in prayer for children.

Days of celebration of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” - May 14 And December 22.

Source: hram-troicy.prihod.ru

Prayer of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Unexpected Joy

O Most Holy Virgin, All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, Patroness of the city of Moscow, Faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who live in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Accept this prayer song from us, unworthy Thy servants, offered to You, and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Thy honorable icon every day, You did not despise, but You bestowed unexpected joy on him and You bowed down Your Son with many and zealous intercessions towards Him. for the forgiveness of this sinner and erring one, so even now do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, and implore Thy Son and our God, and grant to all of us, who with faith and tenderness bow before Thy celibate image, unexpected joy for each need: to sinners , mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; for those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; for those who find themselves in troubles and embitterment - a complete abundance of these; for the faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; to those who live in joy and abundance - unceasing thanksgiving to the Benefactor; to those in need - mercy; those who are in illness and long illness and abandoned by doctors - unexpected healing and strengthening; for those who were waiting for the mind from illness - the return and renewal of the mind; those departing into eternal and endless life - memory of death, tenderness and contrition for sins, a cheerful spirit and firm hope in the mercy of the Judge. O Most Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor Your honorable name, and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession; abide in piety, purity and honest living until their last death in goodness; create evil good things; guide the erring one on the right path; Make progress in every good work that is pleasing to Your Son; Destroy every evil and ungodly deed; in bewilderment and difficult and dangerous circumstances, those who find invisible help and admonition were sent down from Heaven; save from temptations, seductions and destruction; protect and preserve from evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; floating float; for those who travel, travel; Be the Nourisher for those in need and hunger; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, provide cover and refuge; Give clothes to the naked; for those offended and unjustly persecuted - intercession; invisibly justify the slander, slander and blasphemy of those who suffer; expose slanderers and slanderers before everyone; Grant unforeseen reconciliation to those who are bitterly at odds, and to all of us for each other love, peace and piety and health with long life. Preserve marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses who exist in enmity and division, die, unite me to each other and establish an indestructible union of love for them; to mothers and children giving birth, grant permission quickly; raise the babies; For young people to be chaste, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, instruct them in the fear of God, abstinence and hard work; Protect from domestic strife and enmity of half-bloods with peace and love. Be the Mother of motherless orphans, turn them away from every vice and filth and teach them everything that is good and pleasing to God, and bring those seduced into sin and impurity, having revealed the filth of sin, from the abyss of destruction. Be the Comforter and Helper of widows, be the rod of old age, deliver us all from sudden death without repentance, and grant us all the Christian end of our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the terrible Judgment of Christ. Having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, with the Angels and all the saints, make them live, begging for the mercy of Thy Son to be merciful to those who passed away by sudden death, and for all the departed who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Thy Son, Thou thyself be a ceaseless and warm Prayer-maker and Intercessor May everyone in Heaven and on earth lead You as a steadfast and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and, leading, glorify You and Your Son, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Troparion, tone 4:
Today, faithful people spiritually triumph, glorifying the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race and flowing to Her Most Pure Image, we cry out: Oh, Merciful Lady Theotokos, grant us unexpected joy, burdened with many sins and sorrows, and deliver us from all evil, praying to Your Son, Christ Our God, save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 6:
There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope, unless You, Lady, help us, we hope in You and we boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.

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