#silver orthodox icons

[liferelics]

[andijaart]

+++ 🙏🏻God Bless🕊️ +++

Large Heavy Russian Greek Orthodox Body Crucifix Necklace Cross W/ Prayer 925 Sterling Silver

💫 International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross

May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

[globalworship]

Tree of Life (icon by Br. Robert Lentz)

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ARTIST: Br. Robert Lentz, OFM

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

In the first centuries after Jesus’ death, he was never depicted suffering on the cross. When artists finally began depicting him on the cross, he was shown either in a peaceful repose or as a king in glory. Other medieval crosses were studded with precious jewels. A third type of cross was the Tree of Life, filled with vegetation and harkening back to the Green Man revered in the old religions of northern Europe. Realistic crucifixes that graphically depict Jesus in his death throes were an innovation of the late Middle Ages. In this icon Jesus is the Tree of Life. He shines at the center of four arms that stretch to the four sacred directions -- reminiscent of the Native American medicine wheel. He is the center of creation. Exotic vegetation coils from him, or towards him, depending on one’s perspective. He is the fulfillment of the ancient Green Man of old Europe, as well as the vine spoken of in John’s Gospel. He is the World Tree, Yggdrasil, the pole of the universe, upon which shamans and other mystics travel to experience the divine. Having become part of creation, and unjustly executed, he is the advocate of all those who have been trampled underfoot. Slain on the cross, but risen, he declares that God’s greatest miracle is to bring life and light even out of injustice and death.

Information is from this webpage, which has prints you can buy: https://trinitystores.com/collections/tree-of-life-rltol

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Artist bio:

Robert Lentz is a Franciscan friar whose innovative icons are known throughout the world. He is a member of Holy Name Province, and is stationed in Silver Spring, Maryland at Holy Name College. Besides painting many hours each day, he teaches apprentices, writes, and conducts workshops on art and spirituality throughout the United States. Brother Robert is active in promoting dialog between Muslims and Christians. He is also committed to the indigenization of Byzantine iconography in the various cultures embraced by the Church.

Brother Robert was born in rural Colorado in 1946. His grandparents emigrated from tsarist Russia in the early 1900's. He studied Byzantine iconography by apprenticing himself to a master painter from the school of Photios Kontoglou in a Greek Orthodox monastery founded from Mount Athos.

His icons reflect his experiences among the poor in this country and in the Third World, as well as his Franciscan and Russian roots. They are filled with bright colors and often depict contemporary subjects. While always striving to remain true to the essence of Byzantine iconography, he adapts traditional conventions in order to minister better to the emerging Church. His icons remain transcendent expressions of the ancient Christian Tradition, and they invite us into communion with God and the saints.

Text above is from this webpage, where you can browse dozens of his icons: https://trinitystores.com/collections/br-robert-lentz-ofm

[orthodoxydaily]

Icon,Saints&Reading: Thursday, July 25, 2024

july 12_ july 25

THE ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD, NAMED "THREE-HANDED" FROM HILANDAR MONASTERY , MT ATHOS

This icon is the exact copy of the original located in Hilandar. It had been offered by the Serbian church to an historical Russian church San Francisco, California

The Iconoclastic heresy swept through the Byzantine Empire in the seventh century. Emperor Leo III the Isaurian ascended the throne and initiated persecutions against the veneration of icons. Despite being under Muslim rule, the Caliphate of Damascus allowed Orthodox Christians freedom in their faith. Priests, monks, and laypeople fled there to escape the heretical emperor’s persecution.

The chief minister of Caliph Yazid II ibn Abd al-Malik was Mansur ibn Sarjun, a devout Christian who enjoyed the caliph’s complete trust. The monarch was not troubled by his advisor’s faith — Mansur’s father had also been an Orthodox Christian and had faithfully served the Damascene court. One day, Sergius (the name of Mansur’s father) encountered a monk at a slave market, shedding tears in deep sorrow as he had no one to inherit his profound knowledge and spiritual experience. After buying the monk’s freedom, Sergius tasked him with teaching his children, Mansur and Cosmas, his adopted son. These two would later become illustrious figures of the Orthodox Church — Saint John of Damascus and Saint Cosmas of Maiuma.

The monk’s pupils received much wisdom, as demonstrated by Mansur ibn Sarjun’s influential work, “Three Apologies Against Those Who Decry Holy Icons.” The Damascene official zealously used his vast knowledge and talent to combat Iconoclasm. He sent letters to his many acquaintances in Byzantium, using Holy Scripture and patristic traditions to affirm the correctness of icon veneration. His writings, secretly copied and shared among individuals, fueled Orthodox believers’ faith and shed light on the Iconoclast heretics’ mistakes.

Eventually, Mansur’s activities came to unnerve even the Iconoclast emperor. The heretics then resorted to their favourite tactic — deception. This time, however, their lies were not about doctrinal matters but aimed at their defender’s reputation. The Damascene minister faced slander before the caliph, with accusations of conspiracy and treason against him.

A scribe forged a letter in Mansur’s handwriting, addressed to Leo III, supposedly promising to surrender Damascus to the Byzantines. This deceitful message was presented to Caliph Yazid II by the cunning emperor-heretic. Unaware of Leo’s malicious plot, the caliph chose not to investigate further. He brutally punished his loyal servant by sentencing Mansur to have his right hand cut off, which he then displayed in the marketplace.

According to tradition, Mansur pleaded with the caliph to return his severed hand. With tears streaming down his face, he prayed fervently before an ancient icon of the Mother of God. Exhausted from moral anguish and physical pain, he finally fell asleep. In his dream, the Holy Theotokos appeared to him and said: “Behold, your hand is healed; do not grieve any longer and diligently labour with this hand.” When Mansur awoke and unwrapped the cloth binding his wrist, only a red scar remained as a reminder of his wound. In gratitude to his miraculous Healer, Mansur composed the beautiful hymn “All Creation Rejoices in You.” To commemorate his miraculous healing, he attached a silver replica of his hand to the icon before which he had prayed. From then on, this image of the Mother of God became known as “Of the Three-Hands.”

News of Mansur's healing quickly spread throughout Damascus. Convinced by the miracle of his minister’s innocence, the caliph sought Mansur’s forgiveness and urged him to return to his governmental duties. However, Mansur’s heart now belonged solely to God. Henceforth, he would dedicate all his strength and abilities to serving Him. Taking the icon that had bestowed healing upon him, Mansur withdrew to Palestine, where he took monastic vows as John. Tradition holds that this was at the Lavra of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified.

The icon remained in Saint Sabbas’s monastery until the thirteenth century. Before he died in 532 AD, Saint Sabbas bequeathed his staff for a royal pilgrim named Sabbas, a great archbishop and man of God, to receive upon visiting the monastery from a distant western land in the future. Seven hundred years later, Saint Sabbas, the first Archbishop of Serbia, fulfilled this prophecy during his pilgrimage to holy sites in Palestine. The monks presented him with Saint Sabbas’s blessing and gave him two miraculous icons: The Mother of God “Milk-Giver” and “Of the Three Hands.”

Therefore, the icon made its journey to Serbia in the thirteenth century. In the fourteenth century, during the Turkish invasion, pious custodians placed it on a donkey and released it into God’s care to prevent desecration. With the precious cargo on its back, the donkey trod unhindered to the Holy Mountain of Athos...continue reading @convent St Elizabeth

St VERONICA, THE WOMAN WITH AN ISSUE OF BLOOD WHO WAS HEALED BY THE SAVIOUR

The account of the woman with an issue of blood, who had the unusual name of Veronica, may be found in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew (9:20-22), in Saint Mark's Gospel (5:25-34), and also in Saint Luke's Gospel (8:43-49).

The Synaxaristes of Saint Νikόdēmos of the Holy Mountain states that this Saint was from the city of Paneada. When the Lord healed her issue of blood, she was very grateful, because for twelve years she had "suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and nothing had helped, but instead she became worse" (Mark 5:26).

She had heard of Christ, and decided to go to Him, believing that she would be healed merely by touching His garment. When she did this, the Savior felt that power had gone forth from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked who had touched His garment. His disciples were puzzled by the question, since many people were pressing Him on all sides. Saint Veronica came forward and fell down before Him in fear and trembling, and admitted what she had done. The Lord said, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction" (Mark 5:34).

In her gratitude, she made a statue of Him and placed it in front of her house, where everyone could venerate it. A healing plant grew at the base of the statue, which was able to cure various diseases.

Later, Saint Veronica became a member of the early Church. After living a life of holiness, she surrendered her soul to God.

Roman Catholics venerate a saint named Veronica, who is said to have wiped the Savior's face with her veil as He carried His Cross to Golgotha. She is not the saint who is commemorated by the Orthodox Church. That cloth was called the "Veronica," or true image (from vera and iconica) of Christ's face. Saint Gregory of Tours uses this word (Vita Patrum chapter 12) for an image (see the Greek word εικόνα). This incident, is not mentioned in the Gospels.

Some uninformed iconographers confuse these two women and depict our Saint Veronica holding a cloth with the imprint of Christ's face, which is not in accordance with Orthodox Tradition. On August 16, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Image not made by hands, the cloth which Christ sent to King Abgar with the imprint of His Face.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

ROMANS 15:17-29

17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient- 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, 21 but as it is written:"To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand." 22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

MATTHEW 12:46-13:3

46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You." 48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.

1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow...

[f001onthehill]

unusual OC associations

Ilya Voronin

Not tagged by anyone this time round but I had to do one for Ilya as well...

tagging: @messerkampf @skullchicken @visixv @morganlefaye79 @tessa1972 ...and YOU. :-) (for any fandom you want :-))

seasoning: pink pepper

weather: late autumn fog

colour: black, beige, silver, copper 

sky: a pale ghost of the Sun just barely visible high in the grey November skies

magic power: healing, blessing

house plant: he loves gardening, don't make him choose (OK, bamboo; or maybe strelitzia)

weapon: ideally none but if diplomacy fails... KRIME gloves or Han dynasty style jian

subject: History, philosophy

social media: something like insta to show off his calligraphies and promote his T-shirt designs

make-up product: pencil eyeliner (dark reddish brown or black)

candy: sour lollipops

fear: Actually, Hell. 

ice cube shape: nuggets (easier to munch on)

method of long-distance travelling: some form of public transport, usually

art style: Orthodox icon; Chinese landscape painting

mythological creature: fext

piece of stationery: calligraphy pen/brush

3 emojis: ☦️🙏☯️

celestial body: Polaris

[congregamus]

Decadence

RPDR Spoiler warning

The "Golden Age" of RuPaul's Drag Race, such as it is described, did not happen simultaneous with clock time, as can be confirmed by the people who were present for it. The described "Golden Age" as it was directly experienced during clock time, is found quite wanting.

The undisputed "Golden Age" of RPDR spans a very specific period of time to include Seasons 4, 5, and 6, airing between 2012 - 2014. However, some might be willing to expand the category (or perhaps, if prompted, agree to admit a least a "Silver Age") that extends through Season 9, the finale of which provided us with the iconic, series-defining lipsync win by Sasha Velour. It aired on June 23, 2017, officially closing the category at least as far as "orthodox" opinion, such as it may exist, goes. This period also includes the fan-favorite iterations of All Stars 2 (2016), which, at least anecdotally including everyone I know at all invested in the show, is necessary for inclusion in any "Golden Age" discussion of the franchise.

2017 was a long time ago. As such, we are deep into the decadence (decline) of RPDR, even though it is still pretty enjoyable as an ongoing media franchise in multiple international spin-offs, with All Stars 7 (2022) being a particular pinnacle.

Last night, Angeria Paris van Michaels was crowned winner of All Stars 9. Angeria offered so many incredible looks, characters, and jokes, enough and in such high quality, that her entry into this parade could have easily deposed Sharon Needles, the first queen of the "Golden Age".

And yet, Angeria, who absolutely deserves her win — (any of the contestants deserved to win, except, in my extremely subjective opinion, Jorgeous, and no do not @ me) — is getting dragged for not being Plastique Tiara. Which is to say, light skinned, more "traditionally" beautiful, and who has passing realness, even if Plastique does not ID (so far as I know) as trans.

I bow to Plastique. She is worthy of all the accolades heaped upon her. But she did not win, and her fans (and Roxxxy's fans too, to a lesser degree), are showing once again why the RPDR fandom cannot have nice things.

To be fair, it is not just RPDR; it is anything in which all levels of the society participate. Anything unlucky enough to garner the attention of most of the (American) public, we rend to fleshy pieces in a great, decadent feast and revel in such unholy festival as renders the remains unrecognizable, fit only for refuse. Because this is the national character of the American citizen, and we are a decadent people.

Surprisingly, at least to long-time visitors of this padded cell, I offer no judgement upon us, no prophetic call to repentance. How could I, when to do so would be in some ways to negate the decadence of drag itself? Never I.

I do urge us to remember that the "Golden Age" never existed, will never exist; however, in paying attention to what is now, what is real, we will find where the actual gold is, and as shitty and as cliché as it might be to admit, it is nowhere but here.

[westernriteorthodoxrosary]

Synaxis of the Icon of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos

Reading from the Synaxarion:

The great defender of the Orthodox Faith against the Iconoclasts, our righteous Father John of Damascus (See Dec. 4), was slandered to the Caliph of Damascus by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Isaurian (reigned 717-741). Saint John was accused of sedition and his right hand was cut off. Having asked for the severed hand, Saint John passed the night in great pain, praying for the aid of the most holy Theotokos. Awaking from sleep, he found that his hand had been miraculously restored, with only a red scar about the wrist where it had been severed, as a testimony to the wonderous healing. In thanksgiving, he had a silver hand attached to the icon to commemorate this great miracle. On becoming a monk in the lavra of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified in the Holy Land, John brought the icon with him. There it remained until the thirteenth century, when it was given to Saint Sabbas of Serbia (see Jan. 14), who brought it to Serbia, where it remained for a time. Later, it was miraculously trans ported by an unguided donkey that carried it to the Serbian Monastery of Hilandar on the Holy Mountain, Athos, where it remains to this day.

Apolytikion of Synaxis of the Icon of Most Holy Lady Theotokos in the Fourth Tone

From the Palestine, godly-minded Sabbas brought unto us thy ven'rable icon, which is known as Of the Three Hands, O all-holy Bride of God. Wherefore, since the monks of Hilandar now possess it as their boast, they send up hymns of praise and thanksgiving, while crying out with fervour: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace.

Kontakion of Synaxis of the Icon of Most Holy Lady Theotokos in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Come, let us worship the famed icon of the Queen of all called: Of the Three Hands, for the fearful marvel which it wrought; and with fervent faith and longing, come, let us cry out: O pure Maiden, keep thy monastery and thy flock from all dangers, tribulations, and adversities, for we cry to thee: Rejoice, thou help and defence of all.

[salixsociety]

💿 Do you collect anything? 🕯 Favorite candle scents? 🌟 What are your passions?

I do collect things! It's a bad habit at this point, tbh. I collect:

Mineral and gem specimens (and I rock hound, so I also have an inordinate amount of beach rocks and shells)

Orthodox icons and other christian paraphernalia (medallions, relics, etc)

Antiques, specifically cultural antiques from my region and silver

Paper ephemera both antique and not that I use for journaling

Books about my culture(s), especially those rare, interesting, antique, etc

Jewelry, only silver and other grey metals though, and gems

Music!

And on a much smaller and less consistent scale I also collect journals, card decks, and trinkets in general.

I've never had a scented candle before! So I couldn't say what my favorite candle scent is.

I find it hard to list only a few passions, I think of myself as a passionate person and I try to be deeply invested into everything in my life! But I'd say my greatest passions are my magical work, ethnobotany, animals, and art!

[rich4you]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Antique Russian Silver 84 1800‘s Travel Icon Virgin Of Vladimir.

[jnrmto]

This is an icon of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. It is made out of 950 silver. To be totally honest, I think the gold portions are just painted and not made of gold. The Icon is from Greece and it is very important to me because I am an Orthodox Christian and it sits on the nightstand next to my bed. It serves religious purposes in my life.

[liferelics]

Orthodox Icon The Vladimir Mother of God. The Christian icon. Gold and silver Plated .999. version/Coloured version. Handmade. Gift box.

[andijaart]

+++ 🙏🏻God Bless🕊️ +++

Christian Greek Orthodox Baptist Silver 925 Prayer Body Crucifix St George Warrior Icon

💫 International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross

May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

[hzaidan]

01 Religious Icon, A Russian icon of the Kazan Mother of God with gilded silver oklad, with footnotes #33

Our Lady of Kazan, also called Mother-of-God of Kazan, was a holy icon of the highest stature within the Russian Orthodox Church, representing the Virgin Mary as the protector and patroness of the city of Kazan…

Please follow link for full post

Art,Paintings,Bible,Realism,Religion,Icons,biography,History,Zaidan,Jesus,Our Lady of Kazan,Mythology,Classical,Icon,footnotes,Christ,

Icon #Bible #biography #History #Jesus #mythology #Paintings #religion #Saints #Zaidan #footnote #fineart #Calvary #Christ

[globalworship]

“Japanese Christ, the Pearl of Great Price” icon

Robert Lentz is a Franciscan friar whose innovative icons are known throughout the world. He is also committed to the indigenization of Byzantine iconography in the various cultures embraced by the Church.

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ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

When missionaries first arrived in Japan in the 16th century, they presented Christian theology with European trappings. They also encouraged Japanese converts to abandon their native culture and adopt Western ways. As a result, Japanese authorities suspected that the converts were foreign agents and unleashed a brutal persecution, driving any converts who survived into hiding.

While Christianity returned to Japan under new laws of religious freedom in the 1870’s, it has always remained the faith of a tiny minority. The novelist Shusaku Endo became a Catholic as a child. In the second half of the 20th century, he wrote a series of novels, struggling to reconcile this religion from Europe with his Japanese identity.

He once described Catholicism as a symphony rather than a solo. He said that it could only be a true religion if it found room for a Japanese contribution. His major novels, Silence and The Samurai, are major efforts to discover that Japanese contribution.

This icon uses Japanese symbols for compassion and enlightenment to describe the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus sits on a glorious lotus blossom, in the posture of a bodhisattva, just as in ancient Greek icons he is depicted in the robes of a philosopher like Plato or Aristotle. As the Greek artists made no effort to depict Jesus as a Palestinian Jew, but made him one of their own, so he is depicted here as a Japanese man. As they freely gave him attributes of Greek gods and Roman emperors, without fear of adding him to the pantheon of another religion, here Buddhist attributes surround Jesus, with no intention of making him Buddhist.

The inscription on the left side of the icon reads “Jesus Christ.” That on the right reads “The Pearl of Great Price.” Jesus and his Gospel are the pearl of great price for all of humanity. Just as we translate the words of the Gospel into other languages, so we must find ways to describe Jesus, the Word himself, with symbols that make sense to non-Europeans.

Buy the icon as prints or cards at https://trinitystores.com/collections/japanese-christ-the-pearl-of-great-price-rlpgp which is the source of the information above.

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Artist bio:

Robert Lentz is a Franciscan friar whose innovative icons are known throughout the world. He is a member of Holy Name Province, and is stationed in Silver Spring, Maryland at Holy Name College. Besides painting many hours each day, he teaches apprentices, writes, and conducts workshops on art and spirituality throughout the United States. Brother Robert is active in promoting dialog between Muslims and Christians. He is also committed to the indigenization of Byzantine iconography in the various cultures embraced by the Church.

Brother Robert was born in rural Colorado in 1946. His grandparents emigrated from tsarist Russia in the early 1900’s. He studied Byzantine iconography by apprenticing himself to a master painter from the school of Photios Kontoglou in a Greek Orthodox monastery founded from Mount Athos.

His icons reflect his experiences among the poor in this country and in the Third World, as well as his Franciscan and Russian roots. They are filled with bright colors and often depict contemporary subjects. While always striving to remain true to the essence of Byzantine iconography, he adapts traditional conventions in order to minister better to the emerging Church. His icons remain transcendent expressions of the ancient Christian Tradition, and they invite us into communion with God and the saints.

Text above is from this webpage, where you can browse dozens of his icons: https://trinitystores.com/collections/br-robert-lentz-ofm

[orthodoxydaily]

About the Ilyin-Chernigov and Chernigov-Gethsemane icons of the Mother of God.

Commemoration:

CHERNOGOV-GETHSEMANE ICON

april 16_april 29

Many healings of mental illness and demonic possession happened from the Chernihiv icon. St. Ambrose of Optina suggests in one letter that a mad person be brought to this icon.

The Ilyin-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God was painted in the year 1658 by the iconographer Gregory Dubensky, (Gennadius in monasticism). Tears flowed from the icon for eight days in 1662, from April 16-24. In this same year, Tatars descended upon Chernigov and devastated it. At midnight, they burst into the Trinity monastery, entered the church, overturned all the icons, and grabbed all the utensils, but the wonderworking icon and its ornaments remained untouched. An invisible power held back the impious from the holy icon. Previously, the Queen of Heaven had not permitted the enemy to enter the cave of St Anthony of the Caves, where the monastery's brethren had hidden. The Tatars fled, as though terrified by a vision. The miracle of the Mother of God and Her Chernigov Icon was described by St Demetrius of Rostov (October 28 and September 21) in his book, THE BEDEWED FLEECE [Runo Oroshennoe]. Later on, St John of Tobolsk (June 10) also wrote about the Chernigov Icon. A wonderworking copy of the Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God, in the Gethsemane skete of the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra, was glorified in the year 1869 (September 1).

24 miracles (by the number of hours in a day) from Ilyin-Chernigov icon of the Mother of God (based on the book of Saint Dimitry of Rostov “The bedewed fleece”).

Miracle 1. In the reign of the Great Sovereign Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich, Autocrat of All the Great and Small and White Russia, when the archbishop throne in Chernigov was held by the Right Reverend Father Lazarus Baranovich, the Orthodox Archbishop of Chernigov, Novgorod, and the entire North,  in the year 1662 Anno Domini, in the month of April, in the monastery of Elijah the Prophet (the Ilyin monastery), under the hegumen Zosima, from the 16th day to the 24th, the icon of the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary was weeping in the church. All the people of the city of Chernigov watched this miracle with great horror. Miracle 2. Also, in 1662, when the icon of the Mother of God was weeping, the Saracens (Muslims), by God's allowance for our sins, quietly crept up and captured many villages in the neighborhood of Chernigov. The monks of that Ilyin monastery, unaware of the barbarian invasion, sat in their monastery, and one night, it was announced about the Tartars. Then they all went to the church and hid in the cave of our Saint Father Anthony. At midnight, the Tatars attacked the monastery and broke into the church, where there was a miracle-working icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, decorated with silver plates, according to the custom. The godless committed a lot of blasphemies: they threw down all the icons from their places to the ground, took all churchware... But they did not touch the icon of the Mother of God, which was standing at the local place of the iconostasis, nor did they touch the silver plates on it. Possibly as once for Prophet Elisha, so here the Lord God smote the heathens with blindness, so that being blind with their spiritual eyes, they would not sight with the bodily eyes either at the icon of the Mother of God, which we, looking at, see as the true Mother of God. The power of God forbade them: let they not touch the Mental Kiot with unworthy hands. The heathens not only did not touch the icon but also could not enter the cave where the monks were hiding, even though they attempted to do so many times with lit splinters and drawn swords. However, they, being driven away, returned as if thrown back by someone. The Immaculate Virgin's power, protecting the monks, prevented the Saracens from entering the cave.

Miracle 3 in 1667. One woman named Vera (what means Faith - translator's note) from Mozirsk county (uyezd) was paralyzed for a whole year. Being dumb, she had a withered hand as well. Having reached the Ilyin monastery on Saturday, the eve of Pentecost, the woman was healed during the singing of the Akathist before the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God. First, she moved the withered and motionless hand, showing it to all stretched out her hand, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then, during the liturgy, at "It is truly meet," she spoke with the silent tongue - and cried, thanking the Most Blessed Virgin for the sudden healing. Miracle 4 in 1671. Someone of the nobles named Penskiy, from the outskirts of Bragin, had a wife, Anna. For several years, she had severe pain in her legs; she had to be carried; she could not make a single step herself. Doctors who treated the incurable disease have already become exhausted. The man heard about the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God that was in the Ilyin monastery and brought his wife there. She was carried to the church, and here, having prayed warmly with tears, she received a quick healing: she got up on her feet at once. As the lame in Jerusalem described in Acts (Acts 3, 3), this wife also had her feet and ankles strong again, and she jumped up, praising God and the Mother of God. Everyone was filled with amazement at what had happened to her. Miracle 5 in 1672, ( commemoration in April) Some nun named Alexandra of the convent of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva in Chernihiv has long suffered from demonic delusion: many times, terrible images appeared to her, rushing to her, seeking to kidnap her, forbidding her to pray. She endured all this with great fear, horror, and dread; sometimes, she screamed with fear and cried so that people being with her were terrified and trembled. Finally, when she was exhausted with so many fears and was only waiting for death, she was brought by the nuns to the Ilyin monastery, to the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, for the Saturday Akathist. Here, by the grace of Our Lady Intercessor, all dreams, apparitions, and fears left her, and she returned, having the help of the Mother of God against the entire enemy's force, which no longer could cause her such suffering. Miracle 6 in 1672. One man named Lavrentiy, a resident of Chernihiv, got mad and, as is commonly the case with such people, ran around the town and the field at night. One day, he wanted to drown in the river, but he was captured and brought to the miraculous icon in the Ilyin monastery. During the monks' prayer for him, the grace of the Mother of God gave him intellect, sense, and reason. So, being healthy and sane, he returned home, praising the Mother of God Who brought him to reason. Miracle 7. Andrey Rachkevich, captain of the army of his Imperial Majesty, lived in Chernigov castle with his wife of the Roman faith. His daughter was in shrouds because of grave illness, she was dumb and blind, her eyes were covered with scabs and swelled up with pus... Her father and mother, weeping, brought her, close to death, with faith to the Ilyin monastery and put her before the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, warmly praying for the healing of their daughter. The Akathist to the Mother of God was read as usual; it was Saturday. And so, at the reading, that girl shrouded began letting out a plaintive voice and, having freed the hands from the shrouds, began to wipe her eyes. Parents rejoiced and, having lifted their daughter off the ground, found that scales of scabs fell away from the eyes, and the child became healthy all over. Seeing this, everyone who happened to be there gave glory to God and the Mother of God...Continue reading the list of miracles