Icon of unexpected joy in some situations. Unexpected joy (icon): what do they pray for? In which churches can you find the “Unexpected Joy” icon?

02.07.2019 beauty

Another of our spiritual “helpers” in attracting wealth are mantras, which must be regularly practiced, pronounced correctly and set the right intention. In this article we will discuss with you mantras for attracting money. How to do all this, and what mantras for money exist - read below.

Mantras for money: features

If you read mantras for money for one day or start practicing “when you remember,” it will not bring any effect. Regularity and long-term reading are important (1-2 months, unless other conditions are specified). In this case, the mantra reveals itself to you and begins to have a beneficial effect on your life.

Some more important tips:

  • Before practicing mantras, it is useful to form and speak an intention. This is what you would like to get out of practice. Usually the intention begins like this: “I direct the fruits of reading this mantra to …” then you indicate what you need at the moment. This could be an increase in income, a new job that’s right for you, money for something specific, or faster repayment of debts/loans.
  • The selected mantra for attracting money is read daily, the number of repetitions is 3, 9, 27 or 108 times. It is convenient to count this number on a rosary. In addition, they help you concentrate and fully immerse yourself in reading.
  • When reading, it is useful to visualize the image of the Divine to whom you are addressing. So, while reading wealth mantras to Ganesha, imagine the image of this Helper and turn to him. It’s also very good to visualize your goal - new workplace, paying off debt, new level of income and what you spend it on. These thoughts should be positive and bright!
  • Before reciting the mantra, take a few deep breaths to concentrate. It is better to read the mantra in a secluded place where no one will disturb you. And don’t rush to finish the practice! It is important for you to “immerse” yourself in the mantra and feel the power of these sacred words.

Another important tip is to be respectful of the mantras, be open to changes, because they will definitely happen. And take advantage of the chances that life will give you! After all, mantras for money are not a magical miracle, they will not make you a millionaire right away, but will simply open up new ways for income, give you chances and happy accidents.

Mantras for attracting money

Below you will find some effective mantras that you can use to practice. But don't mix them, don't read them all at once! Take time for each and let it bear fruit.

  • OM GURAVE NAMAH- the mantra of Jupiter, which is responsible for human well-being and prosperity for many years. It is read on Thursdays, the day of Jupiter. Very effective in combination with charity, meditation, positive thinking and other upayas.
  • OM HRIM SHRIM LAKSHMI BYO NAMAHA or OM SRI MAHA LAKSHMIYE NAMAH- a respectful appeal to the Goddess Lakshmi, a mantra for wealth and the acquisition of all kinds of material benefits. When practicing this mantra, you need to visualize the image of Lakshmi and turn to her. For convenience, you can read before the image of this Goddess.
  • OM SRI GANESHAYA NAMAH- veneration of Ganesha, an effective mantra for attracting money, retaining it and using it rationally. This powerful mantra also removes obstacles in business and attracts helpers and valuable connections. When reading, it is important to visualize the image of Ganesha.

These are the basic money mantras that you can use to practice. It is also useful to “connect” astrology and see what period you are currently living in, which planets and how they influence your financial sphere. Working at these deep levels helps to attract long-term prosperity into your life.

We are glad to welcome you, Dear friends!

Probably not many people have thought about the fact that mantras for money and wealth are able to help even in the most difficult financial situations. In this article we will tell you how to correctly contact the Universe so that it hears your requests and helps you.

Using mantras to attract money and wealth will allow you to discover new opportunities and succeed in financial matters.

But it is important not only to succeed in financial matters, but also to be able to properly save and increase your money, and this will help you

Thanks to short prayer(mantra), pronounced in Sanskrit, you can ask the Almighty for the desired benefits. It can be either money (success, wealth) or health.

Basically, such ancient Judaic Sanskrits are written in Indian language. Remember that the result of your request will depend on the mood and faith with which you pronounce the mantra.

While reading Sanskrit, it is important to imagine how your dream begins to come true. Such visualization helps speed up the process of achieving what you want. You cannot say a prayer when you are in a bad or irritated state.

In this mood, God will not hear your requests. It is necessary to repeat the cherished words in the ancient Indian language several times. It is best to read the prayer in a multiple of three.

Many people notice that after reading mantras to attract money and wealth, their lives begin to change for the better. A person begins to face unique opportunities that allow him to open the desired financial flow. The need to borrow money disappears as funds no longer leave the house.

If you want to become rich and successful person, then you need to turn to the Indian god Ganesh for help. This saint is considered a true symbol of abundance and success. Ganesha helps to attract money, peace and tranquility to families who ask for his protection and help.

In order for Sanskrit to be most effective in attracting money and wealth into the house, it must be read in front of an image or figurine of the god Ganesh. In this way you will charge the symbol of the deity with effective energy and strength. It is best to move your hand over the palm or stomach of God during prayer.

Some of the most effective mantras for attracting money and wealth are:

  • “Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha.” One of the most effective and most key mantras to attract wealth into your life.
  • “Om Gam Ganapataye Sarve Vighna Raye Sarvaye Sarve Guarve Lamba Daraya Hrim Gam Namah.” Allows you to attract wealth and money into your home. Considered a powerful and effective mantra

Another famous Indian god, Kubera, will help you succeed in financial affairs. In Hinduism, this deity is considered one of the most generous in current money matters. If you approach God Kubera sincerely, you can easily achieve the desired prosperity in business.

When starting any financial activities, you should ask the Indian saint to lend a helping hand, and the treasurer god will definitely answer your prayers.

It is best to read a prayer in front of the symbols that depict Kubera. These can be yantras, plates, or pictures with the face of a saint. The mantra should be chanted 108 times a day for 11 days. Thus, all existing obstacles on the way will begin to disappear, and the road to success and wealth will become smooth.

The following mantras will help you get rid of poverty and succeed in your work:

  • “Om Shrim Om Hrim Shrim Hrim Klim Shrim Klim Vittesvaraya Namah.” Such a prayer to a saint helps to attract wealth into the house. If you ask Kubera every day for help and protection using these words, you will soon feel how life will begin to change for the better
  • “Om Yaksaya Kuberaya Vaisravanaya Dhana-Dhanyadi Pataye Dhana Dhanyadi Samriddhim Me Dehi Dehi Dapaya Swaha.” A mantra like this helps a person learn how to attract money into their life. Start asking the saint for protection using these words and you will soon notice how new business opportunities will begin to arise in front of you. You will find unique sources of income and understand how to behave in difficult situations.

In order for money to appear in your life, you need to say the prayer correctly. You don't have to read dozens of mantras a day to open the flow of finances into your life. Choose for yourself one mantra that will be closest in spirit. Then start working with it more carefully.

Before you begin to pronounce the cherished words, you first need to listen to them. To do this, find an audio file on which the words of the prayer can be clearly heard. If such a recording is recorded from the words of a real guru teacher, then it will be the most the best option to attract wealth into your life.

Remember, if you start modifying the mantra and reading it incorrectly, you will not achieve the desired effect. In this case, it will not be possible to achieve the desired wealth. Therefore, before you start reading Sanskrit, try listening to an audio recording with the correct words for several days.

After this, you will be able to address the Indian gods meaningfully. Put positive energy into your words and believe that you can make money. Such a message to the Universe will definitely help you achieve what you want.

Don’t forget that any money-related issues can be resolved by turning to someone for help. higher powers. Choose a mantra you like and start working with it. If you start asking a saint for help in work and protection, he will definitely hear you, and money will begin to find its way into your home faster.

See also This Indian deity is a symbol of success in business and business, as well as creative realization. Those who dream of attracting money to their home purchase a figurine of an elephant-headed god.

If your friends are having problems with money, then you can advise them to read our article on the social network. Start working on mantras together - this will help diversify the process.

We say goodbye to you, dear friends. We wish you success in any endeavor!

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Orthodox believers especially venerate her, calling her protector, intercessor, and helper. Almost every day in temples according to the calendar Orthodox dates I remember this or that icon of the Mother of God with a prayerful request. Twice a year, on May 14 and December 22, a celebration of the miraculous image is established. Unexpected Joy" Please note that both words in the title are written with capital letters, because by Joy is meant the Most Pure Virgin herself. What does unexpected joy mean? - the one they didn’t expect, didn’t expect. Such an unexpected heartfelt feeling once touched a sinner.

How was the image “Unexpected Joy” revealed?

The exact date and place of appearance of the icon is unknown; it became widespread less than three centuries ago.

It is surprising that the icon is usually called miraculous, after numerous miraculous healings, phenomena. Only the image “Unexpected Joy” precedes a wonderful event. Saint Dmitry of Rostov mentions it for the first time in his work “Irrigated Fleece”. This book was written by the Saint to glorify the locally revered Holy Mother of God icon of the Elias Monastery in the city of Chernigov.

The last chapter described the following story: one unrighteous man lived wickedly, but always treated the Most Holy Theotokos with special reverence. One day he was about to commit lawlessness once again, and as usual, he said the words of prayer, addressing him with an angelic greeting: Rejoice, full of grace. Suddenly the icon seemed to become alive; instead of joy, sorrow was reflected on its face. She held in her arms the Infant of God, whose shirt was torn and bleeding wounds opened on his arms, legs and under his ribs. The wicked man was amazed at what he saw. He bent down and knelt down, asking who could do this to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The answer he received floored him. The Mother of God replied that this was the work of his hands and other sinful people who crucified her Son again and again. The sinner prayed for a long time, without receiving forgiveness twice. The Mother of God together with him asked the Divine Child for help. For the third time, after the heartfelt repentance of the wicked man and the desire of the Mother of God to pray with him at the feet of the Son, the Lord said that the law commands that the Son honor the mother, let it be as she says. The forgiven one kissed the icon, falling unconscious. Having come into himself, he felt unprecedented joy in his heart, hope for forgiveness for his actions. The man was reborn spiritually and began to lead a righteous life.

This event formed the basis for painting the icon “Unexpected Joy”. It received an incredible response in the hearts of believers; by the end of the 18th century, a list of the miraculous image was in almost every Orthodox church. It can still be found today in many churches; it is especially revered in Moscow in the Church of Elijah the Prophet. Initially, this icon was kept in one of the Kremlin churches, in the mid-20th century it was transported to Sokolniki, and since 1959 it has been in the Elias Church of Elijah; it is known that Patriarch Pimen often prayed in front of it.

What type of Mother of God icons does it belong to?

On the icon “Unexpected Joy” the Mother of God is depicted with the Infant Christ in her arms, this is a type that, translated, means a Guide, she, pointing with one hand at her Son, asserting which way a Christian should go. The unique image differs from most canonical images. This is not just an icon, but an iconographic composition (an icon within an icon).

The action takes place in the temple. In the lower left corner there is a man who knelt in prayer before the image of the Mother of God. Sometimes the letters from his mouth are depicted as ribbons to show his earnest prayer. The head of the Queen of Heaven is slightly tilted, her gaze is indirect, directed at the person praying. She points to the Son with one hand, and holds Him with the other as if on a throne. The Divine Infant has wounds from which blood flows, one hand is raised, it blesses all believers. A number of theologians classify “Unexpected Joy” as a type of akathist icon.

Below the image are words from the book of the Saint of Rostov: A certain lawless man. Think about it, after all, each of us daily commits lawlessness, sins: discussing, despondent, shouting, swearing, being proud, performing seemingly harmless actions, thereby becoming an accomplice in this distant history, again and again crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ, the way out is in repentance, hope for forgiveness and prayer help.

What should she pray for?

Often a person finds himself in a critical situation when he can only rely on God’s help. Then they pray to the Mother of God, asking her to cling to the heart of her Son and ask for spiritual joy, help in business, strengthening in faith, for the return of the lost and the preservation of children.

Parents prayerfully ask the Mother of God for their children, so that they are healthy, follow the right path in life, for their confirmation in faith, for spiritual and physical insight. The image of the Mother of God helps spouses to establish peace and mutual understanding, eliminate divisions, and reconcile those at war. This icon is approached with a request to protect from enemies and spiteful critics. Through prayers from the image of “Unexpected Joy” many healings and miracles occur, but most often people receive healing from deafness. This means not only a physical illness, but also a spiritual one: the inability to hear the words of Holy Scripture, loved ones. Cases have been established when women prayed for a quick marriage, for the return of their husbands from the battlefield, from a trip, they received help, prayer is effective against serious adversity, unjust accusations.

There are several prayer rules, which are read depending on life circumstances. When time allows, it is better to read the full text of the prayer or even an akathist. There is a lot of evidence that reading the akathist helps infertile women: despite the diagnosis, they get the opportunity to experience the joy of motherhood.

Prayer for pregnancy to the Mother of God in front of 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.

If there is a lack of time, you can limit yourself to a short call to the help of the Mother of God the Virgin Mary. The clergy emphasize that the main thing is that the prayer comes from a pure heart. It is important to first say the words of prayer, after which formulate a petition in your own words.

Prayer (short):

To the Mother of God and the Queen, chosen from all generations, who sometimes appeared to a lawless man to turn him away from the path of wickedness, we offer a song of thanksgiving to Thee, the Mother of God: But You, who have unspeakable mercy, free us from all troubles and sins, let us call to Thee: Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Troparion:

Today, return to the people who glorify the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, and who flow to Her most pure image, we cry out to the Lord: 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 God ours, to save our souls.

What does the name of the icon say?

Unexpected joy is an image that reminds us that forgiveness of sins is possible with heartfelt repentance and prayer. Joyful feeling does not fill a person right away, I read the prayer and immediately rejoiced, no. After heartfelt labor and repentance (remember that Jesus Christ did not immediately forgive the sinner), when it would seem there is no more strength, forgiveness comes, and at the same time, unexpectedly, the heart becomes light and joyful. The icon teaches you to remain true to your word. A person, after repentance and received forgiveness, does not go further to lawlessness, but begins to lead a righteous life.

It is no coincidence that according to legend, the first to go to heaven with Christ was a robber who sincerely repented. No matter what circumstances happen in life, Holy Mother of God becomes the first intercessor of every person. And you need to be able to notice joy in every moment. It is that there is a family, children, a favorite job, that you can hear birds singing and admire nature, it is that there is hope for healing, help, eternal life, there is a heavenly Intercessor ready to help everyone to her to the person who applied.

Rejoice, granter of unexpected joy to the faithful!

In the Orthodox tradition, an icon becomes especially revered or even miraculous after certain supernatural events. But there is one image, the creation of which was preceded by a miraculous incident. The icon itself represents not only the traditional face of the Mother of God and the Child Christ, but also reveals an entire iconographic composition.

"Irrigated fleece"

Among the numerous literary heritage of Metropolitan Dmitry of Rostov, according to Academician D. S. Likhachev, the last significant writer of Orthodox Eastern and Southern Europe, there is a description of the miracles that occurred from the icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The book is called “Irrigated Fleece” and tells about the extraordinary events that took place in the Elias Monastery in the city of Chernigov. Saint Dmitry talks about numerous miraculous healings that occurred while reading prayers before the icon of the Mother of God, which he himself witnessed.

Consistently describing 24 miracles, the author attaches to each of them two soul-helping words with instructive examples from the lives of saints. In the last chapter he describes an incident that happened to one sinner. The source of this information, the location of the events and the name of the person are unknown. The book was published in 1683 and is dedicated to the glorification of the locally revered icon of the Mother of God (though information about which one has also not been preserved).

Narration of the miracle as presented by Dmitry, Metropolitan of Rostov

The saint describes it this way. One person had the habit of praying every day before the image of the Mother of God with the words of the gospel of the Archangel Gabriel: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” After such a pious exercise, he went to do some nasty deed. One day, while praying, he saw blood flowing from the wounds on the Baby’s body. The vision plunged the unfortunate man into horror. In a frenzy, he turned to the Mother of God with the question: “Who committed this crime?”

The Mother of God replied that sinning people are like the ancient Jews who sentenced Christ to a painful death: “You and sinners like you crucify My Son.” The man began to beg for mercy and forgiveness, to which he was given the answer: “You call Me the Mother of mercy, and at the same time you bring Me sorrow with your deeds.” The epiphany came to man that sinful actions have truly universal consequences. He began to beg the Mother of God for intercession before the Savior.

Only after the third petition did the Infant Christ agree to accept the petition of the Mother of God. Divine institution commands that the Son honor the Mother. And the One who established the Law must Himself fulfill it. For the sake of the prayer of the Mother of God, this man was absolved of his sins. The vision disappeared. The blood-splattered icon was also cleansed. The unexpected joy of forgiveness of sins transformed the inner world of man. Inspired by supernatural intervention and intercession, the sinner began a new life from that moment on.

Unique iconographic version

A sudden inner insight and the subsequent repentance and correction of a sinful person were the reason why the icon “Unexpected Joy” appeared in the liturgical use of the Russian Church. The meaning of the new image was so close to believers that by the end of the 18th century, almost every church had a list of this icon. It is unknown who was the author of the pictorial image of the miracle. The Mother of God herself is called Joy, which is why the word in the title is written with a capital letter.

The icon “Unexpected Joy” is a unique phenomenon in the church fine arts. The image is a dynamically developing plot. The image shows an icon of the Virgin Mary in an icon case. As a rule, one of the three most common types is used - “Hodegetria,” which translated from Greek means “showing the path to the salvation of the soul.” It is depicted as if an icon within an icon, and the action takes place in the temple.

In the lower part of the floor case with the image of the Virgin Mary, icon painters place the initial phrases of the story of the miracle, taken from the book “Irrigated Fleece,” or the words of the Archangel’s Gospel, or an excerpt of the prayer before the icon “Unexpected Joy.” Sometimes the story of a sinner's salvation summary placed at the bottom of the composition.

An integral part of the plot is the figure of a man kneeling in front of the holy image. His repentant appearance is addressed to the Virgin and Child. On the icon, in the form of a narrow stripe, are written the words of the man’s speech to the Mother of God and Her response. The Infant Christ is depicted with open bleeding wounds and ulcers on his body, which appeared later on Him during His crucifixion

The unique feature of the icon is precisely that the image to which the man calls is turned directly to the sinner. This is how the “Unexpected Joy” icon differs from the canonical image of Hodegetria, in which the Mother of God bends over the Infant God. Such an artistic technique made it possible to depict the essence of the miracle - the appeal of the Mother of God and the Son of God to a praying person.

The miraculous icon “Unexpected Joy” in the Church of the Prophet Elijah

On the outskirts of the capital in Ostrozhye, more than three hundred years ago, on the site of a dilapidated wooden temple in honor of the goodness of Elijah, a new stone one was erected. Today this parish church is known as the Church of Elijah the Ordinary. Many pilgrims flock here because perhaps the most revered icon in Russia, “Unexpected Joy,” is located here. History has not preserved information about who and when the miraculous image was painted.

Initially, the icon was kept in the church of St. Tsars Constantine and Helena, near the southern wall of the Kremlin in the lower garden. At the end of the 19th century, the famous Moscow preacher and spiritual writer Archpriest Valentin Amfitheatrov served here. Father Valentin regularly read akathists in front of the icon. Prayers were collected a large number of believing citizens. After the destruction of the Church of Constantine and Helena in 1928, the image was transported to Sokolniki to the Church of the Resurrection, which had a chapel “Unexpected Joy”. Only at the end of the war did the icon occupy its current position place of honor in Elias Church.

The holy image is decorated with a silver frame and many lamps. The decorations left by grateful believers testify to the numerous miracles performed by the “Unexpected Joy” icon. The significance of this shrine is truly all-Russian. There is an inscription on the frame stating that in 1959, with the blessing His Holiness Patriarch Alexius I had a chasuble installed on the icon. Patriarch Pimen, who humbly considered himself a parishioner of this temple, loved to pray in front of this image. The church itself was never closed during Soviet times, and services in it did not stop. Many shrines from destroyed and closed churches and monasteries in Moscow were preserved here.

One of the great treasures spiritual heritage our pious ancestors is the icon “Unexpected Joy”. A photo of this miraculous image, reverently revered by many Orthodox believers, is presented below.

Temple in Maryina Roshcha

To the north of the Garden Ring, on Sheremetyevskaya Street, there is a temple of the “Unexpected Joy” icon built in the first decade of the last century. The magnificent church was erected with donations from parishioners of the Maryina Roshcha settlement. A plot of land for such a charitable cause was provided by Count A.D. Sheremetyev himself. Written in mid-19th century century miraculous image “Unexpected Joy”. The icon, which also contains a particle of the relics of the martyr Tryphon, is highly revered among Moscow believers and pilgrims. Parishioners record miracles occurring in the church from this icon. One of the most striking happened in 2003, when an elderly Jew wanted to be baptized.

Akathist to the icon “Unexpected Joy”

In the Orthodox liturgical tradition there is a special form of chants called an akathist. For the first time such a work was created in the 7th century in Byzantium. Akathist translated from Greek means “non-seated singing” (that is, one in which you cannot sit down, and you need to listen very carefully). In Hellenic liturgical practice Only an original chant is called an akathist.

In the Russian Church this form became widespread at the end of the 19th century. By 1901, the censors of the Synodal Commission had approved about one hundred and sixty similar works for publication and subsequent use. By this time, the akathist to the icon “Unexpected Joy” was also written. Like most creations of its era, the hymn of praise in a solemn form retells the events described by Dmitry Rostovsky.

In church use, akathists are read at the end of Vespers, instead of kathismas at Matins, and most often at a prayer service after the Liturgy or at the request of parishioners. Reading the akathist, both at public worship and individually, helps to strengthen prayer appeal, collect your thoughts and clearly form an internal spiritual structure.

Why do Christians pray to different icons?

The Christian faith testifies that the Most Holy Theotokos is the greatest Saint. Prayers for the people of the Most Pure Virgin, or rather, intercessions for them before God, are the most effective. Believers, in their appeals to the Mother of God, ask Her not only to help or hear, but also to save. But only Christ God can save. There is no contradiction or distortion of dogma in this. When Christians call on the Mother of God to save, they believe in Her extraordinary spiritual power.

In this regard, icons become especially important for prayer practice. Icon, translated from Greek, means an image, not the very essence of an object, but its appearance. By paying honor to them, believers thereby express prayerful reverence for the person whose face is present on the shrine.

Each icon of the Mother of God is associated with one or more supernatural events. Believers in the life stories of saints and the Mother of God find examples of miraculous deliverance from disasters, illnesses, and resolution of problems. Church prayers and images only help to correctly formulate and express your spiritual needs. Likewise, the prayer to the “Unexpected Joy” icon has its own characteristics. But we'll talk about this a little lower.

An icon is a kind of window into another dimension. Holy images can be compared to a spiritual crutch for fragile and wavering souls. This support helps to detach from everyday vanity and create a prayerful mood.

Who does the miraculous icon help?

Many people mistakenly believe that miraculous icons are a kind of accumulators of grace that can be used if the need arises. That is, if you get to a particularly revered image, then a miracle will definitely happen, and everything you wish will come true. Believers testify that the “Unexpected Joy” icon helps to find lost hope.

Grace does not come from a board covered with paints; help does not come from an image, but through an image. You can venerate an icon for years, light dozens of candles, travel hundreds of kilometers and still not have faith in the effectiveness of the force. God's grace. Or you can worship the shrine once, without expecting any miracle, and receive not what you want, but what you need.

The other extreme is excessive arrogance or impudence. Some believe that if you diligently fulfill all the external instructions of the church charter, then a gift will automatically be sent down from above. The Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is not a kind of amulet that is guaranteed to provide well-being or invisible protection. This is a symbol of grace-filled help, capable of providing this very help.

What should you pray for in front of the icon?

What petitions should be addressed to the Mother of God in front of this icon is stated in the canonical prayer. The liturgical text says that the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, or rather, a prayerful appeal through it to the Most Pure Virgin, will help get rid of many diseases, primarily those associated with hearing. This refers not so much to a person’s physiological ability as to the ability to hear one’s neighbor, and most importantly, to be spiritually receptive to the moral calls of the Lord and His saints.

Over more than two hundred years of history of veneration of the shrine, a tradition has developed of praying in front of this image during a long separation of spouses and loss of contact with relatives. The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” is especially effective in extremely difficult life adversities, in salvation from unfair accusations, in hopeless circumstances.

Relatives and friends who are on the road and in difficult conditions need spiritual help and protection from dangers and various vicissitudes of fate. And also a speedy and safe return. Sometimes we ourselves cannot imagine what troubles await us. It is in overcoming such obstacles that prayer in front of the icon helps. Unexpected joy - one that we no longer expected, did not hope for, did not expect - but it illuminated us.

The birth of a child is a sudden joy for many. There is a lot of evidence when, after prayers in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon, children were born to desperate and hopeless spouses.

Days of celebration

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

Since the 18th century, when the first list of icons was created Mother of God“Unexpected joy”, a variety of miracles occurred from these icons - the sick were healed, especially those who had lost their hearing, 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, the Divine story 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 is the example true attitude to power, He Himself is evidence of the exceptional decency of the Ruler, which is so difficult to find 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.