On June 3, according to the Orthodox calendar, a celebration takes place in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. According to legend, this holy image was painted by the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke on the board of the table at which the Holy Family dined: the Most Holy Virgin Mary, the youth Jesus Christ and Saint Joseph the Betrothed.
Over time, news of the miracles associated with the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos that arrived from Constantinople reached the ears of Yuri Dolgoruky's son, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. He decided to take the icon from the territory of the Kiev principality to the north-east of Russia, to the city of Suzdal, where he transferred the capital. However, passing Vladimir, the horses, pulling the cart, where the revered image was located, stood up and did not want to take a step further. The horses were replaced with new ones - however, those froze, rooted to the spot. Prince Andrew saw in this the will of the Queen of Heaven, so that Her icon would remain in the former capital - Vladimir. In this city, in two years, the temple of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos was erected, in which the miraculous image began to reside.
The Vladimirskaya Icon of the Mother of God is one of the most revered in Russia: it is celebrated three times a year - on June 3, July 6 and September 8. The 6 July celebration commemorates the salvation of Moscow in 1521 from the hordes of Khan Makhmet-Girey. While the Tatars approached Moscow, destroying everything in their path, Metropolitan Varlaam, with the clergy and residents of the city, prayed for deliverance from an alien invasion, and Grand Duke Vasily gathered an army to come out to meet them, one blind nun had a vision. In a subtle dream, she saw how Moscow saints emerged from the Kremlin's Spassky Gate, carrying the Vladimir icon, leaving Moscow for the sins of its inhabitants. On the other side of the gate, they are met by the Monks Sergius of Radonezh and Varlaam of Khutynsky, begging not to leave the capital of the Moscow principality - and then all the saints together pray to the Lord God for the forgiveness of human sins and the deliverance of Moscow from enemies. After that, the Moscow saints with the icon return to the Kremlin through the Spassky Gate.
The Tatar Khan Mahmet-Girey also had a vision - but of a completely different kind. He saw the formidable Mother of God, surrounded by a large army, preparing to attack the Tatars. Fearful, the khan ordered the army to turn back - and soon the Tatars left the chapels of the Moscow principality.
Over the next centuries, the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was one of the most important holy images in the history of Russia. Before her, the election of the All-Russian patriarchs took place, prayers were served before the start of military campaigns, statesmen and military leaders swore an oath of allegiance to the Motherland.
Currently, the original of the miraculous icon is in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, and its revered copies are in many churches in Russia.
Before the icon of the Mother of God 'Vladimirskaya', believers pray for deliverance from bodily and spiritual illnesses, for the strengthening of faith and for the reconciliation of the warring ones - and also ask for the help of the Blessed Virgin in difficult life circumstances.
