Every year on July 21, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate one of the main church holidays - the appearance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the city of Kazan. This story happened almost five centuries ago, and the icon itself during this time has repeatedly shown its miraculous power.
The history of the appearance of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God
In 1579 in Kazan, shortly before its capture by Ivan the Terrible, there was a terrible fire that destroyed almost half of the city. After that, the nine-year-old resident of Kazan, Matrona, had a dream for three nights in a row, in which the Mother of God appeared, indicating the exact location of the icon that had disappeared in the fire. The girl's parents who learned about this told the city authorities about the strange dream, but they did not show any interest, so they had to clear up the rubble in the indicated place themselves. As a result, the ancient miraculous icon was found safe and sound on the ashes of a peasant house.
According to legend, the miraculousness of the icon manifested itself already during its transfer to the temple. All people who watched this witnessed how the two blind people who were carrying the icon regained the ability to see. On the site of the ashes, where the icon of the Kazan Mother of God was found, the Mother of God Monastery was built.
The first nun in this monastery was Matrona, who discovered the icon, and took the name of Mavra.
In 1904, the icon was stolen by a young peasant, who later claimed to have burned it to test its miraculousness. However, a copy of this icon has survived, returned in 2005 to the Exaltation of the Cross Church of the former Monastery of the Mother of God by Patriarch Alexy II.
Miraculous properties of the icon
The icon of the Kazan Mother of God is considered miraculous, which has been repeatedly confirmed by the healing of seriously ill people after praying in front of her. Those who pray for the recovery of themselves and their loved ones turn to the icon. In addition, from the moment of her appearance in Kazan, she is considered a female icon, which helps young girls and married ladies to experience the difficulties of the female share. They pray in front of her for intercession, happiness in personal life, good luck in war, health.
It is customary to bless Russian soldiers leaving to defend their native country with the icon of the Kazan Mother of God.
Feast of the Appearance of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the city of Kazan
This holiday is celebrated by Orthodox Christians twice a year - on July 21 and November 4. Early in the morning on this day, a liturgy is performed in churches in honor of the appearance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and a procession with this icon.
The second time, in the fall, this church holiday is celebrated in honor of the liberation of Moscow from the Poles in 1612. It is believed that this happened thanks to the intercession of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, which was with the militias who liberated the capital from the enemy. This significant event was marked by the opening of the Kazan Cathedral in Moscow.
