The Icon of the Mother of God – "Pledge for Sinners" ("Sporuchnitsa Greshnykh")
Commemorated on March 7, May 29
The Icon of the
Mother of God – "Pledge for Sinners" ("Sporuchnitsa
Greshnykh") – is called thus because of the inscription preserved on
the icon: "I am a Pledge in trust for sinners to My Son...".
This image was first
glorified by miracles at the Nikolaevsk Odrina [BedChamber] men's monastery of
the former Orlovsk governance in the mid-XIX Century. The ancient icon of the
Mother of God "Pledge for Sinners" because of its old condition was
not afforded the proper reverence and stood in an old chaplet at the monastery
gates. But in 1843 it was revealed in vision-dreams to many of the people, that
through the Prescience of God, the icon was embued with miraculous power. They
solemnly conveyed the icon into the church. Believers began to throng to it in
prayer for the healing of their sorrows and sicknesses. The first to receive
healing was a crippled lad, the mother of whom prayed fervently before the
icon. The icon was glorified in particular during the time of a cholera
epidemic, when many fell deathly ill, and making their way to it, were by it
restored to health.
At the monastery in
honour of the wonderworking image was built a large church with three altars.
On the Icon "Pledge for Sinners", the Mother of God is depicted with
the Christ-Child on Her left arm, Who with both His hands holds onto Her right
hand. The heads of the Mother of God and the Christ-Child are set in crowns.
In 1848, through the
zeal of the Muscovite Dimitrii Boncheskul, a copy was made of the wonderworking
image and placed in his home. Soon it was glorified as a source of curative
myrh, given to many for restoration of health from grievous illnesses. They
carried this wonderworking copy into a church of Saint Nicholas at Chamovnika,
where then was built a chapel in honour of the Icon of the Mother of God
"Pledge for Sinners". Besides 7 March, celebration of this icon is
also made on 29 May.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.