The Bogoliubsk Icon of the Mother of God
Commemorated on June 18
The Bogoliubsk
Icon of the Mother of God, one of the most ancient wonderworking icons of
Russia, was written in the XII Century at the request of holy Prince Andrei
Bogoliubsky (Comm. 4 July), in memory of an appearance to him by the Mother of
God.
In the year 1155 holy
Prince Andrei, having resettled from Vyshgorod to the Suzdal' lands, brought
with him a wonderworking image of the Mother of God, written by the Evangelist
Luke (this afterwards was called the Vladimir Icon). At seven versts distance
from Vladimir by horse, the carrying cart with the wonderworking Icon stopped
and was not able to be moved from the place. Holy Prince Andrei besought the
priest Nikolai, who accompanied him, to make a molieben before the Icon of the
Mother of God, and for a long time he prayed with tears in front of the
venerable image. Later he went into his travelling quarters, but ceasing not in
his fervent prayer. The MostHoly Mother of God during this point appeared to
him with a small scroll in Her hand and commanded the pious prince, that Her
image brought from Vyshgorod should remain at Vladimir, and that on the
location of Her miraculous appearance there should be built a church and holy
monastery. She then prayerfully pointed Her hand to Heaven, and having received
blessing from Christ the Saviour, Who appeared at this time over the earth, and
with His blessing to Her the vision ended.
In fulfilling the
command, holy Prince Andrei built upon the indicated place a stone church in
honour of the Nativity of the MostHoly Mother of God, and also a monastery
formed there. And afterwards the holy prince commissioned talented
iconographers and asked that the Mother of God be depicted such as he had seen
Her in the vision: in full stature and with the scroll in Her right hand, and
Her face turned towards the Saviour. When the construction of the church was
completed, the image was installed in it and a yearly celebration in honour of
the appearance of the Mother of God was established under 18 June, which then
came into useage in the Russian Church. The monastery, and the city which
formed around the monastery, was named Bogoliubov by Saint Andrei, because in
his own words, "the Mother of God loves this place", and the prince
himself came to be called Bogoliubsky or "God-lover". The
wonderworking image of the Mother of God, brought from Vyshgorod, was
afterwards transferred from the Bogoliubovsk monastery to Vladimir into the
Uspenie-Dormition cathedral, but the icon of the Appearance remained at
Bogoliubov and was called the Bogoliubsk (at the present time of 1978 the icon
is in the Vladimir-Suzdal' Museum collection).
The image of the
Bogoliubsk Mother of God was glorified by innumerable miracles, and over the
space of many centuries manifest its grace-bearing help to the believing
amongst the Russian nation. The fame of the miracles and signs wrought by the
icon impelled believers of many places in Russia to avail themselves of copies
of the venerable image, widely distributed and graced in power.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.