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In Ukraine, there are many revered Christian relics that have long illuminated our country, blessing, comforting, and guiding all those who ask for help to the right path. Among them is the ancient image of the Virgin Mary, which is kept in the Lavra of the small town of Pochaiv (Ternopil region). From our article, you will learn how this monastery came into being, how it got there, and what the Pochaiv icon of the Mother of God helps with.

The Holy Assumption Pochaiv Lavra, where the Pochaiv icon of the Mother of God is located, has a long and unusual history. The first chronicle mention of the hermitage dates back to 1527, but the monastery of monks appeared on these lands much earlier - in the 12th century. According to legends, the place where the temple should be built was indicated to the monks by the Mother of God herself. This is how it happened.

At that time, Tatar troops often attacked Kievan Rus, burning cities, destroying temples and taking civilians captive. Trying to hide from the invaders, several ascetics went on a journey to the land of Volyn. Tired of the difficult journey, one of them decided to rest on top of the mountain. And suddenly a beautiful vision appeared in front of him - the Virgin Mary standing on a stone, surrounded by a fiery halo. Frightened, the monk fled down the slope, calling his brother. Together they fell to their knees and began to pray, glorifying the Queen of Heaven and asking her to show them her will. At the same time, a shepherd with a flock of sheep was passing by - he also saw the Mother of God and joined the prayer.

Soon the vision dissipated. But, as an undeniable sign of the presence of the Mother of God, the imprint of Her foot, from which water flowed, remained on the rock. This wonderful source still exists - and although many Christians fall to it, it is not exhausted, but is filled again and again.

Gradually, the fame of the healing spring and the monastery built near it spread throughout the Ukrainian lands. More and more monks and pilgrims flocked to the monastery, and many famous nobles gave her land grants, money, jewels and relics.

The image was brought to Ukraine by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Neofit. In 1559, traveling from Tsargorod to Moscow, he stopped at the Orlya estate, which belonged to Anna Goyska. The young lady was famous for her piety and hospitality, so it is not surprising that, on the way, the priest handed her an icon of the Queen of Heaven.

Initially, the relic was in the ancestral prayer room of the estate. But after the miraculous healing of Anna's brother in 1597, as well as other signs, the shrine was transferred to the nearby Pochaev monastery. It was then that it got its name - the Pochaiv Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Since that time, the image has repeatedly shown its help and patronage to the monastery. So, in the summer of 1675, he protected the Lavra from Turkish troops. When the pagans surrounded the hermitage, the monks began to serve the all-night prayer in front of the shrine - and at dawn, as soon as the monks began to sing the akathist to the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven herself appeared in the air above the domes of the temple! She was accompanied by an army of angels, as well as Reverend Job Pochaivskyi - an ascetic, enlightener, and abbot of the monastery. Having seen a formidable vision, brilliant with Divine grace, the enemies ran in fear.

This event, which happened on August 5 (July 23 according to the old style), is celebrated as one of the dates of commemoration of the image. The memory of the relic is also celebrated on March 31 and September 8.

The image belongs to the "Eleus" - "Emotion" type. The waist image of the Blessed Virgin is supplemented with a drawing of a rock on which the imprint of Her foot remained. The Savior sits on the right hand of the Queen of Heaven, and in her left hand she holds a white cloth. The right hand of the Lord is raised in blessing, and with his left hand, He rests on the shoulder of His Mother. You can see all these characteristic features in the photo of the "icon of the Pochaiv Mother of God", as well as on the list, made by hand from natural Polish amber.



However, the relic did not always look like this. In 1721, the temple came under the control of the Uniates - and the heads of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary were crowned with golden crowns. These decorative elements almost hid the faces of the prophet Ilya, the martyr Stephen, the saint Mina, and the great martyrs Paraskeva, Irina, and Catherine written on the margins of the image.

The shrine found its former appearance only in 1869 when the monastery returned to the bosom of the Orthodox Church. Then the icon was decorated with a golden robe with precious stones and placed in a gilded kiot - its shape resembles an eight-pointed star.