Virgin Mary with flowing hair. Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth. Prayers to the icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth”

03.02.2024

Canons about the dead eight voices Canons about the dead when to read which

God is love (quotes from the New Testament)

Akathist to the most honorable and life-giving cross of the Lord

Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and Day of National Unity

Icon of the Mother of God “LORETS”

Locally revered

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The image of the Mother of God of very rare iconography is in the Tretyakov Gallery. It repeats the miraculous image of the Mother of God of Loretsk, known since the 16th century and associated with the Legend of the Wandering House of the Virgin Mary. According to legend, the House of the Mother of God was transferred by angels from Nazareth to Italy and appeared on May 10, 1291 in the town of Raunica in Dalmatia. There, in a stone vaulted niche, the miraculous image of the Mother of God was found, which later received the name of the Mother of God of Loretsk. On December 10, 1294, the House moved from Dalmatia and appeared in the province of Ancona near the city of Recanati, and later in 1295 it was found near the city. Until 1507, this miracle was not recognized even by the popes. Until the end of the 16th century, nothing was known about him in the east.

The miraculous image was not an icon of the Mother of God of Loreta, but a sculptural image carved from cedar wood, according to legend, by the Evangelist Luke. The Baby's right hand blesses, the left holds the orb. There is a pearl crown on the head of the Mother of God, her hair is loose. The sculpture was painted and inlaid with diamonds and precious stones.

The Icon of the Mother of God of Loretskaya in the Tretyakov Gallery is made on a thin icon shield (two boards, two applied dowels, without an ark) using a complex combined technique of tempera painting in combination with mother-of-pearl inlay using tint to give the mother-of-pearl different shades. The artist’s use of unconventional techniques, as well as the monumental nature of the image, make it possible to assume that it was not the original painting that served as the prototype. The composition of the Loretskaya icon of the Mother of God is close to the sculptural image of the Mother of God of Loretskaya; it even reproduces its location in the interior of an Italian church.

The iconographic features of the image are the red drapery, the cross in the right hand of the Virgin Mary, as well as the hair completely hidden under the scarf and crown, which indicates a creative reworking of the prototype.

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Orthodox traditions during childbirth

A hundred years ago, every woman preparing to become a mother relied on the will of God in everything. The midwife never began to help a woman in labor without first praying. At the time of birth, all household members stood in front of a lit lamp and prayed to the Mother of God for a successful delivery. Prayer before childbirth was also obligatory for the woman in labor. The era of atheism has changed people's worldview, but modern society is increasingly reviving the Orthodox faith and spirituality in souls and society. That’s why today more and more women are resorting to prayers to the Higher Powers - first to conceive, then to bear and give birth. Miracles that occur through the faith and prayers of believers convince us of the mercy and love of the Lord for his children.

Spiritual preparation for childbirth

During pregnancy, a believer often turns to Heavenly powers. The priests insist that during the period of bearing a child, every woman must visit the temple, confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. The main assistant to a pregnant woman during the entire period of bearing a baby is the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. The Holy Face showed many miracles of faith, including the gift of motherhood. Prayer should accompany a pregnant woman for all nine months; not only in church, but also at home, a woman can turn to the Heavenly patroness and protector. “According to our faith, may it be for us...” - prayer at the moment of childbirth works miracles: there are cases when women in labor who uttered the words of prayer had pain subsided, the process of childbirth was facilitated, and bleeding stopped. The priests claim that prayer during pregnancy, prayer before childbirth, and prayer during childbirth are equally important for a woman.

Heavenly patrons of mother and baby

Asking the question: “Who should I pray to? Which icon is better to turn to?”, the woman understands in her soul that the main helper will be the Mother of God, to whom people always turn in times of sorrow and trials. Being immaculate and pure, the Blessed Virgin gave birth to her Son painlessly, but during her earthly life she fully experienced what pain and suffering were. That is why it responds to the prayer requests of believers. Several Holy Faces of the Mother of God are considered the patroness of a pregnant woman: the icon “Helper in Childbirth”, “Quick to Hear”, “Leaping Baby”, “Healer” and many other miraculous icons. The Savior will not remain indifferent to sincere pleas for help and protection, therefore the prayers offered at the icon of Jesus Christ also have effective force. No less effective are the prayers of Ksenia of St. Petersburg and Anastasia the Pattern Maker. However, most believers believe that the main assistant to a woman in labor is still the icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth.”

The history of the acquisition of the miraculous image

The miraculous image traces its modern history back to the 90s of the twentieth century. It was then that the icon “Helper in Childbirth” appeared to the Orthodox world. It is not known for certain where the original face is located, but one day, during Great Lent, a copy of this icon was found in Serpukhov. Father Vladimir received it as a gift from a devout old woman whom he gave communion to at home. For many years of fighting against God, the icon was kept in the attic, then it appeared to the world under the name “Helper in Childbirth.” Since then, many miracles have been recorded from this image through the prayers of believers. Many infertile women have learned the joy of motherhood: fervent prayer in front of the “Helper in Childbirth” icon works wonders. There are two options for the image of the Mother of God on this wonderful list:

The Mother of God is depicted in full height with her arms raised up, the Eternal Child is located at the level of her chest.

The Blessed Virgin is depicted with her head uncovered and her hands folded; the Savior is in the womb.

Orthodox image of the Holy Virgin

Orthodox canons predetermine the image of the Mother of God with a covered head, which is why many clergy believe that the second version of the icon is of Western origin. However, among Orthodox Christians, the icon “Helper in Childbirth”, in which the Mother of God is depicted together with the Baby in the womb, is also considered a significant shrine. Father Vladimir installed the found image in the church, composing an akathist for it. Now pregnant women and their relatives read the akathist to the Mother of God, standing in front of the icon, thereby significantly facilitating the course of pregnancy and reducing pain during childbirth.

There is also a canonical prayer that expectant mothers say in front of this wonderful icon. The power of prayer is incomparable to anything. A prayer appeal pronounced from “the very depths of the soul” is considered especially powerful. A message to the Heavenly powers, framed sincerely, with a deep message, will always be heard and “through our prayers it will be given to us...”

The meaning of the icon for the Orthodox

The icon “Helper in Childbirth” is designed to help women in labor; the name of the holy image speaks for itself. Pregnant women turn to the icon with a request to safely carry and give birth to a healthy baby. Some of those whose pregnancy is complicated by pathologies ask for healing and a successful delivery. Not only pregnant women flock and turn to the icon, but also those who cannot bear children for some reason. Prayers for healing from infertility are also heard by the Heavenly Patroness; after prayer, many have found the happiness of motherhood. But this is not the only thing the “Helper in Childbirth” icon helps with. The prayer for the granting of peace of mind, a healthy spirit and vigor, faith in the mercy of the Almighty is heard first of all, for it is truly said: “Obtain a peaceful spirit, and thousands will be saved near you...”.

Miracles of the Holy Image

The priests of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Serpukhov, where the miraculous icon is located, constantly observe the pilgrimage of parishioners who are attracted by the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Miracles through prayers emanating from the holy face constantly confirm the triumph of true faith in the mercy of the Lord. A desperate couple who buried six stillborn babies turned to the image of the “Childbirth Assistant” for help. Throughout their seventh pregnancy, the couple fervently prayed to the image, drank holy water, and a healthy girl was born in due time. A unique case of healing from the icon was recorded not only by clergy, but also by maternity hospital staff. The baby, whose incorrect position in the womb of his mother threatened with complicated childbirth, through prayers in front of the icon, turned over overnight and positioned himself correctly.

Place of the icon in the house

In the old days, in the room where a pregnant woman slept, they always hung an icon with the face of the Most Holy Theotokos to protect the mother and baby. Modern Orthodox women also prefer to see the holy face every day, but they often ask the question: “Where in the house should the “Helper in Childbirth” icon be located?” The clergy answer the question unequivocally: the icon should be located where it will be easiest to offer prayers to it. If it is convenient to hang it on the wall, let it hang on the wall, you can put it on a shelf and a bedside table, the main thing is that the holy image was purchased in the temple and consecrated. The best option would be to find the icon in the room where the expectant mother constantly lives, since first of all this icon is for pregnant women. “Helper in Childbirth” celebrates the day of veneration on January 8, they pray to her not only for pregnant women, but also ask for the health of newborns. Today, almost every maternity hospital has such an image; they hang it in the wards, and most importantly, in the delivery room. It is believed that in that maternity hospital there is the least number of unsuccessful births, in which the woman in labor is greeted by this holy image.

Icon of the Mother of God "Help in Childbirth"

The holy image miraculously appeared in 1993 in the Russian city of Serpukhov. During the period of Great Lent, the rector of the Church of St. Nicholas the Bely gave communion at home to an old woman who asked her granddaughter to get an icon of the Mother of God from the attic. The image with a darkened robe, covered in cobwebs and many years of dust, was given to the priest in the temple. It is known that through prayers to this image, childbirth is successful, and it also heals from infertility. Now the miraculous icon is in the St. Nicholas Cathedral of Serpukhov.

In March 2006, a temple in honor of the shrine was also opened in Kyiv. In Ukraine, with the blessing of His Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the holiday in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” was established on October 3.

Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Assistance in childbirth" also called "Assistant in Childbirth", "Assistant in childbirth""Help in childbirth", And “Helping wives give birth to children”. Before the image, they pray for conception, for healing from infertility, for the successful resolution of the burden and the birth of healthy children, since the Mother of God herself went through all the hardships of childbearing, just as the Savior went through the same path of birth as a person. Having painlessly been relieved of her burden, the Mother of God is a strong intercessor before God for all those burdened and suffering. The icon “Help in Childbirth” is brought into the pregnant woman’s room and into the maternity ward. Through prayers before the image, childbirth proceeds safely even with various complications.

Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” at the Kiev City Maternity Hospital No. 4 (currently the Kiev City Center for Reproductive and Perinatal Medicine)

Three variants of the image are known " Assistance in childbirth": in the ancient version, the Most Holy Theotokos with her head covered stands at full height with her hands raised in prayer, and at the level of Her chest the baby Jesus is depicted in a robe. In the modern version, the Mother of God is depicted with her head uncovered, her hair flowing and her fingers folded on her chest, below which the Infant God is placed without clothes. The third version of the image is known as the revered icon of the Mother of God “The Word became Flesh” of Albazin, a shrine of the Russian Amur region. The title of the icon is the words from the Gospel of John “And the word became flesh” (“And the word became flesh”) (John 1:14). Now the icon is kept in the new Annunciation Cathedral. In this image, the Mother of God with her head covered holds her hands below the Infant without clothes. The iconographic type of the icon is “Immaculata” (“Most Pure”).
The famous miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary " Assistance in childbirth"was revealed in the town of Serpukhov near Moscow in 1993. Image " Assistance in childbirth» located in the cathedral cathedral in the name of (or “consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas”, or simply “the Cathedral of St. Nicholas”) St. Nicholas (“Nicholas the White”), where every Saturday a prayer service with blessing of water is performed before her. In 2005, the icon “Helper in Childbirth” from the second half of the 18th century was found in Khabarovsk. The revered icon “Helper in Childbirth” is also in Moscow in the Transfiguration Church on Bolvanovka.

The celebration of the icon of the Mother of God “Help in Childbirth” takes place on January 8 (December 26, old style). The Feast of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which falls on this day, is also popularly known as “Woman’s porridge.” In Rus' it was the day of midwives, midwives and women in labor.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her icon called “ Assistance in childbirth»
Accept, Lady Theotokos, the tearful prayers of Your servants who flow to You. We see you in the holy icon, carrying Your Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in your womb. Even if you gave birth to Him painlessly, even though the mother weighed the sorrow and infirmity of the sons and daughters of human beings. With the same warmth falling upon Thy whole-bearing image, and kissing this tenderly, we pray to Thee, all-merciful Lady: to give birth to us sinners condemned in illness and to nourish our children in sorrow, mercifully spare and compassionately intercede, but our babies, who also gave birth to them, from a serious illness and deliver from bitter sorrow. Grant them health and well-being, and their nourishment will increase in strength, and those who feed them will be filled with joy and consolation, for even now, through Your intercession from the mouth of the child and those who exist, the Lord will bring His praise.
O mother of the Son of God! Have mercy on the mother of the sons of men and on Your weak people: quickly heal the illnesses that befall us, quench the sorrows and sorrows that are upon us, and do not despise the tears and sighs of Your servants. Hear us on the day of sorrow who fall before Your icon, and on the day of joy and deliverance accept the grateful praise of our hearts. Offer our prayers to the throne of Your Son and our God, may He be merciful to our sin and weakness and add His mercy to those who lead His name, as we and our children will glorify You, the merciful Intercessor and the faithful Hope of our race, forever and ever. .

Every birth is a miracle: about the effective assistance to women of the image of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth”

Since ancient times, in moments of suffering during the birth of children, women have resorted with especially fervent prayer to the Savior and His Most Pure Mother. In pious families, even in our time, you can see the icon of the Mother of God, called the “Helper in Childbirth.” On this icon, the Blessed Virgin is depicted standing tall and raising her hands to the mountain, with the Child at her breasts, as in the icon of the Sign.

Mothers bow before this icon in fervent prayers, calling for help to the blessed Virgin Mary, who painlessly gave birth to Christ the Savior. Mothers call to Her in a terrible moment full of mystery, believing that She is a strong Intercessor and Helper of all those who suffer and are burdened before God. Celebrating the image of “Assistant in Childbirth”. takes place on December 26 / January 8, the day of the Council of the Most Holy Theotokos, together with another icon of the Mother of God “Blessed Womb” that is close to it in spiritual meaning.

Many who resort to the Queen of Heaven receive from Her consolation and help in sorrows and illnesses. Her all-powerful intercession gives a successful outcome to the resolution of all illnesses and suffering. They prayerfully appeal to the Mother of God and the Son with a request for a successful outcome of childbirth, the birth of a healthy baby, and the granting of strength to endure the pains of childbirth.

Women in labor themselves, their husbands, and pious relatives pray to the Mother of God and Her miraculous image “Helper in Childbirth.”

Obstetrician-gynecologist Lyudmila Nikolaevna Koval, who has been helping women for more than 20 years, shares her experience. Lyudmila Nikolaevna works at the Ratnovsky central district hospital in the Volyn region. She came to our Center “Family in Joy” for a seminar on Orthodox psychology, where she shared with us her experience of faith.

“When I teach classes on preparation for childbirth, I always tell women and their relatives that the most effective help in childbirth is prayer. We are a believing, Orthodox people. I show the icon “Helper in Childbirth”. And many women in childbirth turn to the Mother of God, the intercessor for all Christians, for help. When contractions are not yet active, they sing the prayer “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice...”. If relatives are involved in the birth, they also prayerfully ask for the woman in labor and the child, and with faith read the Akathist to the Mother of God to her image, “Helper in Childbirth.” Through the prayer of the mother and father, a healthy child is born, with less pain for the mother.

It happens that a problem arises during childbirth, for example, the process of dilation of the cervix is delayed, then all together - I, the doctor and the woman - pray to the Mother of God. The icon “Helper in Childbirth” is always with me in the delivery room; often women themselves bring this image with them to the maternity hospital. And the Most Holy Theotokos comes to the rescue, the birth takes place naturally, without complications, the mother rejoices, the father rejoices, and I rejoice along with them.

Every birth is a miracle: how wisely and amazingly the Lord created man! As a doctor, obstetrician-gynecologist with many years of experience, I can say that many times through prayers to the Mother of God to our Lord Jesus Christ, women and their newborn children received help. And I thank you for being able to witness it. Most Holy Theotokos, save us!”

Troparion to the Icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth”, tone 4

The faces of angels serve You reverently, / and all the Powers of Heaven with silent voices please You, / Helper in childbirth, / we earnestly pray to You, Mother of God, / that you may abide in the glory of the Lord, / through the icon You have revealed / and may the radiant ray of glory of Your miracles / delight from the darkness, praying to You with faith, // and crying out to God: Alleluia.

Prayers to the icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth”

First prayer

Accept, Lady Theotokos, the tearful prayers of Your servants who flow to You. We see you in the holy icon, carrying Your Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in your womb. Even if you gave birth to Him painlessly, even though the mother weighed the sorrow and infirmity of the sons and daughters of human beings. With the same warmth falling upon Thy whole-bearing image, and kissing this tenderly, we pray to Thee, all-merciful Lady: to give birth to us sinners condemned in illness and to nourish our children in sorrow, mercifully spare and compassionately intercede, but our babies, who also gave birth to them, from a serious illness and deliver from bitter sorrow. Grant them health and well-being, and their nourishment will increase in strength, and those who feed them will be filled with joy and consolation, for even now, through Your intercession from the mouth of a baby and those who piss, the Lord will bring His praise. O Mother of the Son of God! Have mercy on the mother of the sons of men and on Your weak people: quickly heal the illnesses that befall us, quench the sorrows and sorrows that are upon us, and do not despise the tears and sighs of Your servants. Hear us on the day of sorrow who fall before Your icon, and on the day of joy and deliverance accept the grateful praise of our hearts. Offer our prayers to the throne of Your Son and our God, may He be merciful to our sin and weakness and add His mercy to those who lead His name, as we and our children will glorify You, the merciful Intercessor and the faithful Hope of our race, forever and ever. .

Second prayer

Oh, Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos, who never leaves us in earthly life! To whom will I offer prayers, to whom will I bring tears and sighs, if not to You, Comfort to all the faithful! With fear, faith, love, Mother of the Belly, I pray: May the Lord enlighten Orthodox people to salvation, may He allow us to give birth to children for You and Your Son to please You, may He keep us in the purity of humility, in the hope of salvation in Christ, and grant us all, in the veils of Thy grace, earthly consolation. Keep us under the canopy of Thy mercy, Most Pure One, help those who pray for childbirth, turn away the slander of evil freedom, grave troubles, misfortunes and deaths. Grant us grace-filled insight, a spirit of contrition for sins, grant us to see all the height and purity of Christ’s teaching given to us; protect us from disastrous alienation. May we all, who gratefully praise Thy greatness, be worthy of Heavenly tranquility and there with Thy beloved, with all the saints, let us glorify the One God in the Trinity: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The article was prepared by: Priest Alexander Pchelnikov, cleric of the Church of All Saints.

Ivanna Bratus, head of the family development center “Family in Joy”.

St. Nicholas Cathedral in Serpukhov

WITH Among the architectural monuments of late classicism in the city of Serpukhov, the Church of St. Nicholas Bely indisputably occupies first place both in artistic merit and in its urban planning significance (it serves as the main high-rise dominant for an entire area of old, historically developed buildings).

N Ikolsky Church on Kaluzhskaya Street has a long and complex construction history. It was originally made of wood. He appears as such in documents of the 16th - early 17th centuries. (in particular, in the inventories of the city of Serpukhov in 1552 and 1620). “Only the church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in 1649 was already made of stone, which is why they began to call it St. Nicholas the White... It was the first stone church in the city and in the suburb, a second similar church was built in the village in honor of the Myrrh-bearing wives, then the third stone church became the Trinity Cathedral in 1696,” we read in the History of Serpukhov by P. Simson.

IN It was suggested that architects from Yaroslavl took part in the construction of the first stone church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the predecessor of the current one. It is based on the closeness of the compositional structure of the building, which can be understood from the surviving ancient drawing, with the characteristic features of Yaroslavl religious buildings of the 17th century.

IN In 1713, a decree was issued on the construction of a stone church in honor of St. Nicholas. The initiator of the construction was the clerk of the Zemskaya hut of the city of Serpukhov, Mikhail Popov. Already in March 1721, Mikhail Popov writes: “...and now, according to my promise, I built a stone church instead of that dilapidated church and made the top of that church according to the order.” The temple was consecrated that same year.

X The frame was then a quadrangle crowned with one chapter with an altar extension, which had symmetrically located hipped roofs above the altar and deacon. The building was made of hewn blocks of local limestone. This is where the generally accepted local name of the temple comes from - Nikola Bely. In this form the monument existed until the 30s. XIX centuries

IN In 1831, a project for rebuilding the church building was drawn up. Design drawings with facades and sections signed by Architect Tamansky and Architect Shestakov have been preserved. Since the initials of both architects are absent in the signatures on the drawing sheets, the question arises of identifying these individuals with certain “stone craftsmen” who are known to historians of Russian architecture.

IN collected by M.V. Dyakonov’s materials for the dictionary of architects of the 18th-19th centuries who worked in Moscow and the Moscow region contain data on three Tamanskys and six Shestakovs. However, upon closer acquaintance with the biographies of all of them, it is possible to find out that only two of them could put their signatures under the design drawings preserved in the archive in 1831: Fyodor Mikhailovich Shestakov (born in 1787 and died in 1836; academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts, who designed many religious buildings for Moscow, Kolomna, Dmitrov, etc.) and Ivan Trofimovich Tamansky (born in 1775, died in 1850; student of M.F. Kazakov; worked mainly in Moscow, but often sent on business to various places in the Moscow province).

IN In 1835, construction began on the now existing Church of St. Nicholas with the chapels of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and St. Kirill of Beloezersky.

IN erected in 1835-1857. The Church of St. Nicholas Bely is an excellent example of the Moscow Empire style. It is built of brick and plastered, and has white stone details in its external decor. A powerful quadrangle with one apse and two side porches carries a large domed rotunda. The four-pillar refectory and multi-tiered bell tower adjacent to the main volume from the west underwent some changes during their construction compared to the project.

P After the revolution of 1917, liturgical life in the Church of St. Nicholas the Bely was not immediately interrupted. The fact that Saint Tikhon visited the temple on June 2, 1924 is noteworthy. It was he, the All-Russian Patriarch, who awarded the temple the status of a Cathedral, after which the importance of St. Nicholas the Bely in the city increased. In 1928, during the church schism, the department of the Bishop of Serpukhov Manuel (Lemeshevsky) who fought against him was located in St. Nicholas Cathedral. It is also known that after the closure of the Vladychny Convent, the image of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice”, revered in the city, was located precisely in the Church of St. Nicholas the Bely. However, it too suffered the same fate as many churches in Serpukhov; in 1929 it was closed. According to the stories of old-timers, the icons of the cathedral were demolished on the river. Nara and burned on its ice.

N hostility towards the church, blasphemously cultivated in people by the new government, made itself felt here too: the bell tower, which had risen majestically over the city since the middle of the 19th century, was partially destroyed, the image of St. Nicholas on the outer wall of the church was constantly subjected to desecration. But as residents of the houses adjacent to the temple who observed this desecration say, every time the next morning the image of the holy miracle worker was renewed, revealing God’s power and as if predicting new life for the desecrated cathedral.

IN In some ways, the cathedral turned out to be happier than other churches. For some time it housed a city pasta factory, which may have saved it from final destruction. During the war, laundries were set up here. Recently, before the opening, the temple premises were used by the civil defense headquarters for chemical purposes. warehouse, which was placed in the cathedral at the insistence of the chairman of the city Executive Committee S. N. Kudryakov with the main goal - to avoid the demolition of the temple, and there were such proposals!

IN On the eve of the 1000th anniversary of the baptism of Rus', the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Bely, as the brightest architectural monument, was talked about again. Among the plans for using the temple, the possibility of turning it into a concert hall was considered. But by the grace of God in 1995 it was returned to the believers as a courtyard of the Vysotsky Monastery, and since 1998 - a parish church. In 1995, during the stay of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' in Serpukhov, the city administration presented the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church with the keys to the temple. In 1999, bells were purchased with funds from benefactors, the city administration and citizens. The bell, weighing 1380 kg, has four icon-stamps: the Savior, the Mother of God, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the image of the heavenly patron of the Administrator of the Moscow Diocese, His Eminence Juvenalius, Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna - St. Juvenalius, Patriarch of Jerusalem. A 300-pound gospel message sounds in the restored bell tower.

WITH In 2002, the Stromalians company, part of the SU-155 Group of Companies, began to restore the Cathedral. In 2003, a native of the city of Serpukhov, benefactor Mikhail Balakin, donated a bell weighing 5 tons to the temple, cast especially for the Serpukhov Cathedral by Yaroslavl craftsmen.

Z and in recent years, in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Bely, in addition to the main altar, four more side altars have been restored and equipped: in the name of St. Alexy of Moscow, St. Kirill of Beloezersk, the new martyrs and confessors of Serpukhov and the icon of the Mother of God “Help to Childbirth.” Much has been done to improve the temple grounds. At night, St. Nicholas the Bely Cathedral seems to be bathed in light flowing along the walls and windows, and like a lit candle it shines throughout the city.

ABOUT The interior painting of the cathedral is worthy of special attention. The vault of the dome depicts the entire earthly history, starting from the eternal council of the Holy Trinity on the creation of the world, the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets, teachers of the Church, to Russian saints and martyrs. Sunlight illuminates the temple, passing between the images of the holy apostles, reminiscent of the true Sun - Jesus Christ. Among the icons of the Savior and His Most Pure Mother, there are a host of Russian saints: saints and noble princes, warriors and monks and, of course, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in a hagiographic depiction of his miracles. Temple painting is the bible in colors. The eternal book leading to salvation is revealed to believers in the Serpukhov Cathedral.

IN The majestic royal doors of the main altar are crowned with an arched canopy, on which there are icons of Holy Week: Palm Resurrection, the betrayal of Judas, the unrighteous trial of a worldly ruler, crucifixion, burial and, finally, the Holy Resurrection.

IN In memory of the six new martyrs - residents of Serpukhov, one of the chapels was consecrated in the cathedral. But not only painting and architecture were revived in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas Bely: full-fledged parish life was also restored here. Today the cathedral has a public library and two Sunday schools: for children and for adults. The clergy of the cathedral takes care of the Serpukhov Military Institute, a pre-trial detention center and an orphanage and boarding school, pedagogical and humanitarian colleges...

IN In the cathedral there is a miraculous image of the Mother of God “Helping Childbirth”, before which prayers are performed with an akathist compiled by the rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Vladimir Andreev, as well as locally revered images of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Great Martyr Panteleimon, the Martyr Bonifatius, the new martyrs and confessors of Serpukhov.

In this article:

In the old days, the process of childbirth was mystical and unknown. Perhaps this is why many rituals and ceremonies arose and have been preserved to this day before the birth of a baby. Traditionally, the woman in labor and people close to her read the Great Akathist, asking the Most Pure Virgin Mary to ease her pain and send down the blessing of the Lord.

Help for women giving birth, pregnant women and planning

In our age of high technology and high-profile medical discoveries, scientists cannot fully explore all the intricacies of the birth of a person. Modern believing women, just like their grandmothers, ask the Lord for help in childbirth. In Orthodoxy, the Most Holy Theotokos is considered the patroness of motherhood.
In Rus', an icon was hung in a pregnant woman’s room, which later received the name “Helper in Childbirth.” Modern women also read prayers to the Blessed Virgin. There is an opinion that after praying to this icon, childbirth proceeds favorably even with a complicated pregnancy. Despite the name “Assistant in Childbirth,” not only expectant mothers, but also women planning a child are interested in the icon. They say that many manage to see the coveted stripes on the dough after praying in front of the icon.

The history of the image

Unfortunately, cultural and art historians cannot establish where the original icon is currently located. The history of its creation is also shrouded in darkness.

Variations of the icon

There are two canonical versions of the icon. In the first, the Mother of God is depicted in full growth with her hands raised to the sky in prayer, among which the image of the infant Christ can be seen.

The second is also called the Serpukhov Icon, due to the place where it was discovered and stored. On it, the Mother of God, contrary to the canons, is depicted with her head uncovered. This detail suggests that the icon was painted rather in the West. The Blessed Virgin, dressed in a red robe with a golden tint, folded her hands in prayer, with the fingers of her right hand half covering the fingers of her left hand. The baby Jesus is depicted under the mother's palms. This image was discovered in the city of Serpukhov in 1993, and to this day pilgrims with akathists visit the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which currently houses the “Helper in Childbirth.”

Miraculous image

The icon is considered miraculous. Every Saturday a prayer service is held in the cathedral, where a special akathist is heard.
An elderly woman donated the icon to the cathedral during Lent. And from that moment her miraculous story began.
In 1998, Archpriest Vladimir Andreev shared stories of people after visiting the cathedral and praying to the “Helper in Childbirth” icon:

The long-awaited miracle

The doctors shook their heads sadly and threw up their hands. Galina and her husband
Igor has already experienced six miscarriages. The seventh pregnancy had complications and a constant threat of miscarriage.

Throughout the entire period, the young people read prayers, the expectant mother drank holy water, and finally, the birth was successful, and a healthy girl was born.

Change in fetal position

The following case is considered unique not only by the clergy, but also by the workers of the Serpukhov maternity hospital. By the end of the term, the young woman’s fetus was positioned upside down and required hospitalization, which was already scheduled for Monday. On Saturday, the pregnant woman visited the temple and prayed to the icon, after which, at a doctor’s appointment, it turned out that the baby had changed position and it was no longer advisable for the expectant mother to be in the hospital. Such a case cannot be called anything other than a miracle.

Prayers to the Mother of God

Before the icon of the Mother of God they read the prayer “Helper”, in which they call upon the Holy Virgin to ask the Lord for forgiveness of sins and the salvation of Souls:

« Most Holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, who weighed the birth and nature of mother and child, have mercy on Thy servant (name) and help at this hour so that her burden may be resolved safely. O all-merciful Lady Theotokos, even though You did not require help in the birth of the Son of God, grant help to this Thy servant, who requires help, especially from You. Grant her blessings at this hour, and grant her the birth of a child and bring her into the light of this world at the right time and the gift of intelligent light in holy baptism with water and spirit. We bow down to you, Mother of the Most High God, praying: be merciful to this mother, when the time has come for her to be a mother, and beg Christ our God, who has become incarnate from you, to strengthen you with His power from above. Amen.»

Prayer to the Mother of God “Helper in childbirth”

The image of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” also belongs to the iconographic type of Immaculata, which translates as “pure, unsullied.” “Help in childbirth” (another name for the icon) is especially necessary for women who pray for a successful birth. It also helps those who want to get rid of infertility.

Origin and meaning

Historical path Icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” unknown to anyone. There is also no information about the location of the original.

It was the Mother of God who was always prayed for help in any matter related to childbirth, who herself became the Mother of the Baby Jesus, and then saw the death and Resurrection of her Son. She is the one who can understand the pain and experiences of a pregnant woman or a woman who wants to give birth, and also provide her with the necessary protection.

History of acquisition

During Great Lent, Archpriest Vladimir Andreev gave communion to an old woman at home, who was very happy with the news that the parish of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Serpukhov would be revived. In honor of this event, she handed over to the archpriest a salary previously stored in the attic. The image was framed by a sooty robe, but after the layers of many years of dust were cleaned off by restorers, the face of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” was revealed.

After this, the icon became the cause of many miraculous events that were witnessed and described by Vladimir Andreev, and in order to see it, pilgrims from all over the world began to flock to Serpukhov.

Description

In the canonical version Icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” has two different options:

The Mother of God stands at full height, her hands raised to the sky in prayer. In front of her (at chest level) is the Infant of God.
The head of the Blessed Virgin is uncovered, slightly tilted, and her hair is loose (given this subtlety, many believe that the origin of this variant is Western). The color of the outer garment is red with a golden tint. Stars are sometimes depicted on the shoulders. The lower garments are dark green (also gilded). The fingers of the right hand partially overlap the fingers of the left. Below the Virgin’s folded palms is the Savior. His right hand is extended in a gesture of blessing, and his fingers are folded so as to form a monogram of his (Jesus Christ) name, composed of the letters of the Greek alphabet. The Infant God holds his left hand on his knee. The image as a whole is placed on a crescent moon.

In addition to these two established types of image, there are many others that differ in detail and style of writing.

Where is

In Russia, it is quite difficult to find a “Childbirth Assistant”. The acquisition of one of the lists occurred not so long ago - in 1993. It was transferred to Serpukhov, to the St. Nicholas Cathedral and it was placed in the chapel of the Mother of God “Help to Childbirth”. It is believed that this image has miraculous powers and helps in case of complications during pregnancy or infertility.

You can also see image lists in:

Church of the Transfiguration on Bolvanovka (Moscow);
Krasnoselsky Church of All Saints (Moscow);
Izmailovsky Holy Trinity Cathedral (St. Petersburg);
Church of the Nativity (Ekaterinburg).

What to pray for

According to the name Icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” you need to ask for a safe delivery. It gives expectant mothers peace of mind and hope, and helps give birth to healthy children, despite the disappointing forecasts of doctors. Some, through diligent prayers, were able to achieve a cure for infertility and waited until pregnancy occurred.

In addition, she should pray that:

the pregnancy was generally easier;
the child has taken the correct position;
facilitate the course of childbirth;
cope with depression and fears that are common in pregnant women;
gain vigor and strength of spirit;
gain hope that all hardships will be resolved safely.

Having found the spiritual strength and support of the Mother of God, any woman will be able to cope with the difficulties of childbearing and even feel joy from them. There are special prayers to contact her, but it is not at all necessary to know them, the main thing is to ask the Virgin for help from the bottom of your heart and then she will hear.

Day of veneration: January 8/December 26 (new/old style). On the same day, the day of the icon of the Mother of God “Blessed Womb”, which is close in meaning, is celebrated.