The icon of unexpected joy means what helps. Icon of unexpected joy

Celebration: December 9 (old style) - December 22 ( new style), May 1 (old style) - May 14 (new style)

The ancient miraculous icon of the Virgin "Unexpected Joy" - one of the shrines of Moscow is located in the Church of the Prophet Elijah the Ordinary. The time and place of origin of the prototype are unknown.

Currently icon Mother of God"Unexpected Joy" enjoys great reverence among believers, lists from the image are in almost every Orthodox church, although the distribution of the holy icon in Moscow began in the middle of the 19th century.

The icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" is named in memory of the healing of a certain sinner through the holy icon with the prayers of the Most Pure Theotokos.

The history of this icon is told by St. Demetrius of Rostov in his creation “Irrigated Fleece”. According to legend, one robber, spending his life in sins, however, used to pray for a long time before the image of the Mother of God, asking him to help him in his affairs.
Each time he began his prayer with the Archangel greeting: “Rejoice, Blessed One!” One day, when he was about to go on a sinful deed, during a prayer a sudden strong fear attacked him, and he saw that the Mother of God and the Child appeared before him alive. Christ opened wounds on his arms, legs and side, and blood began to flow from them, as during the Crucifixion. The robber was horrified and exclaimed: “Oh, Lady! Who did it? The Mother of God answered him: “You and other sinners; you again crucify with your sins, like the Jews of old, my Son.” The astonished robber began to pray to the Mother of God to have mercy on him.
Then, in front of his eyes, She began to ask Christ to forgive him his sins, but He refused. Then the Most Holy Theotokos descended from her throne and wanted to fall at the feet of the Infant. "What do you want to do, my mother!" the Son exclaimed. “I will remain at Your feet with this sinner,” She answered, “until You forgive him of his sins.” Christ said: “The law commands every son to honor his mother; and justice requires that the legislator should also be the executor of the law. I am Your Son and You are My Mother. I must honor You by doing what You implore Me to do. Be as you wish. Now his sins are forgiven for Your sake. And as a token of forgiveness, let him kiss My wounds.” Then the shocked sinner stood up and touched his lips to the sores of Christ, open on the icon. With this, the vision ended, and it did not go in vain for the person: from that time on, he corrected himself and began to live pleasing to God.
Shocked to the depths of the soul, with contrite hearts, the man prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos to be his Intercessor before God and Intercessor for the forgiveness of his sins. That man realized the depth of his fall and, with the help of God, left his sinful life. Until the end of his days, with tears and gratitude, he prayed to the Mother of God, through whose intercession he received the unexpected joy of repentance and forgiveness of sins from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This image, very revered in Orthodox Moscow, is in almost every church in the city.

Icon type unexpected joy" refers to Hodegetria - a guide to Christ. It depicts a sinner kneeling in front of an icon. Holy Mother of God and stretches out his hands to her with a plea for mercy. Sometimes from his mouth, in the form of ribbons, icon painters depicted the text of prayers addressed to Her. It turns out an icon in an icon: the Mother of God holds Her Son on her left hand, and the Christ Child raised His little hands up. The face of the Virgin is turned to the sinner. Below the image is an inscription that tells the story of the sinner's salvation...

Hodegetria "Unexpected Joy" once again testifies that everyone who wants to be forgiven sincerely will be forgiven. Moreover, in the story about the icon it is said that the repentant sinner prayed for the granting of a vision of his sins, and this does not mean that he was going to lead a vicious life again. Any person is sinful - such is our dual nature, but if sin suddenly comes true due to human weakness, then, having seen him in person, we get the opportunity to repent and, possibly, complete repentance, which will become another step of salvation in the spirit.

This image has many lists that have spread throughout Russia. He is glorified by miracles, revered and loved everywhere, because Unexpected Joy is the Mother of God Herself, immensely loving, relentlessly abiding in prayer before Her Divine Son for the whole human race, not leaving people without hope for the forgiveness of the most serious sins, giving the unexpected joy of meeting, faith , love.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Many, with faith and love, resorting to the help of the Most Holy Theotokos, receive through this icon the unexpected joy of forgiveness of sins and grace-filled consolation. This icon awakens in every believer a consoling faith in the help of the Queen of Heaven and through Her in the mercy of the Lord in all our affairs, as well as in prayer for children.

Days of celebration of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" - May 14 and December 22.

Source: hram-troicy.prihod.ru

Prayer of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Unexpected Joy

O Blessed Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Patroness of the city of Moscow, all those who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses, Faithful to the Representative and Intercessor! Receive this prayer singing from us, unworthy Thy servants, lifted up to Thee, and like a sinner of old, praying many times before Your honest icon every day, Thou didst not despise, but Thou didst give him unexpected joy and bowed Thy Son to Him with many and zealous petitions for the forgiveness of this sinner and erring one, so now do not despise the prayers of us, Your unworthy servants, and implore Your Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness, bowing before Your wholesome image, He will give unexpected joy for everyone: a sinner mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-powerful admonition, repentance and salvation; those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; those who find themselves in troubles and bitterness - these perfect renunciations; cowardly and unreliable - hope and patience; in joy and abundance to those who live - incessant thanksgiving to the Benefactor; distressed - mercy; those who are in sickness and long-sickness and abandoned by doctors - unforeseen healing and strengthening; dependent on the illness of the mind - the mind return and renewal; departing into eternal and endless life - the memory of death, tenderness and contrition for sins, the spirit is cheerful and firm hope for the mercy of the Judge. O Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor Your all-honorable name, and reveal to all Your almighty cover and intercession; keep in piety, purity and honest living until their last end in goodness; do evil good; guide those who have gone astray to the right path; To every good work and to Your Son, please, advance; destroy every evil and ungodly deed; in perplexity and difficult and dangerous circumstances, those who receive invisible help and admonition from Heaven sent down; save from temptations, temptations and death; from evil people and protect and preserve from enemies visible and invisible; float floating; traveling travel; be the Nurse who exists in need and hunger; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, wake up cover and refuge; give a robe to the naked; offended and unjustly persecuted - intercession; slander, reproach and blasphemy of the sufferer invisibly justify; slanderers and detractors in front of all guise; grant an unexpected reconciliation to those fiercely hostile, and to all of us for each other love, peace and piety and health with long life. Keep marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses, in enmity and division of existence, die, unite me to each other and put them an indestructible union of love; mother, children giving birth, give permission soon; raise babies; young chaste, open their minds to the perception of any useful teaching, instruct the fear of God, abstinence and industriousness; From domestic strife and enmity of consanguineous people, protect the world and love. Motherless orphans, wake up the Mother, from all vice and filth, I turn away and teach everything good and pleasing to God, seduced into sin and impurity fallen, having taken away the filth of sin, from the abyss of death lead. Wake up the widow's Comforter and Helper, wake up the rod of old age, deliver us all from sudden death without repentance, and all of us the Christian death of our belly, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the terrible Judgment of Christ grant. Having reposed in faith and repentance from this life with the Angels and all the saints, create life, who died a sudden death, be merciful to be Your Son, and for all the dead, who do not have relatives, for the repose of their Son of Your begging, Be yourself an unceasing and warm Prayer and Intercessor Yes, all in Heaven and on earth lead Thee, as a firm and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and, leading, glorify Thee and Thy Son, with His Beginningless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, tone 4:
Today, faithful people spiritually triumph, glorifying the Intercessor of the zealous Christian race and flowing to Her Most Pure Image, we cry out to the mother: O Gracious Lady Theotokos, give us unexpected joy, burdened with sins and many sorrows, and deliver us from all evil, praying to Your Son, Christ our God, save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 6:
Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, unless You, the Lady, help us, we hope in You and we boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.

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Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of the icon of Her "Unexpected Joy"

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

The icon is named so in memory of the healing of one sinner. A certain lawless person spent his life in sins, but he used to bow before the image of the Mother of God and bring her the Archangel greeting: “Rejoice, Blessed One! The Lord is with you." Somehow, when he was about to go on a sinful deed, he, without even thinking about his blasphemous deed, again turned to the Mother of God with a prayer. Suddenly, fear and trembling seized him: the Mother of God appeared alive on the icon, and the Divine Infant had ulcers on his arms, legs and side, and blood flowed from there.

Falling to the ground, the sinner cried out: “O Lady, who did this?” “You and other sinners,” the Mother of God answered him, “are again crucifying My Son. You call Me merciful, why do you offend Me with your lawless deeds?” Shocked to the depths of the soul, with a contrite heart, the repentant sinner prayed to God for the forgiveness of his sins and asked the Mother of God to beg His Son to forgive him.

Since then, the former sinner began to live a pure and God-pleasing life. So the Mother of God gave the sinner the already unexpected joy of forgiveness and forgiveness of sins, and these events served as an occasion for writing the image “Unexpected Joy”. It depicts a man on his knees praying in front of the image of the Mother of God with Her Eternal Child. Under the image are usually placed the first words of the story "A certain lawless man ..."

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Surviving miraculous lists of the Unexpected Joy icon are known, for example, in Moscow churches: in the church of the Prophet Elijah in Ordinary Lane and in the church in honor of the Unexpected Joy Icon of the Mother of God in Maryina Grove.

The iconography of the icon arose on the basis of the story of St. Demetrius of Rostov about the robber who received the unexpected joy of the forgiveness of sins, included in his essay “Irrigated Fleece”, dedicated to the glorification of the icon of the Mother of God from the Chernigov Eliinsky Monastery (published in Chernigov in 1680). In accordance with the story, the icon depicts a kneeling sinner in front of the image of the Mother of God with the Christ Child in her arms. Under the image of the Mother of God on the pedestal, a text from the story is written, beginning with the words: "A certain lawless man ...".

The miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" was in the royal rooms of the Kremlin Palace. After 1817, it was transferred to the Church of the Annunciation in Zhitny Dvor near the Kremlin wall; the icon became one of the most famous Moscow shrines.

After the church was closed in 1918, the icon was saved by believers. The now venerated icon "Unexpected Joy" from the Church of Elijah the Prophet in Ordinary Lane in Moscow, probably comes from the Church of the Annunciation on Zhitny Dvor (according to another version, from the Church of Constantine and Helena near the Kremlin wall).

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

celebration

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Prayer before the icon

Prayer in front of the icon and knowledge of the events that are associated with the birth of the image inspire a person to a moral rebirth, and prayer for loved ones helps to find unexpected joy for the desperate and gives hope for a sudden joyful deliverance from troubles and sorrows, if they are present in their lives.

By her holy intercession through our prayers before the icon of Her “Unexpected Joy”, the Mother of God protects us from all the sorrows and troubles that may be in our life, because, as it is said in the kontakion (see the section “How to pray before the icon”), we do not another hope, another help, besides Her. Unexpected joy - one that we no longer expected, did not look forward to. The icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, a prayer to the Mother of God in front of her will protect against diseases, especially those associated with hearing, and here we mean hearing not only physical, but also spiritual - as far as we hear the Lord and His answer to prayers through the Mother of God and the saints.
Yes, and from many misfortunes will protect prayer appeal to the Mother of God in front of the icon "Unexpected Joy". This list of sorrows is expressed in a lengthy, penetrating prayer to Her. In all sorrows - the separation of spouses, lost relatives, in deprivation, in salvation from slanderous slander, in all difficult situations, you can ask the Mother of God in front of Her icon "Unexpected Joy" for protection. For example, when praying for those who sail on the sea or for those who travel on land in any difficult conditions, you should ask Her icon “Unexpected Joy” to protect them from dangers, ask for their speedy and successful return.

Prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected joy" helps to find peace of mind and inner spiritual strength. As Marina Ivanovna Tsvetaeva wrote in "Poems about Moscow":

To Unexpected Joy in the Garden
I am a guest of a foreign cvedu.

The red ones will gleam the domes,
Sleepless bells will ring

And at you from the crimson clouds
The Virgin Mary will drop the cover,

And you will rise, full of wondrous powers...
“You won’t repent that you loved me.

Prayer in front of this icon helps to get everything that we have longed for, which we no longer expected to receive, each according to his own desire: for a priest, this can be the repentance of a sinner in the flock and the salvation of his soul, for those who pray for the forgiveness of sins - forgiveness. It helps parents in cases where it is necessary to reason with children who have fallen out of hand, who have gone down a vicious path. At the request of people, someone finds lost loved ones, someone reconciles with those with whom reconciliation seems already impossible, and much, much more happens, even an apparent failure can turn into a happy event.

It is believed that prayer before the icon "Unexpected Joy" helps in healing from diseases, especially those associated with deafness. Here, believers subconsciously associate physical deafness with spiritual deafness, with the loss of moral guidelines, which obviously manifests itself at the bodily level.

Also, a prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” helps to find just such joy, the most amazing, because it is unexpected, sudden. It is known that during the Great Patriotic War, many women in the rear prayed in front of this icon (there is information about this) for the men of their family who were missing, and others even for the fallen, after the funeral. And there was an unexpected joy - the information about the death turned out to be erroneous, the fighter returned home.
Many believers know: ask Her icon “Unexpected Joy” for everything that the soul grieves for, and She, the Intercessor, helps everyone who flows with faith and prayer, even in what seems already almost impossible, returning lost hopes.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Troparion, tone 4

Today, faithful people spiritually triumph, glorifying the Intercessor of the zealous Christian race and flowing to Her Most Pure Image, we cry out to the mother: O Gracious Lady Theotokos, give us unexpected joy, burdened with sins and many sorrows, and deliver us from all evil, praying to Your Son, Christ our God, save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 6

Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, unless You, the Lady, help us, we hope in You and we boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.

Prayer one

Oh, Blessed Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Patroness of this city and holy temple, all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses, faithful to the Intercessor and Intercessor! Receive this prayer singing from us, Thy unworthy servants, lifted up to Thee, and like a sinner of old, praying many times before Your honest icon every day, Thou hast not despised, but Thou hast given him the unexpected joy of repentance and bowed Thy Son to many and zealous to him intercession for the forgiveness of this sinner and erring one, so now do not despise the prayers of us, Your unworthy servants, and implore Your Son and our God, and all of us with faith and tenderness bow before Your wholesome image, grant unexpected joy for everyone: a shepherd church - holy zeal for the salvation of the flock; for a sinner mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-powerful admonition, repentance and salvation; those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; those who find themselves in troubles and bitterness - these perfect renunciations; cowardly and unreliable - hope and patience; in the joy and contentment of the living - incessant thanksgiving to the Benefactor of God; distressed - mercy; existing in illness and long-term illness and abandoned by doctors - unintentional healing and strengthening; dependent on the illness of the mind - the mind return and renewal; departing into eternal and endless life - the memory of death, tenderness and contrition for sins, the spirit is cheerful and firm hope for God's mercy. Oh, Holy Lady!
Have mercy on all who honor Your Most Honorable Name, and reveal to all Your almighty cover and intercession; keep in piety, purity and honest living until their last end in goodness; do evil good; guide the one who has gone astray on the right path; To every good work and to Your Son, please, advance; destroy every evil and ungodly deed; in perplexity and difficult and dangerous circumstances, those who receive invisible help and admonition from heaven are sent down; save from temptations, temptations and death; protect and save from all evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; float floating; traveling travel; Be the Nourisher for those who are in need and gladness, Be the Cover and Refuge for those who do not have shelter and shelter; give a robe to the naked; offended and suffering from falsehood - intercession; slander, reproach and blasphemy enduring invisibly justify; slanderers and detractors in front of all guise; fiercely hostile, inadvertently give reconciliation, and all of us - love for each other, peace and piety and health with long life.
Keep marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses, in enmity and division of being, die, unite to each other and put them an indestructible union of love; mother, children giving birth, give permission soon; Raise babies, young ones be chaste, open your mind to the perception of any useful teaching, instruct the fear of God, abstinence and industriousness; From domestic strife and enmity of consanguineous people, protect the world and love.
Motherless orphans wake up Mother, from all vice and filth I turn away and teach everything good and pleasing to God; deceived and fallen into sin and impurity, having taken away the filth of sin, bring them out of the abyss of death.
Wake up the widows Comforter and Helper, wake up the wand of old age.
Deliver us all from sudden death without repentance, and to all of us the Christian death of our belly, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the terrible Judgment of Christ, grant.
Repose in faith and repentance from this life with the angels and make life with all the saints; who died a sudden death, be merciful to be Thy Son, and for all the departed, who do not have relatives, for the repose of their Son of Thy begging, Be yourself an unceasing and warm Prayer and Intercessor; Yes, they lead You to heaven and earth, as a firm and shameless Representative of the Christian race, glorify You and Your Son with His Beginningless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer two

Oh, Blessed Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Protector of this city, all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses, faithful to the Intercessor and Intercessor! Receive this prayer singing from us, Thy unworthy servants, lifted up to Thee: and like a sinner of old, praying many times before Your honest icon every day, Thou didst not despise, but Thou didst grant the unexpected joy of repentance, and with His zealous intercession to Your Son for the forgiveness of the sinner thou hast bowed thus, and now do not despise the prayers of us, unworthy thy servants, but implore thy Son and our God, and all of us, with faith and tenderness before the whole-bearing image of thy worshipers, according to whom, unexpected joy will grant: yes, all in heaven and on lands lead Thee, as a firm and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and this is leading, they glorify Thee and Thee, Thy Son with His Beginningless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever.
Amen. - Tuesday Bright Week, February 25, April 13, May 6, October 26
- April 16, January 13.
- 17 April.
- April 17, October 17.

Religious reading: an icon of unexpected joy, meaning and prayer to help our readers.

If God were just, say the holy fathers, we would not be able to hope for forgiveness. On the pages of the Old Testament Scriptures, the Lord appears as a formidable Judge and Revealer, punishing the slightest crime against the Law, and today the earth does not open up even under inveterate sinners. Why this happens is explained by an instructive story shown in a pictorial image known as the Unexpected Joy icon.

The miracles that come from miraculous icons are carefully studied and recorded. They also acted in the Holy Trinity Eliinsky Monastery near Chernigov. In 1662, the first miracle was recorded from the icon of the Mother of God, painted by monk Gennady. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Most Pure Virgin, holding the Divine Infant in her arms, for 10 days. All Chernihiv "looked with great horror" at the weeping Virgin.

The miracle of the Icon of the Mother of God of Ilyinsky-Chernigov became known and has come down to the present thanks to St. Dmitry of Rostov.

Interesting. St. Dmitry Rostovsky is a church writer and educator who has written many books, including the lives of the saints, sermons on faith and repentance, discourses on gospel stories and God's miracles.

Resurrection of the lad

Traveling through the monasteries of Little Russia, St. Dimitry wrote the book "Irrigated Fleece", based on stories about miracles from the Chernigov Mother of God. Instructions were included with the stories. One of the chapters, "The Dew of the Resurrection," tells of a youth who died suddenly. There was no illness or other reasons that spoke of the approach of death. The hieromonk of the Ilyinsky Monastery, who was then nearby, advised his parents to pray before the miraculous icon of Chernigov.

The parents went to the monastery and clung to the Intercessor. And a miracle happened: the child came to life. No one expected such happiness, although they believed in the mercy of the Virgin. To the story of the resurrection of the youth, which took place in April 1679, St. Dmitry attached a parable, on the basis of which the icon “Unexpected Joy” was painted.

Parable of St. Dimitri and writing a new image

A certain sinner used to pray Virgin with the words of the Angelic greeting “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”, setting off for your iniquity. Once, kneeling in front of the icon and about to say the usual prayer, he saw a terrible vision: blood flowed in streams from the legs and hands of the Divine Infant, and the Mother of God herself appeared to him as alive.

"Who did this, Mistress?" - the sinner shouted in horror. “You and those like you constantly hurt My Son, like the Jews on the Cross, with your iniquities,” answered the Mother of God. Instantly repentant, the man began to pray for forgiveness, but the Lord did not look in his direction. Then he called to the Mother of God: “May my sins not overcome your mercy, Mistress, ask the Lord for me!”

The Mother of God turned to the Son with a prayer for forgiveness for the sinner. The Lord answered Her, like a Son, with reverence: “I cannot forgive, for I endured his iniquity for a long time.” With fear, the petitioner who watched this completely despaired of his salvation. Then the Most Pure One stood up and wanted to fall on her knees before Christ: “I will lie at Your feet until this man receives forgiveness!” The Lord did not allow this to happen, saying that although He is God, He honors His Mother and is ready to fulfill Her prayers. The forgiven sinner rushed to kiss the sores of the Lord, which immediately healed and the vision ended.

After reading "Irrigated Fleece", an unknown artist painted an icon based on a parable where a man prays to the Mother of God, calling it "Unexpected (unexpected) joy."

The connection between the miracle and the parable is obvious: just as the parents of the deceased lad did not expect to see him alive, so the sinner from the parable did not expect forgiveness from the Lord. But through the prayers of the Intercessor of the Mother of God, everyone received what they asked for, which became for them "unexpected joy."

Meaning of images

The Lord, depicted as a Servant, does not hold a scroll in his hand, but shows his hands with traces of ulcers to a kneeling sinner. The tunic is thrown off, the wounds on the rib and legs are visible. According to the Gospel, Christ received four wounds when He was crucified on the cross, and the fifth, in the ribs, when the guards wanted to verify the death of the condemned.

On the old lists of the icon, there is always a thrown back veil in the background - a symbol of the church's royal gates, the heavenly entrance, opened ajar for the sinner. The red color of the veil is a symbol of resurrection.

The sinner himself is dressed in a green tunic. Green is the color of the earthly, human world. In such clothes they depicted the Old Testament prophets, who were righteous, but did not know Divine grace only foreseeing the coming of Christ. The praying sinner is not yet forgiven, but awaits forgiveness and renewal of life.

The inscriptions on the icon

In the field under the image of the Mother of God is placed the text of the parable, made in illegible Church Slavonic script. Usually placed initial words: “A certain lawless person has a daily rule to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos ...”, sometimes the name “Unexpected joy of the Most Holy Theotokos” is written.

It is believed that the word sanctifies the image, it must be entered into the composition. Due to the lack of space for the text, it is placed in a highly abbreviated form, symbolizing the entire inscription. On large images, the words of the sinner are sometimes written, “Oh, Lady, who did this?” and the answer of the Virgin "You and other sinners with your sins ...", in lines directed from the sinner to the Mother of God.

Location of the icons "Unexpected Joy" and miracles

Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv. Miraculous image of the XIX century. has been in the cathedral since the Great Patriotic War. The Mother of God and the Lord are depicted in royal crowns. Unfortunately, now the Vladimir Cathedral is in the hands of schismatics.
"Burning Bush" in Khamovniki (before the revolution). The oldest known list was kept here. In 1838, on Easter week, he miraculously healed a woman who suffered from complete deafness. Anisya Stepanova could not even hear the ringing of bells. After the prayer service to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, Anisya heard the singing of the Paschal troparion and her deafness disappeared. In 1930, the temple was destroyed, and the miraculous image was lost.
AT Tretyakov Gallery the unique icon “Unexpected Joy” (1st half of the 19th century) is kept, where the main picture is overlaid with 120 small images of other miraculous icons of the Virgin. The central image carries the main meaning: the Lord forgives sins through the prayer of the Mother of God - the Prayer and Intercessor for the human race.

Moscow, Church of Elijah the Ordinary. Here is an old icon in a beautiful metal frame, restored in 1959. Before the revolution, it was in one of the Kremlin churches, then the image was hidden from the renovationists. After the Great Patriotic War, "Unexpected Joy" was transferred to the temple of Ilya Obydenny. The robe of the icon is completely hung with rings and crosses brought by people who received healing from prayer in front of the icon.
Maryina Grove, Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy". This temple was built in 1904 and is dedicated to the Mother of God. The image itself (painted in the 19th century) appeared there later, numerous decorations on it spoke of former miracles, unfortunately not recorded. A symbolic event took place in the temple in 2003. A 90-year-old naval officer turned to the priest with a request for baptism. In a dream, he was commanded to be baptized and wait for death. The old man endured great post preparing for baptism. His death followed immediately after the Sacrament, in the temple itself.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, Ryazan. In the Transfiguration Cathedral of the monastery is "Unexpected Joy", recently famous for miracles. The mutilated icon was found and bought in the market by a resident of Moscow Georgy. After some time, misfortune befell him: he received a severe injury, which led to partial paralysis. Sincere prayers before the found image bore fruit, George got to his feet. Long time he did not want to part with his beloved icon, but finally decided to donate it to the Transfiguration Monastery of the Savior. The board and the paint layer were restored, and a carved kiot was made. During the stay of "Unexpected Joy" in the monastery, several cases of healing from eye disease, cancer and drunkenness were recorded.
Holy Trinity Cathedral in Odessa. During the Great Patriotic War, the cathedral closed by the Bolsheviks was reopened by the occupying authorities. At this time, from nowhere, the icon “Unexpected Joy” appeared in him. Interestingly, one of the aisles of the cathedral was consecrated in her name back in 1840. The parishioners of the temple were mostly women and children. Before the new image of the Virgin, they prayed for the return of their husbands and fathers from the front. Although there were no high-profile miracles, the icon is highly revered by the inhabitants of Odessa, they pray in front of it for the military who are in "hot spots".
Holy spring in Zhaysk, Nizhny Novgorod region. According to legend, this source in the XVIII century. the icon "Unexpected Joy" was found. Murom noble princes Peter and Fevronia were hiding here. At this place, the saints granted forgiveness to the inhabitants of Murom who expelled them, just as the Most Holy Theotokos forgave the repentant sinner. The source is located in a picturesque place, a chapel is built over it.

This is far from full list temples under the protection of the Queen of Heaven. In the 2000s, many churches were built in honor of "Unexpected Joy", charitable institutions are named after her, springs are consecrated. This image of the Virgin can be found as a revered icon in other churches.

Important. Before the image of the Virgin "Unexpected Joy" they pray in difficult life situations, when hope has dried up. During the war years, mothers prayed for their sons, for whom "funerals" were received, later it turned out that the letters were sent erroneously and the soldiers returned alive.

Nothing is impossible for the mercy of the Mother of God, but first of all, before prayer, you need to remember and realize your sins, from which the wounds of the Lord bleed.

What helps the icon "Unexpected Joy"?

Orthodox Church May 14, June 3 and December 22 celebrates the feast of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy". The first part of the image is a man standing in front of the icon, whose eyes and hands are turned to the Mother of God. It is located in the lower left corner. The image of the Mother of God herself belongs to the Hodegetria type. Below is usually either the beginning of the story about the miracle of St. Demetrius of Rostov, or part of the prayer to the icon "Unexpected Joy". The Divine Infant is depicted on the icon with open wounds on his body.

The History of the Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

The legend tells of the appearance of the Mother of God with the Divine Infant to a man. It was described by St. Rostov in his work Irrigated Fleece. The man suffered from a sin that he could not overcome in any way. After each violation of the promise, he asked for forgiveness from the icon of the Mother of God. One fine day, before committing a sin, the man again turned to the icon and, leaving, he noticed that the Mother of God turned her face towards him, and wounds appeared on the body of the Divine Infant, from which blood flowed. This event seriously affected the man, and he felt spiritual cleansing and forgot about his sin forever. This story became the basis for writing the famous icon.

The most famous image is located in the temple of Elijah the Prophet, which is located in Moscow. Several lists were made from this icon, which also showed their power and worked miracles. Every day people come to the image and turn to the Higher powers with their problems.

What helps the icon "Unexpected Joy"?

Throughout life, a person performs various actions and experiences feelings, for example, envy, anger, etc. All this negatively affects the internal state. By turning to the icon, the believer can find joy, peace, find his true path and destiny. For example, in different historical periods during wars, women prayed at the image for the return of their husbands, and as a result, the desired became a reality.

To receive help, it is necessary to read a prayer in front of the icon of the Virgin “Unexpected Joy”, and then state everything that lies on the soul with a stone. Many women who want to get pregnant make this request to the face and soon the desire comes true. The icon helps to heal from various diseases, for example, there is evidence that people got rid of deafness and blindness. The icon of the Virgin "Unexpected Joy" will help strengthen faith and give hope in better times. If you read a prayer for the family before this image, then you can improve relationships, get rid of enmity, conflicts and other problems. Before the icon, you can pray about various family problems, the main thing is to do it from the bottom of your heart. Lonely people can ask Higher powers help in finding a soul mate. Prayers about earthly affairs are read before the icon. For example, you can get protection from existing enemies, gossip and various troubles. The face will also help in solving material problems.

There are no specific rules on how to pray in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon. The clergy say that the main thing is to do it from the heart. It is recommended that you first contact the priest in order to receive a blessing from him. If the text of the prayer is difficult to remember, then you can read it from the sheet, but it is important to write everything with your own hands. It is also allowed to address the face in your own words, most importantly, to speak from the heart without any thoughts.

Prayer to the icon "Unexpected Joy" sounds like this:

This is the most important prayer for turning to this icon, but there are also other texts that are used depending on the situation, that is, considering what exactly you need to ask the Higher powers. You can also read the Akathist to the icon "Unexpected Joy".

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Icon of Unexpected Joy helps in what

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The Icon of the Mother of God Unexpected Joy and its lists are a real miracle of physical and spiritual transformation. The image of the Saint has become a real symbol, which allows us to believe that anyone who turns to the Mother of God for help with pure thoughts and an open soul can receive bright and unexpected joy.

From this article you can find out what the image helps, the meaning of the face, about what they pray to the icon of Unexpected Joy when it is celebrated and not only.

Briefly from the history of the miraculous image

One of the first mentions of a divine image appeared somewhere in early XIX century, however exact date when the image was painted remains unknown to this day. But as for the verbal image of the Saint, he appeared almost a century earlier than his real incarnation in the wonderful work of Dmitry Rostov Russian prelate.

The book of which is based on an amazing story about a repentant sinner. As a rule, on a shrine, an atheist is depicted standing before the face of the Mother of God, feeling incredible remorse and after that receiving God's forgiveness and a chance for a new prudent life.

What helps the icon of Unexpected Joy and its meaning

Since some of the first icons created in the 18th century appeared, their miraculous properties began to spread. With the help of the image of the Queen of Heaven, various healings of the weak and sick people took place, and it was possible to protect oneself from all kinds of misfortunes by turning to the Mother of God in prayer.

The meaning of the icon Unexpected Joy

All human life consists of small joys that are not always noticed by people and, in pursuit of a ghostly dream, they forget to pay attention to their loved ones and express gratitude to them. That is precisely why cherished dreams are not fulfilled, as they become an obsession, and this just does not give a person the opportunity to enjoy a new day.

Unexpected joy, the meaning and essence of her face, carries hope in God's will, as well as the renunciation of immoral deeds and sinful thoughts. Gratitude should come from every day spent in peace and warmth. Repentance for bad thoughts and criminal deeds, bitterness, envy and anger, which quite often overwhelm people's hearts.

It is not so hard to just come up and pray to the Holy Face, it will be much more difficult spiritual work, and daily. When you need to learn to pacify your envy and pride, not to be rude, and also to know when it is better to remain silent, learn to calm and restrain yourself, but also not to forget about a benevolent attitude, both to relatives and to strangers.

People by nature are prone to weakness and sin, and if you get used to this with humility and call for the help of the Intercessor, then even the most fallen of people can get a chance to be forgiven.

The divine image embodies the whole essence of spiritual transformation. Hard work on oneself and prayers said will allow a person to choose the right path, the path of goodness and love.

What to pray for the icon of Unexpected Joy

A prayer service before a divine image helps:

Helps to gain inner spiritual strength and spiritual balance;
Thanks to prayer, you can get everything that you have dreamed of for so long, but no longer hoped to receive, someone forgiveness, repentance or the salvation of a sinful soul;
Prayer also helps in curing ailments, especially hearing loss;
The Mother of God will help people who have lost their loved ones to find and return to loving relatives;
Pregnant women will be helped to bear a child and give birth to him healthy;
For parents whose children got out of hand, and also went along an immoral path, the image will help to reason and guide them on the right path;
It resolves disputes, establishes conflicts, and, it would seem, failures can all turn out to a happy ending.

What a miracle did the shrine

Ultrasound examination of Xenia's unborn child revealed accumulation of fluid in the heart. The future mother, in prayer and forgiveness, tirelessly turned to the Most Holy Theotokos. At the next ultrasound session, the doctors found that the liquid had practically disappeared, and that nothing threatened the child's life;

About a year ago, Alla's nose began to hurt, no ointments and other medicines helped. Having gone to the temple of "John the Theologian", the woman was given little from the miraculous image of the Virgin. After that, Alla began to regularly smear her nose with church medicine and at the same time read a prayer service, and very soon the wound completely healed and stopped hurting.

When is the day of the celebration of the miraculous image of the Mother of God

The veneration of the divine image is carried out several times a year:

May 14 / May 1, old style;
December 22 / December 9, old style.

Which churches and temples have a divine face

The divine shrine can be seen in the church of Elijah the Prophet in Moscow. It was from this face that several images were painted, which, like the original, are miraculous.

Every day they come to church a large number of wishing to receive not only grace, but also forgiveness from the Lord. All your doubts, worries Orthodox people expressed in prayer.

Before the divine image, they receive hope, peace, humility, intercession and admonition.

The image of the Saint can be found in such temples:

Unexpected joy in Maryina Grove is located in the Moscow Church;
In the Grandmother's Church of the Martyrs Natalia and Adrian;
There is also an image in Obydensky lane in the church of Elijah the Prophet;
On the Gorokhove field in the Church of the Ascension of the Lord;
On the Sands in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior;
In the Danilovskaya Cathedral in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Word.

Prayers to the Holy Face

“O Blessed Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Patroness of this city and holy temple, all those who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses, faithful to the Intercessor and Intercessor! Receive this prayer singing from us, unworthy Thy servants, lifted up to Thee, and like a sinner of old, praying many times before Your honest icon every day, Thou didst not despise, but Thou didst grant him the unexpected joy of repentance and bowed Thy Son to many and zealous to Him intercession for the forgiveness of this sinner and erring one, so now do not despise the prayers of us, Your unworthy servants, and implore Your Son and our God, and all of us, with faith and tenderness, bowing before Your wholesome image, will grant unexpected joy for everyone: a sinner, mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; those who find themselves in troubles and bitterness - these perfect renunciations; cowardly and unreliable - hope and patience; in joy and abundance living - incessant thanksgiving to the Benefactor God; distressed - mercy; those who are in sickness and long-sickness and abandoned by doctors - unforeseen healing and strengthening; dependent on the illness of the mind - the mind return and renewal; departing into eternal and endless life - the memory of death, tenderness and contrition for sins, the spirit is cheerful and firm hope for the mercy of the Judge.

O Holy Lady! Have mercy on all those who honor everything Your name and reveal to all your almighty cover and intercession: in piety, purity and honest living, keep them in goodness until the end; do evil good; guide those who have gone astray to the right path; To every good work and to Your Son, please, advance; destroy every evil and ungodly deed; in bewilderment and difficult and dangerous circumstances, who receive invisible help and admonition from Heaven, save from temptations, temptations and death, protect and save from all evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; float floating, traveling travel; be the Nurse who exists in need and hunger; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, wake up cover and refuge; give a garment to the naked, to the offended and unjustly persecuted - intercession; slander, reproach and blasphemy of the sufferer invisibly justify; slanderers and detractors in front of all guise; give fiercely hostile unforeseen reconciliation and to all of us - love, peace, and piety, and health with long life for each other.

Keep marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses, in enmity and division of existence, die, unite me to each other and put them an indestructible union of love; grant quick permission to mothers of childbearing children, raise babies, young chaste, open their minds to the perception of any useful teaching, instruct the fear of God, abstinence and industriousness; from domestic strife and enmity, consanguineous world and love fence; motherless orphans wake up the Mother, from all vice and filth, I turn away and teach everything good and pleasing to God, seduced and fallen into sin and impurity, having taken away the filth of sin, from the abyss of death lead; Wake up the widows Comforter and Helper, wake up the wand of old age; from sudden death without repentance, deliver us all and all of us the Christian death of our belly, painless, shameless, peaceful and kind answer at the Terrible Judgment of Christ, grant: repenting in faith and repentance from this life with the Angels and make all the saints live; who died a sudden death, be merciful to be Thy Son, and for all the departed, who do not have relatives, for the repose of their Son of Thy begging, Be yourself an unceasing and warm Prayer and Intercessor: yes, all in Heaven and on earth lead Thee, as a firm and shameless Representative of the clan Christian, and, leading, glorify Thee and Thee Thy Son, with His Father Without Beginning and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen".

Prayer for children

“Oh, Blessed Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Protector of this city, all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses, faithful to the Intercessor and Intercessor!

Receive this prayer singing from us, Thy unworthy servants, lifted up to Thee: and like a sinner of old, praying many times before Your honest icon every day, Thou didst not despise, but Thou didst grant the unexpected joy of repentance, and with His zealous intercession to Your Son for the forgiveness of the sinner thou hast bowed thus, and now do not despise the prayers of us, unworthy thy servants, but implore thy Son and our God, and all of us, with faith and tenderness before the whole-bearing image of thy worshipers, according to whom, unexpected joy will grant: yes, all in heaven and on lands lead Thee, as a firm and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and this is leading, they glorify Thee and Thee, Thy Son with His Beginningless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen".

God bless you!

It will be interesting for you to watch a video about the icon of the Virgin "Unexpected Joy".

In 1683, St. Dmitry of Rostov the Wonderworker created a wonderful work - one of the most amazing books in Russian patristic literature, The Irrigated Fleece. He wrote it in honor Holy Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, inspired by the miraculous healings that took place at the icon of the Mother of God in the Chernigov St. Elias Monastery in the 17th century. There, before each manifestation of the miracle of healing, tears appeared on the image of the Mother of God. St. Demetrius compared this event with the Old Testament story about how the Divine dew, through the prayer of Gideon, sprinkled the fleece 1 . Among the 24 miracles, one is described that inspired the icon painters of the 18th century to write an icon dedicated to the miracle of the Mother of God, of which the Intercessor showed the world many, and each of them can be called an unexpected joy. But the icon with the name "Unexpected Joy" has its own miraculous story.

Dmitry Rostovsky begins the story of this miracle with the words: “A certain lawless man ..” A certain sinful person who led a very vicious lifestyle, nevertheless, was cordially attached to the Queen of Heaven and experienced quivering reverent love before Her. And although he could not deny himself sin, he was apparently too weak-willed, prayed daily before Her icon and uttered in prayer the words of the Archangel Gabriel, which he said to the Virgin Mary in his appearance before Her: “Rejoice, full of grace!” When He brought Her the news about the future of Her Motherhood.

It so happened that, getting ready for a sinful deed, he stood in front of the icon to pray before leaving. Then he felt a strange heart and bodily trembling, the image on the icon seemed to move, breathe, and the sinner saw with horror how terrible wounds opened on the arms and legs and on the right side of the Baby sitting on Her knees, from which blood flowed in streams.

The man fell in front of the icon with a cry of horror, asking the Mother of God who did it. To which he was given a mournful answer from the Mother of God that sinners, just like him, day after day crucify and crucify Her Son with their sins, and hypocritically call Her merciful, offending Her maternal love with their iniquities.

Hearing this, the sinner, in whom, apparently, a particle of faith and purity was preserved, prayed to the Queen of Heaven, calling Her Mistress, so that the measure of his sins would not exceed Her goodness and mercy. He began to pray to the Theotokos to intercede for him before the Son.

For the first time, the Lady turned to Her Son, but He refused Her to atone for the sinful deeds of the intercessor.

The second prayer appeal to the Mother of God by St. Dmitry of Rostov is described at length and very instructive. On the icon of the Mother of God, depicted inside the icon “Unexpected Joy”, the one in front of which a sinner kneeling before Her image is depicted, we see Hodegetria, in which the Child sits on Her knees. As the saint writes, the Intercessor seated the Son separately and wanted to prostrate before Him, but the Son exclaimed, stopping Her: “What do you want to do?” The Mother of God replied that she would lie at the feet of Her Son until He forgives the penitent sinner. To this, the Lord told Her that the Law commands the Son to honor the Mother, and the truth requires that the One Who issued the Law should Himself honor it and fulfill It. He said that He is the Son of His Mother, and therefore He must honor Her, listening to her prayers to Him. So let it be as the Mother wants. The sinner will be forgiven, but first let him kiss his wounds.

Shocked by what he saw, the sinner stood up, happily kissed the wounds of the Infant, they immediately closed, and the vision ceased. Here he experienced both awe at the greatness of what he saw, and great joy, from which he sobbed with cleansing tears. Again he fell to the icon, praying to the Most Pure One and Her son to keep the gift of seeing their sins and begging for mercy. From that hour, the soul of this man turned away from sin, and he began to lead a virtuous and God-pleasing life. It should be noted that the saint does not indicate what kind of sin accompanied the life of this person, leaving the reader to see for himself his sins and vices and pray with faith and strength for healing from them.

What a miracle happened

Starting from the 18th century, when the first copy of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” was created, a variety of miracles occurred from these icons - the sick were healed, especially those who lost their hearing, and with the return of spiritual hearing, hearing and physical returned. Prayers in front of this icon helped desperate parents, whose children went astray and went, as they say, along a crooked path.

Many miraculous healings take place in front of the icons of the Lady, but the most magnificent, undoubtedly, is the healing of the human soul, its salvation through a deep spiritual change.

We are just people. And not sinless. Let's admit it. But if we manage to see our own reflection in the figure of the sinner on the icon “Unexpected Joy”, and, seeing ourselves from the outside, we begin to understand what a plight we are in, this is not a disaster. This is a miracle. And this is wonderful if a person suddenly realizes that he is doing something that urgently requires prayer for himself, following the example of the sinner from the story of St. Dmitry, a petition for the salvation of his soul, because otherwise there will be no joy in life, especially - unexpected, like the grace of the Lord, which is given so - unintentionally ... And the Mother of God again and again for each of those who are ready for a change of soul and desire it, is ready to prostrate before her son. Queen of Heaven - just think about it! – again decides to pray for our sins on his knees. And when the miracle of human insight happens, the Divine history will repeat itself within history, opening the veil of the true, as they should be among us, created in His image and likeness, the perfect relationship of the Mother and the Son and the relationship of the Son to His unlimited power, paradoxically limited by His own Law. .

The meaning of the icon

By type, the icon “Unexpected Joy” refers to Hodegetria, a guide to Christ, all ancient images are made in the Byzantine style. A sinner kneels before the icon, holding out his hands to it. Sometimes from his mouth, in the form of ribbons, icon painters depicted the text of prayers addressed to Her. Under the image of the icon of the Mother of God inside the common icon, there are the initial words from the description of this miracle in the “Irrigated Rune” - “A certain lawless man ...”

Hodegetria "Unexpected Joy" once again testifies that everyone who wants to be forgiven sincerely will be forgiven. Moreover, in the narrative of St. Dmitry of Rostov it is said that the repentant sinner prayed for the granting of a vision of his sins, and this does not mean that he was going to lead a vicious life again. The saint points out to us that any person is sinful - such is our dual nature, but if sin suddenly, unfortunately, due to human weakness, happens, then, having seen him in the face, we get the opportunity of repentance and, perhaps, complete repentance, which will become another step of salvation in the spirit.

And other! The sinner was enlightened in spirit when he saw that the Mother of God was ready to kneel before the Son for every sinner who cried out to Her for mercy. However, this is not the only shock in this amazing story. The height of the relationship between the Mother and the Son - this is a stunning example of the true - already heavenly! - the relationship of the Mother and the Son, which gives us an understanding of why the Lady is our first Intercessor and Intercessor to the Lord. This is how one should treat the Mother, how to honor Her. The Lord Himself, the Almighty King, cannot fail to fulfill Her prayers, because the intercession comes from the Mother, whose request He cannot resist only because She is His Mother.

How many conclusions can we draw for ourselves! Such a reassessment of values, a revision of the soul from time to time is simply necessary. From the events that became an inspirational source for painting the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, by recognizing the icon and its history, we are enriched morally. Comparing our own life in our family, we see: this is how children should respect their parents and parents should respect the status of their grown children. To the status not only social - the status of an adult who should be saved from parental tyranny, often dragging on for a very long time.

Further, we are given an example of honoring the law, first of all, by the lawmakers themselves - another sore subject of our society. Here it is, the highest example of the attitude towards the execution by those in power of the laws that they themselves promulgate. The law established by the Lord commands to honor the Mother, and since this Law is established by Him, then, first of all, the Legislator Himself is obliged to follow it. Christ acts as a model of a true attitude to power, He Himself is evidence of the exceptional decency of the Ruler, which is so difficult to meet on earth.
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1 “Rejoice, Fleece irrigated, hedgehog Gideon, Virgo, before you saw it” - an akathist to the icon “Unexpected Joy”. The sign of wool and dew given by God to one of the judges of Israel, Gideon. Old Testament. Book of Judges of Israel. Ch. 6. P. 36–40.

In times of weak faith, a person turns to God only when he realizes the futility of his own efforts. It is not easy to beg the Lord, feeling the burden of sins on the soul. Even more difficult comes to Him the prayer of one who does not want to see his guilt. Expecting repentance, the Lord delays in fulfilling petitions and, surrounded by unsolvable problems, a person feels despair in his soul.

Despair is a terrible spiritual state inspired by demons. You can not give in to this feeling, which entails unbelief and madness. In the event of protracted misfortunes for the sinner, there is the last refuge - the Most Holy Theotokos.

Wishing to show people the power of Her intercession, the Mother of God revealed Orthodox Prayer The icon "Unexpected Joy" brings hope, the strength of patience and fulfills petitions that seemed useless.

In what cases do they turn to "Unexpected Joy"

The image of "Unexpected Joy" is glorified by many miracles. To a believing Christian, they do not seem incredible: mercy and love for the human race are common for the Mother of God.

About miracles in Orthodoxy:

The history imprinted on the icon reminds of strong prayer Mother of God, overcoming even the righteous wrath of the Lord. But for the fulfillment of what is asked, one condition is necessary - repentance for sins.

Mother of God with Jesus Christ

The very name of the icon - "Unexpected Joy" - prompts to turn to it in a hopeless situation. But the love of Christians for this image is so great that they come to it with any requests, with confidence to receive what they ask for.

Important! Traditionally, it is customary to pray before the image of the Virgin "Unexpected Joy" in such needs:

serious illnesses
family feuds
inability to have a child
looking for a spouse, etc.

How to start prayer

In a difficult situation, wanting to get what you ask for, you should take the fulfillment of a small but constant rule. Be sure to consult with the priest in order to be sure of the piety of the work being started. The blessing received will give strength to do prayer work when the demons begin to interfere, fearing to lose the sinner's soul.

It is necessary to test your conscience: to remember the unrighteous deeds that could incur the wrath of the Lord. Be sure to go to confession, take Communion. Without communion with the Church, prayer weakens many times over. It must be remembered that the sinner depicted on the icon “Unexpected Joy” received the forgiveness of the Lord only after sincere repentance.

What to pray for

Attention! Constancy in prayer is pleasing to God, but one should consider whether what is asked is really necessary? Will the fulfillment of desire bring new delusions and sins? To any petition, believers add the words "if it be the will of God."

Temple in honor of the icon "Unexpected Joy" in Maryina Grove

How else can you pray "Unexpected Joy"

Akathist and prayer are used for church or home rule. There are short, easily remembered prayers of the Mother of God, which should be known by heart and repeated mentally at work, in transport, in the temple in front of the icon. Simple texts can be learned with children.

Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, unless You, the Lady, help us! We hope in You and we boast in You, for Thy servants let us not be ashamed

Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who hope in Thee, let us not perish, but let us be delivered from troubles by Thee, Thou art the salvation of the Christian family

Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you! Blessed are You in women and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, as if the Savior gave birth to our souls.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos

Where to make a pilgrimage for prayer

Temple of Elijah the Prophet in Moscow. Here is stored the ancient miraculous icon "Unexpected Joy", which survived the hard times of the revolution;
The temple of the icon "Unexpected Joy" in Maryina Roshcha (Moscow) also has miraculous icon Virgin;
with. Pushkarka (Diveevo) - a temple in the name of the icon "Unexpected Joy", which can be visited during a pilgrimage trip to the Diveevo Monastery;
monastery in the name of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" in the village. Kolochava (Transcarpathia). Located in the reserved park "Synevyr", founded in 2002, belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church;
in any temple dedicated to the icon, there is a revered image of "Unexpected Joy" to the right of the altar.

More about temples and monasteries:

Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Strogino

Watch the video about the Akathist Icon of the Mother of God