Icon of the Mother of God “unexpected joy. Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” History of the icon “Unexpected Joy” summary

Among the holy miraculous icons of the Mother of God, the image of “Unexpected Joy” is especially revered. Prayer in front of this icon can help in the most difficult and hopeless life situations.

History of the icon

As the legend says, there lived one sinful and wicked man. From childhood, his parents taught him only one virtue - prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God. Once again he approached the icon, when he suddenly saw that the Infant Jesus had bleeding sores open, and the face of the Mother of God was distorted with pain and grief. The young man exclaimed: “Who did this to the Son of God?” and in horror heard the answer of the Mother of God: “You and sinners like you. With your sins you crucify My Son again and again.”

The sinner fell prostrate before the icon and prayed for forgiveness of sins until he heard the voice of the Savior: “Now he is forgiven.” After that, until his death, he led a righteous life and said that he no longer expected to receive forgiveness for everything that he had done. It is this story that is captured on the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”.

Where is the image of the Virgin Mary located?

The location of the original icon is currently unknown. The earliest image is located in Moscow, in the Church of the Prophet Elijah in Obydenny Lane. Every day many pilgrims come to venerate the icon and pray for themselves and their loved ones.

Description of the icon “Unexpected Joy”

The icon depicts a sinner kneeling before the image of the Mother of God with the Child Jesus. On the bottom of the icon is written the beginning of the story of its appearance: “Once upon a time there lived one wicked man...” The depicted sinner prays to the Lord and the Mother of God for the forgiveness of his sins and the granting of a new, righteous and pious life.

What do they pray to the icon for?

Each person can pray to the image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” and ask for deliverance from the burden of past mistakes, the granting of forgiveness and indication of the right path. According to the testimony of many pilgrims, prayer in front of this icon changes life for the better.

An example is the story of a pilgrim who in her youth terminated her pregnancy and, as punishment for this sin, lost the ability to have children. Many years of treatment did not produce any results. In desperation, the pilgrim came to the “Unexpected Joy” icon and fervently prayed, asking for forgiveness for a past terrible mistake. A year later, the woman gave birth to a long-awaited child.

There are many stories like this: people come to the icon and receive forgiveness of the most serious sins. Prayers before the image of the Mother of God can completely change the life and destiny of everyone who is sincere in their request.

Prayers to the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary

“O Lady, protector and comforter of the weak and sinful servants of God! By the power of Your love may my soul be healed, may I be comforted by my tears and find the path of true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. O Merciful One, forgive me my sins, voluntary and involuntary, let me be cleansed and filled with the light of the grace of Your Son and our Lord. Amen".

“Most Pure and Immaculate Virgin Mary, I humbly run to You and with tears I pray to You: quench my passions and turn away from me the temptations of the devil, driving my soul into fiery hell for eternal torment. May they not judge me at the Great and Last Judgment by an unclean word or a sinful deed, but by Thy mercy and the love of my Lord. Amen".

This prayer can change your life path for the better and strengthen faith in God.

“My Most Blessed Lady, Helper and Intercessor, Most Pure Mother of God! Overshadow me, a sinful and unworthy servant of God, with the light of your Unexpected joy and give me the grace of the Lord’s blessing. Beg Your Son to forgive our sins and unworthy deeds, show us the path to true faith and allow us to humbly enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen".

What does the icon look like?

The image of the Virgin Mary “Unexpected Joy” has remained unchanged since its appearance. On some icons the sinner asking for forgiveness for his sins is depicted as young, while on others he is depicted as a mature and strong man of age.

The original image depicts the icon of the Mother of God on a larger scale, with the praying sinner in the lower left corner.

Subsequently, some iconographic schools more significantly immortalized the praying sinner, who atoned for his sins and witnessed a great miracle.

The day of veneration of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is June 11 according to the new style. There is no fasting on this day, but those praying for the healing of illnesses are advised to refrain from eating meat. We wish you happiness and peace in your soul, and do not forget to press the buttons and

One of the most beloved by Orthodox Christians is the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” , which gives every person hope for repentance and forgiveness. But before talking about the icon “Unexpected Joy”, it is necessary to explain what was the source for its painting. The miracle revealed by the Mother of God was described in his essay “The Irrigated Fleece” by Saint Demetrius of Rostov (1651-1709), a major spiritual writer and preacher, who was canonized just half a century after his death.

History of the icon

It is unknown when exactly the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” appeared. Lists (copies) of its prototype began to circulate in the mid-19th century, and today the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, called “Unexpected Joy,” is found in most churches.

The story that the icon describes happened to one sinner, a “lawless man,” who led a dissolute life, but did not forget to pray every day in front of the icon of the Queen of Heaven. And then one day he had a vision during prayer: he saw that the figures of the Virgin Mary and the Baby Jesus were moving, and the wounds that appeared on Him during the crucifixion opened on the palms, legs and side of Jesus. The sinner, in fear, asked the Virgin Mary where these wounds and blood came from, but the Mother of God replied that it was sinners who, with their unrighteous deeds, crucified Her Son again and again, causing Her grief.

The shocked sinner began to pray to the Mother of God for forgiveness, but She replied that this was only in the will of Her Son. The sinner continued his prayers, but when the Virgin Mary agreed to intercede for him with Jesus, Her prayers were twice rejected by Him. Then the Mother of God wanted to fall at the feet of Her Son to beg His forgiveness for the sinner, and He, out of respect for His Mother, forgave him his sins, and in commemoration of forgiveness ordered him to kiss His sores. The sinner fulfilled the command, and the wonderful vision disappeared. After this, he began to lead a righteous life, as the Lord commanded him, and the forgiveness of sins became for him “an unexpected joy.”

The meaning of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

To understand what the “Unexpected Joy” icon means, you need to clarify the meaning of the word « inadvertent". In modern Russian, its synonyms are “unexpected, unforeseen, accidental,” but in the old days the word “to hope for” meant “to hope for something, to expect,” that is, “unexpected joy” means “joy that could not be hoped for.”

This is exactly how the repentant sinner perceived the remission of his sins by the Savior: he did not hope for forgiveness, and yet the Lord forgave him. This is what the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” tells about: the story of a repentant and forgiven sinner proves that forgiveness can be granted to everyone who repents of their sins and takes the righteous path. But this requires spiritual rebirth, which we must carry out ourselves, and prayer will give us the strength for this, which is what the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is asked for.

However, the meaning of the “Unexpected Joy” icon does not end there: it reminds us of our responsibility before the Savior, who accepted a painful death to atone for human sins.

With our sinful deeds we cause Him torment, but He is ready to have mercy on any repentant sinner.

Description of the icon

According to the iconographic type, the image on the icon “Unexpected Joy” of the Mother of God refers to Hodegetria (Guide). In compositional terms, the icon exactly corresponds to what was described by St. Demetrius: a sinner with a repentant look stands in front of the icon on his knees; The body of the Child Jesus is partially naked, and bloody sores are visible on His hands and body. The look of the Mother of God, usually sad and humble, this time is sternly fixed on the sinner, from whose lips a prayer rushes to the icon (sometimes on icons it is depicted in the form of a ribbon with the words of prayer). Often, under the image of the Mother of God and Child, a text with this story is placed.

How does the “Unexpected Joy” icon help?

During its relatively short life compared to other revered icons (only about two centuries), the “Unexpected Joy” icon became famous for many miracles, primarily for miraculous healings and helping pregnant women. They pray to her for the admonition of those who follow an unrighteous path, for the strengthening of mental and physical strength, for the missing and, of course, for the forgiveness of sins.

Prayer before the icon

O Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Patron of this city and holy temple, faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Accept this prayer song from us, unworthy of Your servants, offered to You, and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Your honorable icon, You did not despise him, but You gave him the unexpected joy of repentance and You bowed down Your Son to the many and zealous towards Him. intercession for the forgiveness of this sinner and lost one, so even now do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, and beg Thy Son and our God, and grant to all of us, who with faith and tenderness worship before Thy celibate image, unexpected joy for each need; a sinner mired in the depths of evil and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; for those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; to those who find themselves in troubles and embitterment - a complete abundance of these; for the faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; for those who live in joy and abundance - unceasing thanksgiving to God the Benefactor; to those in need - mercy; those who are in illness and long illness and abandoned by doctors - unexpected healing and strengthening; for those who were waiting for the mind from illness - return and renewal of the mind; those departing into eternal and endless life - memory of death, tenderness and contrition for sins, a cheerful spirit and firm hope in the mercy of the Judge. O Most Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor Thy all-honorable Name and show to all Thy all-powerful protection and intercession: in piety, purity and honest living, keep them in goodness until the end; create evil good things; guide the erring one on the right path; Make progress in every good work that is pleasing to Your Son; Destroy every evil and ungodly deed; in bewilderment and difficult and dangerous circumstances, for those who find invisible help and admonition sent down from Heaven, save them from temptations, seductions and destruction, from all evil people protect and preserve from enemies visible and invisible; float for those who swim, travel for those who travel; Be the Nourisher for those in need and hunger; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, provide cover and refuge; Give clothing to the naked, intercession to the offended and unjustly persecuted; invisibly justify the slander, slander and blasphemy of those who suffer; slanderers and slanderers are clothed before everyone; To those who are bitterly at odds, grant unforeseen reconciliation and to all of us - love, peace, piety, and health with long life for each other. preserve marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses who exist in enmity and division, pacify them, unite them to each other and give quick permission to those who bear children, raise babies, be chaste in their youth, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, instruct the fear of God, abstinence and hard work; Protect your blood brothers from domestic strife and enmity with peace and love; Be the Mother of motherless orphans, turn away from all vice and defilement and teach everything that is good and pleasing to God, and bring those seduced into sin and impurity, having revealed the defilement of sin, from the abyss of destruction; Be the Comforter and Helper of widows, be the rod of old age; Deliver us all from sudden death without repentance and grant us all the Christian death of our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ; having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, create with the Angels and all the saints the lives; those who have fallen into sudden death, beseech the merciful existence of Thy Son and for all the departed who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Thy Son, Thou thyself be a ceaseless and warm Prayer Book and Intercessor: that all in Heaven and on earth may lead Thee as a steadfast and unashamed Representative of the race Christian and, leading, glorify Thee and Thy Son with Thee, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The icon of the Mother of God of Unexpected Joy represents a real miracle of spiritual transformation. Everyone who seeks help with a pure soul receives bright joy.

If a person is overtaken by an illness and the doctors shrug their shoulders or he has lost the meaning of life, then the first thing to do is go to church. Turn to the saints to guide you on the true path and help you cope with trouble.

The Icon of Unexpected Joy helps in such cases; more precisely, believers should turn to the Holy Mother of God with a sincere heart and she will come to their aid.

The history of the appearance of the icon of the Mother of God Unexpected joy

When a person cannot find himself or children go the wrong way, prayers in front of the icon of Unexpected Joy help those who are lost cope. The prayers of mothers for their beloved children are especially strong. Thanks to repentance and petitions from a pure soul, people regain peace of mind and are healed of the diseases that plague them. And those who have lost each other meet even after many years.

Icon of the Virgin Mary with a baby and a begging man - Unexpected joy appeared many years ago. It was first mentioned in the work of the Rostov saint - Irrigated Fleece. The text spoke of a man who could not bear his burden of sin. Every time he promised himself to stop, but he could not do it. After each such violation of his promise, he prayed to the Mother of God, asking him to deliver him from sin.

One day, before committing his sin again, a man turned to the icon. When he wanted to leave the room, he noticed that the Mother of God turned to him, and the baby began to show wounds that were bleeding. The man was amazed that the Mother of God heard about his request. He felt peace of mind, and after that he did not return to his sinfulness. It was this story that became the reason for painting the healing icon.

Icon – Unexpected Joy

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

The meaning of the icon is Unexpected Joy

Nowadays life passes very quickly - in bustle. Unfortunately, there is often not enough time for simple communication with your parents and grandparents. Many have forgotten how to see small joys and devote a lot of time to their career. They prefer material wealth, seeing nothing other than the daily race for money. As a result, closer to maturity, when evaluating their lives, people feel cold and empty.

The Icon of Unexpected Joy first of all helps to get rid of sin, immorality, and gives hope to the suffering. Moreover, gratitude comes after complete repentance of envy, anger, crimes, even negative thoughts that often fill the souls of ordinary people.

Not everyone can find the strength to pray every day. And yet, spiritual cleansing will come to you only after you have gone through the full path and are really ready for it. Everyone who has taken the path of correction must, over time, master the art of conquering their feelings, getting rid of rudeness, pride, and envy. A person should study the usual norms of behavior, become kinder, more tolerant of his family and strangers.

There are no people who have not committed a crime at least once in their lives. Man by his very nature is inclined to show some weaknesses and succumb to sinful temptations. And when there is no longer any strength to endure these temptations, many turn to the Intercessor for help. Thanks to prayers coming from a pure heart, even the most fallen can be forgiven.

Prayer service, repentance

What parishioners pray to the icon for - Unexpected joy

Thanks to daily prayers in front of the icon of Unexpected Joy, you can get rid of ailments and receive spiritual help.

• If you are tormented by emotional experiences, then prayers will help you regain your inner strength to cope with them.
• Repentant sinners who have lost hope of their salvation may suddenly receive what they could not find for many years.
• Anyone who has lost their hearing is cured of their illness if they turn to the Holy Mother of God.
• If there are problems with conception or the health of the fetus, women also turn to the Mother of God with prayers. And they manage to get pregnant and give birth to a healthy child.
• The Intercessor helps everyone who is looking for their missing relatives to find them and even return them.
• With constant quarrels that occur in the family, one must ask Our Lady for a way to resolve them. Thanks to prayers, failures will leave loved ones, and everything will be resolved in the best possible way.
• When children follow the wrong path, parents worry and look for ways to save them. With prayers in front of the icon of Unexpected Joy, they can be returned to the true path and brought to their senses.

How should you pray in front of the icon of the Mother of God Unexpected Joy?

There are no specific recommendations on how to properly pray in front of an icon. It is important that the person asking speaks from the heart without guile. It is advisable to receive a blessing from the priest before praying. It happens that the text of the prayer itself is difficult to remember, in which case you can read the words from a piece of paper. Or simply pray in your own words.

Icon - Unexpected joy has strong energy. Even when a patient asks for healing (and not necessarily from deafness), a miracle occurs. And this has been confirmed repeatedly.

If the mother of a sick child asks for healing, then the Intercessor also gives her blessing for the baby’s recovery.

Spiritual illness brings enormous suffering when a person does not hear the pain of others and follows the wrong path. Then he is haunted not only by illnesses, but also by mental anguish. Prayers addressed to the Mother of God can relieve this burden.

For forgiveness of sins and deliverance from illnesses, one must pray from the heart. Don’t just read or recite a prayer, but immerse yourself in what is being said with your head and heart.

In case of sorrows, separations, adversities, quarrels, illnesses, pray to the Mother of God in front of the icon - Unexpected joy. Ask for protection and slander, deprivation, separation from loved ones will bypass you and your family.

Read the text of the prayer below.

Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God - Unexpected Joy

Video: Icon of Unexpected Joy

Miraculous words: icon prayer of the mother of God unexpected joy in what full description from all the sources we found.

If God were fair, say the holy fathers, we could not hope for forgiveness. On the pages of the Old Testament Scripture, the Lord appears as a formidable Judge and Accuser, 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.

Miracles occurring from miraculous icons are carefully studied and recorded. They did the same at the Holy Trinity Elias Monastery near Chernigov. In 1662, the first miracle was recorded from the icon of the Mother of God, painted by the monk Gennady. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Most Pure Virgin, holding the Divine Infant in her arms, for 10 days. All of Chernigov “looked with great horror” at the weeping Virgin.

The miracle of the Ilinsk-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God became famous and has come down to the present day 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 saints, sermons on faith and repentance, discussions on gospel stories and God's miracles.

Resurrection of the Youth

Traveling through the monasteries of Little Russia, St. Demetrius wrote the book “Irrigated Fleece,” based on stories about miracles from Our Lady of Chernigov. The stories were accompanied by teachings. One of the chapters, “The Dew of Resurrection,” talks about a youth who suddenly died. There was no illness or other reasons indicating the approach of death. The hieromonk of the Elias Monastery, who was then nearby, advised the parents to pray before the miraculous icon of Chernigov.

The parents went to the monastery and fell 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 Mother of God. To the story of the resurrection of the youth, which occurred in April 1679, St. Demetrius attached a parable, on the basis of which the icon “Unexpected Joy” was written.

Parable of St. Dimitri and writing a new image

A certain sinner had the custom of praying to the Blessed Virgin with the words of the angelic greeting “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”, going to his iniquity. One day, kneeling in front of the icon and about to say the usual prayer, he saw a terrible vision: blood flowed in streams from the feet and hands of the Infant God, and the Mother of God Herself appeared to him as if alive.

“Who did this, Lady?” - the sinner shouted in horror. “You and those like you constantly wound My Son, like the Jews on the Cross, with your iniquities,” answered the Mother of God. Instantly repenting, the man began to beg for forgiveness, but the Lord did not look in his direction. Then he appealed to the Mother of God: “Let my sins not overcome Your mercy, Lady, ask the Lord for me!”

The Mother of God turned to her Son with a prayer for forgiveness for the sinner. The Lord answered Her, like a Son, with respect: “I cannot forgive, for I endured his iniquity for a long time.” The petitioner, who watched this with fear, 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 wounds of the Lord, which immediately healed and the vision ended.

After reading “The Irrigated Fleece,” an unknown artist painted an icon based on the 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 dead boy 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 an “unexpected joy” for them.

Meaning of images

The Lord, depicted as a Youth, does not hold a scroll in his hand, but shows his hands with traces of sores to a kneeling sinner. The tunic has been thrown off, 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 rib, when the guards wanted to make sure of the death of the condemned man.

On old copies of the icon there is always a drawn-back curtain in the background - a symbol of the church's royal doors, the entrance to heaven, slightly opened for the sinner. The red color of the veil is a symbol of resurrection.

The sinner himself is dressed in a green chiton. 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 expects forgiveness and renewal of life.

Inscriptions on the icon

In the field under the image of the Virgin Mary there is the text of the parable, written in illegible Church Slavonic script. Usually the initial words are placed: “A certain lawless man has a daily rule of praying to the Most Holy Theotokos...”, sometimes the title “The Unexpected Joy of the Most Holy Theotokos” is written.

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

Location of the “Unexpected Joy” icons and miracles

• St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv. Miraculous image of the 19th century. has been in the cathedral since the Great Patriotic War. The Mother of God and the Lord are depicted wearing royal crowns. Unfortunately, now the Vladimir Cathedral is in the hands of schismatics.
• “The 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 bell ringing. After serving the prayer service to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy,” Anisya heard the singing of the Easter troparion and the deafness disappeared. In 1930, the temple was destroyed and the miraculous image was lost.
• The Tretyakov Gallery houses a unique icon “Unexpected Joy” (1st half of the 19th century), where the main picture is surrounded by 120 small images of other miraculous icons of the Mother of God. The central image carries the main meaning: the Lord forgives sins through the prayer of the Mother of God - the Prayer Book and Intercessor for the human race.

• Moscow, Church of Ilya the Ordinary. Here is an ancient 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 moved to the Church of Ilya the Ordinary. The icon's robe is completely hung with rings and crosses brought by people who received healing from prayer in front of the icon.
• Maryina Roshcha, Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”. This temple was built in 1904 and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The image itself (painted in the 19th century) appeared there later; numerous decorations on it spoke of former miracles, which, unfortunately, were not recorded. A symbolic event took place in the temple in 2003. A 90-year-old naval officer approached the priest with a request for baptism. In a dream he was commanded to be baptized and wait for death. The old man stood it Lent, preparing for Baptism. His death followed immediately after the completion of the Sacrament, in the temple itself.
• Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, Ryazan. In the Transfiguration Cathedral of the monastery there is “Unexpected Joy”, which recently became famous for its miracles. The mutilated icon was found and bought at the market by Moscow resident Georgy. After some time, misfortune befell him: he was seriously injured, leading to partial paralysis. Sincere prayers before the found image bore fruit, George rose to his feet. For a long time he did not want to part with his beloved icon, but finally decided to donate it to the Transfiguration Monastery. The board and paint layer were restored, and a carved icon case 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 occupation authorities. At this time, from nowhere, the icon “Unexpected Joy” appeared in it. It is interesting that in her name back in 1840 one of the chapels of the cathedral was consecrated. The parishioners of the temple were mainly women and children. In front of the new image of the Mother of God, they prayed for the return of their husbands and fathers from the front. Although no high-profile miracles were recorded, the icon is highly revered by Odessa residents; they pray in front of it for the military in “hot spots.”
• Holy spring in the village. Zhaisk, Nizhny Novgorod region. According to legend, at this source in the 18th century. The icon “Unexpected Joy” was found. The 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 they Holy Mother of God forgave the repentant sinner. The source is located in a picturesque place, with a chapel built above 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, and springs are consecrated. This image of the Mother of God can be found as a revered icon in other churches.

Important. “Unexpected Joy” is prayed before the image of the Mother of God in difficult life situations, when hope has dried up. During the war, 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.

How does the “Unexpected Joy” icon help?

Orthodox Church On May 14, June 3 and December 22, the feast of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is celebrated. The first part of the image is a man standing in front of the icon, whose gaze 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. At the bottom there is usually either the beginning of the story about the miracle of St. Demetrius of Rostov, or part of the prayer to the “Unexpected Joy” icon. The Infant of God 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 Child of God to a man. It was described by the saint of Rostov in his work “Irrigated Fleece.” The man suffered from a sin that he could not overcome. After each violation of a 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 had turned her face to him, and wounds appeared on the body of the Infant of God, 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 painting the famous icon.

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

How does the “Unexpected Joy” icon help?

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

To receive help, you need to read a prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, and then state everything that lies like a stone in your soul. Many women who want to get pregnant make this request and soon the wish comes true. The icon helps to heal from various diseases; for example, there is evidence that people were cured of deafness and blindness. The icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” will help strengthen faith and give hope in better times. If you read a prayer for the family before this image, you can improve relationships, get rid of hostility, conflicts and other problems. You can pray in front of the icon about various family problems, the main thing is to do it from the heart. Lonely people can ask the Higher Powers for help in finding their soulmate. Prayers about earthly affairs are read in front of 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 to first contact the priest to receive his blessing. If the text of the prayer is difficult to remember, then you can read it from a page, but it is important to write everything yourself. It is also allowed to address the face in your own words, the main thing is to speak from the heart without any thoughts.

The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” sounds like this:

This is the most important prayer for addressing this icon, but there are also other texts that are used depending on the situation, that is, taking into account what exactly needs to be asked from the Higher Powers. You can also read the Akathist to the icon “Unexpected Joy”.

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Icon of Unexpected Joy: How it Helps

This article was written for those believers who want to know how the icon of Unexpected Joy helps. Also here you can learn not only how the icon helps, but also where to hang it and what prayer to read before it.

Brief history of the icon

How does an icon help?

You need to ask for help from the Mother of God depicted in the “Unexpected Joy” icon in the following cases:

• if you have a hearing-related disease;
• if you can't get pregnant;
• if your child has followed a “crooked path”, and you want to set him on the right path;
• if relatives have died and this has become an irreparable loss for you and you are very worried about this tragedy;
• if you are looking for a missing relative or loved one.

Where to hang an icon?

In order for the icon to help you, you need to place it correctly in your home.

Here's where you can't weigh an icon:

• in dirty places such as a toilet;
• in places where various rubbish is stored;
• You should not place an icon in the hallway.

You need to remember that during prayer you must be alone with God and no one should disturb you. Therefore, it is best to place the icon in your bedroom.

Moreover, it does not need to be weighed, but rather placed on something. The support can be a table, a bedside table, a chest of drawers or a special shelf for icons in the far right corner of the room.

How to pray correctly in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon?

• In order for the Mother of God, depicted in the icon, to hear you and come to your aid, you must correctly send prayers to her.
• As we said above, it is better to pray alone.
• This can be done both in the morning and in the evening.
• It will be good if you light a church candle before reading the prayer.
• You should also observe all fasts, not sin and thank the Lord for everything you have, then he and the Mother of God will give you what you ask.
• You can read the Orthodox prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon, or you can read your own. If you, say, want to get pregnant, then the words of the prayer could be like this:

“Mother of God, our Almighty! Let me feel the joy of becoming a mother, send me a baby. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen!"

Here is the icon of Unexpected Joy, which helps and now you know how to correctly address prayers to it and where to place it in your home.

How does the miraculous icon “Unexpected Joy” help?

Orthodox believers especially venerate the Most Holy Theotokos, calling her protector, intercessor, and helper. Almost every day in churches, according to the calendar of Orthodox dates, one or another icon of the Mother of God is remembered with a prayerful request. Twice a year, on May 14 and December 22, the miraculous image “Unexpected Joy” is celebrated. Please note that both words in the title are capitalized, because Joy refers to the Most Pure Virgin herself. What does unexpected joy mean? - the one they didn’t expect, didn’t expect. Such an unexpected heartfelt feeling once touched a sinner.

How was the image “Unexpected Joy” revealed?

The exact date and place of appearance of the icon is unknown; it became widespread less than three centuries ago.

It is surprising that an icon is usually called miraculous after it has performed numerous miraculous healings and phenomena. Only the image “Unexpected Joy” precedes a wonderful event. Saint Dmitry of Rostov mentions it for the first time in his work “Irrigated Fleece”. This book was written by the Saint to glorify the locally revered Holy Mother of God Icon of the Elias Monastery in the city of Chernigov.

The last chapter described the following story: one unrighteous man lived wickedly, but always treated the Most Holy Theotokos with special reverence. One day he was about to commit lawlessness once again, and as usual, he said the words of prayer, addressing him with an angelic greeting: Rejoice, full of grace. Suddenly the icon seemed to become alive; instead of joy, sorrow was reflected on the face of the Mother of God. She held in her arms the Infant of God, whose shirt was torn and bleeding wounds opened on his arms, legs and under his ribs. The wicked man was amazed at what he saw. He bent down and knelt down, asking who could do this to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The answer he received floored him. The Mother of God replied that this was the work of his hands and other sinful people who crucified her Son again and again. The sinner prayed for a long time, without receiving forgiveness twice. The Mother of God together with him asked the Divine Child for help. For the third time, after the heartfelt repentance of the wicked man and the desire of the Mother of God to pray with him at the feet of the Son, the Lord said that the law commands that the Son honor the mother, let it be as she says. The forgiven one kissed the icon, falling unconscious. Having come into himself, he felt unprecedented joy in his heart, hope for forgiveness for his actions. The man was reborn spiritually and began to lead a righteous life.

This event formed the basis for painting the icon “Unexpected Joy”. It received an incredible response in the hearts of believers; by the end of the 18th century, a copy of the miraculous image was in almost every Orthodox church. It can still be found today in many churches; it is especially revered in Moscow in the Church of Elijah the Prophet. Initially, this icon was kept in one of the Kremlin churches, in the mid-20th century it was transported to Sokolniki, and since 1959 it has been in the Elias Church of Elijah; it is known that Patriarch Pimen often prayed in front of it.

What type of Mother of God icons does it belong to?

On the icon “Unexpected Joy” the Mother of God is depicted with the Infant Christ in her arms, this is a type of Hodegetria, which translated means Guide, she, pointing with one hand to her Son, asserting which path a Christian should go. The unique image differs from most canonical images. This is not just an icon, but an iconographic composition (an icon within an icon).

The action takes place in the temple. In the lower left corner there is a man who knelt in prayer before the image of the Mother of God. Sometimes the letters from his mouth are depicted as ribbons to show his earnest prayer. The head of the Queen of Heaven is slightly tilted, her gaze is indirect, directed at the person praying. She points to the Son with one hand, and holds Him with the other as if on a throne. The Divine Infant has wounds from which blood flows, one hand is raised, it blesses all believers. A number of theologians classify “Unexpected Joy” as a type of akathist icon.

Below the image are words from the book of the Saint of Rostov: A certain lawless man. Think about it, after all, each of us daily commits lawlessness, sins: discussing, despondent, shouting, swearing, being proud, performing seemingly harmless actions, thereby becoming an accomplice in this distant history, again and again crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ, the way out is in repentance, hope for forgiveness and prayer help.

What should she pray for?

Often a person finds himself in a critical situation when he can only rely on God’s help. Then they pray to the Mother of God, asking her to cling to the heart of her Son and ask for spiritual joy, help in business, strengthening in faith, for the return of the lost and the preservation of children.

Parents prayerfully ask the Mother of God for their children, so that they are healthy, follow the right path in life, for their confirmation in faith, for spiritual and physical insight. The image of the Mother of God helps spouses to establish peace and mutual understanding, eliminate divisions, and reconcile those at war. This icon is approached with a request to protect from enemies and spiteful critics. Through prayers from the image of “Unexpected Joy” many healings and miracles occur, but most often people receive healing from deafness. This means not only a physical illness, but also a spiritual one: the inability to hear the words of Holy Scripture, loved ones. Cases have been established when women prayed for a quick marriage, for the return of their husbands from the battlefield, from a trip, they received help, prayer is effective against serious adversity, unjust accusations.

There are several prayer rules that are read depending on life circumstances. When time allows, it is better to read the full text of the prayer or even an akathist. There is a lot of evidence that reading the akathist helps infertile women: despite the diagnosis, they get the opportunity to experience the joy of motherhood.

Prayer for pregnancy to the Mother of God in front of the icon “Unexpected Joy”:

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

Accept this prayer song from us, unworthy of Your servants, offered to You: and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Your venerable icon, You did not despise Him, but You granted the unexpected joy of repentance, and through Your zealous intercession with Your Son for the forgiveness of the sinner Thou hast bowed thus, and now do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, but pray to Thy Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness before Thy celibate image, who, according to each need, grant unexpected joy: may all in heaven and on the lands lead You as a steadfast and unashamed Representative of the Christian race, and this leading, they glorify You and Your Son with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

If there is a lack of time, you can limit yourself to a short call to the help of the Mother of God the Virgin Mary. The clergy emphasize that the main thing is that the prayer comes from a pure heart. It is important to first say the words of prayer, after which formulate a petition in your own words.

To the Mother of God and the Queen, chosen from all generations, who sometimes appeared to a lawless man to turn him away from the path of wickedness, we offer a song of thanksgiving to Thee, the Mother of God: But You, who have ineffable mercy, free us from all troubles and sins, let us call to Thee: Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Today, return to the people who glorify the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, and who flow to Her most pure image, we cry out to the Lord: Oh, Merciful Lady Theotokos, grant us unexpected joy, burdened with many sins and sorrows, and deliver us from all evil, praying to Your Son, Christ God ours, to save our souls.

What does the name of the icon say?

Unexpected joy is an image that reminds us that forgiveness of sins is possible with heartfelt repentance and prayer. A joyful feeling does not immediately fill a person; he read the prayer and immediately became happy, no. After heartfelt labor and repentance (remember that Jesus Christ did not immediately forgive the sinner), when it would seem there is no more strength, forgiveness comes, and at the same time, unexpectedly, the heart becomes light and joyful. The icon teaches you to remain true to your word. A person, after repentance and received forgiveness, does not go further to lawlessness, but begins to lead a righteous life.

It is no coincidence that according to legend, the first to go to heaven with Christ was a robber who sincerely repented. No matter what circumstances happen in life, the Most Holy Theotokos becomes the first intercessor of every person. And you need to be able to notice joy in every moment. It is that there is a family, children, a favorite job, that you can hear the ringing of bells, birdsong and admire nature, it is that there is hope for healing, help, eternal life, there is a heavenly Intercessor ready to help everyone who addressed her.

Rejoice, you who grant unexpected joy to the faithful!

Thank you very much for such a detailed explanation.

Icon of Unexpected Joy

History of the icon

The appearance of the face dates back several centuries ago, at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The history of the appearance of this icon was based on the story of a man who, having committed any sin, immediately went to the temple and asked for forgiveness from the Most Pure Virgin Mary. Once, to a sinner, when he was sincerely reading a prayer book, the Mother of God appeared before him, holding little Jesus in her arms, and whose whole body was covered with open bleeding wounds. The Mother of God explained that such wounds do not go away, because people continue to commit sinful acts, and thereby wound Christ in a new way, causing suffering to him and her. The sinner began to pray even more diligently, and only after reading the third prayer did the Almighty grant him forgiveness, and the child’s wounds disappeared.

Since then, the sinner has completely changed his lifestyle. And his sincere repentance was called unexpected joy.

The icon represents the very essence of internal transformation. Hard work on oneself and offered prayers help people choose the true path of goodness and happiness.

Brief information about the origin of the holy image

The icon was created at the beginning of the eighteenth century.
This image depicts a man fallen to his knees, who repents of his sinful acts and prays for the remission of his sins to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who stands with the Child of God in her arms.
The day of veneration of this face is celebrated not once a year, but several times: on the ninth of December and the first of May.
The original of this icon is located in the Cathedral of the Prophet Elijah, which is located on Obydensky Lane in Moscow. Copies of this image are kept in many churches in Russia.
This holy image gives believers happiness suddenly, at a time when people no longer hope for anything and have lost faith in recovery. People regain their lost faith when they say a prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon.

How does an icon help?

It is necessary to pray for a message of help from the Mother of God, imprinted on the divine image, in the following situations:
When you are struck by ear disease;
If you have been diagnosed with infertility;
When your children have turned away from the true path, and you want to help them return to the “right path”;
When your loved ones died and it became a bitter loss that you constantly mourn and have lost the meaning of life;
When searching for missing relatives or friends;
You can also offer a prayer before the face of “unexpected joy” in cases of serious illness.

Where is the right place to place the holy image?

If you want the holy face to always support you, you need to choose the right location for it in your home. The holy image must be hung in the most visible place in the apartment.

However, there are places where you absolutely cannot place the image:
in latrines, for example, a restroom;
in places where all sorts of old things are stored;
It’s also not advisable to hang the image in the hallway.

It is also necessary to note that when you turn to the Lord, it is better to do it alone, so that no one disturbs you. The most the best place the placement of the holy face is your bedchamber.

And most importantly, this face should not be hung up, but simply placed on something. You can place it on a table, a bedside table, a chest of drawers, or on a special shelf for holy images located at the right end of the bedroom.

In order for your prayer to reach the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is depicted in the image, and for her to help you, you must address your prayers to her in the proper way.
As already mentioned, it is better to say prayers alone.
You can pray twice a day in the morning and before going to bed in the evening.
It is recommended to light the purchased candle in the temple when reading the prayer text.
Among other things, you must follow and adhere to all fasts, not sin and say prayers of gratitude to the Almighty for everything you have, and in this case the Lord and the Virgin Mary will respond to your request.
You can say a special prayer before the face of “Unexpected Joy”, or you can do it in your own words. When you want to have children, you can turn to the Mother of God with the following words:
"Most Holy Theotokos, our All-Tsarina! Hear me, send me happiness, give me a baby. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen!"

When the miraculous icon of the Mother of God is venerated

Celebrations of the Holy Face occur twice a year:
the fourteenth of May in the new style and the first in the old style;
The twenty-second of December is the new style and the ninth is the old style.

In which cathedrals and churches is the icon of Unexpected Joy kept?

The original relic is kept in the Cathedral of Elijah the Prophet in Belokamennaya; a couple of copies were made from this icon, which are also considered miraculous.

Every day thousands of pilgrims come to the temple, who pray not only for grace, but for the forgiveness of their sins from the Almighty. Believers reflect all sorrows and hesitations in prayer.

Before the holy icon, Orthodox Christians are endowed with hope, peace, patience, and receive protection and guidance.

The divine image is kept in the following churches:
You can find unexpected joy in Maryino Bor, which is located in the Moscow Cathedral;
In the Grandmother's Church of God's saints Natalia and Adrian;
This face is also kept in the Church of Elijah the Prophet, which is located on Obydensky Lane
In the Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord on the Pea Field;
On the Sands in the Church of the Transfiguration;
And in the Danilovskaya church at the Church of the Resurrection of the Savior

Meaning of the icon

According to church chronicles, this icon was created in the mid-eighteenth century. And as mentioned earlier, the original of the divine image is now kept in the Church of Elijah the Prophet on Obydensky Lane (Moscow). But the prayer before the face of “Unexpected Joy” can be read both in church and at home. Icon painters believe that this icon belongs to the type of “Guide” - Showing the Way to the Lord. According to generally accepted church rules, the image is depicted as a face inside the image - the villain in front of the icon reverently bows before him, begging for forgiveness. Sometimes icon painters write the words of a prayer service near the sinner’s mouth, depicting these words on special bright stripes. And under the image of the Virgin Mary, who holds the Divine Infant Christ in the shui, there is a story of pardon, written in Church Slavonic text.

What is the meaning of the icon?

This relic was created to convey to every person this immutable truth: the Almighty forgives and grants salvation to all who truly repent. It is noteworthy that a sinful act is not interpreted as an irreversible fall into a vicious or dissolute path of life, but is interpreted as a threshold on the road leading to confession and salvation of the soul. Any person can succumb to temptation, but through the great atonement of Christ, each person has the ability to be protected from temptation, to be reborn spiritually, and to receive a place in the heavenly places.