Once Metropolitan Dmitry of Rostov in his essay told about a man who loved to pray at the icon of the Mother of God, and then went and sinned. It was this story that became the plot for the icon Mother of God"Unexpected joy." Probably because many recognize their own habits in the sinner’s behavior, the image has become very revered in Russia.

What does one pray to the holy image for?

What do believers pray for at the “Unexpected Joy” icon? Based on the name, they ask the Queen of Heaven for the fulfillment of their deepest desires. Everyone has their own - a certain shepherd can pray for the salvation of an inveterate sinner, whom he no longer wants to save on his own. Someone is tormented by conscience: it seems to a person that his sins are so serious that he cannot expect forgiveness. And then, as a last resort, he comes to the Mother of God.

You can also pray:

• about those who have lost their moral compass;
• about help with hearing diseases;
• about reconciliation;
• about the return of the missing;
• about people who have fallen into despair (when they are overcome by sorrows and deprivations).

During the war years, women prayed for their missing husbands. It even happened that those who received funerals returned their loved ones with the help of the Almighty. The parents of those children who have taken the sinful path are looking for help - after all, they are doing everything possible, but their sons and daughters still stumble. Then joy seems like something unattainable, something that is forever in the past.

How the “Unexpected Joy” icon will help

The great poetess Marina Tsvetaeva mentioned the icon “Unexpected Joy” in her poems. How does she help that she has truly earned national respect? This can be understood from the name - joy can come through prayer. Joy about the salvation of loved ones. Isn’t it what everyone who has learned the real meaning of faith is looking for?

For a sinner, the most desired news may be the news of his complete forgiveness. When the realization of the gravity of one’s misdeeds comes, the pain that they caused to others, this burden becomes almost unbearable. But you can't let him crush you. We must seek consolation in prayer, because despondency leads to a dead end. You need to pray in any situation when a person cannot help himself or his loved ones:

• Separation from spouse.
• When someone spreads slanderous rumors.
• If relatives are on a sea voyage.
• The son is serving in the army.

It is never too late for a sinner to repent, even if he believes that his wrongdoings do not deserve forgiveness. You should not succumb to the tricks of the unclean - you must continue to pray. And that joy that was no longer expected will definitely happen - unexpected joy.

Why read an akathist to an icon?

A special type of church poetry is the composition of akathists. They are dedicated to different icons, but the structure is the same: short songs alternate with longer ones. The akathist to the “Unexpected Joy” icon is no different in form from the others. You need to read it standing in front of the image, preferably doing it out loud. In general, it is better to say all prayers out loud, not necessarily loudly or “with expression,” but so that the reader can hear himself.

The words of prayer have a beneficial effect on both the soul and the surrounding atmosphere. It is not for nothing that in churches prayers are proclaimed and sung, and not read “to oneself.” Prayer teaches people to see joy in the most ordinary events. The sun came out and my son got a good grade. We must learn to notice all this, but not only that. Reading akathists teaches us to thank the Lord for every such joy. After all, the majority are accustomed to turning to God only with tears, requests, and persuasion.

The meaning of the icon “Unexpected joy”

At the end of the 17th century. Saint Demetrius wrote famous work, which told about the miracles that took place in the Elias Monastery (Chernigov). The author calls the hero of the story simply a lawless person, that is, one who did not respect God’s institutions. It is not said what kind of sin he was obsessed with; this silence was done deliberately. After all, otherwise everyone could say: “I am not guilty of this, so the story is not about me.”

The sinner was unusual in that he prayed every day before the icon of the Mother of God. But he did this out of habit, without delving into the meaning of the holy words: “Rejoice, full of grace!” How can the Mother of God rejoice if a person is mired in sin and is not bothered by it at all? To show the abomination of godless life, a miracle was performed. Not because the sinner was worthy of it, but for the edification and salvation of many.

The deep meaning of the “Unexpected Joy” icon is revealed only if the whole story is comprehended as a whole. Having risen, as usual, to pray, the sinner suddenly saw the Baby’s wounds open, from which blood gushed out. Such an experience in itself can kill a person. But the hero of the story enters into dialogue with the Mother of God. This, by the way, is graphically reflected in some versions of the icon.

To the question of who injured the Infant God, the answer was received that every day sinners crucify Christ anew with their godless actions. Each sin, like a nail, digs into the flesh of the Savior, makes his heart bleed, and the Mother of God suffers again.

The sinner turned to Saint Mary so that she would beg her Son to grant him forgiveness of sins. But the Mother of God was refused, and this happened several times. Then she fell on her face and said that she would not rise until the sinner received forgiveness. Here Christ yielded to the pleas. Then the repentant hero of the story began to kiss the wounds on the Savior’s body, then the vision stopped.

The deep lesson of this story is that the inveterate sinner immediately abandoned his previous affairs and spent the rest of his life as a Christian should. Every person knows and feels when he is doing wrong; for this you don’t even need to know the commandments, because the Lord wrote them in our hearts. Prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon will help you see your sins if the voice of conscience has been drowned out.

Where is the holy image located today?

Many miraculous icons were taken abroad during the revolution of 1917, and even more were destroyed by the godless authorities. But, fortunately, today believers can come to where the image of “Unexpected Joy” is located. The revered miraculous list is available for worship in the Church of Elijah the Prophet (Kropotkinskaya metro station). Here the hand of God saved him and others famous icons from extinction.

The temple is colloquially called the Ordinary. In the old days, this was the name given to churches that were built... in a day. The people gathered before dawn, and by evening the new house of God was ready! This is how the Church of Elijah the Prophet was erected at the end of the 16th century. The memory of this is preserved in the name of the lane (Obydensky). Today, not only Muscovites come here, but also pilgrims from all over Russia. They bring flowers and their prayer needs to the Mother of God.

The temple in the name of the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” operates in Maryina Roshcha (metro station VDNKh or Rizhskaya). Another miraculous list created in the 19th century is kept here. The construction of the temple was completed at the beginning of the 20th century, before the revolution, construction was carried out with money raised by city residents. Land plot was donated. Above the main entrance is an image of a praying sinner. There are three altars in the church, and several more shrines with relics are kept.

The church also did not close, managing to survive the years of persecution of the Church and the faith of Christ almost without losses. Even the bells were preserved, but it was impossible to ring them. Today anyone can come here and pray at the miraculous image. The schedule of services is on the official website, as well as the opening hours.

The revered copy of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is kept in the Church of the Savior on the Sands (Spasopeskovsky Lane, Moscow). The temple is protected by the state as a cultural monument. He is the one depicted on famous painting"Moscow courtyard". The history of the church begins in 1642, it was a church in the middle of the Streltsy settlement. It was rebuilt several times and suffered from a fire under Napoleon - but was very quickly restored.

At the end of the 19th century. There were about a thousand parishioners, there was a school, a shelter for the poor, and there was a fight against drunkenness. After the revolution, the rector was arrested and the temple was closed. The building was looted, rebuilt for various needs, and the paintings were gradually destroyed. In the 30s, the church was recognized as an architectural monument, but the building was transferred to the Patriarchate only in 1991. A period of gradual revival began.

The unexpected joy of salvation

One of the most important lessons that a believer receives when contemplating the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is the endless mercy of the Lord. He is not turned away by the iniquities of sinners only if they experience sincere repentance. It is imperative to express it in prayer, no matter which icon it will be done in front of. This is how the relationship between God and man is built - first through word, then through action. Having admitted your sinfulness, you must leave your old habits. Only then can a person hope for the joy of salvation.

Prayer to the icon Unexpected joy

“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 implore 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; expose slanderers and slanderers 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, die, unite me to each other and establish an indestructible union of love for them; Give quick permission to mothers giving birth, raise babies, be chaste to young people, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, teach 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 every vice and defilement and teach everything good and pleasing to God; those seduced into sin and uncleanness, having revealed the filth of sin, bring them out of 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 a Christian death in our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ.

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 explains 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 sometimes they write the words of a sinner: “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 of the famous lists. 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.
• IN Tretyakov Gallery a unique icon “Unexpected Joy” (1st half of the 19th century) is kept, where the main picture is surrounded by 120 small images of other miraculous icons of the Mother of God. The central image bears 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 it is antique 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 man approached the priest Marine officer asking 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 residents of Murom who expelled them, just as the Most Holy Theotokos 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. Before the image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” they pray in heavy life situations when hope has run out. 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?

The Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” on May 14, June 3 and December 22. 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 has a negative impact on 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. In front of the icon you can pray for different family problems, the main thing is to do it from the bottom of your heart. Lonely people can ask Higher powers help in finding your 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 temples according to the calendar Orthodox dates I remember this or that icon of the Mother of God 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?

Exact date and the place where the icon appeared 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 going to Once again to commit lawlessness, as usual, he said the words of prayer, addressing with the 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 list 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 at her Son, asserting which way 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 spiritual joy, help in business, strengthening in faith, about 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 and walk in the right direction. life's path, about their confirmation in faith, about 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 imminent marriage, about the return of their husbands from the battlefield, from travel, they received help, prayer was effective against serious adversity, unjust accusations.

There are several prayer rules that are read depending on life circumstances. When time permits, it is better to read full text prayers 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.

Memory icons Holy Mother of God"Unexpected Joy" takes place in the Russian Orthodox Church on May 14 and December 22 according to the new style.

The history of the iconography of the image “Unexpected Joy”
The icon “Unexpected Joy” was created in the second half of the 17th century. The reason for the creation of this image was the story recorded by St. Dmitry of Rostov in his work “Irrigated Fleece.” This book includes stories about the miracles revealed by the Most Holy Theotokos in the St. Elias Monastery in Chernigov, where the saint served for some time and of which he was a witness. The title of the saint's literary work goes back to the Old Testament story about how, through the prayer of the Israeli judge Gideon, Divine dew sprinkled the fleece. Since before every miracle performed by the Mother of God in the monastery, on the icon of the Queen Heavenly people saw tears, then Saint Dmitry of Rostov compared this wondrous phenomenon with the Old Testament miracle of the appearance of dew.
The saint reports the following about the amazing incident that formed the basis of the “Unexpected Joy” iconography. A certain man lived wickedly and committed evil and unrighteous deeds. However, he was different great love to the Mother of God and, every time before committing an unrighteous deed, he prayed before the image of the Queen of Heaven. One day, during prayer, he saw that the icon seemed to come to life: terrible wounds appeared on the hands and feet of the Divine Infant, from which blood flowed. Frightened by this phenomenon, the sinner asked the Mother of God to explain the terrible image he had seen, and then received the answer that people still continue to crucify the Lord Jesus Christ with their sins and wicked lives. The man realized that, by the grace of God, the terrible spiritual state in which he was due to his wicked actions was revealed to him. With tears, the sinner asked for mercy, but saw that the Infant God was turning away from him and only when the Mother of God asked Her Divine Son, he received forgiveness, as a sign of which he was given the command to touch the wounds of the Savior. When the wonderful vision disappeared, the man felt great joy. Saint Dmitry of Rostov testifies that after this the former sinner completely changed his life and became a pious and righteous person.

Description of the image “Unexpected Joy”
The composition of the icon is quite complex, since the image belongs to the so-called event icons, which depict not only a saint or the Virgin Mary, but also some kind of plot that served as the reason for painting the iconographic image.
On the right is the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria or Guide, which is very symbolic, since in this image the Queen of Heaven points to the Infant God as the true path to salvation. We do not know which icon of the Mother of God the man about whom St. Demetrius wrote prayed, but the story itself with the miraculous admonition of a sinner says that the Mother of God calls every person to turn to Christ, because only in Him can one find salvation and deliverance from eternal death. The Infant of God on the icon is depicted with bleeding wounds and in torn clothing, as a symbol of the torment that people inflict on Him with their wicked actions.
On the left in front of the image is the figure of a man kneeling in front of the miraculous image and praying with his hands raised to the sky for forgiveness. The words of the prayer that the sinner addresses to the Mother of God are also written on the icon, and at the bottom of the image is written the beginning of the story from the book “The Irrigated Fleece.”
This icon is very revered and loved by believers, since the very name of the image gives joy and hope. Exists a large number of lists from this icon, many of which are considered miraculous.

Troparion, tone 4:
Today, faithful people/ we spiritually triumph,/ glorifying the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race/ and flowing to Her most pure image, we cry out:/ Oh, Most Merciful Lady Theotokos,/ grant us unexpected joy,/ burdened with many sins and sorrows,/ and deliver us from all evil, / praying to Thy Son, Christ our God, to save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 6:
There are no imams of other help, / no imams of other hope, / except You, Lady. / Help us, / we rely on You, / and we boast in You, / For we are Your servants, / Let us not be ashamed.

Magnification:
We magnify You, / Most Holy Virgin / God-chosen Youth, / and honor Your holy image, / through which you bring healing / to all who come with faith.

Prayer:
O Most Holy Virgin, All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, Patroness of the city of Moscow, Faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who live in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Accept this prayer song from us, unworthy Thy servants, offered to You, and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Thy honorable icon every day, You did not despise, but You bestowed unexpected joy on him and You bowed down Your Son with many and zealous intercessions towards Him. for the forgiveness of this sinner and erring 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 bow before Thy celibate image, unexpected joy for each need: to sinners , mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; for those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; for those who find themselves in troubles and embitterment - a complete abundance of these; for the faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; to those who live in joy and abundance - unceasing thanksgiving to 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 - the 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 everyone who honors the all-honorable your name, and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession; abide in piety, purity and honest living until their last death in goodness; 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, those who find invisible help and admonition were sent down from Heaven; save from temptations, seductions and destruction; protect and preserve from evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; floating float; for those who travel, travel; Be the Nourisher for those in need and hunger; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, provide cover and refuge; Give clothes to the naked; for those offended and unjustly persecuted - intercession; invisibly justify the slander, slander and blasphemy of those who suffer; expose slanderers and slanderers before everyone; Grant unforeseen reconciliation to those who are bitterly at odds, and to all of us for each other love, peace and piety and health with long life. Preserve marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses who exist in enmity and division, die, unite me to each other and establish an indestructible union of love for them; to mothers and children giving birth, grant permission quickly; raise babies; For young people to be chaste, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, instruct them in the fear of God, abstinence and hard work; Protect from domestic strife and enmity of half-bloods with peace and love. Be the Mother of motherless orphans, turn them away from every vice and filth and teach them everything that is good and pleasing to God, and bring those seduced into sin and impurity, having revealed the filth 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 a Christian end to our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the terrible Judgment of Christ. Having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, with the Angels and all the saints, make them live, begging for the mercy of Thy Son to be merciful to those who passed away by sudden death, and for all the departed who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Thy Son, Thou thyself be a ceaseless and warm Prayer-maker and Intercessor May everyone in Heaven and on earth lead You as a steadfast and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and, leading, glorify You and Your Son, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayers to the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

First prayer

Oh, Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Patroness 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 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, so that all of us with faith and tenderness who worship before Thy celibate image will grant unexpected joy for each need: as a shepherd to the church - holy zeal for the salvation of the flock; 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; for those who find themselves in troubles and bitterness - a complete abundance of these; for the faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; in the joy and contentment of those living - 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 - the 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 God's mercy. Oh, Most Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor Your All-Honorable Name, and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession; abide in piety, purity and honest living until their last death in goodness; create evil good things; guide those who are lost 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, invisible help and admonition were sent down from heaven; save from temptations, seductions and destruction; protect and preserve from all evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; floating float; for those who travel, travel; Be the Nourisher for those in need and hunger; be the Cover and Refuge for those without shelter and shelter; Give clothes to the naked; for those who are offended and suffer from untruths - intercession; invisibly justify the one who suffers slander, slander and blasphemy; expose slanderers and slanderers before everyone; Unexpectedly grant reconciliation to those who are bitterly at odds, and to all of us - love, peace and piety and health with long life for each other.

Preserve marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses who exist in enmity and division, die, unite to each other and establish an indestructible union of love for them; to mothers and children giving birth, grant permission quickly; educate infants, young ones to be chaste, open their minds to the perception of all useful teachings, instruct the fear of God, abstinence and hard work; Protect from domestic strife and enmity of half-bloods with peace and love. Be the Mother of motherless orphans, turn them away from all vice and filth and teach them everything good and pleasing to God; those who have been seduced into sin and uncleanness, having revealed the filth of sin, bring them out of 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 a Christian end to our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful, and a good answer at the terrible judgment of Christ. Having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, create with the angels and all the saints the lives; to those who died a sudden death, beseech the mercy of Thy Son, and for all those who have died who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Thy Son, Thou thyself be a ceaseless and warm Prayer Book and Intercessor; may they lead Thee to heaven and earth as a steadfast and unashamed Representative of the Christian race, and glorify Thee and Thy Son with Thee, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Second prayer
To the Mother of God and the Queen, chosen from all generations, who sometimes appeared to a lawless man in order 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 unspeakable mercy, free us from all troubles and sins, let us call to Thee: Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her icon called “Unexpected Joy”

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

About the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"
The history of this icon is told by St. Demetrius of Rostov in his work “Irrigated Fleece.”

One man, who led a sinful life, was nevertheless attached to the Mother of God with a feeling of reverent love and daily prayed unfailingly before Her icon, uttering with deep faith the words once spoken by the Archangel Gabriel: “Rejoice, full of grace!..” One day he was getting ready to go for a sinful deed and before leaving, turning to the icon of the Mother of God, he prayed. Then awe suddenly attacked him, and he saw that the image of the Mother of God seemed to be moving. The Divine Child had ulcers on his arms, legs and sides, and blood gushed from them. Falling to the ground, the criminal shouted: “Oh, Lady, who did this?”

“You and other sinners are again crucifying My Son with your sins, like the Jews,” answered the Mother of God. “You call Me merciful. Why do you insult Me with your lawless deeds?”

“Oh, Lady,” the sinner answered her, “let my sins not overcome Your inexpressible goodness. You are the only hope for all sinners. Pray for me to Your Son and our God!”

Twice the Lady repeated Her prayer to the Infant Christ, but He remained adamant until, finally, he answered the persistent prayer of the Mother of God: “I fulfill Your request. Let Your wish be fulfilled. For Your sake, this man’s sins are forgiven. Let him kiss him as a sign of forgiveness.” My ulcers."

And so the forgiven sinner rose from the ground, before whom the inexhaustible mercy of the Mother of God shone in such a wondrous image, and with inexpressible joy he kissed the wounds of his Savior. From then on, he began to live a pure, pious life.

This event gave believers the reason to paint the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”.

This icon depicts a man praying on his knees before the face of the Mother of God. Next, under the face, the first words of the story are usually placed: “A certain lawless man”...

In Moscow, in Khamovniki, in the church Burning Bush, such an icon has been kept since 1835, when it was donated according to the verbal will of parishioner Alexandra Kunitsyna. Since 1837, it began to be glorified by miracles.

From Monday to Tuesday of Bright Week in 1838, the non-commissioned officer's widow Anisya Stepanova, who had suffered from deafness to such an extent for the last four months that she could not even hear the ringing of bells, came to the house of a parishioner of this church, Anna Timofeeva. She was treated in hospitals, but to no avail. She stayed overnight with Timofeeva so that the next day she could go to the “Unexpected Joy” icon. When the next morning the women asked to serve a prayer service, Anisya suddenly heard the words of the Easter troparion “Christ is risen from the dead”, and then the troparion of the Mother of God “In the Mother of God now we are diligently a priest,” and after that her deafness completely disappeared.

In the Kremlin, in the Church of the Annunciation, in the Zhitny Dvor, there was a revered icon of “Unexpected Joy”. Depicted on it old man praying before the icon of the Mother of God. Below, under the icon, there is a prayer written: “Oh, Mother of God, may our malice not overcome Your ineffable goodness. For You are the hope of all sinners; pray therefore for us to Your Son and our God.”
Celebrations in honor of this miraculous icon take place on May 14 and December 22.

Our sins and iniquities grew... The holy wonder-working icons of the Queen of Heaven were hidden, and until there is a sign from the holy wonder-working icon of the Mother of God, I will not believe that we are forgiven. But I believe that there will be such a time and we will live to see it.

Hieromartyr Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov)

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Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her icon called “Unexpected Joy”

Chosen from all generations of the Mother of God and the Queen, who sometimes appeared to the lawless man, in order to turn him away from the path of wickedness, we offer thanksgiving singing to Thee, the Mother of God; But you, who have unspeakable mercy, free us from all troubles and sins, and let us call you: Rejoice, you who grant unexpected joy to the faithful.

The angels and righteous souls were amazed when you appeared before your Son and God and interceded with many prayers for man, who is always in sin; But we, with the eyes of faith seeing Thy great compassion, with tenderness cry out to Ty: Rejoice, thou who acceptest the prayers of all Christians; Rejoice, you who do not reject the prayers of the most desperate sinners. Rejoice, you who intercede for your Son for them; Rejoice, you who give them the unexpected joy of salvation. Rejoice, saving the whole world through Your intercession; Rejoice, quenching all our sorrows. Rejoice, Mother of God of all, comforting embittered souls; Rejoice, you who arrange our life well. Rejoice, having brought deliverance from sins to all people; Rejoice, you who brought joy to the whole world. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Seeing the Most Holy One, even if he is lawless, but every day with faith and hope before Her venerable icon he casts himself down and brings the Archangel’s greeting to Her, and he hears the praise of such a sinner, and all who see Her Motherly mercy, in Heaven and on earth cry out to God: Alleluia.

Human reason truly surpasses Your love for the Christian race, for even then You did not cease from Your intercession for the lawless man, when Your Son showed You the wounds of the nails, the sins of men committed by Him. Seeing You as the persistent Intercessor for us sinners, we cry out to You with tears: Rejoice, zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, given to us by God; Rejoice, our Guide, who leads us to the Heavenly Fatherland. Rejoice, guardianship and refuge of the faithful; Rejoice, help of all who call on Your holy Name. Rejoice, thou who hast snatched away all those despised and rejected from the pit of destruction; Rejoice, you who turn those to the right path. Rejoice, you who drive away constant despondency and spiritual darkness; Rejoice, for those who have been waiting for a new mind from illness and better meaning serving. Rejoice, you who have been left by doctors in Your all-powerful hand. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

The power of grace abounded there, where sin abounded; May all the Angels in Heaven rejoice over the one sinner who has repented, singing before the Throne of God: Alleluia.

Having Motherly mercy towards the Christian race, He gives a helping hand to all who come running to You with faith and hope, O Lady, so that with one heart and one mouth we all bring Ty’s praise: Rejoice, for through You God’s favor descends upon us; Rejoice, for through You we, too, are imams who have increased boldness towards God. Rejoice, for in all our troubles and circumstances you offer your Son earnest prayers for us; Rejoice, for you have made our prayers pleasing to God. Rejoice, for invisible enemies you drive us away; Rejoice, for you delivered us from visible enemies. Rejoice, for you soften the hearts of evil people; Rejoice, for you have taken us away from slander, harassment and reproach. Rejoice, for through You all our good desires are fulfilled; Rejoice, for Your prayer can accomplish much before Your Son and God. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Having a storm of sinful thoughts inside, a lawless person prayed before Thy honorable icon and, seeing the Blood from the wounds of Thy Eternal Son flowing in streams, like on the Cross, fell from fear and cried out to Thee with sobs: “Have mercy on me, O Mother of mercy, lest My malice will overcome Your ineffable goodness and mercy, for You are the only Hope and Refuge for all sinners; bow down to mercy, O Good Mother, and beg Thy Son and my Creator for me, so that I may continually call to Him: Alleluia.”

Hearing the inhabitants of heaven about the miraculous salvation of their dying earthly brother through Your prayers, they glorified You, the compassionate Queen of Heaven and earth; and we, sinners, having experienced such intercession of a sinner similar to us, even if our tongue is perplexed to praise You according to our heritage, from the depths of our tender heart we sing to You: Rejoice, Helper of the salvation of sinners; Rejoice, Seeker of the lost. Rejoice, Unexpected Joy of Sinners; Rejoice, rise of the fallen. Rejoice, Representative to God, saving the world from troubles; Rejoice, for the voices of Your prayers tremble. Rejoice, as the Angels rejoice at this; Rejoice, for the power of Your prayers fills us, earthly creatures, with joy. Rejoice, for with these you take us away from the mire of sins; Rejoice, for you have extinguished the flame of our passions. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

You showed us the God-bearing star - the miraculous icon of Your Mother, O Lord, for, looking at the image of Her bodily eyes, we rise with our minds and hearts to the Prototype, and through Her we flow to You, singing: Alleluia.

Having seen the Guardian Angels of Christians, as the Mother of God assists them in their instruction, intercession and salvation, they tried to cry out to the Most Honest Cherub and the Most Glorious without comparison Seraphim: Rejoice, reigning forever with Your Son and God; Rejoice, you who always bring prayers to Him for the generation of Christians. Rejoice, Teacher of Christian faith and piety; Rejoice, Eradicator of heresies and pernicious schisms. Rejoice, preserving temptations that corrupt the soul and body; Rejoice, deliverer from dangerous circumstances and sudden death, without repentance and Holy Communion. Rejoice, you who give a shameless end to those who trust in You; Rejoice, even after death for the soul that has gone to the judgment of the Lord before Your Son, you never cease to intercede. Rejoice, thou who by Thy maternal intercession delivers this from eternal torment. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

The preacher of Your wondrous mercy, bestowed on a certain lawless man, appeared Saint Demetrius of Rostov, who, writing off the great and glorious and fair works of God, revealed in You, committed to writing and this work of Your mercy for the teaching and consolation of all the faithful, and even these, in sins , troubles, sorrows and embitterments of those who exist, many times every day with faith in prayer they bow their knees before Your image and, having left those who are gone, cry out to God: Alleluia.

Rising to us like a bright dawn, miraculous icon Yours, Mother of God, driving away the darkness of troubles and sorrows from all who cry out to You with love: Rejoice, our Healer in bodily illnesses; Rejoice, Good Comforter in our spiritual sorrows. Rejoice, you who transform our sorrow into joy; Rejoice, you who rejoice those who do not hope with undoubted hope. Rejoice, you who hunger for the Nourisher; Rejoice, robe of the naked. Rejoice, Comforter of widows; Rejoice, invisible teacher of motherless orphans. Rejoice, O unjustly persecuted and offended Intercessor; Rejoice, O just avenger of those who persecute and offend. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Although the Lawgiver, the Righteous Lord Himself is the Executor of the law and shows the abyss of His mercy, bow down to Your fervent prayer, Blessed Mother of the Virgin, for the lawless man, saying: “The law commands, that the son honor the mother. I am Your Son, You are My Mother: I must honor You, listening to Your prayer; Be it as you wish: now his sins are forgiven for Your sake.” We, seeing such power in the prayer of our Intercessor for the forgiveness of our sins, will glorify Her mercy and ineffable compassion, calling: Alleluia.

A new wondrous and glorious sign appeared to all the faithful, as if not only Your Mother, but also Her most pure Face, depicted on the board, You have granted the power of miracles, Lord; Marveling at this mystery, with tenderness of heart we cry out to Her like this: Rejoice, revelation of the wisdom and goodness of God; Rejoice, affirmation of faith. Rejoice, manifestation of grace; Rejoice, gift of useful knowledge. Rejoice, overthrow of harmful teachings; Rejoice, it is not difficult to overcome lawless habits. Rejoice, you who give the word of wisdom to those who ask; Rejoice, you foolish, intelligent worker. Rejoice, children, inconvenience to students, giver of reason; Rejoice, good Guardian and Mentor of youth. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

A strange and terrible vision of a certain lawless man, showing him the goodness of the Lord, forgiving his sins through the intercession of the Mother of God; For this reason, therefore, correct your life, live in a manner pleasing to God. Sitsa and we, seeing the glorious deeds and manifold wisdom of God in the world and our life, let us move away from earthly vanities and unnecessary cares of life, and raise our mind and heart to Heaven, singing to God: Alleluia.

You are all abiding in the highest, and you have not retreated from the lower ones, Most Merciful Queen of Heaven and earth; Even though, after Your Dormition, You ascended into Heaven with Your Most Pure Flesh, yet You did not leave the sinful earth, who are a Participant of the Providence of Your Son for the Christian race. For this sake, we dutifully please You: Rejoice, having enlightened the whole earth with the radiance of Your most pure soul; Rejoice, who made all Heaven rejoice with the purity of Your body. Rejoice, Providence of Your Son for the generation of Christians, Holy Servant; Rejoice, zealous Representative for the whole world. Rejoice, you who adopted us all at the Cross of Your Son; Rejoice, you who always show motherly love to us. Rejoice, O unenvious Giver of all gifts, spiritual and physical; Rejoice, blessings of the temporary Intercessor. Rejoice, thou who openest the doors of the Kingdom of Christ to the faithful; Rejoice, and filling the land with pure joy of hearts. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Every angelic nature was amazed at the work of Your mercy, Lord, for You have granted such a strong and warm Intercessor and Helper to the Christian race, I am present to us invisibly, but I hear You singing: Alleluia.

The Vetians have many things to say, but they do not talk vainly about the enlightenment of God, as if worshiping a holy image is like worshiping an idol; They do not understand that the honor given to the holy image ascends to the Archetype. Not only do we know this well, but we also hear from faithful people about many miracles from the Face of the Mother of God, and we ourselves, who are in need of temporary and eternal life, accept the worship of Him, with joy we cry out to the Mother of God: Rejoice, for miracles are wrought from Thy sacred Face; Rejoice, for this wisdom and grace have been hidden from the wise and prudent of this age. Rejoice, for she was revealed as a child in faith; Rejoice, for you glorify those who glorify You. Rejoice, for you put to shame those who reject You before everyone; Rejoice, for you deliver those who come to You from drowning, fire and sword, from deadly plagues and from all evil. Rejoice, for you mercifully heal all the illnesses of mankind, mental and physical; Rejoice, for through Your prayer you will soon satisfy the righteous wrath of God against us. Rejoice, for You are a quiet refuge from storms for those floating on the sea of ​​life; Rejoice, for at the end of our everyday voyage you will reliably lead us to the storm-free country of the Kingdom of Christ. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Kontakion 10

Although you saved a certain lawless man from the error of his life’s path, You showed him a wondrous vision from Your most honorable icon, O Most Blessed One, yes, seeing the miracle, he will repent and, raised from the depths of sin by Your merciful providence, cry out to God: Alleluia.

Thou art a wall to the virgins, O Virgin Mother of God, and to all who flow to Thee, for the Creator of heaven and earth, who dwelleth in Thy womb and was born of Thee, reveal Thee, the Ever-Virgin, the guardian of virginity, purity and chastity and the vessel of all virtue, and teach Thee to proclaim to all: Rejoice, pillar and fence of virginity; Rejoice, invisible Guardian of purity and chastity. Rejoice, kind Teacher of the virgins; Rejoice, good bride, Decorator and Supporter. Rejoice, all-desired accomplishment of good marriages; Rejoice, speedy resolution for mothers giving birth. Rejoice, upbringing of infants and grace-filled protection; Rejoice, you who gladden childless parents with the fruits of faith and the Spirit. Rejoice, consolation to mourning mothers; Rejoice, secret joy of pure virgins and widows. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Kontakion 11

Bringing all-congratulating singing to You, the unworthy, we ask You, Virgin Mother of God: do not despise the voice of Your servants; For we run to You in adversity and sorrow, and before You in our troubles we shed tears, singing: Alleluia.

I give a light-giving candle, we dry in the darkness of sin and the vale of weeping, we see the Holy Virgin; the spiritual fire of His prayers, kindling instructions and consolation, leads everyone to the Unevening Light, the appeal of those who honor You with these: Rejoice, Ray from the Sun of Truth - Christ our God; Rejoice, enlightening bad conscience. Rejoice, foreseen secret and inconvenience, leading all the good and telling it as it should; Rejoice, you who disgrace false seers and vain fortune-telling. Rejoice, in times of bewilderment you put good thoughts in your heart; Rejoice, thou who abideth ever in fasting, prayer and contemplation of God. Rejoice, you who encourage and admonish the faithful shepherds of the Church; Rejoice, everlasting consolation for God-fearing monks and nuns. Rejoice, unashamed Intercessor of sinners who repent before God; Rejoice, warm Intercessor of all Christians. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Kontakion 12

Ask us for Divine grace from Your Son and God, extend a helping hand to us, drive away every enemy and adversary from us, pacify our lives, so that we may not perish violently, without repentance, but accept us into eternal shelter, Mother of God, so that we may rejoice in God, through You. to him who saves us: Alleluia.

Singing Your ineffable motherly mercy towards lawless man, we all praise You, as a steadfast Representative for us sinners, and we worship You, who prays for us; We believe and trust that You have asked Your Son and God for good, temporal and eternal, for all, crying out to You with love: Rejoice, all slander and temptations that come from the world, the flesh and the devil are trampled underfoot; Rejoice, unforeseen reconciliation of bitterly warring people. Rejoice, unknown correction of unrepentant sinners; Rejoice, speedy Comforter to those who are exhausted from despondency and sadness. Rejoice, you who provide us with the grace of humility and patience; Rejoice, nationwide denunciation of perjury and unrighteous acquisitions. Rejoice, thou who protectest the blood of the same blood from domestic strife and enmity through peace and love; Rejoice, you who invisibly turn us away from destructive endeavors and meaningless wishes. Rejoice, in our good intentions you have been a companion to the Helper; Rejoice, at the hour of death for all of us, Helper. Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Kontakion 13

O All-Singing Mother, who contained the inconceivable God in her womb and gave birth to Joy to the whole world! Accept this present singing, turn all our sorrows into joy and deliver us from all misfortunes and remove future torments from those who cry out for You: Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)

Icon of the Mother of God "UNEXPECTED JOY"

The ancient miraculous icon of the Mother of God “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, the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” enjoys great veneration among believers; copies of 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 through the prayers of the Most Pure Mother of God.

The history of this icon is told by St. Demetrius of Rostov in his work “Irrigated Fleece.” According to legend, one robber, spending his life in sins, however, had the habit of praying for a long time before the image of the Mother of God, asking for help in his affairs.
Each time he began his prayer with the Archangel’s greeting: “Rejoice, O Blessed One!” One day, as he was about to go on a sinful deed, during prayer he was attacked by a sudden strong fear, and he saw that the Mother of God and the Child appeared before him alive. Christ's wounds opened 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 this?” The Mother of God answered him: “You and other sinners; with your sins you again crucify My Son, like the ancient Jews.” The amazed robber began to pray to the Mother of God to have mercy on him.
Then, before his eyes, She began to ask Christ to forgive his sins, but He refused. Then the Most Holy Theotokos came down from her throne and wanted to fall at the feet of the Child. “What do you want to do, O My Mother!” - exclaimed the Son. “I will remain at Your feet along with this sinner,” She answered, “until You forgive 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 ask Me to do. according to Your desire. Now his sins are forgiven for Your sake. And as a sign of forgiveness, let him kiss My wounds." Then the shocked sinner stood up and touched with his lips the wounds of Christ open on the icon. With this, the vision ended, and it was not in vain for the man: from that time on, he corrected himself and began to live pleasing to God.
Shocked to the depths of his soul, with a contrite heart, 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, can be found in almost every church in the city.

By type, the icon “Unexpected Joy” refers to Hodegetria - a guide to Christ. It depicts a sinner kneeling in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and stretching out his hands to her with a plea for mercy. Sometimes from his lips, in the form of ribbons, icon painters depicted the text of prayers addressed to Her. It turns out an icon within an icon: the Mother of God holds Her Son on her left hand, and the Infant Christ raised His small hands up. The face of the Mother of God is turned to the sinner. Under the image there is an inscription outlining the story of the sinner’s salvation...

Hodegetria “Unexpected Joy” once again testifies that everyone who sincerely wants to be forgiven will be forgiven. Moreover, the story about the icon says that the repentant sinner prayed for the gift of a vision of his sins, and this does not mean that he was going to lead a vicious life again. Any person is a sinner - this is our dual nature, but if sin suddenly occurs due to human weakness, then, seeing it 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 distributed throughout Russia. He is glorified for his miracles, we are revered and loved everywhere, because Unexpected Joy is the Mother of God Herself, immeasurably loving, persistently in prayer before Her Divine Son for the entire human race, not leaving people without hope for forgiveness of the most serious sins, giving the unexpected joy of meeting and faith , love.

Miracle-working icons of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” arein the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” in Maryina Roshcha (Sheremetyevskaya st., 33)and inTemple of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane (metro station "Kropotkinskaya", 2nd Obydensky lane, 6).

Temple of the Prophet Elijah in Obydensky Lane

The most famous revered icons of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” are located in the Church of the Transfiguration on the Sands (metro station Smolenskaya, Spasopeskovsky lane, 4a) and in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word in Danilovskaya Sloboda (metro station Tulskaya, Danilovsky Val, 2 2) .

Many who with faith and love resort 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 comforting 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”b" - May 14 And December 22.

Troparion, tone 4:
Today, faithful people spiritually triumph, glorifying the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race and flowing to Her Most Pure Image, we cry out: 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 Our God, save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 6:
There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope, unless You, Lady, help us, we hope in You and we boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.

Prayer of the Mother of God before the icon of Her “Unexpected Joy”:
O Most Holy Virgin, All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, Patroness of the city of Moscow, Faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who live in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Accept this prayer song from us, unworthy Thy servants, offered to You, and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Thy honorable icon every day, You did not despise, but You bestowed unexpected joy on him and You bowed down Your Son with many and zealous intercessions towards Him. for the forgiveness of this sinner and erring 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 bow before Thy celibate image, unexpected joy for each need: to sinners , mired in the depths of evils 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; to those who live in joy and abundance - unceasing thanksgiving to 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 Your honorable name, and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession; abide in piety, purity and honest living until their last death in goodness; 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, those who find invisible help and admonition were sent down from Heaven; save from temptations, seductions and destruction; protect and preserve from evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; floating float; for those who travel, travel; Be the Nourisher for those in need and hunger; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, provide cover and refuge; Give clothes to the naked; for those offended and unjustly persecuted - intercession; invisibly justify the slander, slander and blasphemy of those who suffer; expose slanderers and slanderers before everyone; Grant unforeseen reconciliation to those who are bitterly at odds, and to all of us for each other love, peace and piety and health with long life. Preserve marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses who exist in enmity and division, die, unite me to each other and establish an indestructible union of love for them; to mothers and children giving birth, grant permission quickly; raise babies; For young people to be chaste, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, instruct them in the fear of God, abstinence and hard work; Protect from domestic strife and enmity of half-bloods with peace and love. Be the Mother of motherless orphans, turn them away from every vice and filth and teach them everything that is good and pleasing to God, and bring those seduced into sin and impurity, having revealed the filth 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 a Christian end to our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the terrible Judgment of Christ. Having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, with the Angels and all the saints, make them live, begging for the mercy of Thy Son to be merciful to those who passed away by sudden death, and for all the departed who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Thy Son, Thou thyself be a ceaseless and warm Prayer-maker and Intercessor May everyone in Heaven and on earth lead You as a steadfast and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and, leading, glorify You and Your Son, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.