Magnification, troparion, prayers. A spell for a seriously ill patient to heal.
Explanation of the Three-Handed Icon.
There are two legends associated with the Three-Handed icon. The first legend says: “Once upon a time, robbers chased the Mother of God. The Mother of God ran as far as she could, but the river blocked her way. Then She threw herself into the water, hoping to swim across the river. But with the Baby in her arms it was difficult for her to swim; she had to row with one hand and hold Jesus with the other. Gasping, the Mother of God prayed:
My dear son, give me a third hand, otherwise it will be unbearable to swim.
At that very moment, she had a third hand, like a miraculous salvation given from above.
According to the second legend, in 716 the fierce iconoclast Leo the Isaurian ascended the Byzantine throne. On his orders, people who had icons were executed, and the icons themselves were burned at the stake.
With the emperor there was a man named John of Damascus. Unafraid of the ruler’s anger, he began to denounce criminal actions. For this, his right hand was cut off and hanged in the city square. John asked permission to return his hand to bury it. “Oh, Most Holy Theotokos,” he cried out to the Queen of Heaven, “if my hand is returned, then I will devote my whole life to describing the deeds of the Lord and Yours, our Intercessor.” And then a true miracle happened, and the news of it spread throughout the world. John retired to the monastery of Sava the Sanctified and there he accepted monasticism. In memory of his gratitude, he attached silver hand to the icon Holy Mother of God. This is how the Three-Handed Icon appeared.
Magnification of the Icon of the Mother of God ">
We magnify Thee, Most Immaculate Virgin, and honor the miracles of Thy holy image, the appearance of Thy three most pure hands to the glory of the Divine, in the Trinity of our God.
Troparion to the Icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”
Today the reigning city of Moscow brightly flaunts, having in itself, O Most Merciful, the Most Honest of all creation, our Intercessor, the Virgin Mother of God, Thy honorable image, with which you astonish the sunflower ends of the earth and grant peace to the world, in the image of the Holy Trinity you manifest three hands: two for His Son , Christ our God, you bear, third, you faithfully deliver those who come running to You from misfortunes and misfortunes, and you save them from drowning, and you give something useful to everyone, and you show the monk Michael the Mount of Malebnos, and you always have mercy on everyone, with your honest robe you cover this residence and all the cities and our country, let us call Ti: Rejoice, O Joyful One.
PRAYER
Oh, Most Holy Lady and Lady Theotokos, who showed a great miracle to Saint John of Damascus, as if he showed true faith - undoubted hope! Hear us, sinners, before Your miraculous icon, fervently praying and asking for Your help: do not reject this prayer of many for the sake of our sins, but, as the Mother of mercy and generosity, deliver us from illnesses, sorrows and sorrows, forgive the sins we have committed, fill us with joy and joy to all who honor your holy icon, may we joyfully sing and glorify with love your name for You are chosen and blessed from all generations forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER TWO
Oh, Most Holy and Most Blessed Virgin, Mother of God Mary! We fall down and worship You before Your holy icon, remembering Your glorious miracle, the healing of the truncated right hand of the Venerable John of Damascus, which was revealed from this icon, whose sign is still visible on it, in the form of a third hand, attached to Your image. We pray to You and ask You, the All-merciful and All-generous Intercessor of our race: hear us praying to You, and like Blessed John, who cried out to You in sorrow and illness, You heard us, so do not despise us, those who grieve and suffer from the wounds of many different passions, do not despise , those who diligently come running to You from a contrite soul. You see, O All-Merciful Lady, our infirmities, our embitterment, our need, I will need Your help, as enemies surround us from everywhere, and there is no one who helps, less than one who intercedes, unless You have mercy on us, the Lady. To her, we pray to You, listen to our painful voice and help us the patristic Orthodox faith to preserve our integrity until the end of our days, to walk unswervingly in all the commandments of the Lord, to always bring true repentance for our sins to God and to be honored with a peaceful Christian death and a good answer at the terrible judgment of Your Son and our God. Beseech Him for us with Thy motherly prayer, that He may not condemn us according to our iniquity, but may He have mercy on us according to His great and ineffable mercy. O All-Good One! Hear us and do not deprive us of Your sovereign help, yes, having received salvation through You, let us sing and glorify You on the land of the living and our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of You, to Him belong glory and power, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit , always, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.
FOR HEALING FOR A SERIOUSLY ILL PERSON
They read it while standing at the patient’s head in the morning and evening, holding the “THREE-HANDED” icon in their hands.
Oh, Most Holy and Most Blessed Virgin Mary! We fall down and worship you before your holy icon, remembering your glorified miracle by healing the truncated right hand St. John Damascus, revealed from this icon. His sign is still visible on it in the form of a third hand, attached to your image. Help, O Three-Handed One, in healing by Your wondrous hand the servant of God (name). And hear us, and do not deprive us of Thy Sovereign help. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The “Three-Handed” Icon of the Mother of God is a truly special icon. The fact is that this image of the Virgin Mary depicts a third hand, which is located below. This can be either the third hand of the Mother of God (as a helping hand) or an independent element. This image is considered miraculous and revered among Christians. Belongs to the Hodegetria type.
Icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”
Icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed” meaning, what it helps with
The history of this image is very interesting. In the eighth century, during the time of the iconoclasts, St. John of Damascus (December 4) was zealous in his veneration of the saints. Because of this, he was slandered by the emperor and iconoclast Leo III the Isaurian (717-740), who informed the Damascus caliph that St. John was committing treasonous acts against him. The caliph gave the order to cut off the monk's hand. In the evening, Saint John, placing his severed hand at the place of the cut-off, fell to the ground in front of the “Three-Handed” icon of the Mother of God. The monk begged Our Lady to heal his hand so that he could continue to serve God.
After a long prayer, he fell asleep and saw in a dream that the Mother of God turned to him, promising him a quick healing.
Waking up from sleep, Saint John saw that his hand was unharmed. In gratitude for this healing, Saint John placed a hand made of silver on the icon, thanks to which this image received its name “Three-Handed” (Some icon painters, due to their ignorance, mistakenly depicted the Most Holy Theotokos with three hands).
Mother of God “Three-handed” where is it located?
Until the 13th century, the icon was in Jerusalem. In the 15th century, when Ottoman troops began to attack, it was decided to entrust the fate of the icon to the Queen Mother of God herself. Therefore, the “Three-Handed One” was placed on a donkey and sent on its way.
No one knew where the icon would go until the donkey, directed by an unknown force, arrived in Athos. The monks accepted this gift with respect and installed this image of the Mother of God in the altar of the local cathedral church. And now this icon is on Mount Athos. Every year pilgrims from all over the world come to venerate this image.
Icon “Three-handed”, what they pray for
The Three-Handed Icon of the Mother of God helps everyone who comes to her with prayer. Before this image they pray:
- for various physical ailments associated with injuries;
- for psychological disorders and increased anxiety;
- for success in any business;
- for various troubles and problems.
The Feast of the Most Holy Theotokos “Three-Handed” is celebrated on July 12.
Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God “Three-handed”
Most Holy and Most Blessed Virgin Mary! We fall down and worship Thee before Thy holy icon, remembering Thy glorious miracle by healing the truncated right hand of the Venerable John of Damascus, which was revealed from the icon, whose sign is visible to this day on it in the form of a third hand attached to Thy image. We pray to Thee and ask Thee, the All-merciful and All-generous Intercessor of our race: hear us, praying to Thee, and, like blessed John, who cried out to Thee in sorrow and illness, Thou hast heard, so do not despise us, who are grieving and suffering from the wounds of many different passions and those who diligently come running to You from a contrite and humble soul. You see, O All-Merciful Lady, our infirmities, our embitterment, our need, I will demand our help and intercession, as if we are surrounded by enemies from everywhere and there is no one who helps us, less than one who intercedes, unless You have mercy on us , Lady.
To her, we pray to You, listen to our painful voice and help us to preserve the patristic Orthodox faith immaculately until the end of our days, to walk unswervingly in all the commandments of the Lord, to always bring true repentance for our sins to God and to be honored with a peaceful Christian death and a good answer on the Last Day The judgment of Thy Son and our God, Whom He begged for us with Thy Motherly prayer, may He not condemn us according to our iniquities, but may He have mercy on us according to His great and ineffable mercy. O All-Good One! Hear us and do not deprive us of Your sovereign help, yes, having received salvation through You, let us sing and glorify You on the land of the living and our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of You, to whom befits glory and power, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit always , now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer 2
Oh, Most Holy Lady and Lady Theotokos, who showed a great miracle to Saint John of Damascus, as if he showed true faith - undoubted hope! Hear us, sinners, before Your miraculous icon, fervently praying and asking for Your help: do not reject this prayer of many for the sake of our sins, but, as the Mother of mercy and generosity, deliver us from illnesses, sorrows and sorrows, forgive the sins we have committed, fill us with joy and joy to all who honor Your holy icon, may we joyfully sing and glorify Your name with love, for You are chosen and blessed from all generations forever and ever. Amen.
The image of the Mother of God is one of the most powerful and revered among Orthodox Christians. Icon of the Three-Handed One: prayer to the icon, its meaning and how it helps, more about this later.
The image of the Mother of God is one of the most powerful and revered among Orthodox Christians
“Most Holy and Most Blessed Virgin Mary! We fall down and worship Thee before Thy holy icon, remembering Thy glorious miracle by healing the truncated right hand of the Venerable John of Damascus, which was revealed from the icon, whose sign is visible to this day on it in the form of a third hand attached to Thy image.
We pray to Thee and ask Thee, the All-merciful and All-generous Intercessor of our race: hear us, praying to Thee, and, like blessed John, who cried out to Thee in sorrow and illness, Thou hast heard, so do not despise us, who are grieving and suffering from the wounds of many different passions and those who diligently come running to You from a contrite and humble soul.
You see, O All-Merciful Lady, our infirmities, our embitterment, our need, I will demand our help and intercession, as if we are surrounded by enemies from everywhere and there is no one who helps, less than one who intercedes, unless You have mercy on us, the Lady.
To her, we pray to You, listen to our painful voice and help us to preserve the patristic Orthodox faith immaculately until the end of our days, to walk unswervingly in all the commandments of the Lord, to always bring true repentance for our sins to God and to be honored with a peaceful Christian death and a good answer on the Last Day The judgment of Thy Son and our God, Who prayed for us with Thy Motherly prayer, may He not condemn us according to our iniquities, but may He have mercy on us according to His great and ineffable mercy.
O All-Good One! Hear us and do not deprive us of Your sovereign help, yes, having received salvation through You, let us sing and glorify You on the land of the living and our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of You, to whom befits glory and power, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit always , now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen".
What does an icon help with?
They ask for help from the Three-Handed Icon:
- those who have various physical injuries, injuries, illnesses;
- who suffers from apathy and despondency;
- people who have suffered life's misfortunes;
- who wants to successfully develop their own business.
Each believer should have his own prayer corner, where he should hang the Icon of the Three-Handed One, constantly turning to it for help and not forgetting about its meaning and how it helps.
History of the icon
The history of the icon begins in the 8th century AD. and is associated with the name of John of Damascus, who received his name in honor of the city in which he lived and worked - Damascus, the capital of Syria.
At that time Orthodox Church I wasn't worried better times being subjected to harassment. Emperor Leo the Third, who ruled Byzantium at that time, called for the destruction of everything orthodox icons and all the attributes that were associated with the Orthodox faith.
The history of the icon begins in the 8th century AD.
John of Damascus was a zealous opponent of the emerging heresy, supported by the emperor. He held a high government position and served as an adviser to the local ruler.
Damascene wrote various works in defense of icons and called the emerging movement in Orthodoxy nothing other than heresy. The Byzantine emperor did not like that Damascus separated and opposed iconoclasm. Then he decided to correct the situation with meanness and cunning.
John of Damascus was a zealous opponent of the emerging heresy, supported by the emperor
The emperor composed a letter to the ruler of Damascus, which was allegedly written by the hand of John of Damascus. In it, the writer offered his assistance in the conquest of Damascus and assured the emperor that he would go over to his side.
The emperor sent this letter to the local ruler as evidence of betrayal on the part of John. The emperor himself explained this by saying that he did not want to spoil relations with the caliph and was trying to resolve everything peacefully.
The emperor composed a letter to the ruler of Damascus, which was allegedly written by the hand of John of Damascus
The Caliph was furious that the one who had served him faithfully for for long years decided to do this. The punishment followed immediately: the ruler ordered John’s hand to be cut off and hung in the market square so that others would not be bothered.
John asked the caliph only one thing, that he would allow him to retire to his cell and received permission to do so.
He took his severed hand and applied it to the icon of the Mother of God and began to fervently pray for healing.
There he took his severed hand and applied it to the icon of the Mother of God and began to fervently pray for healing. During the prayer he fell asleep. The Mother of God appeared to him and said that he would be healed, and his recovered hand should glorify God until the end of his earthly life.
When John woke up, the hand was still there. The marks of the wound have completely disappeared. Having learned about the miracle that had occurred, the caliph began to ask for forgiveness from John and asked him to return to serve him. But Domaskin refused and chose the path of seclusion.
John of Damascus, amazed by the miracle that happened to him, composed song of praise Mother of God. And so that the memory of this miracle would live for centuries, he attached a hand cast from silver to the image of the Mother of God. This is how the miraculous icon of the Three Hands appeared and acquired its significance for Christians, and it also became clear how it helps believers.
Fate of the icon
The miraculous icon was in Jerusalem until the 13th century. It was there that John went after he refused an offer to work as an adviser to the ruler of Damascus. The icon was kept there until the 15th century. Then the birthplace of the image of the Virgin Mary was attacked by the Ottoman Empire.
The miraculous icon was in Jerusalem until the 13th century
The icon had to be saved and they decided to entrust its fate to chance. The icon was mounted on a donkey, which was released on a free journey. Naturally, none of the people could guess where the animal would go. The donkey came to Mount Athos, then the abode of Christianity, and stopped near the monastery.
The monks accepted this gift as nothing other than a gift from God. The Three-Handed Icon acquired great value for believers, and she was placed on the altar of the local temple, where she remains to this day and to which pilgrims from all over the world go to pray, remembering what she helps with.
To our universal happiness, there are magnificent miraculous icons in the world that help people in sorrows and sorrows, help to recover from serious illnesses and not lose faith in life and in themselves. These images came to us from time immemorial and brought with them peace and healing for tormented human souls.
Every year the number of miraculous faces increases more and more.
Previously, in Rus', people had the right to keep miraculous icons, if they had them, in their homes. But in the 18th century, Peter 1 issued a decree according to which all images glorified by miracles should be transferred to the church.
First you had to declare that you have a miraculous icon at home. Then, on this basis, a special commission was assembled. Such a commission had to include a priest, who would determine the degree of miraculousness of the icon. If an icon was recognized as miraculous, it was transferred to churches or monasteries. Nowadays there is enough popular rumor for the image to be considered miraculous. And only in in rare cases collect commissions.
Priests also want to show prudence in this matter in order to avoid unnecessary exaltation.
Depending on the size, complexity, and volume of those healed, the icon rendered assistance is why it is declared miraculous. Of course, it is not the icon itself that heals, but God's grace. Grace is contained in the icon itself, painted with the right attitude and with certain prayers.
How to understand whether an icon is miraculous or not based on its appearance? Outwardly, the icon may not manifest itself as miraculous, i.e. it does not need to have myrrh on it. For example, the image of Saint Matrona cannot be called outwardly anything special, but in fact, it heals millions of people every year.
And some icons are called miraculous because they stream myrrh. Some - from time to time, and others - constantly, so that the myrrh can be collected in a bowl and washed with it. After such anointing, healing occurs.
Sometimes the faces stream myrrh not because they are miraculous, but on the eve of some large-scale events for the country and people to warn people about the danger.
Icon of the Mother of God of Three Hands meaning
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One of these icons is a real miracle - the icon of the Mother of God, called the Three-Handed One. (The Mother of God in the icon is depicted with three hands).
The history of this image is unforgettable, inextricably linked with that time (717), when Christians were brutally persecuted in Byzantium, subjecting them to inhuman torture and committing martyrdom.
And only in Damascus, which was Muslim territory, could Christians at that time feel calm. The leading Christian in Damascus at that time was a man named John of Damascus, a devotee Christian religion, bringing it to the masses. John worked long and fruitfully in the field of Christianity, until one day he was accused of treason and his hand was cut off, which was hung in a prominent place in the city to intimidate him.
The crippled John begged the emperor to return his brush, then locked himself in his monastic room and began to earnestly pray to the Mother of God. He asked to help him, to return his healthy hand and put the severed hand to his hand. The Mother of God appeared to him in a dream and healed the righteous man. Of course, the elder decided to thank the image.
He compiled prayer of thanksgiving and attached an additional silver hand to the icon, which he had made to order. Since then, the icon began to be called the Three-Handed One.
During the invasions Ottoman Empire The icon was saved by Serb believers. They placed her on a donkey, which independently reached Mount Athos, and the image of the Three-Handed One, having reached a safe haven on the donkey safely, was installed inside the temple in a place of honor.
What does it help with?
Believers believe that if they touch the image, the Queen of Heaven herself will bless them. Many patients suffering from eye diseases, as well as with sore arms and legs, received healing through this icon. And those who constantly read a prayer dedicated to the image are forever freed from depression, melancholy and sad thoughts. Craftsmen and those who do a lot of housework can safely ask for support from the Three-Handed One, she will help everyone and protect everyone.
The church celebrates the feast of the image in the month of July 2 times (11th and 25th).
Where is it located in Moscow?
The image of the Three-Handed One was brought to Russia only in the 17th century, and it was from that time that it became known. It was presented as a gift to Patriarch Nikon. Now a copy of this wonderful image is in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary near the Taganskaya metro station.
Magic icons
There is a known case when in the 19th century the image of the Three-Handed One saved Kyiv from the typhus that was raging there at that time, when main square They organized a public prayer service for the icon.
Cases of magical healings are also common today: Mother of God She has helped even people with terrible burns save their limbs more than once.
Bulgarian farmstead
The Bulgarian courtyard is a special territory in the city of Moscow, which includes several churches. This is the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church of St. Nicholas. The farmstead is located near the Taganskaya metro station.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary also began to be built at the beginning of the 17th century.
It is decorated with beautiful tiles made by a master of his craft named Ivan Polubes. Napoleon completely plundered and burned this temple. It was rebuilt in the 19th century. During the revolution, the temple remained, surprisingly, intact.
The Church of St. Nicholas appeared in the 17th century with donations from patrons of the arts. It burned down and was repaired many times. During the war with Napoleon it was almost completely destroyed.
During the revolution, the temple was looted, and paintings and iconostases were destroyed. The church was returned to believers only in the 90s of the 20th century.
In the 40s of the 20th century, both temples were considered a Bulgarian courtyard.
The temple is visited mainly by Russian believers; there are not very many Bulgarians here, since the Bulgarian diaspora in Moscow is small. There are only about 2,000 people left, some of whom are embassy employees.
Temples of the Three-Handed Icon
Especially for you, we have compiled a list where copies of this wonderful image of the Virgin Mary are located.
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Akathist Three-Handed Icon of the Mother of God
We bring to your attention the text of the Akathist to the image of the Three-Handed One:
You definitely need to have one at home to remind you of immortality; John of Kronstadt wrote about this. Translated from Greek, icon means image. It is, as it were, a visual link that helps to turn to God and the saints, while they pray not to the icon, but to the one depicted on it.
One of the many revered and miraculous images is an unusual image of the Mother of God, called the “Three-Handed One”. As you can see in the photo, her amazing feature is the presence of a third hand in the image.
Storycreation
There are three stories of its origin. Depending on them third hand depicted as belonging to the Virgin Mary or as an independent element. Icon has healing power and great value. The day of its celebration takes place on July 11 and 25.
Icons depicting Our Lady with Jesus, include to type (“Guide Books”). Usually on them the Baby is to the left of the Mother, but on the “Three-Handed”, on the contrary, he is to the right. The third hand in the image looks very unusual and is depicted either flesh-colored, like the hand of the Virgin Mary, or silver or dark.
There are very different opinions about the origin of the icon. So, some compare it with the image of ancient multi-armed deities or claim that three hands are a reminder of the Holy Trinity. This is, of course, not true. No one can say with certainty what it really was like, but it has survived to this day. three ancient legends.
About John of Damascus
The most widespread legend begins in the 8th century. The Byzantine Emperor Leo III the Isaurian declared a fight against icons and worship of all heavenly inhabitants. Christian icons were equated with pagan idols and were mercilessly destroyed. Besides this, it was lost great amount such cultural monuments as sculptures, mosaics and frescoes, images of saints. People who tried to defend them were punished and even killed.
Mansur ibn Serzhun was one of the few who opposed the destruction of icons. As an advisor to the ruler in Muslim Damascus, he protected the shrines so that the people could worship them. He also wrote letters and treatises denouncing the heresy of fighting icons. These actions supported Christians and greatly irritated Leo, as an active supporter of iconoclasm. But Mansur was the son of a major official and held high position in Damascus, so that he was outside the imperial influence.
Then the emperor, with the help of his subjects, forged a letter in which John allegedly offered him an alliance to conquer Damascus. The letter was sent to the Caliph of Damascus, and he was so enraged by the alleged betrayal that he immediately deprived his minister of all privileges and, in addition, ordered his right hand to be cut off and hung on public display to warn others. The saint miraculously escaped death by hanging, but when the ruler’s anger subsided a little, he gave the severed hand to the martyr.
No matter how bad and painful the bleeding monk was, he did not despair, but began to pray for help in front of the icon of the Holy Virgin Mary with the Child. He asked for the opportunity to continue working for the glory of God. And then at night the Mother of God dreamed of him and promised healing, and in the morning the severed hand was in place. All that remains as a memory of the event is a scar.
John was truly grateful for the miracle. According to the ancient tradition of making offerings to shrines as a sign of gratitude, he attached a hand cast from silver to the frame of the icon in front of which he prayed. This is the icon that will later be called “Three-Handed”. The third hand served as a recognition that the hand returned to him was God’s mercy and did not belong to him. He also made a vow of service to the Lord and the Mother of God and wrote a song of thanksgiving, which can still be heard on St. Basil the Great.
The miracle that happened brought the caliph to his senses, he admitted the mistake and asked John to return to public service. But he realized that now his destiny was to serve the Lord. He went alone to the Jerusalem Lavra, taking with him only the icon. There he was tonsured a monk with the name John. His memorial day is December 4th.
The icon was in Jerusalem until the 13th century, when it was presented to Saint Sava and transported by him to Serbia. When in the 15th century Ottoman invasions began to try to protect the shrine, it was transferred to the care of the Heavenly forces. There was no other way to place the image on the donkey and release the animal. Guided only by God, the animal reached the center Orthodox Christianity, the holy Mount Athos and stopped at the doors of the Hilendar monastery, founded two centuries before the events. The monks took the icon and placed it on the altar. From that time to the present day, it has been sacredly kept and protected there. It is visited annually religious processions.
Although the image was taken away from Serbia, few traces of its veneration were preserved in the territory close to it. So, in the temple of the village of Karan there is a most amazing image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in full height, in which she holds the Baby on right hand, and points at him with two left ones.
About the icon painter
More ancient legend says that “Three-Handed” appeared in the monastery in a different way. The artist working on the icon was surprised to discover that the Mother of God he painted miraculously had a third hand appear at the bottom of the image. Twice he washed this hand, until the third time he received a dream vision of the Mother of God, who ordered him to leave everything as it was. The artist strove for naturalness, but it was on this icon that the miracle had to be reflected.
Our Lady and the Thieves
Albeit occasionally, you can also hear a third version. It says that one day young Mary had to escape with Jesus from thieves. She ran to the river, but to quickly swim across, she needed both hands, and she was holding the Baby. Then she turned to God for help and a third hand was sent down to her, with the help of which she was saved.
Meaningimage
The position of the figures on the icon is such that the Holy Child is in the middle of the image in the arms of the Mother, bowing her head towards him. He does a blessing gesture, and the hand of the Mother of God points to her son as the path to salvation. Depending on the position of the hand, the value changes slightly.
- Hand of John testifies to the mercy and grace of the Mother of God descending on those who love the Lord.
- In icons depicting a hand belonging to the Queen of Heaven, its meaning is revealed in the troparion dedicated to the image. Two hands are needed to support the Child, and the third grants cover and protection to people. It is worth noting that the Synod was very dissatisfied with this method of depiction, as it considered it unnatural. There was even a ban on depicting saints with elements that do not correspond to the truth.
Over time, people realized that the meaning of “Three Hands” is edification the need to serve the Lord and believe in miracles. She gives hope for help Heavenly Powers in response to contacting them. “According to your faith, be it done to you.”
Miracles
The first miracle associated with the icon occurred shortly after the death of the abbot of the Hilendar monastery. The monks could not come to a unanimous decision on who should become the new abbot. And then the Mother of God intervened in their turmoil. One day, during a morning service, the monks were surprised to discover that the “Three-Handed” icon had disappeared from the altar and was in the place of the head of the monastery. Confident that someone had moved it, the brethren returned the image to its place, but the next day he again occupied the post of abbot. Surprised by what seemed to them to be someone’s stubbornness, the monks took the image to the altar and sealed the doors. But, despite this, the next morning the icon was again in the abbot’s place.
The situation was resolved by a monastery hermit. In a vision, the Mother of God came to him, announcing her decision to independently govern the flock, as a sign of which the icon would take the place of the head of the monastery.
Since then this the monastery is ruled by the Queen of Heaven. There is no position of abbot; he is replaced by a hieromonk-vicar. It is located near the abbot's place, which is occupied by an icon from the 14th century. By kissing the hands in the image, they ask for blessings for the service. It is she, or rather, the Mother of God depicted on her, who maintains peace and order within the monastery walls.
In connection with this amazing story, for this monastery the icon has a special, great meaning, it blesses and guides. The Heavenly Mother Superior patronized the monastery and protected it from enemy invasions. During Russian-Turkish war both sides of the conflict have seen more than once how a mysterious figure appeared above the monastery walls right in the air female image, not harmed by weapons or attempts to reach the face.
Also the icon showed miracles of healing. IN late XIX century, a prayer service served before miraculous icon, typhus stopped in Kyiv. Now this image is kept in the church of the Holy Trinity Monastery. The relics of Jonah, reburied in the monastery, also showed miracles of healing. A pilgrimage to them cured one woman’s acid-burned hand.
Where can I find copies of the icon?
The oldest copy is in the Troyan Monastery in Bulgaria. It is believed that it was “Three-Handed” that protected it, since it never closed, even during times of persecution. Her hands in the image are covered with three silver sculptures on the frame.
In Russia, the icon has been revered since the 17th century, when a copy of it was presented as a gift to Moscow Patriarch Nikon. Unfortunately, that image disappeared, and its copy, made in mid-19th century century, kept in the museum. The image was so unusual that they had to hang a sign next to it explaining its origin so as not to confuse the parishioners. Since then amazing image A huge number of people bowed, including the family of Tsar Nicholas II. Nowadays this icon can rarely be found on home iconostasis. But some churches have miraculous copies of it. Below are the most famous of them.
- In the Moscow St. Daniel's Monastery there is an image from the 17th century. The image is famous for curing the restorer’s weak eyesight.
- In the Bryansk region there is an image painted by Artemy Fedorov and Afanasy Ivanov at the beginning of the 18th century, famous for its miracles. The third hand on it was written as belonging to the Virgin Mary.
- In the Yekaterinburg Church on the Blood.
- In the Moscow Church, named after the Three-Handed Icon.
- In the Moscow Assumption Church and Trinity Cathedral.
- In the Trekhsvyatitelsky, Borisoglebsky and Simeonovsky churches in Tver.
- In Troitsky convent Arkhangelsk.
- In the Tambov convent.
Despite its low prevalence, it works real miracles. This is how important the Three-Handed Icon is.
What does it help with?icon
Any true believer can receive help through “Three-Handed”. Most often they turn to it to protect the family from enemies and hang the icon in the house. But they also turn to the Mother of God with the following requests:
- about well-being in marriage;
- about the stability of well-being;
- for relief from illnesses, especially with mutilations, injuries, operations, burns of the skin, hands, feet, as well as eye and infectious diseases;
- for the sake of the health of loved ones;
- to get rid of melancholy, anxiety and mental anguish;
- to strengthen mental strength;
- to help and give strength in needlework, crafts (especially surgeons) and housework.
Prayer
In front of the icon you can pray to God and his Mother. Many akathists are dedicated to the miraculous image. Below is one of them.
“O Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos, who showed a great miracle to Saint John of Damascus, as if he showed true faith and undoubted hope! Hear us, Thy sinners (names), before Thy miraculous icon, earnestly praying and asking for Thy help: do not reject this prayer of many for the sake of our sins, but, as the Mother of mercy and generosity, deliver us from illnesses, sorrows and sorrows, forgive us for what we have done sins, fill with joy and gladness all who honor Your holy icon, so that we joyfully sing and glorify Your name with love, for You are chosen from all generations, blessed forever and ever. Amen".
Three-handed icon
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