Sermon by Archimandrite Isikhia (Klypy), delivered on September 8, 2014
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”- says our Lord Jesus in His Holy Gospel. And we, Orthodox Christians, must, first of all, seek the Kingdom of Heaven, study the commandments of God, try to fulfill them in our lives, ask God for help and the grace of the Holy Spirit on this saving procession to the Kingdom of Heaven.
But we often, due to our sinful weakness, due to the universal enthusiasm for worldly pleasures, various pleasures, forget about this main goal of our Christian life - about the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, about the procession into the Kingdom of Heaven. And being carried away by these or those pleasures, we spend most of our lives in carelessness, in oblivion of the Commandments of God and the procession along the narrow path.
And the Lord, knowing what our state is and such our life will lead to the fact that, due to the attraction of our sinfulness, we will not be able to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, but will fall into eternal torment, He, wanting to correct us and turn us away from this temporary and vain life, first sends us good thoughts. These good thoughts represent before us the short duration of this life, the vanity of those goods for which we are chasing. Indeed, many people, although they put all their striving to acquire either wealth, or fame, or other earthly honors and blessings, but even in this temporary life, often because of either illness, or their relaxation, or because of imprisonment, or some other external circumstances could not take advantage of all these benefits to which they aspired and which they wanted to acquire. And in any case, death inevitably takes away from us everything that we aspired to and what we wanted to acquire. 
The Lord, wanting to show us this vanity, first grants us these thoughts. But a person often does not pay attention to these thoughts, does not look at other people who have suffered such a “shipwreck”, but, nevertheless, begins to further strive to acquire earthly pleasures. Then the Lord sends a person small sorrows and temptations so that they shake off his mind and direct him in the right direction, but often this does not work on him. And then the Lord, in His mercy, wishing to correct us so that we would not perish for eternal life, already sends some nationwide disasters.
All this happens not for the reason that the Lord wants to torment us or humiliate us in any way, but He wants us not to cling to this temporary earthly life. We must remember the words of Christ that even two small birds that are sold for a small coin do not fall to the ground without the will of the Heavenly Father, remember that all the hair that is on our head is numbered. We do not know how many hairs we have on our heads, and we never even thought about how many, but the Lord provides for even this little.
Moreover, any more significant events do not occur without His will or without His permission, when it is necessary to correct us. And we see that our pious ancestors during these social disasters remembered all these words of Christ, began to sincerely repent and correct their sinful life. And people live a sinful life not only in our time, but also in those ancient times, although outwardly, perhaps, then there were not so many conveniences and various sinful pleasures that we have now. But, nevertheless, you can forget about your destiny, that we are Christians, at any time, and get carried away by this earthly and vain life.
And our ancestors, meeting nationwide disasters, immediately recalled these words of Christ, sincerely uttered the words of prayer that “we have sinned, transgressed, untruthful, Lord, before You,” and that everything that has befallen us did not happen because of any or external circumstances, or the hatred of certain peoples, but all this happened precisely for the main reason - because of our sinful and unrepentant life.
And when, with such a contrite heart, they turned to the intercession of the saints of God, the sorrowful of the Russian land - Sergius of Radonezh and others, to the intercession of the Mother of God, they often saw a wondrous and extraordinary intercession. And on this feast day we remember the great help of the Mother of God, which in 1395 She showed over Holy Russia.
At this time, the huge hordes of Tamerlane, who with his troops came from Mongolia, and, having passed all the lands of Central Asia, having ruined all the states that were on his way, approached the Russian land. He reached the city of Yelets and stopped there, executed many Orthodox Christians, and stayed there for two weeks. At this time, Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich, son of Dmitry Ioannovich Donskoy, together with his spiritual father, Metropolitan Cyprian, remembered the miraculous first-painted icon of the Mother of God - Vladimir, which was, by its name, in the city of Vladimir. And they wanted this miraculous icon to be transferred to their capital - to the city of Moscow, in order to encourage those who were in despondency and the Russian army, and all the inhabitants who were in the capital of Holy Russia.
The miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane on the Kuchkov field (the meeting of the Vladimir icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary) With prayer singing, the chosen people went from both the tsar and the metropolitan to the city of Vladimir, raised the miraculous icon, and then with a procession of the cross, with many prayers, the icon was transferred. All the inhabitants of the city of Moscow came out to meet the miraculous icon. And knowing about the enormous strength of Tamerlane's warriors, that it was impossible for the then devastated Russian land to resist them, knowing about the cruelty of Tamerlane, when he built entire pyramids from the severed heads of people, in various captured cities, they with a great cry and tenderness heartily fell to the icon of the Mother of God and asked Her intercession.
And the Queen of Heaven did not disgrace their sincere repentance for their sins, their appeal to Her Maternal Protection. She herself appeared in a dreamy vision to this formidable conqueror, the Moscow saints walked ahead of Her, holding golden rods in their hands, and She, standing on the top of a high mountain, was surrounded by the Heavenly host. The Heavenly Host threatened this invader, and the Mother of God, raising Her hands to heaven, prayed to Her Son for the intercession of the Russian land, and showed Tamerlane with signs that he should leave Her limits. 
When he woke up, all his bones were shaking, and he was in the greatest confusion and horror. Calling his advisers and commanders together, he told them about this vision. And they said to him: "The Wife that you saw is undoubtedly the Mother of the Christian God, Who intends to protect Her land." To this, Tamerlane replied: “If She sends even one of those luminous youths that I saw on the mountain surrounding Her, then he will defeat all of us, and there will not even be a place on earth where we could escape.” And then all this huge army from the city of Yelets, without moving further, rose from its place and went to Asia Minor, to the territory of modern Turkey, where many states were still ruined, and many peoples and people plunged into the greatest sorrow.
Even without this vision, the Mother of God could have simply brought fear and horror to this formidable army, and it would have abandoned its weapons, booty and captives, and would have fled from our land. But the Queen of Heaven wished that we, in the vanity of our mind, would not ascribe all this to any natural events, or the fear of this host, or what they heard about any rumors, or anything else, but Herself, having appeared to the formidable conqueror, she wanted us to know the true reason why the Russian land was spared from this terrible disaster in those days.
And we, brothers and sisters, looking at this intercession of the Mother of God, when not one person, but the whole land of Holy Russia was delivered, we will also try in our time with a sincere heart, with contrition for our sinful and uncorrected life, to pray to the Queen of Heaven. She has the same great boldness, as in those days, before her Son, the Creator and Creator. All destinies are in the hands of Her Son: both the individual person and each state. And therefore He, looking at the state people are in, what they are striving for, how they relate to His holy and saving commandments, He governs all these states and the destinies of each person.
Therefore, we will not give up and lose heart, but following the example of our pious ancestors, who always intensified their prayer during public disasters, attacks and situations, we, imitating them, will cry out to the Queen of Heaven: “Queen of Heaven, save the land of Holy Russia, and cover us with Your honest cover”. Amen.
Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God written by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Savior ate with the Blessed Mother and the righteous Joseph. The Mother of God, seeing this image, said: “From now on, all generations will bless Me. The Grace of the One Born of Me and Mine will be with this icon.”
In 1131, the icon was sent to Russia from Constantinople to the holy Prince Mstislav (+ 1132, Comm. 15 April) and was placed in the Maiden Monastery of Vyshgorod, the ancient appanage city of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga.
The son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Saint Andrei Bogolyubsky, brought the icon to Vladimir in 1155 and placed it in the famous Cathedral of the Dormition he had erected. Since that time, the icon has received the name Vladimirskaya.
In 1395 the icon was first brought to Moscow. Thus, with the blessing of the Mother of God, the spiritual bonds of Byzantium and Russia were fastened - through Kyiv, Vladimir and Moscow.
The celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos occurs several times a year (May 21, June 23, August 26). The most solemn celebration takes place on August 26 / September 8 - established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon when it was transferred from Vladimir to Moscow.
The history of the meeting in Moscow of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
In 1395, the terrible conqueror Khan Tamerlane (Temir-Aksak) reached the limits of Ryazan, took the city of Yelets and, heading towards Moscow, approached the banks of the Don. Grand Duke Vasily Dimitrievich went out with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka.
He prayed to the hierarchs of Moscow and St. Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Cyprian (Comm. 16 September), so that the coming Dormition Fast would be dedicated to fervent prayers for mercy and repentance.
Clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the glorified miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, the clergy received the icon and carried it to Moscow with a procession of the cross. Countless people on both sides of the road, on their knees, prayed: "Mother of God, save the Russian land!"
At the very hour when the inhabitants of Moscow met the icon on the Kuchkov field, Tamerlane was dozing in his tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which saints with golden wands were walking towards him, and above them in a radiant radiance the Majestic Wife appeared. She ordered him to leave the borders of Russia.
Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. Those who knew answered that the radiant Wife is the Mother of God, the great Protector of Christians. Then Tamerlane ordered the regiments to go back.
In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, on the Kuchkov field, where the icon was met, they built Sretensky Monastery, and on August 26, an all-Russian celebration was established in honor of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The most important events of Russian church history took place before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God: the election and installation of St. ).
On the day of the celebration in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Russia was enthroned on May 21/June 3, 1971.
The historical days of May 21, June 23 and August 26 (according to the old style), associated with this holy icon, have become memorable days of the Russian Orthodox Church.
VLADIMIR ICON OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
Troparion, tone 4
Today, the most glorious city of Moscow flaunts brightly, / like the dawn of the sun, having perceived, O Lady, / Your miraculous icon, / now we are flowing and praying to You, crying out to her: / O miraculous Lady Theotokos! / Pray from you to the incarnate Christ our God, / may he deliver this city and all the cities and countries of Christianity / unharmed from all the slander of the enemy / and save our souls, like Mercy.
Kontakion, tone 8
The chosen Voivode is victorious, / as if getting rid of the evil ones / by the advent of Your honest image, the Lady of the Mother of God, / we lightly create the feast of Your meeting and usually call Thee: / rejoice, Bride of the Bride.
Another kontakion, tone 8
To the Chosen Voivode and Intercessor, the Virgin and the Mother of God, / in a pure conscience, established by faith, Russian people, / irrevocably possessing hope, father, / to Her miraculous and most pure image, and we cry out to Her: / Rejoice, Unbrideless Bride.
magnificence
It is worthy to eat the majesty of Theotokos, / the most honest Cherubim / and the most glorious Seraphim without comparison.
Prayer of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Vladimir
O Most Merciful Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, Omnipotent Intercessor, our shameless Hope!
Thanking You for all the great blessings, in the generations of the Russian people from you who were, before Your most pure image, we pray to You: save this city (this whole; this holy monastery) and your coming servants and the whole Russian Land from gladness, destruction, land of shaking, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine strife! Save and save, Madam, our Great Lord and Father (name), His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and our Lord (name), His Grace Bishop (Archbishop, Metropolitan) (title), and all the Most Reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops of the Orthodox. Give them good governance of the Russian Church, keep the faithful sheep of Christ indestructible. Remember, Lady, and the entire priestly and monastic rank, warm their hearts with zeal for Bose and, worthy of your title, strengthen each and every one. Save, Lady, and have mercy on all Thy servants and grant us the path of the earthly field to pass without blemish. Confirm us in the faith of Christ and in zeal for the Orthodox Church, put into our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, give us patience in adversity, abstinence in prosperity, love for our neighbors, forgiveness for the enemy, prosperity in good deeds. Deliver us from every temptation and from petrified insensitivity, on the terrible day of Judgment, vouchsafe us with Your intercession to stand at the right hand of Your Son, Christ our God, He deserves all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.
The Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is the earliest known surviving miraculous icon of Ancient Russia, one of the great shrines of Russia. The history of her veneration, recorded in detail in the annals and legends, is distinguished by a deep spiritual connection between the events of church and state life. More than once, miraculously, the Vladimir Icon saved the Russian army from inevitable defeats.
The memory of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated several times a year (June 3, new style/May 21, old style, July 6, new style/June 23, old style, September 8, new style/August 26, old style). Art.). The most solemn celebration takes place on September 8, established in honor of the meeting, that is, the meeting, of the Vladimir Icon when it was transferred from Vladimir to Moscow.
In 1395, Khan Tamerlane (Temir-Aksak) with hordes of Tatars entered the Russian land, he quickly reached the limits of Ryazan, took the city of Yelets and, heading towards Moscow, approached the banks of the Don. Grand Duke Vasily Dimitrievich went out with an army to Kolomna and stopped on the banks of the Oka. The number of Tatar troops at times exceeded the Russian squads, their strength and experience were incomparable. The only hope remained in chance and God's help. The Grand Duke prayed to the Hierarchs of Moscow and St. Sergius for the deliverance of the Fatherland and wrote to the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Cyprian, so that the coming Dormition Fast would be devoted to fervent prayers for mercy and repentance. Clergy were sent to Vladimir, where the glorified miraculous icon was located. After the liturgy and prayer service on the feast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, the clergy received the icon and carried it to Moscow with a procession of the cross. For ten days the journey with the Vladimir Icon continued from Vladimir to Moscow, people knelt on the sides of the road with the prayer "Mother of God, save the Russian land." On August 26, near Moscow, Metropolitan Cyprian met her with a procession of the cross with "the entire kliros and the clergy of the church", with the princes and the people.
At the very hour when the inhabitants of Moscow met the icon on the Kuchkov field, Tamerlane was dozing in his tent. Suddenly he saw in a dream a great mountain, from the top of which saints with golden wands were walking towards him, and above them in a radiant radiance the Majestic Wife appeared. Countless darknesses of angels with swords surrounded her. Waking up in awe, Tamerlane asked about the meaning of the vision. The wise men answered that the radiant Wife is the Mother of God, the great Protector of Christians. Then Tamerlane ordered the regiments to go back. “And Tamerlane fled, persecuted by the power of the Blessed Virgin” ...
In memory of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian land from Tamerlane, on the Kuchkov field, where the icon was met, the Sretensky Monastery was built, and on August 26 (according to the new style - September 8), an all-Russian celebration was established in honor of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
After this event, the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God remained in Moscow forever. She was placed in the Kremlin Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Before her, kings were anointed to the kingdom and high hierarchs were elected.
In Soviet times, the icon was placed in the Tretyakov Gallery. Now the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is in the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi.
A rare Orthodox icon has three whole days of celebration during the church year. And the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has just that many - in honor of the threefold deliverance of Russia from the invasion of enemies through the prayers of the Intercessor. Today we will talk about the very first, celebrated on September 8 according to the new style (August 26 according to the old one), on the day of the liberation of Russia from the invasion of Tamerlane.
Although the Vladimir icon is known among the people as “the most Russian”, it was painted, according to legend, by the Evangelist Luke. Moreover, he did this on a board from the table at which Jesus Christ took the meal together with the Mother of God and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed. Keeps the Church and the words of the Most Pure Mother at the sight of a magnificent image: “From now on, all birth will please Me. The grace of Him who was born of Me, and Mine, be in this way.” And so it happened.
Immediately the icon was kept in Jerusalem. The Byzantine emperor Theodosius the Younger moved it to Constantinople in the middle of the 5th century. And in Russia, she ended up in the XII century as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky from the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysoverha. First, in 1131, it was installed for the worship of believers in a monastery in Vyshgorod, not far from Kyiv. And already in 1155 she was in Vladimir. True, the transfer of the holy image turned out to be a very significant event.
Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, son of Yuri Dolgoruky, brought the icon to this northern city. He decided to leave Kievan Rus and was heading for the Suzdal land, when suddenly, within the boundaries of Zalessky Rus, the horses carrying the shrine stopped. The believing ruler ordered to perform a prayer service in front of the icon, asking permission for a further journey. And the Mother of God answered his tearful prayers, appearing in a dream. She told about Her will to stay in Vladimir, or rather, at the place of Her appearance, and “to fulfill the monastery for the monks” with a temple in Her honor. And St. Andrew Bogolyubsky in 1158 erected the "White Stone Queen", as the locals call the Assumption Cathedral.
Many miracles were performed through prayers before the icon of the Virgin. They started back in Vyshgorod. During the campaign of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky against the Volga Bulgarians in 1164, the image of the “Holy Mother of God of Vladimir” helped the Russians to defeat the enemy. No wonder that the Mother of God of Vladimir was considered the intercessor of the whole country. The icon was updated, numerous lists from it appeared, which also became famous for miracles.
This was revealed to all the people in 1395. At the end of the XIV century, the Russian land was shaken by Tatar raids. Victories were interspersed with defeats, but when Tamerlane himself advanced against Moscow with hordes of Tatars, a real threat loomed over Russia.
Fortunately, sincere faith and hope for God's help lived in the hearts of people. The rulers were then Orthodox not only on duty of Baptism. The Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dmitrievich himself ordered to turn to the Mother of God and ordered to bring the miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin from Vladimir to the capital city. The whole journey of the Mother of God (and it lasted ten days) was accompanied by an increased fasting of the clergy, authorities and people. People knelt along the road and called out to the Mother of God: “Mother Mother of God, save the Russian land.” As the chronicle testifies, “the whole city went out against the icon to meet it, men and women, young men and virgins, children and babies, orphans and widows, from young to old, from crosses and icons, from psalms and spiritual songs, more than speak all with tears, even one cannot find a person who does not weep with incessant sighs and sobs.
It was August 26th. The procession led the miraculous icon to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin ... And at that time a miracle was performed: a meeting (in other words, a meeting) near the city walls on the Kuchkov field of the Mother of God with the tired children of God; the meeting of despair and fears with real hope and reassurance before the gaze of the most honest Cherubim; a meeting of good and evil, for at that very hour the formidable Tamerlane had a dream. He rested in his tent and clearly saw over a huge mountain the Light-bearing Woman in indescribable majesty - around Her were countless hosts of angels with fiery swords, at Her feet descended saints with golden staffs. The Radiant Virgin ordered the Iron Lame to leave the borders of Russia. The desperate commander, who inspired trembling in many nations, woke up in horror. He called all the wise men, fortune tellers and elders of the Tatars and ordered them to explain what this meant. Their answer was this: This wife is the Intercessor of the Orthodox, the Mother of God. Tamerlane and none of the mortals can defeat her. And then Tamerlane ordered the troops to retreat. The Tatars were surprised, boasting of the courage of their ferocious commander. Happy Muscovites threw up their hands. The chronicler wrote: “And Tamerlane fled, persecuted by the power of the Blessed Virgin!”
On the site of the miraculous meeting on August 26, 1395, the Sretensky Monastery was built. Also, in memory of the miraculous deliverance of Russia from the invasion of Tamerlane, the church holiday of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was established. The icon itself remained in Moscow, many times providing assistance during the raids of foreign enemies.
“Rejoice, you who loved Orthodox Russia; Rejoice, having affirmed the true faith in her ... Rejoice, our warm Prayer Book; Rejoice, zealous Intercessor! Rejoice, Most Pure One, from the icon of Your mercy exuding us.
How was it not to love and not to save the sincerely believing and crying out with the prayer of the children of God! Small children hug very touchingly and trustingly when you hold them in your arms, hold tightly to the neck and gently lean against their mother's cheek in a fit of purest childish love. On the Vladimir icon, the Infant of God clung to the Most Pure Virgin just like that. His gaze is entirely fixed on Her. It was this childlike pure faith that the Russians showed in the face of inexorable danger. And it is precisely in this way that the Most Holy Mother of God firmly holds in Her heart and in Her arms “all those who flow in faith.”
), there was an invasion of the Russian land by the Agarian king (Mongolian conqueror) Tamerlane; this Tamerlane, having risen from the east with a great army, conquered many countries and, finally, approached the borders of the Russian country. Approaching the borders of the Ryazan region, Tamerlane took the city of Yelets, captured the prince of Yelets and killed many Christians; for he was a hater and a formidable persecutor of Christians. Tamerlane boasted of devastating the entire Russian land and eradicating the Christian faith; this desolator directed his way to the city of Moscow, intending to destroy it.
When the Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich heard about this, he gathered his soldiers and headed for the city of Kolomna. Departing from here, he stopped on the banks of the Oka River and took up arms here against the enemy; Tamerlane stood in one place for fifteen days. When the Grand Duke (and all Christian soldiers) learned about the great power of the impious tsar, who came to Russia with a large army, and also heard about his evil intention, then together with the soldiers he raised his hands to heaven and prayed with tears to the Lord and to the Most Pure Mother God, asking for deliverance from that godless Agarite: the Grand Duke called for help the saints of God, the holy hierarchs Peter and Alexy, St. Sergius and other Russian miracle workers.
At the same time, the Grand Duke asked his spiritual father, His Grace Metropolitan Cyprian, to announce a fast to the people with prayer; The Grand Duke also asked the Metropolitan to take the miraculous icon of the Mother of God from the city of Vladimir and bring this icon to Moscow to protect the Russian patron city. Saint Cyprian had previously thought of bringing to Moscow the aforementioned honest icon of the Mother of God; when he received a command from the prince, then with zeal he thanked God for putting the same thought into the heart of the great prince; His Holiness Metropolitan took his unanimity with the Grand Duke as a sign of God's favor and permission that the miraculous icon of the Mother of God be brought to Moscow.
Shortly after this, the Metropolitan sent deliberate men of the spiritual rank to Vladimir in order to take the honest icon of the Mother of God there; having gathered all the spiritual rank and the multitude of the people, the most holy Metropolitan brought a conciliar prayer for victory over the enemies and commanded everyone to fast with prayer, but he himself did not leave the church, performing services day and night and praying with tears for the Grand Duke, for his soldiers and for all Orthodox Christians.
When the honest icon, taken in the city of Vladimir, was approaching the city of Moscow, on the fifteenth day of the month of August, on the feast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Metropolitan came out to meet her with other spiritual rites and with a multitude of people. Seeing that holy icon, everyone fell to the ground and bowed to her as the Most Pure Mother of God, who had come to them, and accepted her with great joy; looking at this icon, everyone shed tears with tenderness and prayed to the Mother of God for deliverance from the invasion of the Agarians.
The common fervent prayer was not in vain: on the same day on which the honest icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was brought to Moscow, the impious king of Agaria Tamerlane was horrified, frightened by a terrible vision in a dream, and ran back with all his army, although no one pursued.
The vision he had was this: he saw before him a high mountain, from the top of which saints were walking towards him, carrying golden rods in their hands and threatening him; above these saints, Tamerlane saw an extraordinary light in the air; he also saw a certain Queen, standing among those saints in unspeakable glory, clothed in a crimson robe and shining with lightning rays brighter than the sun. Around this Queen there were countless armed warriors who served Her and, as it were, prepared for war. The hands of the Queen were outstretched to the sky - She seemed to be praying. It seemed to Tamerlane that this Queen threatened him, commanding him to move away from the borders of the Russian land and, as it were, ordering her army to rush to him.
From this terrible vision, Tamerlane was horrified; Rising from his bed, he cried out in fear:
Woe to me, for I have seen a terrible sight!
And the unfortunate man trembled, shaking and groaning, and was, as it were, in a frenzy.
After some time, Tamerlane came to his senses, called his princes and commanders and told them everything he had seen, shaking with fear.
They, having listened to the story of Tamerlane and seeing that he was shaking with fear, were also horrified and, perplexed, asked each other:
– What will happen now?
Some also said:
- The seen Queen is the Mother of the Christian God, the Lord Jesus Christ; undoubtedly, She intends to protect Christians, for She is their Helper and Intercessor.
Tamerlan said:
- If Christians have such a Helper, then we have armed ourselves against them in vain; we labor in vain; for if she sends only one of those who come to her, then she will overcome us all, so that we will not find a place where we can run away.
Thus, that wicked king with all his army of Hagar returned back, having fled in shame, for it seemed to the Hagar that many regiments of soldiers from the land of Russia were pursuing them; coming from this into fear and trembling, the Hagarites crushed each other, threw down their weapons and left their booty, as well as everything taken prisoner.
Thus, the Orthodox Christians were granted victory over enemies without a fight and defeat without shedding blood, through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This invasion of Tamerlane together with the Agarians and his miraculous expulsion from the borders of the Russian land took place in 6903 from the creation of the world (); since that time, in the reigning city of Moscow, a feast was established in honor of the meeting of the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called Vladimir (), in an unforgettable and grateful memory of the miraculous deliverance from the Hagarites, granted by the intercession of the Mother of God. May honor, glory and worship always be sent from us to the Mother of God, together with Christ God who was born from Her, now and forever. Amen.
Troparion, tone 4:
Today, the most glorious city of Moscow flaunts brightly, as if we perceived the dawn of the sun, mistress, Your miraculous icon, to which we now flow and pray to You, we cry out to you: O miraculous Lady Theotokos, pray from You to the incarnate Christ our God, may he deliver this city, and all cities and the Christian countries are unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, and our souls will be saved, as if merciful.
Kontakion, tone 8:
To the chosen governor, victorious, as if getting rid of the evil ones by the coming of Your honest image, the Lady of the Mother of God, we lightly create the feast of Your meeting, and usually we call you: Rejoice, Bride of the Bride.
1) Vasily (II) Dmitrievich reigned from 1389 to 1425.
2) Cyprian ruled the Moscow metropolis from 1380 to 1385; then a second time from 1390 to 1406.
3) In 1395 from R. X.
4) 85 years after the event described, the second celebration of the Vladimir Icon was established on June 23, in gratitude for getting rid of the invasion of the Horde Khan Akhmat in 1480. “No, not weapons, not human wisdom, but the Lord Himself has now saved Russia.” In 1521, the Mongols again moved to Russia under the leadership of Makhmet Giray. By the intercession of the Mother of God, this time Moscow was saved from enemies. This event is commemorated by St. Church on May 21st. In 1812, during the invasion of the French, the miraculous Icon of Vladimir, together with the icons of Iver and Smolensk, was taken to Mur on September 1 by His Grace Archbishop Augustine and, after the liberation of Moscow from enemies, was returned again to the capital on October 20. The miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is now in the Moscow Assumption Cathedral (a more detailed account of this icon can be read in the book Glory to the Mother of God published by the Moscow Synodal Printing House, M. 1907, pp. 380–385).