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One of my favorite icons is the Mother of God of Kazan, celebrated
tomorrow in old calendar parishes, often ignored in new calendar
parishes. Following the tropar and kondak, I'm putting a short write
up from St. John's Cathedral in Washington,DC and links:
Troparion (Tone 4) [1]
O fervent intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High,
thou dost pray to thy Son Christ our God and savest all who seek
thy protection.
O Sovereign Lady and Queen,
help and defend all of us who in trouble and trials,
in pain and burdened with sins, stand in thy presence before thine
icon,
and who pray with compunction, contrition, and tears and with
unflagging hope in thee.
Grant what is good for us,
deliverance from evil, and save us all, O Virgin Mother of God,
for thou art a divine protection to thy servants.
Kontakion (Tone  [2]
O peoples, let us run to that quiet good haven,
to the speedy helper, the warm salvation, to the Virgin's
protection.
Let us speed to prayer and hasten to repentance.
For the Mother of God pours out her mercy, anticipates needs, and
averts disasters
for her patient and God-fearing servants.
"Kazan" Icon
22 October / 4 November
The celebration of the Most-holy Theotokos, in honor of her Icon known
as the Kazan Icon, was established in thanks for the saving of Moscow
and all Russia from the attack of the Poles in 1612. The late 16th and
early 17th Centuries are known in Russian history as the Time of
Troubles. The nation was attacked by Polish armies, who mocked the
Orthodox Faith, and who looted and burned churches, towns and
villages. By means of deceit, they succeeded in seizing Moscow. In
response to the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Hermogenes
(commemorated on May 12) the Russian people rose up in defense of the
homeland. The miraculous Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos was sent from
Kazan to join the militia led by Prince Dimitry Mikhailovitch
Pozharsky.
In his "Homily on the day of the appearance of the Icon of the Mother
of God in Kazan" (celebrated July , Holy Hierarch Dimitry of Rostov
(commemorated September 21) said: The Mother of God saves from great
misfortunes and evils not only the righteous, but also the sinful, but
what manner of sinners? Those, who like the prodigal son, return to
their Heavenly Father; who lament [over their sins]; who, like the
publican, beat their breasts; who are like the sinful woman that wept
at the feet of Christ and washed His feet with her tears; those who,
like the thief on the cross, confess Him. The Mother of God looks
after such sinners and rushes to help them, and saves them from great
misfortunes and evils.
Recognizing that the misfortune had been permitted because of their
sins, the entire people and militia observed 3-day fast, and turned to
the Lord and His most-pure mother for divine help. Their prayers were
heeded. Holy Hierarch Arseny (later to become bishop of Suzdal), who
was a prisoner of the Poles, sent word that he had had a vision
revealing by the intercession of the Most-holy Virgin, God's judgment
been had turned to mercy. Inspired by this news, the armies on October
22, 1612 liberated Moscow from the Polish occupiers. The celebration
in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos was established
in 1649. To this day, that Icon is highly venerated by the Russian
Orthodox people.
Links to image:
http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/icons/theotokos_other/kazan.jpg
http://www.unitypublishing.com/kazanrussia.htm
http://russian-crafts.com/customs/kazanskaya.html
http://orthodoxwiki.org/Our_Lady_of_Kazan |
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