August 5 — the feast of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God: the story of the miraculous image

Every year on August 5, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God, one of the most revered Christian shrines. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Tuesday. Read about the miracles the image performed and how it helps in the Izvestia article.

Day of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God in 2025 — history

The history of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is closely connected with the Pochaev Dormition Lavra, which is located in western Ukraine. According to legend, this monastery was built in the 13th century by two monks who lived in seclusion on the mountain.

One day, one of them witnessed an unusual phenomenon — the Virgin Mary stood on top of the mountain, shrouded in flames. The monk immediately called a friend to take a look at this miracle too. The third person who saw the Virgin Mary that day was the shepherd Ivan Bosoy, who climbed the mountain from the other side.

When the vision dissipated, the footprint of the Mother of God remained in its place. The monks built a stone church of the Assumption of the Virgin next to it.

The Pochaev icon appeared in the monastery in the second half of the 16th century. In 1559, the image was presented to the noblewoman Anna Goyskaya by Metropolitan Neophyte, who was visiting her on his way from Constantinople to Moscow. After some time, the inhabitants of the estate noticed that a subtle glow emanated from the image, and in 1597, after praying in front of him, Goyskaya's brother Philip was healed. After that, the woman decided to transfer the icon to the Pochaev Monastery.

The celebration in honor of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God was established in memory of the liberation of the lavra from the Turkish siege in 1675. The monastery was surrounded by invaders from three sides, and its dilapidated walls could not provide reliable protection for laypeople and monks. Then Abbot Joseph of Dobromirsky called on those gathered to pray to the heavenly intercessors, the Mother of God and St. Job of Pochaev.

On the morning of July 23 (August 5, new style), the Turks were preparing for the offensive, and the akathist of the Mother of God was sung in the lavra. As soon as the first words of prayer sounded, the Virgin Mary appeared above the monastery at the head of the angelic army. The Monk Job stood next to her, praying for the protection of the monastery.

The terrified invaders started shooting at the vision, but the arrows kept coming back and wounded those who fired them. This horrified the enemies, and they rushed to flee, killing their own comrades in the confusion. The defenders of the monastery seized the moment and immediately went on the offensive. They even managed to capture prisoners, many of whom later converted to Orthodoxy and remained in the lavra.

During its existence, the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God has performed several hundred miracles. She is revered not only in Russia, but also in Serbia, Bulgaria and other countries — there are more than 300 lists of this image in the world. The original icon is kept in the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra in the Ternopil region of Ukraine.

Day of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God in 2025 — meaning

The Pochaev image of the Mother of God belongs to one of the most emotional iconographic types — Eleusa or Tenderness. It depicts a moment of love and unity between the Virgin and the Christ child. The Virgin Mary holds her son in her arms, covering his back and legs with a handkerchief, and the Savior leans his cheek against her. He hugs his mother with one hand, and blesses her and everyone who looks at the icon with the other.

Images of the type of Tenderness reflect the harmony between Christ and the Virgin. At the same time, they are filled with sadness, because the Virgin Mary already knows what fate awaits her son. In addition, Eleusa symbolizes the unity between the Lord and the church.

The Pochaev icon has a number of features that set it apart from other images of the same type. So, along its perimeter there are images of several saints: the prophet Elijah, St. Mina, the First Martyr Stephen and others. And on her lists there is often an image of a stone with the imprint of the foot of the Virgin.

The Day of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God in 2025 — what helps

The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is one of the most revered Orthodox shrines. It is believed that it helps in healing various ailments, both physical and psychological, finding peace of mind, getting rid of sinful thoughts and inclinations. Before this image, they also pray for a happy marriage, the birth of healthy children, reconciliation with loved ones and the resolution of difficult situations.

Earlier, Izvestia told what the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God is known for and how it helps.