August 10 is the Day of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God: what is the famous image?

On August 10, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, one of the most revered miraculous images in Russia. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Sunday. Izvestia tells us what miracles the shrine has shown and how it helps.

Iconography of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God

The Smolensk icon of the Mother of God belongs to the iconographic type "Hodegetria". Translated from Greek, this name means "Guidebook". This is one of the most common images in Byzantine and Ancient Russian art.

The icon depicts the Mother of God in half her height. Her right hand is on her chest, and her left hand supports the Christ child, who holds a scroll in his left hand and blesses the human race with his right. The palm of the Virgin's right hand is directed towards Jesus and seems to indicate to whom the prayers and thoughts of the faithful should be addressed.

Feast of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God: what is the famous image?

Unlike other images of the Most Holy Theotokos, which were miraculously revealed, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God has a completely earthly origin.

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In 1046, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomakh, giving his daughter Anna in marriage to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich of Chernigov, blessed her with this shrine. The icon went with her on a long and difficult journey to Russia.

That's how the shrine ended up on Russian soil. Subsequently, it became a symbol of the connection between Constantinople and Russia, and also served as the ancestral shrine of the Russian princes for many centuries.

The image became famous for many miracles. Thanks to him, it was possible to save the western lands of Russia from ruin during the invasion of Batu. Soldiers and generals prayed before the icon before important battles. St. Sergius of Radonezh especially revered the Smolensk Icon.

Where is the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God?

Initially, the shrine was located in Chernigov. At the beginning of the 12th century, Prince Vladimir Monomakh founded the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Smolensk and moved the icon there. Since then, it has been called Smolenskaya.

In the 15th century, the icon ended up in Moscow and was placed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin. But she did not stay there for long: at the request of the bishop of Smolensk in 1456, the shrine was solemnly returned to Smolensk.

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The archetype of the icon was kept in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. In 1941, after the occupation of the city by German troops, the shrine disappeared without a trace. Now the place of the ancient icon is occupied by its miraculous list from the beginning of the 17th century.

Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God — what helps

Believers turn to the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God for help in various situations. In front of her, they pray for peace on earth, the health of the warring parties, for healing and ending epidemics, as well as for success on long trips.

The Mother of God is also asked for help in family matters. She is asked for a happy marriage, the sending of children, the preservation of family and health for loved ones.

Earlier in August, the Day of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God was celebrated. Izvestia reported on the miracles that made this shrine famous.