February 28 is the Memorial Day of the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God: the history and meaning of the image

Every year on February 28, believers celebrate the day of the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God, an ancient miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, according to legend, written by the evangelist Luke and revered by both Orthodox and Catholics. In 2025, the date falls on a Friday. Read about the history of the shrine and its significance in the Izvestia article.

The Day of the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God – 2025: the history of the image

The Vilna Icon of the Mother of God, according to legend, was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist. The image was made on four boards of cypress and birch, joined together. For many centuries, the icon was one of the most important shrines of Byzantium. For a long time this miraculous image stayed in Constantinople and belonged to the Greek emperors.

In 1472 Zoya Palaiologos, the bride of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III, brought the icon to Moscow. This marriage symbolized the union of Byzantium and Russia, and the shrine became a sign embodying the spiritual kinship between the two states. In 1495, the Grand Duke blessed his daughter Elena with this icon to marry King Alexander of Lithuania. On this occasion, the image was moved to Vilna (now Vilnius) and became known as Vilna.

In honor of this event, the date of the celebration of the Day of the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God was set on February 28. After Elena's death, the shrine was placed in the Prechistensky Cathedral, where the princess was buried.

The miraculous image of the Mother of God has been in Lithuania for more than four centuries. The Russian tsars tried to bring him back twice. In the 16th century, during the Livonian War, Ivan the Terrible offered King Sigismund III 50 noble Lithuanian prisoners in exchange for the icon. However, the Polish-Lithuanian monarch declined the offer.

The second attempt was made by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in 1655. After the capture of Vilna, he ordered the icon to be found, but by that time it had already been taken to the Uniate monastery of Krulevets in Konigsberg.

During the First World War, many Orthodox shrines were evacuated from the frontline zone of Lithuania and Belarus. In 1915, the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God was transported along with other Orthodox shrines to the Moscow Donskoy Monastery, but after that its traces were lost. The original is currently considered lost.

What believers address to the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God: prayer

The Orthodox Church venerates the icon of the Mother of God of Vilna as the intercessor of all Christian believers. Requests are made to the holy image for strengthening faith, protection, support in difficult times, and the transmission of prayers to the Lord.

On February 28, it is important to visit the temple, light candles and address a sincere, heartfelt prayer to the Mother of God.

Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Vilna Icon:

"Most Gracious and Speedy Intercessor of the faithful, Most Pure Virgin Mother of God! We beseech You before Your holy and miraculous image, that you may grant Your intercession to the city of Moscow from ancient times, so that even now you may mercifully deliver us from all troubles and misfortunes and save our souls, O Merciful One."

Traditions and prohibitions of the Day of the Vilna Icon of the Mother of God

On February 28, divine services are held in Orthodox churches, believers turn to the Mother of God with prayers, asking for protection, health and help in resolving difficult situations.

In Russia, on this day it was customary to set the table and gather with family and loved ones. The ancestors believed that this tradition could bring prosperity, health and well-being to the home.

But sharing plans and making promises on February 28 is not accepted. According to legend, careless words on this day can be empty and bring disappointment. For the same reason, one should not blindly trust the words of others — folk wisdom warns against gullibility on this day.

Folk signs on February 28

In the Slavic tradition, the end of February symbolized the "displacement" of winter by spring. It was believed that these days nature begins to wake up and the weather can be used to judge the future harvest. Our ancestors believed that if there is a lot of meltwater on the streets on February 28, it promises a good harvest in the fall. A clear sky and a bright moon foreshadowed the imminent frosts, and a crimson sunset predicted snowfall.

Earlier, Izvestia told how the holiday is celebrated The Iveron Icon of the Mother of God and to whom the image helps.