September 17 is the Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush": the history of the image

Every year on September 17, the Orthodox Church celebrates the day of the icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush", which is considered a protector from fire, lightning and other natural disasters. In 2025, the holiday falls on a Wednesday. Read about the origin of the miraculous image, its meaning and the traditions of celebration in the Izvestia article.

The feast of the Icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush" in 2025 — the story of the miraculous image

The feast in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "The Burning Bush" has its roots in the Old Testament tradition of a miraculous apparition to the prophet Moses, tending a flock of sheep on Mount Sinai. He saw a thorn bush engulfed in flames, but it did not burn down. This miracle has become a symbol of one of the greatest Christian dogmas — the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ.

Through the bush, which does not burn in the fire, the mystery of the Incarnation is revealed — the Virgin Mary preserved absolute spiritual purity and chastity, was a Virgin before the birth of the Son of God and after him. This image has inspired Christian iconography for centuries, giving rise to one of the most symbolically saturated images — the icon of the Burning Bush.

The icon appeared in Russia in 1390, when Palestinian monks brought it to Moscow. According to legend, one of the first images was painted on a stone taken from the very rock where Moses saw the miraculous fire.

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Since then, the icon has gained a reputation for protecting against fires. The story that took place in the Kharkov province in 1822 became particularly famous. At that time, the city of Slavyansk suffered from a series of fires caused by arson. A local pious woman received a revelation in a dream — to cope with the disaster, it is necessary to paint the icon "Burning Bush" and perform a prayer service in front of it.

The residents followed her advice. And on the day of the prayer service, the perpetrator of the arson was caught, and the residents regained their composure. In memory of this event, the icon is still kept in the Trinity Church with a donation inscription: "In memory of 1822 for saving hail from fire."

The meaning of the Icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush"

The Burning Bush icon is a theological symbol of the purity and presence of the Mother of God in the destiny of the world. It symbolizes not only protection from external disasters, but also the inner strength of faith, able to withstand the most destructive circumstances of life.

The image combines the Old and New Testaments, prophecy and salvation, symbolically covering the entire history of the world from creation to its future transformation. And the Most Holy Theotokos unites the earthly and the heavenly, the temporal and the eternal.

What do they pray for in front of the icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush"

On September 17, believers turn to the icon of the Mother of God with requests for protection from fires, lightning and other natural disasters. They also pray for health, solace in sorrow, help in the fight against injustice, strengthening faith, spiritual purification and pacification, restoration of mental balance and successful recovery from serious illnesses.

In addition, on the holiday, believers ask for deliverance from passions, vicious thoughts, painful attachments, and ask for help in restoring family ties.

The icon is especially revered among firefighters, rescuers, and power engineers. Chapels in honor of the "Burning Bush" are often built next to fire stations, and prayer services are held on the day of the holiday.

Iconography of the Icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush"

The image is not just a pictorial composition, it is deeply symbolic. In the center of the icon is the Virgin and Child, surrounded by an eight—pointed star made up of two superimposed squares of red (the symbol of fire) and green (the foliage of a bush). This is the visual embodiment of a non-burning bush.

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In the corners there are four apocalyptic creatures, symbols of the four evangelists: a man, a lion, a taurus and an eagle. They are complemented by figures of archangels with characteristic attributes. Michael — with a rod, Raphael — with an alabaster, Uriel — with a fiery sword, Gabriel — with a branch of the gospel, Barachiel — with a bunch of grapes.

Sometimes the shrine depicts a ladder leaning against the shoulder of the Mother of God, a sign of humanity's path to God.

The feast of the Burning Bush Icon in 2025 — what can and cannot be done

Although September 17 has no strict restrictions in the church calendar, folk tradition has retained a number of recommendations and prohibitions aimed at respecting the shrine.:

What is recommended to do on September 17th:

• visit the temple and pray in front of the icon;
• consecrate the house and ask for protection from fire;
• carefully consider the dreams on the night of September 17th — they were considered prophetic;
• spend the day in peace and prayer.

What not to do on September 17th:

• chopping, making bonfires, burning dead wood, using an open fire — such actions can "attract" lightning;
• Sleeping during the day can lead to exhaustion and illness.;
• Boasting about material well—being is a risk of incurring poverty.;
• Wearing dark colored clothes can bring grief to the family.;
• to visit or receive guests — so as not to "transfer" their own luck in business to them.

Where is the icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush"?

One of the most ancient and revered icons of the Burning Bush is kept in the altar of the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. According to legend, this is the same image that was painted on a stone from Mount Sinai and brought to Russia by monks from Palestine.

In Moscow, in the Khamovniki district, there is another shrine in the temple of the Burning Bush, which previously decorated the Holy Vestibule at the Faceted Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin. During the Patriotic War of 1812, her robe was stolen, but returned by a Polish soldier suffering from spiritual anguish. This case reinforced the idea of the power of the icon and responsibility for the attitude towards the shrine.

Especially revered images are also kept in the Samara, Vologda, Moscow, Leningrad, Chelyabinsk regions and other regions of Russia, where they have become part of the local spiritual and cultural tradition.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the feast of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.