October 22 is the feast of the Korsun Icon of the Mother of God: what made the image famous, who helps

On October 22, the Orthodox Church celebrates a holiday in honor of the Korsun Icon of the Mother of God, one of the most revered images with a rich history and famous for numerous miracles. In 2025, this day falls on Wednesday. Izvestia tells about the centuries-old history of the shrine, its unique iconography and the needs of believers who pray to it.

The history of the holiday and the origin of the image

The Korsun Icon of the Mother of God, also known as the Ephesian Icon, occupies a special place among revered Orthodox shrines. Its celebration was established on October 22 according to the new style, which corresponds to October 9 according to the old calendar. This is one of the images whose history is closely intertwined with key milestones in the formation of the Russian state and Orthodoxy in Russia.

The name "Korsunskaya" indicates the Byzantine origin of the image, and "Ephesian" refers to the legendary city of Ephesus, where, according to church tradition, the Blessed Virgin spent the last years of her earthly life.

According to legend, the archetype of this icon was created by the Evangelist Luke himself. It was kept in Ephesus for a long time. Then, in 988, the list of the icon was brought to Kiev by the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir after the baptism of Rus. The shrine became a spiritual symbol of the ancient Russian state.

Later it was moved to Veliky Novgorod, and in the era of Tsar John the Terrible it found its place in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. There it became one of the first and most revered shrines, emphasizing the continuity of power and the spiritual connection between Russia and Byzantium.

There is another version of the acquisition of the holy image. According to him, in 1162 the icon was brought from Greece by St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Upon learning of the existence of the images painted by the Evangelist Luke, the saint sent rich gifts to the Greek patriarch with a request to send the shrine. The image was brought from Ephesus, decorated with jewels and placed in the Church of the Mother of God in Polotsk.

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Iconography of the Korsun Icon of the Mother of God

Iconographically, the Korsun icon belongs to the "Odigitria" type, which means "Guide book" in Greek. This type of image emphasizes the role of the Virgin Mary as a mentor of believers, showing the way to Christ. In some versions, there are also features of the "Eleusa" type ("Tenderness"), which is expressed in a special, abbreviated shoulder composition, where the emphasis is on personal, deeply lyrical communication between Mother and Baby.

The icon's color palette is filled with deep theological symbolism. The Mother of God is traditionally depicted in blue and red robes: blue symbolizes the virgin purity of the Virgin Mary, and red emphasizes Her greatness. The clothes of the infant Christ often have a green hue, symbolizing the good news of His coming into the world.

In one hand, Jesus holds a scroll representing the Gospel. With His other hand, He holds onto the robe of the Virgin Mary, which conveys a sense of filial closeness, deep love and inner connection with the Mother of God. There are also lists of icons where the scroll is missing.

What do they pray for in front of the Korsun Icon of the Mother of God?

For many centuries, the Korsun Icon of the Mother of God has been revered by believers as miraculous. This image is resorted to in a variety of life circumstances, relying on the intercession and help of the Blessed Virgin. Many testimonies point to healings from bodily ailments, which makes the image a hope for the suffering and the sick. Rural residents often turn to the image of protecting crops from drought and other natural disasters.

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The holy image helps to heal diseases, strengthens faith and protects from troubles.

What else do they pray for in front of the icon?:

• getting rid of sadness and despondency;
• finding inner peace and harmony;
• strengthening the family and restoring peace between spouses;
• protecting the house from envious people, slander and all kinds of evil;
• getting rid of material difficulties;
• making the right decisions in difficult situations.

Where is the icon and its veneration in our days

The fate of the original Korsun icon, as well as many other shrines, proved difficult during the years of persecution of the Church in the 20th century. After the 1917 revolution, the ancient image was taken to Leningrad, and then entered the collection of the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

Today, one of the icon's lists, dating from the second half of the 13th century, is in the State Museum of the Moscow Kremlin. There are also numerous lists of the miraculous image, which have been preserved and are revered in temples throughout Russia.

They can be found in many dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church: the Suzdal Savior-Euthymius Monastery, the All-Holy Church in Toropets, St. Dmitrievsky Church in Yaroslavl. Thus, the veneration of the holy image, which began in ancient Ephesus, is not interrupted today, remaining a living part of the Orthodox tradition.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the history of the Trubchev Icon of the Mother of God and how this miraculous image became famous.