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The Day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God: the story of the miraculous image that protected Moscow
The memory of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God occupies a special place in the church calendar and is celebrated three times a year. Each of these dates is associated with events in Russian history, which the church tradition considers as evidence of the intercession of the Mother of God. For more information about how the history of one of the main Orthodox shrines developed, see the Izvestia article.
When is the Day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God celebrated in 2026
The Russian Orthodox Church commemorates the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God three times a year. One of these days falls on June 3rd. This date is associated with the church tradition about the events of the early 16th century.
At that time, there was a war between Grand Duke Vasily III Ioannovich and the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King Sigismund I of Poland for Smolensk. In alliance with Sigismund, the Crimean Khan Mahmet Giray opposed the Moscow state, who in 1521 decided to raid Moscow. Vasily III and the inhabitants of the city resorted to the help of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, and the enemy retreated from the city.
Celebrations in honor of the icon are also held on July 6, in connection with the events of 1480 (standing on the Ugra) and on September 8, in memory of the events of 1395, related to the invasion of Tamerlane's troops. All three dates in the church tradition are considered as days of grateful veneration for the intercession of the Mother of God.
The history of the Vladimir Icon of the Virgin
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, according to church tradition, was painted by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Holy Family was eating — the Savior, the Virgin Mary and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed. According to legend, the apostle created three icons of the Blessed Virgin and Child of Christ at the request of the first Christians. When he brought them to the Mother of God, She said, "From now on, all generations will bless Me," adding, "May the grace of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with these icons."
One of these icons is considered to be Vladimir's. In the 5th century, according to legend, it was moved from Jerusalem to Constantinople. In the 12th century, the Patriarch of Constantinople sent her to Kiev, where the shrine ended up in the possession of Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky and was placed in a convent in Vyshgorod. However, a number of historians and art historians believe that the extant image was created around the first half of the 12th century. Anyway, in 1155, Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky transported the icon from Vyshgorod to Vladimir land.
According to church tradition, not far from the Klyazma River, the horses carrying the shrine suddenly stopped and could not continue their journey even after they were harnessed. Struck by this, the prince fell in fear of the icon of the Mother of God and prayed tearfully. The Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him with a scroll in her hand and ordered him to leave Her icon in Vladimir, and build a temple in honor of Her Nativity on this place. The prince founded his residence Bogolyubovo on this place.
Later, in 1160, the icon was moved to the Assumption Cathedral, which was specially built for it, after which it became known as the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. The church tradition connects the beginning of a special veneration of the shrine and the stories of numerous miracles with this time.
In 1173, after the death of Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky, during the troubles in Vladimir, according to chronicle information, a procession was held with the Vladimir icon, after which the riots stopped.
In 1185, during a fire in Vladimir, the cathedral was destroyed, however, according to legend, the icon survived unscathed. In 1395, it was moved to Moscow and has been in the capital ever since.
Orthodox holiday on June 3
The celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on June 3 (May 21, Old style) was established in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of the Crimean Khan Makhmet Giray in 1521. At that time, Tatar troops were ravaging Russian towns and villages, approaching the capital. Grand Duke Vasily III was gathering an army, and Metropolitan Varlaam and the people of Moscow were praying for the salvation of the city.
According to church tradition, during these days, a pious nun had a vision: the Moscow saints were leaving the Kremlin, taking away the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, Moscow's main shrine, as a sign of God's punishment for the sins of the people. At the Saviour's Gate, they were met by the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh and Varlaam of Khutyn, who began to pray to the saints not to leave the city. After the common prayer, the saints returned to the Kremlin with the icon. A similar vision was revealed to Blessed Basil— one of the most famous Russian saints of the 16th century.
According to legend, on the same day, the Virgin Mary appeared to Khan Mahmet Giray, surrounded by a heavenly host, who attacked the invaders. After that, the Tatar army retreated, and Moscow escaped ruin.
How does the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God help?
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is two-sided. The obverse depicts the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus Christ, and the reverse depicts the Throne and the Instruments of Passion. The icon belongs to the "Tenderness" type, the main motif of which is the embrace of the Mother of God and Christ. The baby hugs Mary by the neck, his gaze is fixed on her, and the Mother of God looks at the worshipper.
On the Day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, festive divine services are held in Orthodox churches, prayers and akathists are read. Believers turn to the Mother of God with requests for peace, protection, strengthening of faith and help in life circumstances.
Before the icon, people traditionally pray for family well-being, the birth of children, a successful birth, and the health of mother and child. If you can't go to the service on a holiday, you can pray at home.
Where is the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God now?
Since 1999, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God has been located in the church-museum of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi at the Tretyakov Gallery. However, in April 2026, the shrine was donated to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. The icon is currently located there. Together with the Vladimir Icon, the Don Icon of the Mother of God was also transferred from the Tretyakov Gallery to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
