Celebration of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God on September 15: the history of the shrine and powerful prayers

On Monday, September 15, Orthodox believers celebrate the Day of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God, a holy miraculous image that has become a symbol of protection and healing of the Kaluga land during the most difficult historical periods. The icon became famous for numerous miracles. It is associated with stopping the plague, cholera, saving the country from enemies, as well as helping to heal mental and physical ailments. Believers on this day turn to the Mother of God with prayers, asking for mercy, protection and spiritual strengthening. For more information about the history, meaning, and traditions of icon veneration, see the Izvestia article.

The history of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God

The icon was revealed in 1748 in the village of Tinkovo, near Kaluga, in the house of the landowner Vasily Kondratievich Khitrovo, when two of his maids were sorting things in the attic. One of them, a pious girl, found a roll of canvas depicting a woman in a dark monastic robe. She thought it was a portrait of the abbess of the monastery, and wanting to reason with her impudent friend Evdokia, she threatened her with the abbess's wrath for indecent behavior.

Evdokia, who was distinguished by her frivolous and unrestrained nature, responded to the threats with abuse and, succumbing to irritation, spat on the image, saying: "That's how afraid I am of your abbess!". Immediately after that, she had a seizure: her arms and legs twisted, she lost her eyesight and speech, and fell unconscious.

That same night, the Most Holy Theotokos herself appeared to the girl's parents and told them that it was her holy image. The Mother of God ordered to perform a prayer service in front of the icon and sprinkle Evdokia with holy water. Her parents fulfilled this, and Evdokia really recovered. This event marked the beginning of the veneration of the Kaluga Icon.

The icon was kept by Khitrovo for a long time and already then began to be glorified by numerous healings and gracious protection. Later, the image was moved to the temple of the village of Kaluga, where miracles were also performed. The icon gained significant attention in 1771, when the Kaluga land was saved from the plague by prayers in front of it, and later during other disasters and military disasters, including the Patriotic War of 1812, when Kaluga also received special protection through prayers to this icon. Today, the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God is the main spiritual symbol of the Kaluga Diocese, an object of pilgrimage and reverence for believers.

What does the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God look like?

The image of the Kaluga Mother of God is unique in its iconography. She is depicted alone, without a Baby, in dark monastic robes. The Mother of God holds an open book in her hands, which symbolizes wisdom, spiritual guidance and patronage of believers. Her face is stern and majestic, expressing both compassion and unshakeable strength.

The image highlights the icon's special status as the spiritual protector and patroness of the Kaluga land, and also symbolizes the true guidance of faith and life for Orthodox Christians.

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How and to whom does the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God help

The Kaluga icon has a reputation for miracle-working, it helps believers in healing from physical and spiritual ailments. They turn to her in prayers for help with skin and nervous diseases, deafness, ear diseases, as well as protection from epidemics.

It is believed that the icon supports those who are in a state of spiritual turmoil, loss of faith or life difficulties, providing emotional and spiritual support. The faithful thank her for her acts of mercy, healing, and protection in family and personal matters.

Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God Day: signs and prohibitions

Celebrations of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God take place several times a year — on July 31 (in memory of Kaluga's deliverance from cholera in 1892), September 15 (salvation from the plague in 1771) and October 25 (in memory of protection from Napoleon in 1812). On these days, believers perform prayer services, processions and try to observe special spiritual purity. Folk signs on the day of the holiday call for good deeds, abstinence from profanity and quarrels, as the icon requires respect and humility. It is forbidden to work, quarrel and be rude.

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What prayers should be read in front of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God?

In front of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God, believers traditionally recite the akathist, a special poetic prayer chant praising the Most Holy Theotokos and praying for her intercession. On the day of the feast, the kontakion and troparion of the Kaluga Icon are also read — short prayer texts expressing the main prayer addresses and glory.

Kontakion 1

To the exalted Voivode, the Immaculate Virgin Theotokos, the deliverer of the land of Kaluga, we offer songs of praise to You, Your servants, for the watch is vigilant over the icons of Your appearance. But You do not reject our supplication before Your icon, but protect us, O Lady, from all enemies, visible and invisible, and deliver us from all diseases of the soul and body, so that in the tenderness of our hearts we call upon You: Rejoice, O Lady, showing us Your mercy and intercession.

Ikos 1 (part of the Akathist)

A multitude of angels glorify You, the Queen of all and the Mother of God, for You have filled our hearts with joy by the appearance of Your miraculous icon in Tinkovo and miracles in the church of Your Nativity in Vesi Kaluga; therefore, worshipping Your icon, we offer up our supplication to You, O God-chosen Virgin, saying with fear and love:

Hail, who was foretold by the patriarchs and foretold by the prophets; hail, who gave birth to the Lamb who took away the sins of the world.

Hail, Thou who didst free Adam and Eve from the ancient curse; hail, Thou who didst light up the whole land of Kaluga with Thy miraculous icon.

Rejoice, You who have given us Your icon as a sign of mercy; rejoice, as we look upon Your icon, we worship You, the most true Theotokos.

Rejoice, O Lady, who shows us Thy mercy and intercession.

Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God "Kaluga"

O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of Christ our God, wondrous Queen of heaven and earth! Hearken to the painful sighing of our hearts; look down from Your holy height upon us, who with faith and love stand before Your miraculous icon and with tenderness pray to You, O Lady! Do not belittle the Orthodox Church, O Most Holy Theotokos, help us to preserve the Patristic Orthodox faith immaculately to the end of our days, to walk steadfastly in all the commandments of the Lord, and to deliver us from pernicious spiritual teachings. We trust in Your mercy, wondrous Queen, Thy servants: cleanse the eyes of the mind from sinful thoughts, the soul from relaxation and generation of passions, and send down to us zeal for the salvation of our neighbors. Amen.

These prayer texts help believers to tune into spiritual communion with the Mother of God, asking her for protection and mercy. The Akathist and other church hymns are available in Orthodox prayer books and are often recited both in Kaluga temples and in believers' home prayer corners.