The Omen Holiday: what does the icon of the Mother of God mean and why is it celebrated on December 10th?

The feast of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Sign", celebrated on December 10, belongs to the oldest Orthodox celebrations and is dedicated to the miraculous intercession of the Virgin Mary for the Russian land. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

What kind of holiday is this

The day of the icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" was established on December 10 in memory of the date of the miraculous event of the XII century, when, according to legend, prayer in front of this image in 1170 saved Novgorod from the enemy invasion. The holiday glorifies the patronage of the Mother of God and symbolizes Her intercession for the faithful.

What is the day dedicated to?

The celebration is dedicated to the appearance of the "omen" — the appearance of a special holy veil. The image of the "Sign" is considered a symbol of the prayer of the Mother of God for peace, harmony and protection. On this day, believers pray for peace in the family and the city, for the cessation of strife, for reconciliation.

Where is the icon located today

The main miraculous icon "The Sign" (Novgorod) is kept in the Novgorod Museum-Reserve, but it is regularly transferred to St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod for festive divine services. There are other revered lists — Kursk "Sign" (Kursk Root), Abalatskaya, Tikhvin lists and many others.

History of appearance

According to church legend, in 1170, the troops of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky of Suzdal besieged Veliky Novgorod. The townspeople prayed for three days and three nights, walked around the walls of the city with the miraculous image of the Mother of God. When the icon was placed on the fortress wall facing the enemies, arrows began to rain down on the city; one of them struck the face of the Virgin. Then, according to the chroniclers, tears appeared on the icon, and the enemies were overcome with overwhelming fear and confusion. The besiegers fled, and the city was saved.

This event was perceived as a "sign" of the intercession of the Virgin, and the image got its name. Later, the holiday was approved by the Russian Orthodox Church and became one of the most important memorable days of December.

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