The history of the Feast Day of the Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan
The image of Our Lady of Kazan is said to have come to
Russia from Constantinople in the 13th century. After the Tatars besieged Kazan
and made it the capital of their khanate in 1438, the icon disappeared, and it
is not mentioned again until the 16th century, some years after the liberation
of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible in 1552.
After a fire destroyed Kazan in 1579, the Virgin
appeared in a prophetic dream to a 10-year-old girl named Matrona and told her
where to find the precious image again. As instructed, Matrona told the
archbishop about her dream, but he would not take her seriously. After two more
such dreams, on July 8, 1579, the girl and her mother themselves dug up the
image, buried under the ashes of a house, where it had been hidden long before
to save it from the Tatars. The unearthed icon looked as bright and beautiful
as if it were new. The archbishop repented of his unbelief and took the icon to
the Church of St. Nicholas, where a blind man was cured that very day.
Hermogen, the priest at this church, later became Metropolitan of Kazan. He
brought the icon to Kazan's Cathedral of the Annunciation and established July
8 as a feast in honor of the Theotokos of Kazan. It is from Hermogen's
chronicle, written at the request of the tsar in 1595, that we know of these
events.
Preview Icons of the Mother of God of Kazan |
By 1612, when Moscow was occupied by Polish invaders,
Hermogen had become Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. From prison, he called
for a three-day fast and ordered the icon of Our Lady of Kazan to be brought to
Princes Minin and Pozharsky, who were leading the resistance to the occupation.
This icon—possibly the original, but more likely a copy—was carried before
their regiments as they fought to regain the capital from the Poles. When the
Polish army was finally driven from Moscow on October 22, 1612, the victory was
attributed to the intercession of the Mother of God, and the Kazan icon became
a focal point for Russian national sentiments. Later that year, when Tsar
Mikhail Feodorovich came to the throne, he appointed both July 8 and October 22
as feasts in honor of Our Lady of Kazan.
The victorious Prince Dmitry Pozharsky financed the construction of a small wooden church dedicated to the Virgin of Kazan in the Moscow Kremlin. The icon was kept there until the small church burnt down in 1632. The tsar ordered the construction of a larger brick cathedral to replace it. After its completion in 1638, the icon remained there in Moscow's Kazan Cathedral for nearly two centuries. It was regularly borne in solemn liturgical processions along the city walls as the protectress of Moscow. The intercession of Our Lady of Kazan was successfully invoked against a Swedish invasion in 1709, and again when Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812. To commemorate this latter victory, the Kazan icon was moved to the new Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg in 1821.
The victorious Prince Dmitry Pozharsky financed the construction of a small wooden church dedicated to the Virgin of Kazan in the Moscow Kremlin. The icon was kept there until the small church burnt down in 1632. The tsar ordered the construction of a larger brick cathedral to replace it. After its completion in 1638, the icon remained there in Moscow's Kazan Cathedral for nearly two centuries. It was regularly borne in solemn liturgical processions along the city walls as the protectress of Moscow. The intercession of Our Lady of Kazan was successfully invoked against a Swedish invasion in 1709, and again when Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812. To commemorate this latter victory, the Kazan icon was moved to the new Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg in 1821.
By this time, the Kazan icon had achieved immense
popularity, and there were nine or ten separate miracle-working copies of the
icon around the country. There is considerable disagreement about which of
these, if any, was the original. Some claim the original remained housed in
Kazan, while others hold that the one moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg was
the original. Many experts, however, believe the original was lost and both of
the venerated Kazan icons were early copies. In any case, both icons
disappeared in the early 20th century. The one in Kazan was stolen in 1904 and
probably destroyed by the thieves, who were more interested in its jeweled gold
covering. The one in St. Petersburg disappeared after the October Revolution of
1917. Some say it was smuggled out of the country to protect it from the
Bolsheviks, while others suggest the Communists themselves hid it and later
sold it abroad. But during World War II, an icon of the Virgin of Kazan surfaced
in Leningrad to lead a procession around the fortifications of the
Nazi-besieged city.
The wonderworking icons Our Lady of Sitka and Our Lady
of Soufanieh are both of the Kazan type.
What is going on this fall at the Women's Rehabilitation Center?
October has
begun. It is a warm day, and the sky clears up by the afternoon. All is quiet
and bright at the Women's Rehabilitation Center of St Elisabeth Convent. The
golden autumn is at its best: wind sets the leaves of the beautiful birch trees
in constant motion; the dahlia, marigold, and aster flowers are in full bloom;
the fruit of this blessed season — the red apples, the deep blue grapes, and
yellow and orange pumpkins — please the eye and the heart.
The almost
ready new bright wooden church in honor of St Sergius stands surrounded by birch
trees, the leaves of which have hardly been touched by the golden color. If you
come closer, it looks like a big and noble knight in a fairytale palace.
There is no
one outdoors. All sisters are having an akathist. I am met by cats who approach
me trustfully, wishing to get to know me. “Pyatnashka” (dotted cat) purrs
loudly and unceremoniously jumps into my car. In a couple of minutes, it is
sitting on my shoulder.
A visit to the rehabilitation center for me is like visiting a sick
person in a hospital. This time, it is easier because we already know each
other. A hospital is not just a place where sick people have to stay: it is
also the place where they are healed. It depends on care, a doctor's skill, and
of course on the hospital itself, for it is said that even walls may help in
healing. We are not going to talk about the social importance of this place and
about the life stories of the women who now stay here. It is no secret for
everyone that social rehabilitation in the center is a "life saver"
for the drowning. Today, on this wonderful day, we are going to ask Nun Barbara
(Atrasievich) how the construction of St Sergius Church is going on, how big
the sisters' harvest this year is, and how they are going to celebrate the patron
saint's day…
The builders
plan to cover the church with a permanent roof by winter. What about the domes?
"God willing, we will mount the domes before winter, too, it's hard to
plan anything specific," Nun Barbara replies. "Right now, we are
about to finish a parish house near the church. I cannot say anything about its
future use — we might use it to provide accommodation for the priests who come
to serve in the center, or we might use it as a guest house."
Currently, a
priest visits the rehabilitation center every Tuesday. The divine services are
held in the basement of the church. We hope that the Liturgy on the patron
saint's day will be celebrated on the ground floor, provided the weather is
fine."
There had been a church here several years
ago — the parish church of v. Nialidavičy — but it had become defunct by the
time our monastic sisters came here. The church was destroyed by fire on the
eve of the Annunciation in 2011, precisely during the negotiations of the
Convent and the authorities with regard to buying this land. The police said
that the most probable reason was arson: someone had been well-informed enough
to take all icons out of the church. Well, what can we say now?.. Let bygones
be bygones. Only broken and besmirched bells remind of that accident now, and
the sisters try not to remember evil. They have their own lives, their own
homework to do. "We read an akathist daily: to St Nicholas the
Wonderworker, St Mary of Egypt, St Pantheleimon, SS Cyril and Maria (parents of
St Sergius of Radonezh), and the Inexhaustible Chalice icon of the Mother of
God. We choose a time for it depending on the season and weather conditions. In
the summer, when it was hot outdoors, we prayed the akathist at lunchtime,
around 1p.m. As it is getting colder outdoors, we will change the timetable to
fit into the rhythm of winter chores."
The simple
farm living teaches to enjoy simple things. For instance, the sisters have
gathered the harvest — that's great news. They've had a good harvest of
tomatoes — amazing! They tried planting the sprouts for the first time, and
everything went fine: the tomatoes grew well both in a greenhouse and in the
open.
At present,
there are twenty-eight women at the Centre. "We have had a hike in the
number of people with mental disorders lately," Nun Barbara says.
"Sometimes they are not even diagnosed yet but their behavior and
condition tells that they need help. They wandered far and wide and at last
they landed here at the Centre.
We have
decided to assign one house, the smaller one, to mothers with children due to
the renovation going on. Unfortunately, it can only accommodate three or four
families. Right now, there are two mothers with their children and one woman
expecting a baby in the center.
See that
house over there? It is for the sisters who do not want to leave us anymore,
who have become permanent residents of our Centre and help us actively. One
room is for the less able: currently, it is home for one old lady who was
discharged from a mental clinic (she cannot talk, and no one knows anything
about her) and a woman who has memory problems. She has been here for about a
year. When they brought her to our center, her daughter was very anxious
because doctors had told her that her mother's condition would deteriorate, that
she is to be treated with extreme caution, to the extent of not even moving
furniture in her room. So another sister stayed with her all the time. Now this
woman can move around the rehabilitation center on her own! We even transferred
her from one house into another due to the renovation, and everything went
fine. It seems to me that her condition has improved noticeably, although
doctors predicted it would get worse. It is with God's help that this place
manages to fulfil its purpose of social rehabilitation. Everything we planned
during the project planning stage is currently being implemented, albeit on a
small scale…"
Two priests. Two destinies. One calling...The review of the documentary: Two Andrews
The premier of
the documentary film titled “Two Andrews” was held at the 14th Royal
Voice Festival, which is a biannual festival hosted by St. Elisabeth Convent.
The documentary was also filmed and produced by the video studio of St.Elisabeth Convent, is about two unique priests: Archpriest Andrew Lemeshonok, the
spiritual father of St. Elisabeth Convent and Archpriest Andrew Logvinov, poet
and cleric of a church in Kostroma in honor of St. John the Theologian. This documentary
is not a simple voiceover but has the two main characters talk about their experiences
along with their family and about their deeds and their ministry.
Galina Adamovich |
The director of
the film, Galina Adamovich (known for such films as “The Conductor” and “The Nun”) admitted that it was difficult to shoot the film. In fact, when they
began filming they quickly realized they has to work separately as if they were
producing two different documentaries because the two people are very different
and that the “dual portrait takes away from each individual”.
However, others would
disagree with the director, because that same «dual portrait” helped explore
the individual characteristics of the two priests and at the same time - their
undeniable similarities.
Father Andrew
Lemeshonok – is an extraordinary person, the spiritual father of the convent,
the sisterhood, countless laypeople and parishioners and well known for his sermons and talks. A person through whom God shows his works and at the same time is a
son, a husband, a father, and a grandfather in his family. Moreover, life is
never ideal, it is a long and difficult path with its highs and lows, woes and
joys but it is a path to God, nonetheless.
Archpriest Andrew
Logvinov – is not only a priest but also a very talented poet and an author of numerous
poetry books. In fact, well-known choirs and performers in their repertoire use
some of his poems as lyrics. This includes the Festive choir of St. Elisabeth
Convent under the direction of Nun Yuliana (Denisova). In every poem, Father
Andrew speaks from the heart and speaks about what is most important – faith in
God, love for his country and people.
Both Fathers had
a similar path in life: baptism, assimilating into orthodoxy, priesthood but
also many differences. The documentary shows them in a simple and natural environment
where they honestly and openly tell about their lives. As we are better acquainted
with them, one can feel God’s presence.
After the film,
there was an overwhelming feeling of being grateful. Grateful to the producer
for painting a wonderful picture through the movie which was in a way a well
delivered sermon and most importantly grateful to God, because He has allowed such
extraordinary people to live so close to us.
Helping children with mental and physical disabilities: Is there such a thing as enough love?
"...The biggest reward for those of us, who goes to visit and to help the children, is the light, the small sparks of joy in their innocent and pure eyes!"
Within walking distance of St. Elisabeth Convent, one can discover a shelter for children with mental and physical disabilities. The facility houses approximately two hundred children of whom many are orphans deprived of parental love, care and attention. They suffer a great deal of pain in the course of their short lives. They are short because on average children with disabilities live for 25-30 years.
These foster
children of the shelter are very different, each with their own story, their
own fate. Many of them are unable to move by themselves and are bedridden for
practically their entire life, without the opportunity to see the world that
surrounds them. In general, several children are allotted one caretaker-nanny,
who simply does not have the time to provide the warmth and enough loving care
that every child needs, especially a child who is sick. However, is there such
a thing as enough love?
The convent has
been supporting and visiting the shelter for over ten years, as part of its many other ministries. The brothers and
sisters both monastics and laypeople come to visit the children in order to
provide them with the love and care they so desperately lack. They also take
them outside to the park, to the lake, to botanical gardens and most
importantly to a chapel where the children can take part in the Liturgy and
other church services. The chapel was specifically built for the young
residents of the shelter with the help of numerous donations and collections to
make the church for the children possible.
You should see how
the children’s eyes become filled with joy as they go on their usual field trip
beyond the walls of the shelter! I remember a few years ago on September 1,
when we took the children to the city’s main park. The weather was perfect, it
was sunny and everyone was happy. Suddenly, one of the kids says to me in a
somber voice “Eh, September has arrived, goodbye summertime!”
“But how so?
Winter is coming soon, then the new year and then Nativity.” I respond
“No, winter – means we will have to stay indoors,
surrounded by four walls without the opportunity to get out and go somewhere”
It may not seem
very difficult to spend a few hours on a weekend and take the children to the
lake or just take them for a walk in the city. For them, it is the best gift
one can give! I remember how one of the orphans, who was permanently bedridden
was driven around the city for his birthday, driven around the main street of
the city. That was the first time in his life that he saw anything else other
than the four walls of his room.
The biggest reward
for those of us, who goes to visit and to help the children, is the light, the
small sparks of joy in their innocent and pure eyes!
The convent
supports several ongoing projects. One of the projects is called “Little bee”
children’s theatre where the children are not only the audience but are also
active participants and actors.
There are also art
workshops where sister from the convent along with the sick children can sew,
draw and take part in other arts and crafts projects. Throughout the galleries
of the city, there are occasionally exhibits of the children’s art. Such
exhibits help raise the awareness of the life in the shelter and the
difficulties that the children with disabilities must confront every day.
There is another
project, which is called “We are and we’re together”. This project allows the
disabled and sick children to interact with children from around the city,
children who have parents. Together they draw, create cartoons. In fact, one such cartoons has won
international praise and awards.
In order to continue and expand the
above-mentioned projects financial support is vital and generally comes from
donations and charitable collections. You can also help with this noble cause
by buying items from The Catalogue of St.Elisabeth Convent. Not to mention that Christmas is coming andChristmas is a great time and a perfect opportunity to do some good and help other.
ORTHODOXY AS KNOWLEDGE OF LOVE
ORTHODOXY AS
KNOWLEDGE OF LOVE
God came to the earth for the sinners. The
people who had lived on this earth — pagans who had worshipped idols and had
not known the true light, could finally see it, and, getting to know God,
ultimately fell in love with Him.
Christ
established the Church on earth. It is a place where one leaves the temporary
world and proceeds to the eternity. The Church is the Last Supper that the Lord
had before his suffering on the Cross, and that He celebrates every day as He
calls the faithful to his wedding feast. People come to the Church, crippled
and disfigured by sin though they are. The Lord washes, sanctifies, and
cleanses their souls with His Love, and people start to see, hear, and love God
in their midst. The holiness that God gives empowers one to struggle with the
whole world, with the devil, with sin — that terrible disease of the humankind
that fell out of the unity with God. We all are ill but we have the Great
Doctor who treats us. His treatment is holiness, and He pours it on us
abundantly, entrusting us with His own Body and Blood, with Himself. As He
tries to break us loose from sin, from all temporary and transitory things, as
He shows us the Heaven, God helps us to come to Him now, in this life. The Lord
humbles down before us to save us. He humbles before the sinful, the proud, the
ungrateful people that we are. He does not argue with us, He does not condemn
us, but instead patiently waits for us to come around. He has to wait for a
very long time. However, when a person responds to God's love with love, the
person starts to resemble God.
St John the Theologian |
What is Orthodoxy? Come and see (John 1:46), as we read in
the Bible. In Orthodoxy, God is so close that He is united with human. The
purpose of an Orthodox person's life is theosis, holiness, sanctification of
her life, not temporary comforts and material assets but the eternity. Only Love
will continue into the eternity; knowledge and prophecies will be
ceased (Cf. 1 Cor.13:8). So Orthodoxy is the knowledge of Love, it is
the Love that lives inside human beings. Apostle John the Theologian says, “By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”(Cf.
John 13:35). It is impossible to love in this world without God. The human that
hid from God in the paradise, must approach God and sanctify herself with the
Light of Love that Christ brought to the earth. The Lord gives this love
abundantly in the Orthodox Church. Everything that we see in a church: the
church itself, the worship — everything is a revelation of the life to come, a
revelation that is hard for us to comprehend because we are deafened by the
world, our reason is blurred, and our hearts are anxious.
The Lord takes
us onto His shoulders, carries us into the Church, washes, cleanses, and feeds
to us His Body and Blood from a spoon. When we receive the Holy Sacraments, we
start to perceive (albeit for a short moment) our neighbor, ourselves, our
lives, and realize the Holy Divine Providence behind all that.
Love is hard to
preserve. We suffer from many sinful illnesses but we believe that God triumphs
over sin. We are now in the Church that fights with the sinful world
and the devil, and if we remain within its ranks, we will go on to become part
of the Triumphant Church.
Scene from Last Supper: Christ and St.John the Theologian |
When we want to
tell someone about Orthodoxy, it is very difficult for us to talk about it. Why
is it so? It is because Orthodoxy is to be seen.We realize that if God dwells
inside us, if the grace of the Holy Spirit is present within us, words are
unnecessary. The life and the image of a person who found the Love of Christ
will be a testimony of God's victory and God's truth. We do not know what our
way in this world will be like but when we enter the church; we must keep that
grace that we receive from God and from His Holy Church. Let us thank God for
His love towards us and ask Him to reveal to us the truths that we should
always bear in mind: that God is always near; He loves us and never abandons
us; He forgives us and is waiting for us.
Archpriest Andrew
Lemeshonok
November 11, 2014
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About Our Blog
Welcome to the official blog of the Catalogue of St.Elisabeth Convent! The blog includes recent ministry updates of the convent, sermons, icons, personal stories and everything related to Orthodox Christianity. Join our Catalog of Good Deeds and become part of the ministry of St.Elisabeth Convent! #CatalogOfGoodDeeds