What do Lada and the unfading color icon have in common? Icon of the Mother of God Unfading color: how it helps and meaning. d) Prayer to Peter and Fevronia for marriage

April 16
Day of Remembrance
Icon of the Mother of God "Unfading Color"

The celebration in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Flower” takes place on April 3/16, and in honor of the related image of the Mother of God “Fragile Flower”, which is almost completely close to it today, on November 15/28.

In more ancient images the difference was as follows. On the icon “Unfading Flower” the Infant God sat on the right hand of the Mother of God, and on the icon “Fragile Flower” - on the left. In modern icons these distinctions are often not respected.

How does an icon help?
The image of the Mother of God “Unfading Color” is the iconographic embodiment of chastity and purity, first of all, as spiritual properties, therefore the Mother of God grants help to those praying before her in acquiring and preserving these wonderful and saving qualities for each of us. Chastity is the integrity of wisdom, inner peace, spiritual silence, humility and meekness; they give the female nature that fortitude that cannot be found anywhere else.

Prayer in front of this image helps in saving a marriage, strengthening a family, resolving family problems, and overcoming sorrows that sometimes happen in our everyday life.

Sincere and earnest prayer in front of the “Unfading Color” icon guides those who are spiritually suffering on the right path, helps to find the strength to endure deep sorrows, not to become weak from disappointment, and relieves them of despondency and heavy thoughts.

First prayer
C Blessing my Arita, my hope, the Mother of God, friend of the orphans and the strange, the Representative, the sorrowing, the Joy of the offended, the Patroness! See my misfortune, see my sorrow; help me as I am weak, feed me as I am strange. Weigh my offense, resolve it as if by will: for I have no other help except You, no other intercessor, no good comforter, except You, O Mother of God, for may we preserve and cover forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer
ABOUT, Most Holy and Immaculate Mother of the Virgin, hope of Christians and refuge for sinners! Protect all those who come running to You in misfortune, hear our groans, incline Your ear to our prayer. Mistress and Mother of our God, do not despise those who require Your help and do not reject us sinners, enlighten us and teach us: do not depart from us, your servants, for our murmuring. Be our Mother and Protectress, we entrust ourselves to Your merciful protection. Lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life; let us pay for our sins.
Oh, Mother Mary, our most offering and speedy Intercessor, cover us with Your intercession. Protect from enemies visible and invisible, soften the hearts of evil people who retaliate against us. O Mother of our Lord Creator! You are the root of virginity and the unfading flower of purity and chastity, send help to us who are weak and overwhelmed by carnal passions and wandering hearts. Enlighten our spiritual eyes, so that we may see the ways of God’s truth. By the grace of Your Son, strengthen our weak will in fulfilling the commandments, so that we will be delivered from all troubles and misfortunes and may be justified by Your wonderful intercession at the terrible judgment of Your Son. To him we give glory, honor and worship, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion to the icon
R Hail, Bride of God, secret rod, unfading blossom, rejoice, Lady, with Her we are filled with joy and inherit life.

About the history and meaning of the icon

Our Lady of Unfading Color, XVIII century, Tretyakov Gallery

The history of the origin of the icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Color” is touching and at the same time majestic. For a long time, on the island of Kefalonia, located near Athos, a very beautiful and largest island in the Ionian Sea, there is a tradition - it is preserved even now: on the day of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, white flowers are brought here, similar to the lily with which the archangel appeared in the hand of the Most Pure One. Gabriel, to reveal to Her the will of God about Her. Flowers are reverently and carefully placed under the icon case, to Her face, and there they remain until the very holiday of Her Assumption without water and without sunlight. But a miracle happens: after almost five months, their stems, dried out and in the twilight, are incredibly filled with moisture, come to life, new buds appear instead of dried inflorescences and bloom into white lush flowers - here it is, “unfading color”!

Brought from Fr. Rhodes Greece. Located in Moscow

It is believed that from the first Athos list, which spread in the Orthodox world, three main ones arose - Greek, Russian, Bulgarian. From them, in turn, came subsequent variants, which gave rise to this amazing iconographic diversity. In terms of time, the creation of the first, Greek original of this icon dates back to the 16th–17th centuries, and its appearance in Russia dates back to the 17th–18th centuries. One of the first revered lists came through pilgrims to the Moscow St. Alexeevsky Monastery, the first mention of which dates back to 1757, and it is in her honor that the celebration is held on April 3/16. It is not known for certain where the iconography of the image came from, but there is an assumption that it was from the Balkans.

Moscow, Armory Chamber, end of the 17th century Salary - silver

Around the same time, other lists appeared in Central and Southern Russia, and their variety is simply enormous, they are all magnificent, and their indispensable attribute is white, pink, red flowers in flowerpots, garlands, trellises, in other images these are lushly blooming wands in hand of the Mother of God. Sometimes flowers are woven into halos around the head of the Infant Jesus or form a pedestal on which the Most Pure One stands with the Child of God in her arms. In the marvelous inflorescences, stylized to one degree or another, one can discern roses, lilies, and immortelle flowers, which grow abundantly on the slopes of the Holy Mount Athos and are considered a symbol of not only immortality, but also purity.

Our Lady of Unfading Color from the Church of the Intercession in Fili, Moscow, 18th century

Also, this image arose from the Orthodox iconographic heritage: in the Benaki Museum, in Athens, there is an icon of St. Anne with little Mary, dating back to the 15th century. The Blessed Virgin has a white flower in her hand, and in this symbolism one can clearly read the prototype of the white lily that the Archangel Gabriel will one day hand to Her. In the State Historical Museum there is an icon of the 16th century “The Virgin and Child with a Flower”, where the flower is in the hand not of the Virgin Mary, but of Jesus, as in the icon of the first half of the 17th century “The Virgin and Child” created in Belarus. It is believed that this list became the source for images of the crown on the heads of the Mother of God and the Child of God and organically fit into the canonical principles of Orthodox icon painting.

Yaroslavl regional public organization artists, icon painters, restorers -Sofia-

By the 19th century, the most complex compositions of the icon were simplified, the abundance of attributes was gone, except for the crown, flowers were often indicated by one branch in the hand of the Mother of God, the icon became less colorful both in composition and in color, therefore, according to historians and art historians of church painting, later lists are inferior ancient. From this point of view, the icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Color”, created by the icon painter Marina Filippova, continues the original, ancient tradition, although the basis for the image is a later canon, not overflowing with attributes.

On the Greek island of Kefalonia, a bright tradition has existed for centuries. On the holy feast of the Annunciation, believers bring modest white flowers to the Church, similar to those that the Archangel Gabriel presented to the Mother of God with the news of God’s will to become the mother of the Savior.

The young, embarrassed girl accepted Gabriel's gift, and from then on The lily flower became the personification of the Virgin Mary, as a symbol of purity and innocence. Remembering this phenomenon, Orthodox Christians, feeling the protection and patronage of the Mother of God, place fragile flowers on the icon case in front of the icon, where they remain for a long five months without watering or rays of sunlight.

And on the Feast of the Assumption, an incredible event happens every time - miraculously the withered stems are filled with juice, new shoots of buds are expelled and the temple is filled with a wonderful fragrance and luxurious blossoming of lilies. This is the unfading color. The priests say that Like a flower, the human soul can dry out, losing its divine spark. But as soon as one regains faith, the hardened spirit, with the help of prayer and trust in Christ, again joins the mercy of the Mother of God.

Description

Since the original image of the Mother of God was lost and her image was restored from numerous preserved church scrolls, there is no single prototype. Most often, the Virgin Mary is depicted in festive clothes of blue or red decorated with ribbons. With one hand the Mother of God supports the Divine Infant, and with the other she holds a branch of a lily with a blossoming bud. The face of the Queen of Heaven is depicted as soft and gentle.

The Synod allows variations in the image:

• Jesus is supported by both the right and left hands of the Virgin Mary.
• The head of the Mother of God can be covered with a veil, with a crown, or not covered at all.
• Christ is depicted as both a baby and a youth in rich clothes with a crown on his head. He holds a scroll or orb in his hands.
• Flowers may differ in variety, shade and splendor.

It is noted that the older and more ancient the icon, the more carefully the details are drawn on it. The plot can be supplemented by the image of a throne, flower garlands and the apostles present.

Meaning

Since ancient times, the “Unfading Color” icon has symbolized innocence, pure thoughts and the unfading beauty of the soul before suffering and grief. Purity and chastity emanating from the Mother of God are the standard for young unmarried girls and single boys who dream of finding their other half to create a strong family.

Often the image of the Mother of God is used to bless brides for marriage. and escorted into married life, having carried out the Sacrament of Wedding. Looking at the lovely image of the Virgin Mary, women of different ages pray for the preservation of health and beauty. Single Christians of both sexes, bowing before the icon, ask to be given a bright feeling of love, to relieve anxiety and receive recognition from the people around them.

What do they pray to the icon for and how does “Fadeless Color” help?

The Mother of God has always been considered the main intercessor of Orthodox Christians. Despite the fact that more women turn to the “Unfading Color” icon, a sincere prayer for the mercy of the Mother of God is acceptable for people of both sexes and a wide range of ages.

Young boys and girls are asking:

Married ladies and respectable men pray:

• About the pacification of spiritual and carnal passions.
• About help in overcoming obstacles.
• About mutual understanding in married life and maintaining loving relationships.
• About a calm future pastime with family.
• About the proper upbringing of children.
• About the decision in the event of family adversity and preservation of the home.
• About preserving the beauty of soul and body.

“Fadeless Color” helps you find:

• Peace of mind.
• Comfort after sad news.
• Recover your fading faith in Christ.
• Find the strength to overcome obstacles and overwhelming dark thoughts.
• Get hope for tomorrow.
• Get rid of worries.

The “Unfading Color” icon is considered miraculous. Prayer before it helps to cleanse yourself of negativity, irritation and resentment. The Mother of God joyfully softens hardened hearts and restores faded feelings. Christians raised in the faith pray to the Virgin Mary for guidance on the true path, and ask to bestow knowledge about the Lord on the younger generation.

Icon in the house

Home iconostasis. Usually the icon is placed in the home iconostasis along with the other images or placed on a specially equipped shelf in the eastern side of the home.

Lace and fresh flowers are considered good decorations for “Unfading Color.” or willow branches. It is necessary to remember about regular cleaning of the home icon case; the image must be kept clean.

Respect for the holy image greatly strengthens the prayer of the believer.

It is also permissible to place icons in rooms:

• Marital bedroom. Love relationships between spouses are not considered a sin, but lead to the continuation of the human race.
• Girl's bedroom. The image helps to maintain purity of thoughts and refrain from sinful thoughts.
• Children bedroom. Under the auspices of the Mother of God, children's sleep will be pure and bright.

Clergy have no special requirements for the placement of icons. It is possible to place the icon anywhere in the house.

Read Also:

Prayer

Oh, Most Holy and Immaculate Mother of the Virgin, hope of Christians and refuge for sinners! Protect all those who come running to You in misfortune, hear our groans, incline Your ear to our prayer.

Mistress and Mother of our God, do not despise those who require Your help and do not reject us sinners, enlighten and teach us, do not retreat from us, Your servants, for our murmuring.

Be our Mother and Patroness, we entrust ourselves to Your merciful Protection. Lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life, so that we may pay for our sins. Oh, Mother Mary, our most kind and speedy Intercessor, cover us with Your intercession, protect us from enemies visible and invisible, soften the hearts of evil people who rebel against us.

O Mother of our Lord Creator! You are the Root of Virginity and the Unfading Flower of purity and chastity, send help to us who are weak and overwhelmed by carnal passions and wandering hearts. Enlighten our spiritual eyes, so that we may see the ways of God’s truth.

By the grace of Your Son, strengthen our weak will in fulfilling the commandments, so that we may be delivered from all troubles and misfortunes and be justified by Your wonderful intercession at the Last Judgment of Your Son, to whom we give glory, honor and worship now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

It may seem to people far from faith that the image of “The Unfading Flower” is just a pretty picture, but thousands of believers talk about the ambulance of the Mother of God, about her intercession and guardianship over the petitioners.

Useful video

All believers turn to the Most Pure Virgin Mary, some with a request for help, others with gratitude, and others simply for consolation. The Mother of God is the most revered image among Orthodox Christians; judging by legends and testimonies, the Mother of God does not leave people alone with their misfortune. The Icon of the Unfading Color is one of the most touching images of the Virgin Mary.

The history of the appearance of the Unfading Color

On the largest Ionian Greek island of Kefalonia, a tradition has been carried out for a long time: on the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7), pilgrims coming to the island bring white lily-like flowers. According to the apocrypha, with a similar white flower, which symbolizes immaculate purity, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary with the good news of the immaculate conception. The flowers placed by parishioners under the icon case are not removed until one of the main Orthodox holidays - the Assumption (August 28), they lie without water and light. In the twilight, without moisture, the flowers and stems gradually dry out, but by the Dormition the plants miraculously come to life, the stems are filled with moisture, and instead of dry inflorescences, buds appear, white flowers bloom, thereby becoming an unfading color.

What does the image mean for the Orthodox?

According to the Byzantine akathists, Jesus Christ and the Queen of Heaven are compared to unfading flowers. It was on the basis of the akathists that the miraculous image of the Mother of God “Unfading Flower” (XVII century) was created on the sacred Mount Athos.

On the shrine, the Mother of God is depicted with her Son, whom she holds in one hand and in the other hand a white unfading flower. On some icons you can see a pink plant (a rose or just a pink branch), and a baby - sometimes on the right hand, sometimes on the left. But from a slight difference in the images, the meaning of the icon does not lose its power and miraculous power. It is argued that the first icons depicted the Mother of God seated on a throne and holding a scepter entwined with a white branch.

The significance of the “Fadeless Color” icon for believers is difficult to overestimate; legends are made about its power. One of the legends tells that the Blessed Virgin helps women preserve their beauty for many years. The significance of the icon is especially great for virgins who want to find a worthy mate for life. In ancient times, this information was secret, and it was transmitted exclusively through the female line.

Image help

The face of the Mother of God in “Unfading Flower” is one of the most gentle, peaceful, beautiful, radiating calm, joy, and love. It seems that one glance at the enchanting image is enough for sadness to subside, worries to dissipate, and the soul to calm down.

What does the image help with:

• preserve women's youth;
• maintain chastity;
• girls find a life partner;
• gain understanding between loved ones;
• relieve mental turmoil;
• guide you on the righteous path;
• solve family problems;
• protect the family hearth from harm;
• family people to get rid of temptations;
• preserve the family, family values.

The “Unfading Color” icon was used to bless the bride at her wedding for a happy marriage.

What to pray for

The main thing when reading a prayer is sincerity and faith. Sincere prayer to the Mother of God helps dispel fears and anxieties. The rebellious seeking soul calms down and becomes peaceful. Before the image, you need to pray for the expulsion of dark thoughts, peace of mind, ask the Mother of God for understanding, peace for the family. People who are confused in life, looking for their own path, can safely turn to the holy image for guidance on the true path.

Most often, young virgins turn to Mother to find the one person with whom they can live their whole lives without troubles. Girls who want to avoid worldly temptations and devote their lives to serving the Almighty also pray. Married women pray if problems arise at home, if there is a schism and misunderstanding. It is believed that the Queen of Heaven helps a married couple maintain good relationships and strengthen their family.

Miraculous image

Since ancient times, people have believed in miracles sent by the “Unfading Flower.” Hundreds of thousands of Christians were freed from mental anxieties thanks to the holy image. Many testify to real healings. Mother especially loves and helps children. Cases are described when parents prayed to the Intercessor for the health of sick children and the children received healing. The children's speech problems disappeared, and one day, a mute child began to talk after his parents prayed.

World shrine lists

The study of the iconography of the image is varied. After the appearance of “Unfading Color,” many versions of icon painting arose, differing in detail, but identical in meaning. Some researchers are inclined to believe that the appearance of the first Athonite copy was in Constantinople. Whether this is true or not, since then three main known trends in icon painting of the Virgin Mary have emerged:

1. Russian.
2. Bulgarian.
3. Greek.

Each direction has its own traditions. Flowers on copies can be found not only white, but pink and even red. But in all the images one can discern the prototype of the lily presented to the Queen of Heaven by the Archangel Gabriel. In the Historical Museum of Athens there is a 16th-century image in which the Son of God, rather than the Mother of God, holds the branch. And in the 17th century, iconography was created in Belarus with royal crowns on the heads of the Mother of God and the Child. It is assumed that it was from this copy that the tradition of painting the Infant God and the Mother of God with crowns on their heads arose, which does not contradict the principles of Christian icon painting.

On later copies in the 19th century, the compositions are simpler and inferior to ancient images in the richness of color and detail. The compositions become simpler, many attributes disappear, the branches are depicted less luxurious and bright.

Moscow lists

In pre-revolutionary Russia there was a Moscow monastery for unmarried girls, it was called Alekseevsky. It was there that the oldest copy of the “Unfading Color” icon was kept, in front of which the girls prayed to preserve spiritual purity and maintain bodily purity. Most likely, the list was brought to the Russian Empire almost immediately after the painting of the image in the 17th century, since one known copy is dated 1691. The copy is different from the others: on it the baby stands at full height, leaning his hand on the shoulder of the seated Mother of God. On the right side of the Mother of God there is a ribbon with the name of the icon. On the throne there is a jug with a beautiful white branch.

Another famous list was kept in the Church of the Assumption in Mogiltsy. The bottom of the copy depicts a beautiful blooming lily on which stands the Son of God. The mother supports the baby with one hand, holds a white branch with the other, and Angels hover above her head. The Church of the Assumption was mentioned in their works by Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Alexander Griboyedov. The church has now been revived and houses a modern copy of "The Unfading Color" since the ancient copy disappeared under Soviet rule.

Where can you see "Eternal Color"

Lists of miraculous icons can be seen by visiting the following holy places:

• Russia, Moscow: Krasnoye Selo, St. Alekseevsky Monastery (the original was located here until 1757).
• Voronezh: Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The image was revered and loved by Seraphim of Sarov, who prayed to him in the temple of the town of Kadom (Ryazan region).
• Samara region: an amazing incident occurred in the house of a Christian woman; a miraculous image of the “Unfading Color” appeared on the window glass, which disappears with the onset of night and appears at dawn. It was in 2012 on April 16 (the day of celebration of the “Unfading Color”, April 3 - according to the old style). Since then, countless pilgrims have come to see the miracle and pray. They even tried to convict the owner of fraud, there were a lot of commissions in the house, but nothing came of it, the Face of the Virgin Mary appears on the glass every morning.
• Yeisk district: a miraculous spring, which was revived in 2008.
• Ukraine, Kiev region: in the Vasilkovsky district there is a temple consecrated in honor of this image.
• Kherson region: Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, here the icon differs from the rest in that it bleeds, many sick people and simply believers come here to look at the miraculous icon and pray to it from the heart.

The Power of Image for Modern Believers

Pilgrims come en masse to Greece to Mount Athos to admire the amazing image of the Virgin Mary and tell her about their troubles, asking for healing for themselves and their relatives. Orthodox believe that they will receive healing or relief from illness, peace, help and resolution of family problems. The Holy Fathers warn that Mother helps only with sincere prayer, if the request for “help” comes from the heart, only with faith.

Athonite priests compare the tender branches on the images with the pure souls of people. This means that without vital moisture, plants wither, and without true faith and love, the human soul becomes stale, its most positive features disappear. But after spiritual prayer, from the all-encompassing unconditional love of God and the Mother of God, the soul can be reborn to a new righteous life, just as miraculous branches are reborn in sacred icon painting.

Where in the house should the icon be located?

The main place in the house should be given to Jesus Christ and the Savior. For home interiors, there are no strict rules for the placement of icon paintings, as there are for churches. “Fadeless Color” can be placed in any place convenient for quiet prayer. The main thing is to highlight the “red corner” of the image, place it above the other lists (except for Christ), and decorate it, as is customary in Orthodoxy. Placement in cluttered cabinets is unacceptable, and there is no need to place any foreign objects next to the shrine, except for the actual details decorating the Mother of God.

The holy image of the icon of the Mother of God of Christ “Unfading Color” was invented and created, as we think, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries on Athos.

The image was based on texts taken from the hymn - akathist. There are words in this text that compare Jesus and his mother the Holy Mother of God to beautiful and immortal flowers.

The day of veneration of the icon is considered April 16. One of the most ancient images of the Mother of God in the Orthodox Church is this particular image. Many different and unusual stories of the creation and manifestation of holiness are associated with it.

The icon can be considered one of the most little-known. The question of its origin and development of iconographic subjects is practically absent in Russian literature. The image of the Most Pure Virgin Mary appeared as a consequence of the development of the akathist cycle.

The history of the appearance of the icon

In the eighteenth century, a venerable, festive icon of the Mother of God “The Unfading Flower” appeared in Constantinople. The icon was further spread to the Greek lands. It is believed that the image gained particular popularity in Thessalonica.

The source for this image is the Grateful Canon of Joseph the hymnographer. This canon contains the words “this unfading color,” but they referred more to Christ.

But in the name of the icon of the Mother of God, the words already refer to Mary herself. The erroneous interpretation of words led to the development of this type of iconography. The earliest prototype for the icon was an engraving written in Western style from the Venetian Bible called “The New Treasury”. It dates back to the period 1612.

Here the Mother of God is depicted in full height and standing on the moon. The head of Christ is decorated with four roses. Another iconographic predecessor of the icon can be considered the image of the Madonna with a carnation in her hand, painted by the young Leonardo da Vinci.

The icon stands among the most significant images dedicated to the Mother of God. In fact, the images of the icon of the Mother of God are varied, but they are all united by one symbol - a flower.

Flowers can be used in garlands, on flowering wands. Flowers are depicted on a pedestal on which the Virgin Mary and little Jesus sit. Most often, on icons, the Mother of God is depicted in luxurious, gilded clothes. And also on the icons there are images of Mary up to the waist, but there is always a flower in the hands of the Mother of God.

There are many myths associated with the icon. One myth is associated with its name. It was assumed that the name came from the Mother of God flower that grows on Mount Athos. It is known that in the nineteenth century there was healing from the “immortal” flower of the Virgin Mary.

This story was written down by monks in the tales of the Mother of God and published by the Panteleimon Monastery on Athos. This event, together with the picturesque descriptions of pilgrims to Athos, became the reason why the name of the image began to be attributed to the Mother of God flower. But this is just a myth. It is worth noting that the icons often depict the Mother of God holding a lily flower in her hands.

List Locations

In Russia, four images of the Mother of God were glorified. The first and most ancient was located in the Moscow Alekseevsky Monastery, on the site of which today is the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Two more icons are in the State Tretyakov Gallery.

One of them came from the Church of St. Nicholas - “Mutrennaya”, the other arrived from the Church of St. James the Rawhide. The fourth icon is in the State Russian Museum. It was delivered from the now defunct Trinity-Petrovsky Cathedral.

All icons differ in their iconography and history of origin. But they have one thing in common - joy. And joy is depicted in shimmering gold, in the finest ornaments and with the fragrance of flowers.

The icon of the Mother of God is revered by the Russian Orthodox Church even today. In honor of her, churches are being built in Moscow and the Moscow region at the address: the village of Rublevo, on V. Botylev Street, building number forty-five.

Icon "Unfading Color"

What does the meaning of the “Fadeless Color” icon help with?

The significance of this image is great for Orthodox believers.

• The holy image carries deep meaning for all Orthodox Christians. People go to her for help and reassurance. To pray in front of a holy and pure image means to cope with your grief. Women of all ages turn to the Mother of God.
• Young and unmarried women pray for help in finding their betrothed. Women with children ask in prayer to give their daughters and sons the blessing of our Lord. After all, as you know, there are no stronger words in the world than the words of a loving mother.

In front of the holy image, turning to the Mother of God, those asking pray for their loved ones.

She helps:

Those praying before the icon of the Mother of God get rid of vague and sinful feelings that have settled in the soul. All doubts and fears about the future life go away. Most often, young and unmarried people come to the image, having lost faith in finding their soulmate.

The words addressed to the face of the Mother of God convey feelings and a sincere desire to find a betrothed who will not leave her, no matter what happens in life. But not only women come to the face of the Mother of God. In the church and at the icon, men are also frequent guests.

What do they pray for in front of the icon?

Prayers before the Holy Image give strength and faith in the future, banish gloomy and soul-plaguing doubts.

• People who believe in the Lord, first of all, pray in front of the icon, in the hope of preserving righteousness and purity of deeds and thoughts.
• And also about the right choice and decision-making about your future spouse.
• They pray for health, chastity and women's well-being.
• They also pray for help in solving family problems and getting rid of all illnesses.
• The prayer asks for help in finding the purpose and meaning of life.

The prayer of the Mother of God “Unfading Color” for marriage is read by women, to get married successfully and find family peace. The institution of marriage teaches that marriage is a commitment made by a believer. The purpose of any woman in fulfilling the divine will is procreation.

Only a woman is capable of giving life to a new person. Therefore, the prayer words read in front of the icon contain great meaning and a desire to fulfill the will of the Lord. The words of prayer can be different, the main thing is that they come from the heart.

Pronounced with special faith and desire, they will help a woman fulfill her desires in a fairly short time.

One of the many options for prayer to the Mother of God:

“Most Pure Mother of God, hear my words addressed to you in prayer. From me, a simple sinner. I ask the words of prayer to lift up the son of God to the throne. He is merciful and I will be heard. In my prayer I ask you to be an intercessor and patroness.

Ask for blessings for your servant: life in love and harmony for spouses, children, obedience, patience and complacency for all the offended and humiliated. For everyone I ask for reason, mercy, a spirit of meekness, purity and righteousness.

Oh, Most Holy Virgin Mary, protect me from false pride and self-love. Preserve in me and increase the desire to work and bless, I ask you, my labors. The law of God teaches people to live in a righteous marriage, then let me, Holy Mary, fulfill my destiny by becoming a wife worthy of a husband.

For the words of the Lord do not allow a person to remain alone in life. For this reason the Lord created a helpmate and a wife for the husband. He blessed and conveyed to them his desire that they grow and multiply and thereby fill the expanses of the Earth.

Most Holy Mother of God, I pray to you with pure words coming from my very heart. Give me a husband, a pious, kind and honest spouse. So that we can be together in love and harmony. And they could glorify you, Lord - father and son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen".

Review

“My husband and I have been married for three years. At first everything was fine. We understood each other, one might say, perfectly. Helped and supported in difficult situations. But unfortunately, as probably in any family, we had misunderstandings and frequent quarrels occurred on this basis. Of course, we tried and made compromises, but, alas, nothing helped. I was preparing mentally for our breakup. But to be honest, neither my husband nor I wanted a breakup. I have a Grandmother. She is a very pious person. And so she told me about the icon of the Mother of God. Granny said that we need to pray to the icon and ask the Mother of God to save our relationship and family. Now I pray and read a prayer every day. My soul somehow becomes lighter and hope appears. “Relationships with my husband began to improve.”

Katerina.

Not every church can find this particular image of the Mother of Christ. But fortunately, in any church shop you can buy either a photo of the “unfading color” icon or a small reproduction of the image. They can be used for their intended purpose - for your own personal purposes.

Place it in your home and, if necessary, say the words of prayer in front of the image. But do not forget that this is only an image.

Real healing of the soul, and help is given by the Lord, our Father.

Without deep faith in the power of the Lord, the words of prayer have no meaning. Remember the words of Christ: “According to your faith it will be given to you.” The miraculous image of the Mother of God gives help only to true believers.

The Icon of the Mother of God "Unfading Color" is my favorite. This, from my point of view, is the most beautiful icon dedicated to Her. It belongs to the “Akathist” type, since it embodies in colors one of the literary epithets of praise in honor of the Mother of God. The day of celebration of the icon is April 16.
I made a selection of ancient icons of the Mother of God “Unfading Color”, among them there are Greek icons. And in the Balkans it turns out that its own version of this iconographic type of the Mother of God “Everfading Rose” is very common. The most famous is in the Esphigmen monastery on Mount Athos.

Icon of the Mother of God "Unfading Rose".Esphigmen monastery. Athos

Icon of the Mother of God "Unfading Color". History and symbolism

The Icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Flower” is not very often found in Russian churches today. But everyone who sees it, at first sight, is attracted by its unearthly purity and tenderness. Its main feature is the image of the Virgin Mary holding the Divine Infant in one hand and a beautiful flower in the other. Most often it is a white lily.

According to legend, it was once upon a time that Archangel Gabriel presented it to the Mother of God as a sign of the good news that she would become the Mother of God himself. This flower is of utmost importance in the symbolism of the “Unfading Flower” icon, denoting the deep spiritual purity of the Mother of God, who was placed by the Lord above even the disembodied Angels.

Icon "Unfading Color". Tikhon Filatiev. Moscow. XVII century

The icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Flower” or, according to the second name, “Fragrant Flower” first appeared in the 17th century in Greece. Her unusual appearance arose as the embodiment in colors of the words of the Akathist - a solemn chant read in honor of the Mother of God. In it, the Most Pure Virgin is called “the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity.”

The appearance of the “Unfading Flower” icon was influenced by the tradition of painting the Orthodox icon “Praise to the Mother of God,” the earliest Russian copy of which dates back to the 14th century. This was the first icon created on the basis of the ancient akathist dedicated to the Mother of God.

The reason for its creation was the miraculous deliverance of Constantinople from the enemy invasion through the mediation of the Mother of God. On the icon, the Prophets who once spoke about the birth of the Virgin Mary are written with the symbols that served as her prototype. So the Prophet Aaron holds a rod, on the top of which you can see a wonderful flower.

This image is associated with the ancient tradition of the Church. It says that once upon a time God, through the prophet Moses, determined only the descendants of the clan of Aaron to be Old Testament priests. But later, representatives of other clans began to protest, also laying claim to the honor of the priesthood. Then, in order to stop the strife, it was decided to get an answer from above. For this purpose, the rods of representatives of the twelve tribes of the Jewish people were left in the Jewish temple.

After some time, it was discovered that the eleven wands remained unchanged. But on the rod of the descendants of Levi, on which the name of his grandson, Aaron, was written, an almond flower appeared. Moreover, it did not dry out and, later, produced fruit. This phenomenon finally convinced everyone of the chosenness of the family that served in the temple of Jerusalem.

In the Christian tradition, the miracle with Aaron's rod is considered as follows. The rod itself, blooming with a fragrant flower, is a symbol of the pure and immaculate Virgin Mary. And the fruit that appeared on it is the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Therefore, on the icon “Praise to the Mother of God” they sometimes began to depict the Mother of God with a flower branch in her hands.

Thus, the authors of the “Unfading Color” icon, having borrowed this version of the image, isolated it into an independent iconographic plot. Its development was also influenced by the process of literal embodiment in Christian painting of the words of various liturgical books and hymns, especially the thanksgiving canon of Joseph the Songwriter, written in the 9th century. In them, the appearance of the Mother of God is shown by prototype symbols:

• a source that gives life;
• lily;
• star;
• rose;
• the sun;
• olive branch;
• beautiful garden and many others.

Almost all of these meanings, somewhat earlier, began to be displayed in Catholic painting. The 15th-16th centuries is the time when special compositions appeared there in the form of allegories called “Concepcio immaculata”, which means “Immaculate Conception”, which in the form of engravings began to be included in prayer collections. Probably, these engravings also influenced the emergence of the Greek version of the “Unfading Color” icon.

It is believed that the first such icon was most likely painted in Constantinople. Then, despite the Turkish yoke, more and more new variants began to appear in Greece. She was especially revered in Thessaloniki. One of the copies of the “Unfading Flower” icon was created on Mount Athos and, around the end of the 17th century, brought to Russia.

In the 18th century, both in Greece and Russia, many other versions of the icon appeared, different from the first image. This century, known for its love of ostentation and multiple figures, endowed the image with a large number of new details. Crowns or crowns appear on the heads of Christ and his Mother. The rose that appears in the hands of the Divine Infant often becomes a flower of purity.

Sometimes graceful branches or even entire garlands of flowers are depicted around the figure of the Virgin Mary, placed in beautiful flowerpots, and turned into pedestals.

Very often the Virgin Mary holds a scepter covered with the most beautiful flowers. Many symbols appear around her: a candle, a tree of paradise, a censer, a staircase leading from earth to heaven, royal chambers, the moon, and so on. They seem to clearly demonstrate the feelings of admiration and praise contained in the words of Christian hymnography.

Here we see some influence of the Catholic tradition with its splendor of forms and love for detail, which was not initially characteristic of Orthodox icon painting.

How does the “Fadeless Color” icon help?

The icon is popular, first of all, among young girls and boys, since, according to ancient tradition, they pray to it for the preservation of girlish and youthful purity and chastity, protection from temptations, which are so common in the modern world. Also, before the image of the “Unfading Flower”, a prayer is made for marriage or marriage, so that the Mother of God sends a worthy and decent husband or wife. Older people ask before the image for help in the fight against spiritual and carnal passions. In addition, it helps to overcome adversity and misunderstanding in family life.

There is a wonderful akathist to the “Unfading Color” icon, praising the Virgin Mary in the most sublime terms. In it, the Mother of God is called the “inexhaustible source of love” and immortality.

Orthodox hymnography also created a troparion and a prayer to the “Unfading Color” icon, which are read in front of the image by everyone who has a request to the Mother of God or wants to glorify her and thank her for her help.

Prayer for marriage in front of the icon "Unfading Color"

“Oh, Most Holy and Immaculate Mother of the Virgin, hope of Christians and refuge for sinners!

Protect all those who come running to You in misfortune, hear our groans, incline Your ear to our prayer, O Lady and Mother of our God, do not despise those who require Your help and do not reject us sinners, enlighten us and teach us: do not depart from us, Your servants, for our murmuring.

Be our Mother and Patroness, we entrust ourselves to Your merciful protection. Lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life; Let us pay for our sins. O Mother Mary, our most kind and quick Intercessor, cover us with Your intercession. Protect us from enemies visible and invisible, soften the hearts of evil people who rebel against us.

O Mother of our Lord Creator! You are the root of virginity and the unfading flower of purity and chastity, send help to us who are weak and overwhelmed by carnal passions and wandering hearts. Enlighten our spiritual eyes, so that we may see the ways of God’s truth.

By the grace of Your Son, strengthen our weak will in fulfilling the commandments, so that we will be delivered from all troubles and misfortunes and may be justified by Your wonderful intercession at the terrible judgment of Your Son. To him we give glory, honor and worship, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen".