Sweet kiss. Prayer to the sweet kiss icon Icon kiss

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As legend says, the icon of the Mother of God “Sweet Kiss” (“Glycophilus”) was painted by the Evangelist Luke himself during the life of the Mother of God. Currently it is located in the Athonite monastery of Philotheus. This was preceded by a dramatic story that occurred in the first half of the 9th century, during the time of iconoclasm.

History of the “Sweet Kiss” icon

When the iconoclast emperor Theophilos took the Byzantine throne, he ordered the destruction of all icons. The wife of his close associate Simeon, Victoria, revered the icon and hid it in her chambers. When her husband demanded that the icon be burned, she, having prayed, released it into the freedom of the sea waves.

Along the waves, this icon sailed to Athos, to the Philotheus monastery, and a procession of the cross is still held on Easter Monday to the place where it was found.

For more than a thousand years of stay in the monastery, the icon of “Glycophilus” showed many miracles. Thus, in one married couple from Pryor, the wife suffered from infertility, but when the husband offered a passionate prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Sweet Kiss” , then the oil from the lamp burning in front of the icon helped: he anointed his wife and himself with the oil, and in the same year their son was born.

Another miracle was the return of the kidnapped person and the repentance of the criminal. This happened in 1801. The icon of “Glycophilus” was decorated with gold coins hung from the frame. One pilgrim was flattered by them and kidnapped them, after which he boarded a ship and tried to escape. However, although the wind was blowing favorably, the ship stopped close to the shore and did not move further. When they discovered the loss, they began to search everywhere, including sending a boat to the ship. The kidnapper, seeing the miracle performed, repented and returned the stolen goods, and the ship continued sailing.

Another miracle happened already in the 20th century, when Greece was under German occupation. The monastery had almost run out of wheat, and it was decided not to accept any more pilgrims. Only the elder Father Savva opposed this decision and persuaded the brethren to abandon it. When there was just a little flour left, he again persuaded them to bake bread from the leftovers and distribute them not only to the monks, but also to the laity, trusting in the mercy of the Most Pure Virgin. When this was done, a ship carrying wheat moored to the pier, and the captain offered to exchange part of it for firewood. So the Mother of God again took care of her children.

The “Sweet Kiss” icon is of particular significance for those who pray to protect children from illnesses and dangers, to introduce them to the true faith, to respect their parents and strengthen their spirit when life’s problems arise.

Celebration is on Easter Monday.

Another name for this icon is “The Meeting of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Holy Righteous Elizabeth” (Meeting means meeting). According to the Gospel tradition, after the Annunciation - the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary hurried to Elizabeth, her mother's sister. Childless Elizabeth and her husband priest Zachary were already in old age, but the Lord gave them a son, the future John the Baptist, with whom Elizabeth was pregnant at that moment.

The ancient icon painter, who painted the icon “The Meeting of Mary and Elizabeth,” depicted these holy women with Babies in their wombs; the later icon “Kissing the Mother of God” simply depicts their embrace. Upon meeting the Virgin Mary, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and glorified Mary as the Mother of the Savior.

They pray to this icon for the protection of the Mother of God and for the gift of children, healthy and strong.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her icon “Sweet Kiss” or “Glycophilus”

Accept, O All-merciful, Most Pure Lady, Lady Theotokos, these honorable gifts, the only ones applied to You, from us, Your unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, manifested above all creatures of heaven and earth. Because for Your sake the Lord of hosts was with us, and through You we knew the Son of God, and became worthy of His Holy Body and His Most Pure Blood. Blessed are you, too, in the birth of births, God-blessed One, the brightest of the Cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, All-Singing Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil advice and from every situation, and that we may be preserved unharmed from every poisonous pretext of the devil. But even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if through Your intercession and help we are saved, we send glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity to the One God and the Creator of all, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her icon “The Meeting of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Holy Righteous Elizabeth”

Troparion, tone 4

Virgin Blessed / and Mother All-Pure, / having received the Annunciation from the Archangel, / with diligence you ascended into the High Room, / and, kissing Your Yuzhika, the all-honorable Elizabeth, / the Mother of the Lord from this name She was, / and she magnified the Lord who exalted You: / Blessed are You in women, // and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb.

Kontakion, tone 3

Blessed art thou,/Holy Virgin Mary,/and surpassing all praise,/for from Thee has arisen the Sun of Truth,//Christ our God.

Sweet Kiss (Glycofilussa), miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Mount Athos. It is called so because the Mother of God is depicted kissing the infant Christ; according to legend, it belongs to one of the 70 icons painted by the Evangelist Luke. Is in Filofeevsky Monastery on Athos.

The icon became famous during the times iconoclasm. It belonged to the pious woman Victoria, the wife of a certain Simeon Patricius. Victoria, at the risk of her life, honored and kept it in her room. Husband demanded that she burn the icon, but Victoria preferred better put her into the sea- and let me go.

The icon appeared on the shore in front of the Filofeevsky Monastery. The abbot and the brethren brought her into the cathedral church. From then until now, on Easter Monday, a procession of the cross has been carried out from the monastery to the site of the appearance of the icon. Miracles are still performed from this icon.

The care of the icon of the Mother of God Glykofilusa for the monastery of St. Philotheus

During the German occupation, the wheat supplies at the monastery of St. Philotheus were running low, and the fathers decided to stop receiving visitors. One pious elder, Father Savva, having learned about this, was saddened and began to beg the council of the elders of the monastery not to do this, because by doing this they would sadden Christ and the monastery would lose its blessing.

He cited many examples from the Holy Scriptures, including the story of the widow of Zarephath of Sidon and the prophet Elijah (see 1 Kings 17), and they finally listened to him. However, after some time, they began to pester the elder with reproaches, saying:

- The torment is over. What will happen now? The elder answered them:

“My fathers, we will eat the little that is left together with the people, and the Mother of God will not leave us.”

There were only twenty-five okadas of wheat left in the monastery’s storerooms and nothing else, and the monks began to rather sarcastically reprimand Father Savva:

- Father Savva, the wheat is over, what will happen now?

But the pious and faith-filled elder answered this:

— Don’t lose hope for Glykofilusa. Knead the remaining twenty-five okadas, bake bread from them and distribute it to the brethren and laity, and God, as the Good Father, will take care of us all.

When they ran out of last bread, they didn’t even have time to get hungry when a ship coming from Kavala moored at the monastery pier, and the captain offered to exchange the wheat he was carrying for firewood. The monks, seeing the obvious Providence of the Mother of God, Who, like a Good Mother, took care of Her children, glorified God. Of course, Father Savva glorified God and thanked the Mother of God most of all, always sending thanks to Her with his very holy life.

After this, he reminded the fathers: “Didn’t I tell you that the Mother of God will not leave us?”

Akathist to the Mother of God “Sweet Kiss”

Kontakion 1

Chosen from all generations to the Most Pure Virgin Lady, who exudes endless mercies to the whole world and especially to our country of Russia; let us sing of praise about Her miracles, apparitions and miraculous icons. You, O Joyful One, do not reject our chants, but accept them and give joy to us who call to you:

Ikos 1

Archangel Michael and all the heavenly powers sing praises to Thee, the Lady, the Most Honest Cherub and the Most Glorious Seraphim without comparison, the real Mother of God; and we are sinners on earth, becoming like these bodiless forces, and rejoicing at the first word of joy brought to You by the Archangel Gabriel and the righteous Elizabeth, together with them from the depths of our hearts we cry out to Ty:
Rejoice, Blessed One.
Rejoice, for the Lord is with You.
Rejoice, Blessed One among women.
Rejoice, having found grace from God.
Rejoice, for you have found the Holy Spirit upon You, and the power of the Most High has fallen upon You.
Rejoice, you who were conceived in the womb, who gave birth to a Son and called His name Jesus.
Rejoice, for what You gave birth to is Holy and you are called the Son of God.
Rejoice, for blessed is the Fruit of Your womb.
Rejoice, Mother of our Lord.
Rejoice, you who believed, that what you have said from the Lord has been accomplished,
Rejoice, for at these greetings Thy spirit rejoiced in Thy God the Savior.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, all peaceful Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 2

The human mind cannot comprehend how the Lord Himself dwelt in Your virgin womb and how You remained a Virgin and at the birth of Your Son, bowed before the great mystery of the incarnation of God the Word, joyfully crying out to You, who lent Him Your flesh, fed Him with milk and carried Him with Your hands By our own, Angel's song: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

All the days of Your life on earth from the meeting of You in the temple of righteous Simeon, who prophesied to You that a weapon would pierce Your soul. Every joy in the world itself, all the sorrow itself, was involved, until the morning of the first day after Saturday, when you again heard the voice of an Angel saying to you: “Rejoice, full of grace, Your Son has risen three days from the grave.” And with a joyful voice we bring You our praises:
Rejoice, Progenitor of the Eternal King,
Rejoice, thou who hast brought forth the fruit of life for us.
Rejoice, faithful servant of the Lord,
Rejoice, for you are blessed by everyone.
Rejoice, having adopted us all at the cross of Your Son.
Rejoice, you who always show motherly love to us.
Rejoice, long-desired Helper of Christian faith.
Rejoice, for you prayed for everyone, Your Son, Christ our God.
Rejoice, Ever-Blessed and Pre-Oral One,
Rejoice, you who dwell in heavenly glory at the right hand of God.
Rejoice, shining with purity more than the sun,
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy.

Kontakion 3

In what ways did You, Most Pure Lady, strengthen the human race in faith in God and Your Son? How many of your wonder-working icons have you given us? How many times have you been an ascetic of piety both in life and in dreams? Who can count all your miracles? What verb can give you worthy praise? Who will not please you, Most Holy Virgin? Their lips will remain silent when every creature, O blessed One, rejoices over you, the Council of Angels and the human race! We will never be silent, O Mother of God, in speaking Your strength unworthy, and we cry out to God about You: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Saints Ignatius the God-Bearer and Dionysius the Areopagite, looking at Thee, Most Pure Lady, did not find words to describe Your radiant face, and Your divine grace and power, and the flock was not crushed, as not everyone was able to see Thee, Heavenly Virgin. But You, out of love for those who believe in Your Son, You commanded the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luca to portray Your honest image with the Infant God and Your Son, so that all the nations and tribes of the earth, looking at the Nan, may forever ascend in thought to You, most blessed Lady: and We are sinners, kneeling before this image, we cry out to You, All-Singing One:
Rejoice, who said to this first-written image: “My grace and strength will abide with him.”
Rejoice, who gave it to our Russian country in the city of Saint Vladimir.
Rejoice, for today the most glorious city of Moscow shines brightly in this image.
Rejoice in this icon of grace and mercy that bestows upon us.
Rejoice, Thou who miraculously depicted Thy Face in Thy Temple in the city of Lydda.
Rejoice, you who brought joy to the Apostles and all the faithful with this miracle.
Rejoice, you who have bestowed miracles on those who worship You before this image.
Rejoice, you who taught the Apostles to cry out to You: “Most Holy Theotokos, help us!”
Rejoice, who visited the Holy Mount Athos during Your life on earth and chose this place as Your inheritance.
Rejoice, you who sent Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina to sanctify Your earthly lot, the country of Iveron.
Rejoice, bright prophetic event and praise of the Apostles.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 4

When the enemy of the human race brought persecution against Christians and delivered up the bodies of believers to torture and death, since you were often their strengthener in this feat, their mentor in the faith of Christ, the giver of strength and wisdom to them. And now these Holy martyrs, who have endured great torment, the brides of Christ: Catherine, Varvaro and others, accompany You in Your visits to the chosen ones of God Alleluiah on earth, and they cry out a song to God about You: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

The noble and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, who brought the people of the Russian land to Christ, after His baptism, built the first temple in the city of Kyiv in honor of Your Most Pure Nativity, the Lady of the world, and giving a tithe of His gains for its decoration. And from those days to now, You, Most Blessed One, have tirelessly poured out great grace over our country and bestowed upon it Your great mercy. And as a special gift of Your favor and Your election of the city of Kyiv as Your inheritance, You miraculously bestowed upon it the miraculous image of Your “Assumption” and You commanded to build You a temple in the monastery of Saints Anthony and Theodosius. Who can count the multitude of people who bow their knees with tears before this Most Pure Image? Why does the city and the whole city not lead to these many-wonderful images and monasteries? Who tells the story of all the miracles that appeared in this image? We do not hide Your good deeds, Most Pure One, and we cry out to You with tenderness:
Rejoice, O Joyful One, who does not leave us in Your Dormition.
Rejoice, taken up from the earth by the hands of Your Son.
Rejoice, you who have ascended to the highest, enjoying His glory.
Rejoice, who through the Apostle Thomas assured of Your ascension into heaven in the flesh.
Rejoice, fiery throne of the Lord, lifted up from the earth into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, who in a vision showed the great image of the Kiev-Pechersk Church,
Rejoice, You who gave the relics of the Holy Martyrs and gold for its creation.
Rejoice, having presented the Holy Icon of Your Dormition with Your own hands to the Holy Creators.
Rejoice, you who showed miracles at the site of Your temple and cleansed this place with heavenly fire.
Rejoice, receiving the angelic singing of the monks’ praise before Your miraculous icon of the Dormition.
Rejoice, you who transform the sorrow of all those who flow to You into joy.
Rejoice, most pure Virgin, universal Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 5

Seeing, O All-Immaculate One, from the height of Your heavenly dwelling, where with Your Son abiding in glory, the sorrow of Your servants in the city of Kazan, as if the faith of Christ was desecrated for the sake of God’s wrathful visitation by Hagaran evil-belief, You deigned to reveal the icon of Your miracles to glorify, so that they may be confirmed by Your banners of grace, Christ-loving people faithfully cry out to You: Rejoice, zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, and God the Creator of all: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Desiring to show currents of miracles to all the mourning, sad, offended and lost, You, O All-Merciful Lady, bestowed deep grace on Your miraculous icons, called: “Joy of all who mourn,” “Quench my sorrows,” and “Recovery of the lost.” Was the whole sea of tears shed before them in the sorrows and sorrows that exist? What soul has not flowed to You in its life, falling to these icons of yours? Whose sorrows did you not turn into joy? To whom of those who are perishing, but praying to You, have You not extended a helping hand? We thank You, All-Singing One, for all the mercies bestowed on the sinful human race, and with all our soul we cry out to You touchingly:
Rejoice, blessed Virgin Mary, joy to all who mourn!
Rejoice, Mother of Mercy!
Rejoice, speedy Helper to those in troubles and misfortunes.
Rejoice, our Joy, deliver us from all evil in our quenching sorrow!
Rejoice, through Your representation our temporary sorrows are destroyed.
Rejoice, you who show signs of grace in the Church by the appearance of these icons.
Rejoice, thou who drive away the darkness of sin as a pillar of fire.
Rejoice, thou who glorified Thy icon, called “Consolation in sorrows and sorrows.”
Rejoice, praised in the monasteries on Athos and in our land before Your image “Consolation and Consolation”!
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 6

It is a comfort to all the faithful to look at Your icon, spoken by You to the “Quick to Hear”, to worship You before Her, not only in the monastery of the Dochiars, but also in many cities and towns of our country, calling to You: Rejoice, all-good to the Quick to Hear, who fulfills our petitions for good, and singing with tenderness of heart to Your Son, Christ our God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

The power of the Most High overshadows with faith and reverence those who resort to Your All-Honorable Protection, Most Pure Lady, and from ancient years to the present day You have covered with Your omophorion the entire Christian race, and especially our Russian country, and the many monasteries created in it. And the Orthodox people, looking at Your icon, on it You with the Archangels, Angels, the Forerunner, the Theologian and all the Saints interceding for us before the Lord, bowing Your knee and Your head, cry out to You touchingly:
Rejoice, our Joy, covering us from all evil with your honest omophorion.
Rejoice, Holy Abodes of Christ, Protection and Salvation.
Rejoice, the first decoration of Holy temples and altars.
Rejoice, blessing of the homes and families of the pious.
Rejoice, cheerfulness and admonition of the faithful shepherds of the Church.
Rejoice, teacher of God-fearing monks and nuns.
Rejoice, obvious strengthening of the obvious ascetics of piety.
Rejoice, secret admonition to the hidden servants of God among the world.
Rejoice, and do not forsake us naked of good deeds with Your Cover and grace.
Rejoice, strong intercessor of those in captivity and exile.
Rejoice, ever-watchful guardian of those in chains and prison.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 7

Seeing the fisherman above the abyss of water, carried by invisible power and light like the sun, your shining Mother of God, Tikhvin icon, crying out to the Lord: “Show us this Divine gift; do not hide the treasures with which we hope to enrich our spiritual poverty: wipe away our tears and sobs”... and having received what I wanted, I cried out to You, Most Pure One: “
Rejoice, O Lady, having mercy on us before God, the Intercessor,” and to Thy Son and God sing the song of the Angels: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

Who faithful, visiting the city of Moscow, will not bow to the Lady Theotokos before Your Most Pure Iveron and God-loving icons? Who wouldn’t be touched by seeing at midnight a multitude of people on their knees tearing down Your “Iveron” icon? Who will count day and night those who kiss Your “God-loving” image during the festival? Do not depart from us all the days of our lives, Mother of the All-Merciful, and hear our singing offered to You:
Rejoice, Good Intercessor, who opens the doors of heaven to us.
Rejoice, for all the reverent people of Muscovy before Your most pure “Iveron” image.
Rejoice, for day and night this icon of Yours is brought to the homes of the mourning and sick.
Rejoice, for you who worked miracles in this way were still on His way from Mount Athos to the Russian land.
Rejoice, who commanded the pious Manuel to give a ransom to the infidels who blocked the procession of the Holy Icon into the Russian country.
Rejoice, for after this you gave this ransom purely to him.
Rejoice, for you have glorified many miracles from this icon and many copies.
Rejoice, God-loving Queen Theotokos, our hope and refuge!
Rejoice, who appeared to Prince Andrew, who decided Your will and commanded to build a monastic monastery in the name of Your Nativity at the place of Your appearance.
Rejoice, depicted on Your icon, in the city of Moscow, with the High Hierarchs of Moscow, the blessed, the saints and the martyrs.
Rejoice, you who glorified your miracles with your “God-loving” icons in the cities of Uglich, Tula and others.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 8

Arise to us, like a bright dawn, the miraculous icon of Your “Unexpected Joy”; before Her, people in their sins, troubles, sorrows and embitterments, many times bow their knees with faith in prayer, crying out: “
Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful, and who have received Your mercy, cry out to God about You: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

Your evangelist, Archangel Gabriel, by God's command, by a wondrous appearance, taught us on earth to praise You in the same way as the Angels sing of You in heaven, giving this song: It is worthy that You are truly blessed, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate, and the Mother of our God. And from those days we, crying out to You, all-singing, this song brought by an Angel, we cry to You like this:
Rejoice, Christian helper and merciful intercessor for sinners.
Rejoice, exceeding all the powers of Heaven...
Rejoice, thou who bestowed miracles, blessings and admonitions on the Holy Mount Athos through many of Thy icons.
Rejoice, you who fulfilled the prophecy of Saint Sava, sanctified through Your Mammal Icon.
Rejoice, you who gave the prayers of the monks of Mount Athos before Your image, the “Forerunner”, and gave an abundance of oil for Your temple.
Rejoice, the abbess of the Hilendar Monastery who has received Your “Three-Handed” icon.
Rejoice, thou who art praised before Thy images, “Who hath enlightened the ecclesiarch” and “Gerondis,” who is an old woman.
Rejoice, called “Akathist”, who spoke from Your icon to the elder who reads the Akathist: “Rejoice, you too, elder of God.”
Rejoice, O Digitria, who miraculously carried His icon twice from the Vatopedi monastery to the Xenophian monastery.
Rejoice, you who showed wondrous miracles on Mount Athos from the “Slaughtered” and “Ktitor” icons.
Rejoice, thou daughter of the king Placidia, who raised her like a wife from visiting the monasteries of Athos and mercifully forgave her this sin.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 9

On the days of Easter, when the Church joyfully sings about the Resurrection of Christ, we, Most Pure One, remember Your miracles, for the sake of which Your icons “Life-Giving Source” and “Epiphany of the Eyes” were painted and Your image “Sweet Kiss” was miraculously preserved from the hands of an iconoclast, and thanking the Resurrector of our souls and bodies, we joyfully sing to Him the song: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

With all their love for You, the Lady, they will not be able to worthily call You, the Most Pure One, and out of the abundance of their hearts they call Your icons with many joyful names, which they have received from us now:
Rejoice, “Unfading Flower,” and “Blessed Heaven.”
Rejoice, “Blessed Womb” and “Blessed Star.”
Rejoice, “Joy of the Angels” and “Three Joys.”
Rejoice, merciful and “Merciful.”
Rejoice, “Watching Eye” and “Giver of the Mind.”
Rejoice, “Look upon humility” and the “Key of understanding.”
Rejoice, “Softener of Evil Hearts” and “Savior of the Drowning.”
Rejoice, “Immaculate Virgin” and “Help in Childbirth.”
Rejoice, “Helper of sinners” and “Healer.”
Rejoice, “The Word became flesh” and “Before Christmas and after Christmas, Virgin.”
Rejoice, “All-Blessed” and “Seven-Shot”.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy

Kontakion 10

Novgrad will preach Your glorious intercession, O Most Pure Lady, how in the days of the invasion of strong and armed enemies, from Your holy icon “The Sign”, You showed Your gracious help to Your people, turning back the hostile regiments with fear, but Your city was safe and sound from them. ; let everyone cry out in gratitude to You: Rejoice, O Lady, who shows us the sign of Your mercy, and sings to the Savior God: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

By the power of the Almighty you act, O Blessed Lady, taming the power of the fiery nature with Your Holy Icon “The Burning Bush” and performing many miracles in the Universe. Likewise, the human mind cannot exhaust all Your good deeds exuded from Your miraculous icons, which are on the Pochaevskaya Mountain, in Czestochowa, in the village of Akhtyrka, from the names “Feodorovskaya”, “Tolgskaya” and others, they cannot be remembered. We do not hide Your good deeds, O All-Blessed One, and in the joy of our hearts we cry out to You in praise:
Rejoice, Blessed Kupino, unburnt, who delivers us from the fiery blaze,
Rejoice, Praise of Pochaevskaya, our hope and consolation.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor, who gave us the Obnorskaya icon.
Rejoice, Sophia, who is the Wisdom of God, who created temples for herself in cities: Kyiv, Novegrad and others.
Rejoice, you who miraculously completed the painting of Your icon “The Sign” in the Seraphim-Ponetaevsky monastery.
Rejoice, you who came to the Holy Kiev-Brotherly Monastery in your miraculous “Kievo-Brotherly” icon and still remain there.
Rejoice, monastery of nuns who have gathered around Your miraculous icons, even in Kozelshchany.
Rejoice, who gave consolation to the cities of Odessa and Kherson, Your Kasperov icon.
Rejoice, you who sanctified the city of Vilna with Your image “Ostrabramskaya”. Before him, every pious person bows his knee.
Rejoice, “Unbreakable Wall” and “Different of the Loaves.”
Rejoice, "Leaping" and "Weeping"
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 11

Pious shepherds and people praise Thee, Most Pure One, throughout the seventh week, as “Hodegetria” - the Guide; and there is no one to count these Your icons in all Christian countries, built by You, Most Pure One. Most of all, the grateful city of Smolensk praises You, You saved it from the yoke of the Tatars, giving a wondrous command to the warrior Mercury with Your voice to fight the enemy; Yes, every tongue cries out to You: “Rejoice, O Degetria, universal miracle and hearing, and sings a song of praise to Your Son: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

This voice will depict the joy of God’s chosen ones, when You, out of Your love for them, appeared to them on earth, strengthening, comforting and instructing. At those hours the sky united with the earth, and a light greater than the sun shone on the poor cells of the saints. And we are sinners, remembering this and partaking in the spiritual joy of this heavenly joy of the saints of God, in humility we cry out to Ti:
Rejoice, you who commanded the Theologian to teach the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to Saint Gregory of Neocessaria.
Rejoice, who instructed the Venerable Dositheos in Gethsemane in fasting and prayer, and who called him into monasticism.
Rejoice, you who saved the disciple of St. Paul the Simple from hellish torment, appearing to the monk twice and teaching Him to pray for the departed.
Rejoice, you who made Mayumsky happy, reciting to him, since the song he composed was pleasing to You: The most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison, the Seraphim.
Rejoice, you who, together with the apostles Peter and John, revealed Saint Sergius of Radonezh and His disciple Micah.
Rejoice, who appeared many times to the venerable and God-bearing Seraphim of Sarov and gave him the command to establish Your last lot on the lands of the Seraphim-Diveye monastery.
Rejoice, on the day of the Annunciation, you visited him with the Apostle John and the Baptist, and the twelve martyred virgins, and announced to him about his imminent resettlement in the heavenly abode.
Rejoice, you who blessed the humble nun of Diveyevo Eupraxia.
Rejoice, you who appeared in wondrous dreams to Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Peter of Athos, Roman the Sweet Singer and many other saints and saints.
Rejoice, by Thy sweet voice emanating from Thy Holy Icon of Edessa, who brought the man of God into the temple of Alexius.
Rejoice, for with such a voice you guided the Venerable Mary of Egypt onto the path of repentance.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 12

You exuded abundant grace, O Most Pure One, from Your Tenderness icon, which resides in the monastery of Seraphim-Diveyevo; Before Her, God’s chosen one and Yours, God’s representative and Your intercessor for the Russian land, the Venerable Seraphim, praying to You day and night, calling You “the Joy of all joys” and singing to You in His desert seclusion the song: “Worldwide glory from man.” Together with him, we praise Thee, Most Pure Lady, with the same words, and offer God the angelic singing: alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing Your countless mercies, miracles and phenomena bestowed upon the whole world by You, falling to You in the tenderness of your heart, we thank You, Most Pure Lady, we praise You, we sing and extol Your name, and we pray to You, do not in the future turn Your face away from us, Intercede, protect and save all of us in the sins of those who are perishing: pacify our lives, guide the erring on the right path, educate our children in the spirit of piety, strengthen our shepherds, keep us in pure faith, so that our lips may praise Thee. The highest of the heavens and the purest of the solar lordships, such are the voices:
Rejoice, unbridled Bride and Queen of Queens.
Rejoice, Heavenly Icon and bearer of the Words of God.
Rejoice, God-voiced turtledove and meek and quiet dove.
Rejoice, immeasurable depth and ineffable mystery.
Rejoice, unknown miracle and source of shrines.
Rejoice, purity of virgins and quiet joy of mothers.
Rejoice, guardian of infants and protection of widows.
Rejoice, health of the sick and deliverance of the captives.
Rejoice, good rest for those who labor and hope for those who do not hope.
Rejoice, Our only hope in life after our departure from the earth.
Rejoice, you who protect us during the ordeals and our Intercessor at the Last Judgment of Christ.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 13

Oh, Most Pure Virgin, Lady of heaven and earth! Accept with all our souls this song of praise offered to Thee and grant us sinners in the eternal settlements to behold Thee, our worldwide Glory and the Joy of all joys, singing to Thee and about Thee to God a great song, so hymned in the Highest: Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1).

Common prayer to our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

Accept, O all-powerful, most pure Lady, Lady Theotokos, these honorable gifts, the only ones applied to You, from us, Thy unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, manifested above all creatures of heaven and earth. Because for Your sake the Lord of hosts was with us, and through You we knew the Son of God, and were made worthy of His holy body and His most pure blood. Moreover, you are blessed in the birth of generations, blessed by God, the brightest of the cherubim and the most honest of the seraphim. And now, all-sung Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil advice and from every situation, and that we may be preserved unharmed from every poisonous pretext of the devil. But even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned: for through Your intercession and help we are saved, glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for all in the Trinity we send to the one God and the Creator of all, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

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Akathist to the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Sweet Kiss” (Glycophilus)

Sweet Kiss (Glycophylussa), miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is called so because the Mother of God is depicted kissing the infant Christ; according to legend, it belongs to one of the 70 icons painted by the Evangelist Luke. Located in the Philotheevsky Monastery on Mount Athos.
The icon became famous during the time of iconoclasm. It belonged to the pious woman Victoria, the wife of a certain Simeon Patricius. Victoria, at the risk of her life, honored and kept it in her room. Her husband demanded that she burn the icon, but Victoria preferred to let her into the sea - and she did. The icon appeared on the shore in front of the Filofeevsky Monastery. The abbot and the brethren brought her into the cathedral church. From then until now, on Easter Monday, a procession of the cross has been carried out from the monastery to the site of the appearance of the icon. Miracles are still performed from this icon.

Kontakion 1
Chosen from all generations to the Most Pure Virgin Lady, who exudes endless mercies to the whole world and especially to our country of Russia; let us sing of praise about Her miracles, apparitions and miraculous icons. You, O Joyful One, do not reject our chants, but accept them and give joy to us who call to you:

Archangel Gabriel and righteous Elizabeth, together with them from the depths of our hearts we cry out to Ti:
Rejoice, Blessed One.
Rejoice, for the Lord is with You.
Rejoice, Blessed One among women.
Rejoice, having found grace from God.
Rejoice, for you have found the Holy Spirit upon You, and the power of the Most High has fallen upon You.
Rejoice, you who were conceived in the womb, who gave birth to a Son and called His name Jesus.
Rejoice, for what You gave birth to is Holy and you are called the Son of God.
Rejoice, for blessed is the Fruit of Your womb.
Rejoice, Mother of our Lord.
Rejoice, you who believed, that what you have said from the Lord has been accomplished,
Rejoice, for at these greetings Thy spirit rejoiced in Thy God the Savior.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, all peaceful Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 2
The human mind cannot comprehend how the Lord Himself dwelt in Your virgin womb and how You remained a Virgin and at the birth of Your Son, bowed before the great mystery of the incarnation of God the Word, joyfully crying out to You, who lent Him Your flesh, fed Him with milk and carried Him with Your hands By our own, Angel's song: Alleluia.

Ikos 2
All the days of Your life on earth from the meeting of You in the temple of righteous Simeon, who prophesied to You that a weapon would pierce Your soul. Every joy in the world, all the sorrow itself, was involved until the morning of the first day after Saturday, when you again heard the voice of an Angel saying to you: “Rejoice, full of grace, Your Son has risen three days from the grave.” And with a joyful voice we bring You our praises:
Rejoice, Progenitor of the Eternal King,
Rejoice, thou who hast brought forth the fruit of life for us.
Rejoice, faithful servant of the Lord,
Rejoice, for you are blessed by everyone.
Rejoice, having adopted us all at the cross of Your Son.
Rejoice, you who always show motherly love to us.
Rejoice, long-desired Helper of Christian faith.
Rejoice, for you prayed for everyone, Your Son, Christ our God.
Rejoice, Ever-Blessed and Pre-Oral One,
Rejoice, you who dwell in heavenly glory at the right hand of God.
Rejoice, shining with purity more than the sun,
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy.

Kontakion 3
In what ways did You, Most Pure Lady, strengthen the human race in faith in God and Your Son? How many of your wonder-working icons have you given us? How many times have you been an ascetic of piety both in life and in dreams? Who can count all your miracles? What verb can give you worthy praise? Who will not please you, Most Holy Virgin? Their lips will remain silent when every creature, O blessed One, rejoices over you, the Council of Angels and the human race! We will never be silent, O Mother of God, in speaking Your strength unworthy, and we cry out to God about You: Alleluia.

Ikos 3
Saints Ignatius the God-Bearer and Dionysius the Areopagite, looking at Thee, Most Pure Lady, did not find words to describe Your radiant face, and Your divine grace and power, and the flock was not crushed, as not everyone was able to see Thee, Heavenly Virgin. But You, out of love for those who believe in Your Son, You commanded the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luca to portray Your honest image with the Infant God and Your Son, so that all the nations and tribes of the earth, looking at the Nan, may forever ascend in thought to You, most blessed Lady: and We are sinners, kneeling before this image, we cry out to You, All-Singing One:
Rejoice, who said to this first-written image: “My grace and power will abide with him.”
Rejoice, who gave it to our Russian country in the city of Saint Vladimir.
Rejoice, for today the most glorious city of Moscow shines brightly in this image.
Rejoice in this icon of grace and mercy that bestows upon us.
Rejoice, Thou who miraculously depicted Thy Face in Thy Temple in the city of Lydda.
Rejoice, you who brought joy to the Apostles and all the faithful with this miracle.
Rejoice, you who have bestowed miracles on those who worship You before this image.
Rejoice, who taught the Apostles to cry out to You: “Most Holy Theotokos, help us!”
Rejoice, who visited the Holy Mount Athos during Your life on earth and chose this place as Your inheritance.
Rejoice, you who sent Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina to sanctify Your earthly lot, the country of Iveron.
Rejoice, bright prophetic event and praise of the Apostles.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 4
When the enemy of the human race brought persecution against Christians and delivered up the bodies of believers to torture and death, since you were often their strengthener in this feat, their mentor in the faith of Christ, the giver of strength and wisdom to them. And now these Holy martyrs, who have endured great torment, the brides of Christ: Catherine, Varvaro and others, accompany You in Your visits to the chosen ones of God Alleluiah on earth, and they cry out a song to God about You: Alleluia.

Ikos 4
The noble and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, who brought the people of the Russian land to Christ, after His baptism, built the first temple in the city of Kyiv in honor of Your Most Pure Nativity, the Lady of the world, and giving a tithe of His gains for its decoration. And from those days to now, You, Most Blessed One, have tirelessly poured out great grace over our country and bestowed upon it Your great mercy. And as a special gift of Your favor and Your election of the city of Kyiv as Your inheritance, You miraculously bestowed upon it the miraculous image of Your “Assumption” and You commanded to build You a temple in the monastery of Saints Anthony and Theodosius. Who can count the multitude of people who bow their knees with tears before this Most Pure Image? Why does the city and the whole city not lead to these many-wonderful images and monasteries? Who tells the story of all the miracles that appeared in this image? We do not hide Your good deeds, Most Pure One, and we cry out to You with tenderness:
Rejoice, O Joyful One, who does not leave us in Your Dormition.
Rejoice, taken up from the earth by the hands of Your Son.
Rejoice, you who have ascended to the highest, enjoying His glory.
Rejoice, who through the Apostle Thomas assured of Your ascension into heaven in the flesh.
Rejoice, fiery throne of the Lord, lifted up from the earth into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, who in a vision showed the great image of the Kiev-Pechersk Church,
Rejoice, You who gave the relics of the Holy Martyrs and gold for its creation.
Rejoice, having presented the Holy Icon of Your Dormition with Your own hands to the Holy Creators.
Rejoice, you who showed miracles at the site of Your temple and cleansed this place with heavenly fire.
Rejoice, receiving the angelic singing of the monks’ praise before Your miraculous icon of the Dormition.
Rejoice, you who transform the sorrow of all those who flow to You into joy.
Rejoice, most pure Virgin, universal Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 5

Ikos 5
Desiring to show currents of miracles to all the grieving, sad, offended and lost, You have granted, O All-Merciful Lady, deep grace to Your miraculous icons, called: “Joy of all who mourn,” “Quench my sorrows,” and “Recovery of the lost.” Was the whole sea of tears shed before them in the sorrows and sorrows that exist? What soul has not flowed to You in its life, falling to these icons of yours? Whose sorrows did you not turn into joy? To whom of those who are perishing, but praying to You, have You not extended a helping hand? We thank You, All-Singing One, for all the mercies bestowed on the sinful human race, and with all our soul we cry out to You touchingly:
Rejoice, blessed Virgin Mary, joy to all who mourn!
Rejoice, Mother of Mercy!
Rejoice, speedy Helper to those in troubles and misfortunes.
Rejoice, our Joy, deliver us from all evil in our quenching sorrow!
Rejoice, through Your representation our temporary sorrows are destroyed.
Rejoice, you who show signs of grace in the Church by the appearance of these icons.
Rejoice, thou who drive away the darkness of sin as a pillar of fire.
Rejoice, thou who glorified Thy icon, called “Consolation in sorrows and sorrows.”
Rejoice, praised in the monasteries on Athos and in our land before Your image “Consolation and Consolation”!
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 6
It is a comfort to all the faithful to look at Your icon, spoken by You to the “Quick to Hear”, to worship You before Her, not only in the monastery of the Dochiars, but also in many cities and towns of our country, calling to You: Rejoice, all-good to the Quick to Hear, fulfilling our petitions for good, and singing with tenderness of heart to Your Son, Christ our God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6
The power of the Most High overshadows with faith and reverence those who resort to Your All-Honorable Protection, Most Pure Lady, and from ancient years to the present day You have covered with Your omophorion the entire Christian race, and especially our Russian country, and the many monasteries created in it. And the Orthodox people, looking at Your icon, on it You with the Archangels, Angels, the Forerunner, the Theologian and all the Saints interceding for us before the Lord, bowing Your knee and Your head, cry out to You touchingly:
Rejoice, our Joy, covering us from all evil with your honest omophorion.
Rejoice, Holy Abodes of Christ, Protection and Salvation.
Rejoice, the first decoration of Holy temples and altars.
Rejoice, blessing of the homes and families of the pious.
Rejoice, cheerfulness and admonition of the faithful shepherds of the Church.
Rejoice, teacher of God-fearing monks and nuns.
Rejoice, obvious strengthening of the obvious ascetics of piety.
Rejoice, secret admonition to the hidden servants of God among the world.
Rejoice, and do not forsake us naked of good deeds with Your Cover and grace.
Rejoice, strong intercessor of those in captivity and exile.
Rejoice, ever-watchful guardian of those in chains and prison.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 7
Seeing the fisherman over the abyss of water, carried by invisible power and light like the sun, your shining Mother of God, Tikhvin icon, crying out to the Lord: “Show us this Divine gift; do not hide the treasures with which we hope to enrich our spiritual poverty: wipe away our tears and sobs.”. . and having received what I wanted, I cried out to You, Most Pure One: “
Rejoice, O Lady, having mercy on us before God, the Intercessor,” and to Thy Son and God sing the song of the Angels: Alleluia.

Ikos 7
Who is the faithful one, having visited the city of Moscow, who will not bow to the Lady Theotokos before Your Most Pure Iveron and God-loving icons? Who wouldn’t be touched by seeing at midnight a multitude of people on their knees tearing down Your “Iveron” icon? Who will count day and night those who kiss Your “God-loving” image during the festival? Do not depart from us all the days of our lives, Mother of the All-Merciful, and hear our singing offered to You:
Rejoice, Good Intercessor, who opens the doors of heaven to us.
Rejoice for all the reverent people of Muscovy before Your most pure “Iveron” image.
Rejoice, for day and night this icon of Yours is brought to the homes of the mourning and sick.
Rejoice, for you who worked miracles in this way were still on His way from Mount Athos to the Russian land.
Rejoice, who commanded the pious Manuel to give a ransom to the infidels who blocked the procession of the Holy Icon into the Russian country.
Rejoice, for after this you gave this ransom purely to him.
Rejoice, for you have glorified many miracles from this icon and many copies.
Rejoice, God-loving Queen Theotokos, our hope and refuge!
Rejoice, who appeared to Prince Andrew, who decided Your will and commanded to build a monastic monastery in the name of Your Nativity at the place of Your appearance.
Rejoice, depicted on Your icon, in the city of Moscow, with the High Hierarchs of Moscow, the blessed, the saints and the martyrs.
Rejoice, you who glorified your miracles with your “God-loving” icons in the cities of Uglich, Tula and others.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 8
Arise to us, like a bright dawn, the miraculous icon of Your “Unexpected Joy”, before Her people in their sins, troubles, sorrows and embitterments, many times bow their knees with faith in prayer, crying out: “
Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful, and who have received Your mercy, cry out to God about You: Alleluia.

Ikos 8
Your evangelist, Archangel Gabriel, by God's command, by a wondrous appearance, taught us on earth to praise You in the same way as the Angels sing of You in heaven, giving this song: It is worthy that You are truly blessed, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate, and the Mother of our God. And from those days we, crying out to You, all-singing, this song brought by an Angel, we cry to You like this:
Rejoice, Christian helper and merciful intercessor for sinners.
Rejoice, exceeding all the powers of Heaven...
Rejoice, thou who bestowed miracles, blessings and admonitions on the Holy Mount Athos through many of Thy icons.
Rejoice, thou who fulfilled the prophecy of Saint Sava, sanctified through Thy Mammal Icon.
Rejoice, you who gave the prayers of the monks of Athonite before Your image, the “Forerunner”, and gave an abundance of oil for Your temple.
Rejoice, the abbess of the Hilendar Monastery who has received Your “Three-Handed” icon.
Rejoice, thou who art praised before Thy images, “Who hath enlightened the ecclesiarch” and “Gerondis,” who is an old woman.
Rejoice, called “Akathist”, who spoke from Your icon to the elder who reads the Akathist: “Rejoice, you too, elder of God.”
Rejoice, Thou who miraculously transported His icon “Hodegetria” twice from the monastery of Vatopedi to the monastery of Xenophes.
Rejoice, you who showed wondrous miracles on Mount Athos from the “Slaughtered” and “Ktitor” icons.
Rejoice, thou daughter of the king Placidia, who raised her like a wife from visiting the monasteries of Athos and mercifully forgave her this sin.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 9
During the days of Easter, when the Church joyfully sings about the Resurrection of Christ, we, Most Pure One, remember Your miracles, for the sake of which Your icons “Life-Giving Spring” and “Epiphany of the Eyes” were painted and Your image “Sweet Kiss” was miraculously preserved from the hands of an iconoclast, and thanking the Resurrector of our souls and bodies, we joyfully sing to Him the song: Alleluia.

Ikos 9
With all their love for You, the Lady, they will not be able to worthily call You, the Most Pure One, and out of the abundance of their hearts they call Your icons with many joyful names, which they have received from us now:
Rejoice, “Unfading Flower” and “Blessed Heaven”.
Rejoice, “Blessed Womb” and “Blessed Star”.
Rejoice, “Joy of the Angels” and “Three Joys.”
Rejoice, merciful and “Merciful.”
Rejoice, “Watching Eye” and “Giver of the Mind.”
Rejoice, “Look upon humility” and the “Key of understanding.”
Rejoice, “Softener of evil hearts” and “Savior of the drowning.”
Rejoice, “Immaculate Virgin” and “Help in Childbirth.”
Rejoice, “Helper of sinners” and “Healer.”
Rejoice, “The Word became flesh” and “Before Christmas and after Christmas, Virgin.”
Rejoice, “All-Blessed” and “Seven-Shot”.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy

Kontakion 10
Novgrad will preach Your glorious intercession, O Most Pure Lady, how in the days of the invasion of strong and armed enemies, from Your holy icon “The Sign”, You showed Your gracious help to Your people, turning back the hostile regiments with fear, but Your city was safe and sound from them. ; let everyone cry out in gratitude to You: Rejoice, O Lady, who shows us the sign of Your mercy, and sings to the Savior God: Alleluia.

Ikos 10
By the power of the Almighty you act, O Blessed Lady, taming the power of the fiery nature with Your Holy Icon “The Burning Bush” and performing many miracles in the Universe. Likewise, the human mind cannot exhaust all Your good deeds exuded from Your miraculous icons, which are on the Pochaevskaya Mountain, in Czestochowa, in the village of Akhtyrka, from the names “Feodorovskaya”, “Tolgskaya” and others, they cannot be remembered. We do not hide Your good deeds, O All-Blessed One, and in the joy of our hearts we cry out to You in praise:
Rejoice, Blessed Kupino, unburnt, who delivers us from the fiery blaze,
Rejoice, Praise of Pochaevskaya, our hope and consolation.
Rejoice, Mother of God, our zealous Representative and Intercessor, who gave us the Obnor icon.
Rejoice, Sophia, who is the Wisdom of God, who created temples for herself in cities: Kyiv, Novegrad and others.
Rejoice, you who miraculously completed the painting of Your icon “The Sign” in the Seraphim-Ponetaev monastery.
Rejoice, you who came to the Holy Kiev-Brotherly Monastery in your miraculous “Kievo-Brotherly” icon and still remain there.
Rejoice, monastery of nuns who have gathered around Your miraculous icons, even in Kozelshchany.
Rejoice, who gave consolation to the cities of Odessa and Kherson, Your Kasperov icon.
Rejoice, you who sanctified the city of Vilna with Your image “Ostrabramskaya”. Before him, every pious person bows his knee.
Rejoice, “Unbreakable Wall” and “Different of the Loaves.”
Rejoice, "Leaping" and "Weeping"
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 11
Pious shepherds and people praise Thee, Most Pure One, throughout the seventh week, as “Hodegetria” - the Guide; and there is no one to count these Your icons in all Christian countries, built by You, Most Pure One. Most of all, the grateful city of Smolensk praises You, You saved it from the yoke of the Tatars, giving a wondrous command to the warrior Mercury with Your voice to fight the enemy; Yes, every tongue cries out to You: “Rejoice, All-Good Hodegetria, universal miracle and hearing, and sings a song of praise to Your Son: Alleluia.

Ikos 11
This voice will depict the joy of God’s chosen ones, when You, out of Your love for them, appeared to them on earth, strengthening, comforting and instructing. At those hours the sky united with the earth, and a light greater than the sun shone on the poor cells of the saints. And we are sinners, remembering this and partaking in the spiritual joy of this heavenly joy of the saints of God, in humility we cry out to Ti:
Rejoice, you who commanded the Theologian to teach the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to Saint Gregory of Neocessaria.
Rejoice, who instructed the Venerable Dositheos in Gethsemane in fasting and prayer, and who called him into monasticism.
Rejoice, you who saved the disciple of St. Paul the Simple from hellish torment, appearing to the monk twice and teaching Him to pray for the departed.
Rejoice, you who made Mayumsky happy, reciting to him, since the song he composed was pleasing to You: The most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison, the Seraphim.
Rejoice, you who, together with the apostles Peter and John, revealed Saint Sergius of Radonezh and His disciple Micah.
Rejoice, who appeared many times to the venerable and God-bearing Seraphim of Sarov and gave him the command to establish Your last lot on the lands of the Seraphim-Diveye monastery.
Rejoice, on the day of the Annunciation, you visited him with the Apostle John and the Baptist, and the twelve martyred virgins, and announced to him about his imminent resettlement in the heavenly abode.
Rejoice, you who blessed the humble nun of Diveyevo Eupraxia.
Rejoice, you who appeared in wondrous dreams to Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Peter of Athos, Roman the Sweet Singer and many other saints and saints.
Rejoice, by Thy sweet voice emanating from Thy Holy Icon of Edessa, who brought the man of God into the temple of Alexius.
Rejoice, for with such a voice you guided the Venerable Mary of Egypt onto the path of repentance.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 12
You exuded abundant grace, O Most Pure One, from Your Tenderness icon, which resides in the monastery of Seraphim-Diveyevo; Before Her, God’s chosen one and Yours, God’s representative and Your intercessor for the Russian land, the Venerable Seraphim, praying to You day and night, calling You “the Joy of all joys” and singing to You in His desert seclusion the song: “Worldwide glory from man.” Together with him, we praise Thee, Most Pure Lady, with the same words, and offer God the angelic singing: alleluia.

Ikos 12
Singing Your countless mercies, miracles and phenomena bestowed upon the whole world by You, falling to You in the tenderness of your heart, we thank You, Most Pure Lady, we praise You, we sing and extol Your name, and we pray to You, do not in the future turn Your face away from us, Intercede, protect and save all of us in the sins of those who are perishing: pacify our lives, guide the erring on the right path, educate our children in the spirit of piety, strengthen our shepherds, keep us in pure faith, so that our lips may praise Thee. The highest of the heavens and the purest of the solar lordships, such are the voices:
Rejoice, unbridled Bride and Queen of Queens.
Rejoice, Heavenly Icon and bearer of the Words of God.
Rejoice, God-voiced turtledove and meek and quiet dove.
Rejoice, immeasurable depth and ineffable mystery.
Rejoice, unknown miracle and source of shrines.
Rejoice, purity of virgins and quiet joy of mothers.
Rejoice, guardian of infants and protection of widows.
Rejoice, health of the sick and deliverance of the captives.
Rejoice, good rest for those who labor and hope for those who do not hope.
Rejoice, Our only hope in life after our departure from the earth.
Rejoice, you who protect us during the ordeals and our Intercessor at the Last Judgment of Christ.
Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, worldwide Glory and Joy!

Kontakion 13
Oh, Most Pure Virgin, Lady of heaven and earth! Accept with all our souls this song of praise offered to Thee and grant us sinners in the eternal settlements to behold Thee, our worldwide Glory and the Joy of all joys, singing to Thee and about Thee to God a great song, so hymned in the Highest: Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1).

Common prayer to our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
Accept, O all-powerful, most pure Lady, Lady Theotokos, these honorable gifts, the only ones applied to You, from us, Thy unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, manifested above all creatures of heaven and earth. Because for Your sake the Lord of hosts was with us, and through You we knew the Son of God, and were made worthy of His holy body and His most pure blood. Moreover, you are blessed in the birth of generations, blessed by God, the brightest of the cherubim and the most honest of the seraphim. And now, all-sung Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil advice and from every situation, and that we may be preserved unharmed from every poisonous pretext of the devil. But even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned: for through Your intercession and help we are saved, glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for all in the Trinity we send to the one God and the Creator of all, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Many rivers of Christian blood were shed during the period of iconoclasm. The faithful children of the Church of Christ could not submit to the heresy that was supported by the rulers of that time. Being persecuted for their beliefs, they hid the icons so that the enemy of the human race could not desecrate the shrines. In turn, an answer came from heaven in the form of miracles and phenomena.

One of these miracles can be called the appearance of the “Sweet Kiss” icon on Mount Athos.

History of the holy image

During the reign of Emperor Theophilus, iconoclasm flourished. The emperor himself supported the idea of abolishing the tradition of venerating icons, considering it a crime of the commandment against idolatry. Simeon, a servant close to the emperor, supported the views of his master. But Simeon’s wife was faithful to the canons and revered icons. This woman's name was Victoria. In her chambers she had many icons, but she especially revered the icon of the Mother of God, in front of which she always prayed.

Icon of the Mother of God “Sweet Kiss” (“Glycophilus”)

One day my husband demanded an icon in order to burn it. Victoria did not want to give such a shrine to desecration, which is why she threw the icon into the sea.

After some time, the icon miraculously appeared on the banks of Mount Athos, not far from the Philotheus Monastery. The abbot, together with the brethren of the monastery, placed the icon in the local church. The place where the icon appeared became revered. Now, according to tradition, every Bright Monday a religious procession is sent from the monastery.

Miracles icons

Connected with this icon is the story of the admonition of one pilgrim who came to Mount Athos. This incident occurred in 1830.

A guest of the monastery asked the elder about the miracle of the icon. The elder kindly told the wanderer about the miracle. Bogomolets listened to the whole story from beginning to end, but in the end he expressed his distrust to the elder. The elder was indignant and decided to convince the wanderer. After all, denying a miracle is not far from spiritual decline. But his words did not convince the pilgrim. And only by the grace of God did this man find true faith.

Icon of the Mother of God Sweet Kiss

That same day, the wanderer was climbing the steps on the top floor of the house and accidentally tripped. At the same time, he arbitrarily said, “Most Holy Theotokos, help us!” In the end, he remained safe and sound.

Another miracle happened during World War II.

Due to a shortage of wheat, the brethren of the temple decided to close the monastery to pilgrims. Father Savva was against this decision. He ordered bread to be baked from the leftovers and distributed to the brethren and pilgrims. At the same time, he trusted in the mercy of the Most Pure Virgin.

Soon it happened that a ship moored to the island. His captain asked for wood in exchange for wheat. Thus, with her patronage, the Mother of God helped the brethren survive difficult times.

And these are not all the miracles associated with the icon. The icon itself is located in the cathedral church of the monastery. It depicts the infant Christ being tenderly kissed by the Virgin Mary. Remembrance Day is celebrated on Holy Monday.

Interesting! As ancient church tradition says, this icon was painted by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke himself.

What helps and how to pray

Parents ask the “Sweet Kiss” icon for help for their children, so that the Lord will guide them on the path of salvation and save them from problems.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her icon “Sweet Kiss”, or “Glycophilus”
“Receive, O All-merciful, Most Pure Lady, Lady Theotokos, this honorable gift, the only one applied to You, from us, Your unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, manifested above all creatures of heaven and earth. Because for Your sake the Lord of hosts was with us, and through You we knew the Son of God, and became worthy of His Holy Body and His Most Pure Blood. Blessed are you, too, in the birth of births, God-blessed One, the brightest of the Cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, All-Singing Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil advice and from every situation, and that we may be preserved unharmed from every poisonous pretext of the devil. But even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if through Your intercession and help we are saved, we send glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity to the One God and the Creator of all, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen".

Icon of the Mother of God “Sweet Kiss”

The icon of the Mother of God "Sweet Kiss" will be a beautiful spiritual gift for parents and their children. People turn to this icon in search of help for children, protecting them from dangers, illnesses and life’s adversities, with prayers for guiding children on the true path, respect for parents and strengthening the spirit in unfavorable life circumstances.

The Icon of the Mother of God of the Sweet Kiss is one of the most revered icons of the Mother of God located on Holy Mount Athos. In Greek this icon is called Glycophylussa. On the icon, the Mother of God is depicted kissing (kissing) Her Son.

This image belongs to the iconographic type of Eleus, that is, Tenderness. The Mother of God tenderly presses her Son to Her cheek, and He is equally full of tenderness towards His Mother. The icon conveys not only the essence of the loving relationship between Mother and Son, but - since the Mother of God in icons symbolizes the Church of Christ - shows the enormous power of love, for the sake of which the Creator incarnates on earth to give his life for His creation, and man responds to Him with the highest degree of veneration and reverence . Since the idea of sacrificial service has always been close to the Russian spirit, icons related to the Eleusa type are especially loved in Russia.

The history of the icon of the Mother of God of the Sweet Kiss dates back to the times of iconoclasm. In the 8th - early 9th centuries, for more than a hundred years, the lands of the Byzantine Empire were plunged into darkness and lawlessness, caused by the disorderly orders of emperors who had fallen into heresy. Justified by Old Testament institutions and seduced by Islamic ideas, Emperor Leo III the Isaurian and several of his followers prohibit not only the veneration of icons, but also any depiction of holy images. Icons, frescoes, mosaics and statues are broken and burned, churches, from the walls of which images cannot be removed, are destroyed, and supporters of icon veneration are brutally executed and persecuted in every possible way.

During the time of one of the followers of Leo the Isaurian, the iconoclast emperor Theophilus, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 821 to 842, there lived a noble man named Simon. He was a close associate of the emperor and, like his ruler, a supporter of the iconoclastic heresy. But Simon’s wife, whose name was Victoria, rejected heresy and zealously venerated holy images. However, she was forced to do this secretly, and therefore she did not have many icons - only one single icon of the Mother of God, which Victoria hid in her chambers. The husband knew about this and reproached his wife in every possible way, but she did not give in to persuasion and was not inclined towards heresy. And in the end, Simon stopped persuading his wife, and demanded to immediately give him the icon in order to destroy it himself - he was going to throw it into the fire. Victoria promised to give the icon back in the morning, but in order to protect the holy image from desecration, she went that same night to the seashore and released the icon into the water.

After the death of Theophilus, his wife Empress Theodora, who, like Victoria, managed not to succumb to heresy, becomes ruler-regent under her young son Michael III and restores the veneration of icons in the Byzantine Empire. For this act, Theodora is revered by the Christian Church as a saint. During her reign, on the fortieth day after the death of Theophilus, the Church Council of Constantinople was convened, which anathematized the iconoclastic heresy.

And soon after the restoration of icon veneration, the icon released by Victoria into the water was found on the seashore in front of the Athos Philotheus Monastery. The abbot and the brethren solemnly brought the holy image into the monastery and installed it in the cathedral church.

The place on the shore where the icon was found was called Agiasma, and from then to the present day, for more than a thousand years, a procession of the cross has been made to this place from the Philotheevsky Monastery on Bright Monday (the first Monday after Easter).

Since then, the icon of the Mother of God of the Sweet Kiss has become famous for many miracles, both healings and deliverances from unbelief. The icon is located in the same monastery and is available for special veneration by pilgrims. Lists of this image are very, very widespread; the image of the Virgin Mary Glykofilussa is one of the favorites in the Christian world. It is known that this icon was especially revered by the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, who provided great support to the Philotheevsky monastery.

Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God "Sweet Kiss"

Most Holy Lady Theotokos, the only one most pure in soul and body, the only one who exceeds all purity, chastity and virginity, the only one who has completely become the abode of the complete grace of the all-holy Spirit, the most immaterial power here has yet incomparably surpassed the purity and holiness of the soul and body, look upon me, vile, unclean, soul and the body that has been denigrated by the filth of the passions of my life, cleanse my passionate mind, make immaculate and order my wandering and blind thoughts, put my feelings in order and guide them, free me from the evil and vile habit of unclean prejudices and passions that torment me, stop all sin acting in me, grant to my darkened and damned mind sobriety and prudence to correct my inclinations and falls, so that, freed from sinful darkness, I will be vouchsafed with boldness to glorify and sing songs to You, the only Mother of the true Light - Christ, our God; because you, alone with Him and in Him, are blessed and glorified by every invisible and visible creation, now, and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.