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The Icon of the Mother of God: A Virgin Before and After Giving Birth · Saints and Scripture

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  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Saints and Scripture Podcast.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today is Saturday, october seventeenth, twenty twenty six.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today we reflect on a special icon of the Mother of God called a Virgin Before and After Giving Birth.
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  SPEAKER_00: This icon is kept at St.
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  SPEAKER_00: Nicholas Monastery in Dmitrovsky County near Moscow.
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  SPEAKER_00: The icon was brought to the monastery by a merchant named Alexei Grigoryvich Mokeev around the year 1780.
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  SPEAKER_00: Alexei gave all his wealth to the monastery and joined the Brotherhood, but he kept this holy icon in his cell.
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  SPEAKER_00: After Alexei passed away, the icon was given to the monastery's Archimandrite Makarios.
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  SPEAKER_00: He noticed that the icon was painted with oils on canvas, which was unusual because traditional icons are painted with egg timbra on wood.
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  SPEAKER_00: Because of this, the Archimandrite placed the icon over the door of a chapel dedicated to Saint Methodios of Peshnosha, the monastery's founder.
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  SPEAKER_00: In eighteen twenty seven, the icon became known for many miracles.
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  SPEAKER_00: One night, Captain Platon Osapovich Shabashev, who was camped nearby with his infantry regiment, saw a bright light shining from the icon.
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  SPEAKER_00: Later, when Captain Shabashev faced false accusations and was removed from his position, he prayed before the icon with tears.
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  SPEAKER_00: In a dream he saw the radiant icon in the clouds above the chapel and heard a voice telling him to have a silver reza or covering made for the icon to be delivered from temptation.
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  SPEAKER_00: He obeyed, and soon after he was cleared of all charges and his troubles ended.
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  SPEAKER_00: Since eighteen forty eight, the icon has been kept behind the Kleros, or choir area, in the monastery.
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  SPEAKER_00: That year during a cholera outbreak, many healings were reported through the prayers before this icon.
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  SPEAKER_00: The icon is of the Hodigatria type showing the mother of God holding the Christ child.
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  SPEAKER_00: Both wear crowns.
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  SPEAKER_00: At the top of the icon is the inscription A Virgin Before and After Giving Birth.
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  SPEAKER_00: The Lord of Hosts is shown above with two angels holding the Mother of God's crown.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Joseph the Betrothed is also depicted.
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  SPEAKER_00: The icon measures twelve verts high and nine verts wide.
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  SPEAKER_00: The mother of God is shown from the waist up, holding the child on her left arm.
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  SPEAKER_00: The child is painted with royal symbols, a crown, scepter, and orb.
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  SPEAKER_00: The mother of God holds the scepter from below, as if supporting him.
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  SPEAKER_00: This icon reflects the teaching that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after giving birth to Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: This belief is expressed in hymns such as the Troparion for the Dormition, which says, In giving birth, you preserved your virginity.
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  SPEAKER_00: The icon style has some influence from Western images, like the medieval German depiction called Thrice Wondrous Mother.
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  SPEAKER_00: In Russia, similar icons include Lomovskaya, Chestakoa, Mishikovskaya, and Chupkovskaya.
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  SPEAKER_00: This icon invites us to honor the mystery of the Mother of God's purity and her role in the salvation of the world.
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  SPEAKER_00: It also reminds us of the power of prayer and the care of the Theotokos for those who turn to her in faith.
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  SPEAKER_00: May we be inspired by her example and seek her prayers in our own lives.
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  SPEAKER_00: Most holy Theotokos, help us to keep our faith strong and pure as you did.
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  SPEAKER_00: Guide us in times of trouble and bring us closer to your Son.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amen.