Rejoice, rejoice, O Mother of God, Odigitria, for you guide the faithful to every path of salvation, always and everywhere. O Sovereign Lady, rejoice, for you steer us away at all times from an imminent barbaric calamity.
(Troparion of the Canon to the Icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk, Ode 7)
For nearly a millennium, the Mother of God, Odigitria, has shown our Orthodox people the way to salvation through historical trials and hardships. This divine patronage, according to tradition, began in 1046. That year, Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos blessed his daughter Princess Anna’s marriage to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich of Chernigov, son of Yaroslav the Wise, with a miraculous icon painted by the Evangelist Luke. This icon had journeyed from Jerusalem to Constantinople, becoming a shield for the city. Whenever enemies attacked, the icon's presence on the city walls sent them fleeing, driven back by the invisible might of the Ever-Virgin. Eventually, the Odigitria icon passed from Prince Vsevolod to his son, Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh, the future ruler of Rus’.
Icon of the Mother of God in a church
From 1097, Vladimir Monomakh ruled in Smolensk and transferred his mother's blessed icon from Chernigov. He placed it in the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God, which he founded on 3 May 1101. "In this same year," according to the Chronicle, "Vladimir founded a stone church in Smolensk dedicated to the Holy Mother of God" — an event that led to the Odigitria icon becoming known as the Smolensk icon.
“Rejoice, vanquisher of impious armies; rejoice, leader of Christ’s children to victory.”
(From the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos before the “Smolensk” icon, Ikos 3)
Among the many miracles attributed to the icon, the deliverance of Smolensk from the Tatars stands out. In 1239, Batu Khan’s forces surged across Rus'. A Tatar detachment descended upon Smolensk, threatening to destroy it. Outnumbered and terrified, the inhabitants found refuge in fervent prayer. "The people were in great distress," the Chronicle tells us, "always remaining in the Cathedral… crying out with great lamentation and many tears to Almighty God and His Most Pure Mother and all the saints to save their city." And she answered their prayers. The Mother of God granted them salvation, delivering them from certain destruction.
Smolensk’s Cathedral of the Dormition on Cathedral Hill. It replaces a 12th-century cathedral destroyed during a siege and honours the city’s heroic defence in the early 1600s.
The Tatars stopped 24 versts from Smolensk at Dolgomostye, planning a surprise attack on the city. A devout soldier named Mercurius served in the entourage of the Prince of Smolensk at the time. The Mother of God chose him as her instrument for saving the city. On the night of 24 November, a sacristan perceived a voice from the miraculous Odigitria icon: “Tell Warrior Mercurius to don his armour and go forth, for the Sovereign Lady calls him.” The watchman found Mercurius among the soldiers and relayed what had transpired.
In his full armour, the brave warrior hastened to the cathedral with the icon of the Mother of God. There, he received the command of the Queen of Heaven: “Mercurius! I send you to defend my house... Go forth to meet the enemy in secret, without the knowledge of the people, the bishop, or the prince, who are unaware of the impending attack; I myself will be with you, aiding my servant. But along with victory, a martyr’s crown awaits you, which you shall receive from Christ.
The iron sandals of Martyr Mercurius in the Dormition Cathedral of Smolensk
Tears streamed down the warrior's face as he knelt before the holy image. Heeding the Mother of God's call, he set out against the foes, his heart unafraid. Under cover of night, he slipped into the enemy camp and struck down a Tatar giant who embodied their hopes of victory. Enemies surrounded him, but Mercurius fought with unmatched bravery. The Tatars spoke of lightning-fast men fighting at his side, and a Radiant Woman whose gaze instilled primal fear. Mercurius cut down scores of enemies before falling lifelessly from a blow to his head. His sacrifice had saved Smolensk. The cathedral became his last resting place, and the Church honours his memory every year on 7 December.
On 7 August 1525, the Odigitria icon travelled from Smolensk to its new home at the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow. Grand Prince Basil III Ivanovich built the convent in the early 15th century to celebrate Smolensk's liberation from the Lithuanians, initially calling it "Theotokos-Smolensk."
Novodevichy Convent, Moscow
Enemy raids tormented Smolensk, and its people pleaded for the return of their protector, the Odigitria icon. In 1456, Bishop Misail, the city governor, and prominent citizens of Smolensk journeyed to Moscow. They implored Grand Prince Basil II to give them back the holy icon. Heeding Metropolitan Jonah’s counsel, the Grand Prince agreed. On Sunday, 18 January, a solemn procession of crosses and chanting accompanied the icon’s departure from Moscow.
“O all-merciful and compassionate Mother of God, from Your holy icon Odigitria, you have gloriously granted help and victory over mighty and cunning enemies to the Orthodox Russian army; You have driven away the Gauls with disgrace from our homeland and, when we had no hope of salvation as Moscow was captured and ravaged, you crowned us with a wondrous victory over our foes. May we always remember Your protection and gratefully cry out to You: Rejoice, You who marvellously delivered Russia from the Gaulish invasion; rejoice, You who turned back the proud with Your power in shame.”
(From the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Smolensk icon, Ikos 8)
Procession with the miraculous Smolensk icon, 1812
The Holy Odigitria watches over our people. She protects us from harm and safeguards our freedom. She is the guardian of our western borders. When Napoleon’s forces invaded in 1812, the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God became the Russian army’s most sacred treasure. All of Russia prayed for her divine intervention. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, Bishop Iriney Falkovsky brought the icon to Moscow. Its arrival brought the city’s residents to their knees. They cried out, “Mother of God, save us!” as they knelt before her image. On the day of the battle, August 26th, 1812, a procession carrying the icon circled the city’s sacred walls. General Kutuzov, the famed commander of the Russian army, had sought strength in prayer before the icon just hours before.
Prayer service on Borodino Field by artist Yegor Zaytsev
Odigitria, God's Mother dear,
Smolensk's seal, our land's delight:
Russia's shield when foes appear,
Guardian in the darkest night.
Heed the prayers that we implore,
Lead the faithful who pursue,
Shield our Rus' from plagues and war,
Guide Orthodox on paths true.
A divine miracle swept across Russia, delivering a stunning triumph. Though never claiming a singular victory, the Russian soldiers fought with unmatched courage. Unable to break the Russian spirit or sustain his army, Napoleon faced utter defeat. His grand army found no glory in the ashes of Moscow. Forced into a humiliating retreat along the ravaged Smolensk Road, his forces dwindled with every mile. By March 1814, the victorious Russians had reached Paris and were watering their horses on the River Seine.
The roar of the Battle of Borodino faded, and the Odigitria icon, along with the Iveron icon, journeyed to Lefortovo Palace, offering comfort to the wounded. As French forces neared Moscow, guardians spirited the Smolensk icon to safety in Yaroslavl, where it remained until Napoleon’s defeat. With peace restored, the icon returned to Smolensk, taking its place once more in the cathedral. It watched over the city for almost a century until the horrors of World War II descended. Between 1941 and 1943, this ancient relic, attributed to the hand of Luke the Evangelist, vanished amidst the turmoil.
Interior of the Smolensk Dormition Cathedral during 1941–1943
The Smolensk icon’s fate remains a mystery. Today, a faithful copy, known as the Gatehouse Icon, stands in its place in the Dormition Cathedral. Artist Postnik Rostovets created it for Smolensk during the reign of Ivan the Terrible.
Miraculous copy of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in the Dormition Cathedral
Just as centuries ago, the Holy Odigitria listens to our pleas and guides us towards salvation and eternal joy.
“Preserve unharmed the remaining years of our life through Your help, O Virgin Maiden, and grant us a good end, we who sing to You and cry out: Rejoice, O Most Blessed Mother of God, Pure Odigitria.”
(Troparion from the Canon to the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, Ode 9)
The editorial team of obitel-minsk.ru prepared this material
Photographs sourced from the internet
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