home Audience 3 Akathist, prayers to the icon B.M. "Unexpected joy" Icon of the prayer of the Mother of God, unexpected joy

Akathist, prayers to the icon B.M. "Unexpected joy" Icon of the prayer of the Mother of God, unexpected joy

Dejection and despair are mortal sins, decadence imposed by demonic spawn. If you succumb to weakness and allow these feelings into yourself, you can lose faith and even fall into madness. If a person lives in sin for a long time, only turning to the Mother of God can save him. The Most Holy Theotokos provides intercession to all those in need through the image of “Unexpected Joy”, captured on the icon of the same name.

In what cases do you turn to “Unexpected Joy”?

The “Unexpected Joy” icon is famous for its miraculous history, but true believers do not perceive it as something extraordinary, since grace and love for mankind, supported by corresponding gifts, are common for the Mother of God. The parable underlying the plot of the image refers us to the powerful prayer of the Mother of God, which is able to overcome the impossible, including God’s righteous wrath. In order for the request reflected in the prayer to come true, it is necessary to repent of all sins.

The name of the icon gives the right to ask her for help in the most hopeless situations. They pray to the image for such things as:

Healing from deadly diseases;
Calming family feud;
Infertility;
Finding your other half;
A successful marriage.

Where to start prayer?

If there is a dark streak in life that has dragged on for a long period, you should resort to prayer as quickly as possible. To get what you want, get into the habit of following a simple rule, but do it regularly. When it is difficult to understand the canons on your own, ask for advice from a spiritual mentor or another clergyman in order to gain confidence in the correctness of your undertaking. Having secured a blessing, it will be easier to perform the work of prayer, you will be able to resist the demons trying to get hold of the soul and drag it to the side of darkness.

The prayer “Unexpected joy” begins with reading the akathist (full text). Remember that simply saying prayer words and letting them pass through you are two different things. You need to clear your conscience: you cannot pray without relieving your soul of sinful deeds that could anger the Almighty. Before prayer, be sure to confess and take communion. Orthodoxy teaches that prayer said in isolation from contact with the church does not acquire full power.

What to pray for?

Prayer is a universal way of communicating with higher powers. As you turn to heaven, think: does the request really need to be voiced? Will this not become a temptation or an obstacle to achieving a righteous life? To eliminate doubts, say the prayer “Unexpected joy,” adding, if possible, to each new phrase the words “If it is God’s will.”

When you receive a blessing from a clergyman, order a prayer service to the icon. During the process of prayer, leave aside all the burdens and problems that torment your soul., and pay full attention to the meaning of the spoken text. Its canonical version has a specific task - to direct the parishioner’s mind to the root of the essence and identify his unrepentant sins.

In the Christian religion, akathists are added to the prayer rule and read in a suitable place, the best of which, without a doubt, is the church. If you decide to read the akathist in church, choose a time so that it does not fall during the service, otherwise you will disturb the rest of the parishioners.

Akathist to the prayer book “Unexpected Joy” contains in its structure 12 ikos and 13 kontakia, which glorify the Mother of God in poetic form and tell about the parable that serves as the plot for the icon. There are no specific requests in it. The prayer itself is read in order to make a request for the granting of a happy marriage, childbirth, and healing from infertility.

Prayer to the Mother of God “Unexpected joy”

How to correctly read the prayer to the image of the Mother of God? The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” should be added to the akathist. It can be read on a separate basis: in this case, the person uttering the prayer words must relate himself to the image of the sinner from the parable, who lived unrighteously, but prayed to the Mother of God day and night. The text of the holy prayer is voluminous, it includes many requests related to different areas of life. The one who reads it prays not only for himself, but also for all those who suffer.

The prayer is said in Church Slavonic. It is important to maintain punctuation and stress correctly. At first it seems that it is extremely difficult to understand its essence, but daily reading will help to reveal the meaning of the prayer completely (the entire prayer is possible).

If you have committed to reading "Unexpected Joy" every day or on Sundays for a certain period of time, you should not deviate from this commitment.

How else can you pray “Unexpected Joy”?

You can consult the icon both in church and at home. The first method is more preferable from the point of view of the church, since it involves the parishioner entering into a special religious mood necessary for the ritual. But if you say a prayer or akathist alone with yourself, there is nothing reprehensible in this. You can read them to yourself while in transport, while on the road - the main thing is to have the appropriate attitude. The short Akathist to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” exists in several forms. They are quite simple and easy to learn by heart.

The first akathist expresses humility before the holy face:

“There are no imams of other help, no imams of other hope, unless You, Lady, help us! We rely on You and boast in You, for we are Your servants, so let us not be ashamed.”

The second akathist asks for mercy and deliverance from misfortune:

“Open the doors of mercy for us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You, for You are the salvation of the Christian race.”

When pronouncing the third akathist, give thanks to the Mother of God:

“Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You! Blessed are You among women and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.”

Where to make a pilgrimage for prayer?

By making a pilgrimage to the holy image, the believer is filled with special grace, which is difficult to achieve when praying to the list. To see the icon, visit the following places.

Complete collection and description: icon of unexpected joy, prayer in Russian for the spiritual life of a believer.

Prayers to the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

To the Mother of God and the Queen, chosen from all generations, who sometimes appeared to a lawless man in order to turn him away from the path of wickedness, we offer a song of thanksgiving to Thee, the Mother of God: But You, who have unspeakable mercy, free us from all troubles and sins, let us call to Thee:

Today, faithful people, we spiritually triumph, glorifying the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, and flowing to Her Most Pure Image, we cry out: O most merciful Lady Theotokos, grant us unexpected joy, burdened with many sins and sorrows, and deliver us from all evil, praying to Thy Son , Christ our God, save our souls.

About the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

The history of this icon is told by Saint Demetrius of Rostov in his work “Irrigated Fleece”.

Prayer to the icon Unexpected Joy

Very often, when people are in a state of despair, they turn to the Mother of God for help. In the hope that they will receive the long-awaited help and they will have spiritual enlightenment that will show them the right path. The “Unexpected Joy” icon has a very strong effect on a person, bringing him balance and healing.

What do they pray for to the Unexpected Joy icon?

People who need help from higher powers can read a prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon and ask the Mother of God for the following:

assistance in the birth of a child;
about the gift of children;
family reunification;
pregnancy;
happiness in everyday life.

Moreover, peasants very often ask before the face of the Mother of God for protection from people who want to harm them or are trying to slander them. It is believed that the Mother of God not only helps, but punishes people who try to do bad deeds.

How does the holy image help?

Most people suffer from various ailments and illnesses on the physical level, only because they have a lot of anger towards others, they suffer from constant envy of almost all people. At the same time, they simply do not understand that spiritual illnesses degenerate into physical ones.

Prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon gives people special sensations; those who sincerely believe in God, determine the direction in life, and acquire truly light and joyful emotions. Very often women ask Our Lady for a child, and if she lives her life correctly, then help will soon come. “Unexpected Joy” also helps in the return of her husband, who disappeared many years ago. There are proven cases of men returning after long years of absence.

When people simply asked for help in front of the icon, not with memorized words, but simply their speech was spoken from the heart and soul, then for some time those asking received what they asked from the Mother of God. Several options for how the “Unexpected Joy” icon helps:

the shrine helps women who have been unable to get pregnant for a long period of time;
helps parents who ask for help for their children who have gone astray;
if people are constantly overtaken by failures, then bowing to this image, they suddenly begin to have a “white streak”, everything they do is doomed to success.

Prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” for the gift of children gives many women the last opportunity to become pregnant and raise their long-awaited child. And, oddly enough, the Lord actually gives them a child.

How to pray correctly

Almost every woman on earth dreams of becoming a good wife and mother. Very often, in search of this happiness in life, they turn to higher powers for help. You need to ask in front of the icon from a pure heart and it should be a request, and not an instruction to the Lord.

If a girl’s intentions are pure and sincere, then there is no doubt that happiness will overtake her in the near future, and she will find a real, strong family. Moreover, you need to pray not only to achieve a goal, but also after a joyful event in life.

Text of the prayer to the Unexpected Joy icon for the gift of children

“O Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Patron of this city and holy temple, faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses!

Accept this prayer song from us, unworthy of Your servants, offered to You, and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Your honorable icon, You did not despise him, but You gave him the unexpected joy of repentance and You bowed down Your Son to the many and zealous towards Him. intercession for the forgiveness of this sinner and lost one, so even now do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, and implore Thy Son and our God, and grant to all of us, who with faith and tenderness worship before Thy celibate image, unexpected joy for each need: a sinner mired in the depths of evil and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; for those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; to those who find themselves in troubles and embitterment - a complete abundance of these; for the faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; for those who live in joy and abundance - unceasing thanksgiving to God the Benefactor; to those in need - mercy; those who are in illness and long illness and abandoned by doctors - unexpected healing and strengthening; for those who were waiting for the mind from illness - return and renewal of the mind; those departing into eternal and endless life - memory of death, tenderness and contrition for sins, a cheerful spirit and firm hope in the mercy of the Judge.

O Most Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor Your all-honorable Name and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession: in piety, purity and honest living, observe them in goodness until their death; create evil good things; guide the erring one on the right path; Make progress in every good work that is pleasing to Your Son; Destroy every evil and ungodly deed; in bewilderment and difficult and dangerous circumstances, to those who find invisible help and admonition sent down from Heaven, save and save from temptations, seductions and destruction, from all evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; float for those who swim, travel for those who travel; Be the Nourisher for those in need and hunger; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, provide cover and refuge; Give clothing to the naked, intercession to the offended and unjustly persecuted; invisibly justify the slander, slander and blasphemy of those who suffer; expose slanderers and slanderers before everyone; To those who are bitterly at odds, grant unforeseen reconciliation and to all of us - love, peace, piety, and health with long life for each other.

Preserve marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses who exist in enmity and division, die, unite me to each other and establish an indestructible union of love for them; Give quick permission to mothers giving birth, raise babies, teach chastity to young ones, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, instruct the fear of God, abstinence and hard work; Protect your blood brothers from domestic strife and enmity with peace and love; Be the Mother of motherless orphans, turn away from every vice and defilement and teach everything good and pleasing to God; those seduced into sin and uncleanness, having revealed the filth of sin, bring them out of the abyss of destruction; Be the Comforter and Helper of widows, be the rod of old age; Deliver us all from sudden death without repentance and grant us all a Christian death in our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ.

Having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, create with the Angels and all the saints the lives; to those who passed away by sudden death, beg the mercy of Thy Son and for all those who have died, who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Thy Son, Thou thyself be a ceaseless and warm Prayer Book and Intercessor: that all in Heaven and on earth may lead Thee as a steadfast and unashamed Representative of the race Christian, and, knowingly, glorify Thee and Thy Son with Thee, His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

The prayer to the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” for the gift of children is a very effective means of achieving this goal. You should constantly pray in front of this shrine and soon help will definitely come. It is also worth praying not only during failures and troubles, you can simply thank the Lord in prayer for everything that he has given you.

Prayer to the Ostrobramsk Icon of the Mother of God
Prayer to the icon of the Unfading Color - here
Prayer to the Vladimir Icon - https://bogolub.info/molitva-vladimirskoj-ikone/

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2 How it will help icon “Unintentional joy" 3 Why read the akathist icon. . Prayer before icon « Unintentional joy“will help you see your sins if the voice of conscience has been drowned out.

This image is of Western origin, but it became famous in Russia. One of a kind name - icon"Three joys" - received according to a miracle that happened according to prayer one pious one.

Prayer Kazan icon- What helps is reading the text. No matter how difficult things are in life, people always turn to the Lord God. . Prayer icon Unintentional Joy.

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6.1 Prayer Pochaevskaya icon Mother of God. 6.2 What you need to know about Pochaevskaya icon. The history of the holy image. . Icon Mother of God " Unintentional joy" - Here.

This image is of Western origin, but it became famous in Russia. One of a kind name - icon"Three joys" - received according to a miracle that happened according to prayer one pious one.

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Witch.net

On May 14, June 3 and December 22, the Orthodox Church celebrates the “Unexpected Joy” icon of the Mother of God.

The appearance of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” for every Orthodox person is one of the most striking examples of how the Most Pure Mother of God, and with Her the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, turn to a person with a call to repentance. With this call, the Mother of God once addressed a certain person - and since then she has addressed each of us through this image.

Finding the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

The story associated with the discovery and painting of the image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” can be divided into two parts. The first is the actual appearance of the Mother of God and the Infant Christ to a certain man, which Saint Demetrius of Rostov described in his creation “The Irrigated Fleece” in 1683. And the second is writing the miracle that happened in an iconographic style.

One man was tormented by a sinful passion (perhaps the passion of fornication) and could not overcome it in himself. At the same time, he was an honest man and, realizing his passion, constantly resorted to the Hodegetria icon of the Mother of God - he cried, asked forgiveness for his way of life, for his weakness, and also read the prayer of the Archangel Gabriel: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you ..."

One day, when this man was once again preparing to commit a sinful deed, he began to pray, as usual, in front of the icon of the Mother of God. In his prayer, he repented for the fact that he could not stop himself from committing a sin, even knowing what he would do. At that moment, when he was about to leave, he was suddenly attacked by confusion and trepidation - the man saw that the image of the Mother of God on the icon turned its face towards him. In turn, the Divine Infant Christ, depicted according to tradition together with His Most Pure Mother, developed ulcers on his arms, legs, and also in his side. Blood began to flow from the opened wounds.

Struck by the vision that appeared to him, the man fell to his knees and asked the image: “Oh, Lady, who did this?” In response, he heard the words of the Mother of God: “You and other sinners are again crucifying My Son with your sins, like the Jews. You call Me merciful. Why do you insult Me with your lawless deeds?”

In repentance, the man began to beg the Mother of God: “O Lady, may my sins not overcome Your inexpressible goodness. You are the only hope for all sinners. Pray for me, Thy Son and our God!” Through the man’s prayer, the Mother of God turned to Her Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, three times with a request to forgive this man. Only for the third time did the Infant God answer: “I fulfill Your request. Let Your wish come true. For Your sake, this man’s sins are forgiven. Let him kiss My wounds as a sign of forgiveness.”

Repentant and forgiven by the Lord, the man rose from his knees and, falling to the icon, kissed the wounds on the body of the Infant Christ. After this, he experienced a feeling of spiritual joy and relief. And later he completely changed his life and cleansed himself of the passions that tormented him. It was these sincere repentance, internal purification and newfound spiritual joy that became the reason for painting the image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”. The details of the writing of certain images of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” have not reached us, but some of them subsequently began to be revered as miraculous, since prayers in front of these images resulted in healings from various ailments.

Iconography

The iconography of the image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is based on the narrative that St. Demetrius of Rostov gives in his creation “The Irrigated Fleece.” The first part of the image is a man kneeling in front of the icon. His gaze and outstretched hands are turned to the icon. The figure of a man is placed in the lower left corner of the image.

According to the type of iconography, the presented image of the Mother of God belongs to the “Hodegetria” type (translated from Greek as “Guide”). This type of icon conveys the idea of the Mother of God leading people to Christ. It is the prayer of the Most Pure Mother of God that is most powerful before the Lord, and therefore it is She who leads us to Him. The kneeling man addresses this image.

Under the image of the Mother of God, one of two texts is usually placed - either the beginning of the story of the miracle told by St. Demetrius of Rostov, or part of the prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy”. The Infant Christ is depicted with open sores on his body.

According to tradition, the icon also depicts (in the form of a ribbon) the words of a man addressed to the Mother of God, and Her response to him, as well as the words of the Infant God. A characteristic feature of the icon that the man is addressing is that both the Mother of God and the Child of God are addressed directly to him. On the one hand, this distinguishes it from the classical image of the Virgin Mary “Hodegetria”, where the Mother of God bends over the Infant Christ. On the other hand, this reflects the miracle itself - the appeal of the Mother of God and the Son of God to a praying person.

Thus, the icon represents not only the image of the Mother of God and the Child Christ, but represents an entire iconographic composition.

Miracles and revered images of the “Unexpected Joy” icon

From the moment the story of the miraculous conversion of the Mother of God with the Child of God to a man obsessed with passion was described by Saint Demetrius of Rostov, Russian icon painters began to create icons depicting this miracle. Accurate information about the writing of this or that image has not reached us, but the history of some revered images (and the images themselves) has been preserved to this day.

One of the first revered icons of “Unexpected Joy” was the one that, since the 19th century, had been in the Moscow church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Burning Bush” in Khamovniki. In 1835, this icon was transferred to the temple according to the oral will of parishioner Alexandra Kunitsyna. Since 1837, the icon began to be glorified by miracles. One such miracle was witnessed in detail. In 1838, on the night from Monday to Tuesday of Holy Week, a certain officer’s widow, Anisya Stepanova, came to the house of one of the parishioners of the Church of the Burning Bush, Anna Timofeeva. This woman suffered from deafness for four months. She contacted doctors, but they could not help her. After spending the night with Anna Timofeeva, in the morning both women went to the temple to ask the priest to serve a prayer service. In the church, at the moment when the troparion “Christ is risen from the dead” began to be sung, and after that the troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos “Now a priest diligently attends the Mother of God,” Anisya Stepanova suddenly regained her hearing, which after this miracle was completely restored.

It is worth noting that before the 1917 revolution, the “Unexpected Joy” icon from the Church of the Burning Bush in Khamovniki was one of the most revered among the people. After the revolution, the fate of this image is unknown.

One of the revered images of the Mother of God, “Unexpected Joy,” was located in the Moscow Kremlin, in the small church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen. This temple was located near the Kremlin Church of the Annunciation. Before the 1917 revolution, many believers constantly came to the image of the Mother of God located in this temple. It is also known that the famous capital priest, Father Valentin Amphitheatrov, served in this church. This temple was destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1928, and the further history of the icon is unknown. There are several versions of her fate. According to one of them, the icon went to the Renovationists (it ended up in their Resurrection Church in Sokolniki), and from there, a little later, it returned to the Orthodox. According to another version, the icon from the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen is identified with the icon that was in another Kremlin temple - Annunciation (later moved to the Church of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane).

Another revered pre-revolutionary image of the Mother of God, “Unexpected Joy,” was originally located in the Church of the Annunciation at Zhitny Dvor, which was located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. After the Bolsheviks destroyed the Kremlin Church of the Annunciation in 1932, the icon was moved to the Church of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane. True, this did not happen immediately, but only in 1944. It is known that this icon was highly revered by Patriarch Pimen. This icon remains in the Obydensky Church to this day. It depicts an elderly man praying in front of the image of the Virgin Mary. Under the image of the Mother of God there is the text of the prayer: “O Mother of God, may our malice not overcome Your ineffable goodness. For you are the hope of all sinners; pray therefore for us Your Son and our God.”

Of the revered pre-revolutionary images of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, we can also mention the icon that was in the church in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates at the Myasnitsky Gate, as well as one non-Moscow one - from the village of Selgi, Simbirsk province. The history of these images, unfortunately, is unknown.

In addition to the already mentioned revered icon located in the temple of Elijah the Prophet, you can also venerate the miraculous icon located in the temple in honor of the “Unexpected Joy” icon in Maryina Roshcha. This temple was built in 1899–1904 with funds from residents of the area. In 1930, the temple was closed, the large bell was removed, and the remaining ones did not sound, as this was prohibited by the authorities. Currently, the main shrine of the temple is the revered icon of the Mother of God.

The revered icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is also located in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word in Danilovskaya Sloboda. This temple was erected in 1832–1837 on the original site of the Danilov Monastery. In 1933, the temple was closed, and a production workshop was located on its premises. Services resumed only in 1989. This year the small consecration of the St. Nicholas chapel of the temple took place, and in 1998 His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II performed the great consecration of the restored temple.

Prayer before the icon of Unexpected Joy

Akathist to the Icon of the Mother of God Unexpected Joy

Today, faithful people, we spiritually triumph, glorifying the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, and, flowing to Her most pure image, we cry out: O Most Merciful Lady Theotokos, grant us unexpected joy, burdened with many sins and sorrows, and deliver us from all evil, praying to the Son Thine, Christ our God, to save our souls.

There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope, unless You, Lady, help us, we rely on You and boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed.

Chosen from all generations of the Mother of God and the Queen, who sometimes appeared to the lawless man, in order to turn him away from the path of wickedness, we offer thanksgiving singing to Thee, the Mother of God; But you, who have unspeakable mercy, free us from all troubles and sins, and let us call you: Rejoice, you who grant unexpected joy to the faithful.

The angels and righteous souls were amazed when you appeared before your Son and God and interceded with many prayers for man, who is always in sin; But we, with the eyes of faith seeing Your great compassion, with tenderness we cry out to You:

Rejoice, you who accept the prayers of all Christians.

Rejoice, you who do not reject the prayers of the most desperate sinners.

Rejoice, you who intercede for your Son for them.

Rejoice, you who give them the unexpected joy of salvation.

Rejoice, saving the whole world through Your intercession.

Rejoice, quenching all our sorrows.

Rejoice, Mother of God of all, comforting embittered souls.

Rejoice, you who arrange our life well.

Rejoice, you who have brought deliverance from sins to all people.

Rejoice, you who brought joy to the whole world.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Seeing the Most Holy One, even if he is lawless, but every day with faith and hope before Her venerable icon, he casts himself down and brings the Archangel’s greeting to Her, and he hears such a sinner’s praise, and all, seeing Her motherly mercy, in heaven and on earth cry out to God: Alleluia.

Human reason truly surpasses Your love for the Christian race, for even then You did not cease from Your intercession for the lawless man, when Your Son showed You the wounds of the nails, the sins of men committed by Him. Seeing You as the persistent Intercessor for us sinners, we cry out to You with tears:

Rejoice, zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, given to us by God.

Rejoice, our Guide, who leads us to the Heavenly Fatherland.

Rejoice, protection and refuge of the faithful.

Rejoice, help of all who call on Your holy name.

Rejoice, thou who hast snatched away all those despised and rejected from the pit of destruction.

Rejoice, you who turn those to the right path.

Rejoice, you who drive away constant despondency and spiritual darkness.

Rejoice, you who have given new and better meaning to those who are dependent on illness.

Rejoice, you who accept those left by doctors into Your all-powerful hands.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

The power of grace abounded there, where sin multiplied, so that all the Angels in heaven rejoice over the one repentant sinner, singing before the Throne of God: Alleluia.

Having motherly mercy towards the Christian race, give a helping hand to all who resort to You with faith and hope, O Lady, so that with one heart and one mouth we all bring the praise of Tisitsa:

Rejoice, for through You God's favor descends upon us.

Rejoice, for through You we, too, are imams who have increased boldness towards God.

Rejoice, for in all our troubles and circumstances you offer your Son earnest prayers for us.

Rejoice, for you have made our prayers pleasing to God.

Rejoice, for you drive away invisible enemies from us.

Rejoice, for you deliver us from visible enemies.

Rejoice, for you soften the hearts of evil people.

Rejoice, for you have taken us away from slander, harassment and reproach.

Rejoice, for through You all our good desires are fulfilled.

Rejoice, for Your prayer can accomplish much before Your Son and God.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Having a storm of sinful thoughts inside, a lawless person prayed before Thy honest icon and, seeing the Blood from the wounds of Thy Eternal Son flowing in streams, like on the Cross, fell from fear and cried out to Thee with sobs: “Have mercy on me, O Mother of mercy, My malice will overcome Your ineffable goodness and mercy, for You are the only hope and refuge for all sinners; bow down to mercy, O Good Mother, and beg Thy Son and my Creator for me, so that I may continually call to Him: Alleluia.”

Having heard the inhabitants of heaven about the wonderful salvation of their dying earthly brother through Your prayers, they glorified You, the Blessed Queen of heaven and earth; And we, sinners, having experienced such intercession of a sinner similar to us, even if our tongue is perplexed to praise Thee according to our heritage, from the depths of our tender heart we sing to Thee:

Rejoice, Helper of the salvation of sinners.

Rejoice, recovery of the lost.

Rejoice, unexpected joy of sinners.

Rejoice, rise of the fallen.

Rejoice, Representative to God, saving the world from troubles.

Rejoice, for the voices of Your prayers tremble.

Rejoice, as the Angels rejoice at this.

Rejoice, for the power of Your prayers fills us, earthly creatures, with joy.

Rejoice, for with these you remove us from the mire of sins.

Rejoice, for you have extinguished the flame of our passions.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

You showed us the God-bearing star, the miraculous icon of Your Mother, O Lord, for, looking at the image of Her bodily eyes, we rise with our minds and hearts to the Primordial Image and through Her we flow to You, singing: Alleluia.

Having seen the Guardian Angels of Christians, as if the Mother of God was assisting them in their instruction, intercession and salvation, they tried to cry out to the most honest Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim:

Rejoice, reigning forever with Your Son and God.

Rejoice, you who always bring prayers to Him for the generation of Christians.

Rejoice, Teacher of Christian faith and piety.

Rejoice, Eradicator of heresies and pernicious schisms.

Rejoice, preserving temptations that corrupt the soul and body.

Rejoice, deliverer from dangerous circumstances and sudden death, without repentance and Holy Communion.

Rejoice, you who give a shameless end to those who trust in You.

Rejoice, even after death for the soul that went to the judgment of the Lord before Your Son, you never cease to intercede.

Rejoice, thou who by Thy maternal intercession delivers this from eternal torment.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

The preacher of Your wondrous mercy, bestowed on a certain lawless man, appeared Saint Demetrius of Rostov, who, writing off the great and glorious and fair works of God, revealed in You, committed to writing and this work of Your mercy for the teaching and consolation of all the faithful, and even these, in sins , troubles, sorrows and embitterments of those who exist, many times every day with faith in prayer they bow their knees before Your image and, having left those who are gone, cry out to God: Alleluia.

Your miraculous icon, O Mother of God, appears to us like a bright dawn, driving away the darkness of troubles and sorrows from all who cry out to You with love:

Rejoice, our Healer in bodily illnesses.

Rejoice, Good Comforter in our spiritual sorrows.

Rejoice, you who transform our sorrow into joy.

Rejoice, you who rejoice those who do not hope with undoubted hope.

Rejoice, you who hunger for the Nourisher.

Rejoice, robe of the naked.

Rejoice, Comforter of widows.

Rejoice, invisible teacher of motherless orphans.

Rejoice, O unjustly persecuted and offended Intercessor.

Rejoice, O just avenger of those who persecute and offend.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Although the Lawgiver, the Righteous Lord Himself is the Executor of the law and shows the abyss of His mercy, bow down to Your fervent prayer, Blessed Mother of the Virgin, for the lawless man, saying: “The law commands, that the son honor the mother. I am Your Son, You are My Mother: I must honor You, listening to Your prayer; Be it as you wish: now his sins are forgiven for Your sake.” We, seeing such the power of our Intercessor’s prayer for the forgiveness of our sins, will glorify Her mercy and ineffable compassion, calling: Alleluia.

A new wondrous and glorious sign appeared to all the faithful, as if not only Your Mother, but also Her most pure face, depicted on the tablet, You have granted the power of miracles, Lord; Marveling at this mystery, with tenderness of heart we cry out to Her like this:

Rejoice, revelation of the wisdom and goodness of God.

Rejoice, affirmation of faith.

Rejoice, manifestation of grace.

Rejoice, gift of useful knowledge.

Rejoice, destruction of harmful teachings.

Rejoice, it is not difficult to overcome lawless habits.

Rejoice, you who give the word of wisdom to those who ask.

Rejoice, thou who workest with senseless understandings.

Rejoice, children, inconvenience to students, giver of reason.

Rejoice, Good Guardian and Mentor of Youth.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

A strange and terrible vision of a certain lawless man, showing him the goodness of the Lord, forgiving his sins through the intercession of the Mother of God; For this reason, therefore, correct your life, live in a manner pleasing to God. Sitsa and we, seeing the glorious deeds and manifold wisdom of God in the world and our life, let us move away from earthly vanities and unnecessary cares of life, and raise our mind and heart to heaven, singing to God: Alleluia.

You are all abiding in the highest, and you have never retreated from the lower ones, Most Merciful Queen of heaven and earth; Even though, after Your Dormition, You ascended into heaven with Your most pure flesh, yet You did not leave the sinful earth, who are a Participant in the providence of Your Son for the Christian race. For this sake, we dutifully please Thee:

Rejoice, having enlightened the whole earth with the radiance of Your most pure soul.

Rejoice, who made all heaven rejoice with the purity of Your body.

Rejoice, the Providence of Your Son for the generation of Christians, Holy Servant.

Rejoice, zealous Representative for the whole world.

Rejoice, Thou who adopted us all at the Cross of Thy Son.

Rejoice, you who always show motherly love to us.

Rejoice, O unenvious Giver of all gifts, spiritual and physical.

Rejoice, blessings of the temporary Intercessor.

Rejoice, thou who openest the doors of the Kingdom of Christ to the faithful.

Rejoice, and filling the land with pure joy of hearts.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Every angelic nature was amazed at the work of Your mercy, Lord, for You have granted such a strong and warm Intercessor and Helper to the Christian race, I am present to us invisibly, but I hear You singing: Alleluia.

The Vets, who preach much, but are not enlightened by God, talk vainly, as if worshiping a holy image is like worshiping an idol: they do not understand that the honor given to the holy image ascends to the Primordial. Not only do we know this good thing, but we also hear from faithful people about many miracles from the face of the Mother of God, and we ourselves accept the worship of him in need of temporal and eternal life, and with joy we cry out to the Mother of God:

Rejoice, for miracles work from Your holy face.

Rejoice, for this wisdom and grace have been hidden from the wise and prudent of this age.

Rejoice, for she was revealed as a child in faith.

Rejoice, for you glorify those who glorify You.

Rejoice, for you put to shame those who reject You before everyone.

Rejoice, for you deliver those who resort to You from drowning, fire and sword, from deadly plagues and from all evil.

Rejoice, for you mercifully heal all the illnesses of mankind, mental and physical.

Rejoice, for through Your prayer you will soon satisfy the righteous wrath of God against us.

Rejoice, for You are a quiet refuge from storms for those floating on the sea of life.

Rejoice, for at the end of our everyday voyage you will reliably lead us to the storm-proof country of the Kingdom of Christ.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Although you saved a certain lawless man from the error of his life’s path, You showed him a wondrous vision from Your most honorable icon, O Most Blessed One, and seeing the miracle, he will repent and, raised from the depths of sin by Your merciful providence, cry out to God: Alleluia.

Thou art a wall to the virgins, O Virgin Mother of God, and to all who flow to Thee, for the Creator of heaven and earth, who dwelleth in Thy womb and was born of Thee, reveal Thee, the Ever-Virgin, the guardian of virginity, purity and chastity and the vessel of all virtue, and teach Thee to proclaim to all:

Rejoice, pillar and fence of virginity.

Rejoice, invisible Guardian of purity and chastity.

Rejoice, kind Teacher of the virgins.

Rejoice, Good Bride, Decorator and Helper.

Rejoice, all-desired accomplishment of good marriages.

Rejoice, speedy resolution for mothers giving birth.

Rejoice, upbringing of infants and grace-filled protection.

Rejoice, you who gladden childless parents with the fruits of faith and the Spirit.

Rejoice, consolation to mourning mothers.

Rejoice, secret joy of pure virgins and widows.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Bringing all-congratulating singing to You, the unworthy, we ask You, Virgin Mother of God: do not despise the voice of Your servants, for we run to You in adversity and sorrow and before You in our troubles we shed tears, singing: Alleluia.

A light-giving candle, we dry in the darkness of sin and the vale of tears that has appeared, we see the Holy Virgin: for the spiritual fire of Her prayers, kindling instructions and consolation, leads everyone to the Unevening Light, the appeals of those who venerate You with these:

Rejoice, Ray from the Sun of Truth - Christ our God.

Rejoice, enlightening bad conscience.

Rejoice, foreseen secret and inconvenience that guides all good things and tells them as befits

Rejoice, you who disgrace false seers and vain fortune-telling.

Rejoice, in the hour of perplexity you put a good thought in your heart.

Rejoice, thou who abideth ever in fasting, prayer and contemplation of God.

Rejoice, you who encourage and admonish the faithful shepherds of the Church.

Rejoice, everlasting consolation for God-fearing monks and nuns.

Rejoice, unashamed Intercessor of sinners who repent before God.

Rejoice, warm Intercessor of all Christians.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Ask us for Divine grace from Your Son and God, extend a helping hand to us, drive away every enemy and adversary from us, pacify our lives, so that we may not perish violently, without repentance, but accept us into eternal shelter, Mother of God, so that we may rejoice in God, through You. to him who saves us: Alleluia.

Singing Your ineffable motherly mercy towards lawless man, we all praise You, as a steadfast intercessor for us sinners, and we worship You, who prays for us: we believe and trust, as You have asked from Your Son and God for the good, temporal and eternal, for all, crying out with love Ti sitse:

Rejoice, all slander and temptations that come from the world, the flesh and the devil are trampled underfoot.

Rejoice, unforeseen reconciliation of bitterly warring people.

Rejoice, unknown correction of unrepentant sinners.

Rejoice, speedy Comforter to those who are exhausted from despondency and sadness.

Rejoice, you who provide us with the grace of humility and patience.

Rejoice, nationwide denunciation of perjury and unrighteous acquisitions.

Rejoice, thou who protectest the blood of the same blood from domestic strife and enmity through peace and love.

Rejoice, you who invisibly turn us away from destructive endeavors and meaningless wishes.

Rejoice, in our good intentions you have been a companion to the Helper.

Rejoice, at the hour of death for all of us, Helper.

Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

O All-Singing Mother, Who contained the Inconceivable God in her womb and gave birth to Joy to the whole world! Accept this present singing, turn all our sorrows into joy and deliver us from all misfortunes and remove future torments from those who cry out for You: Alleluia.

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

There are situations when earthly forces, friends and relatives cannot help, and the person himself understands that he is powerless in a given situation. For example, an incurable illness, insurmountable grief from the loss of loved ones, and disobedient children. At such moments in life, a person is left either alone with himself or with faith and begins to ask the Lord and other saints to help and support him. In order for your requests and prayers to be heard faster, you need to address them directly to one or another saint. In this article you will find out what the prayer to the “Unexpected Joy” icon gives to people, who exactly it helps and why it is called that.

History of the creation of the icon

In the 18th century, the work “Irrigated Fleece” provided the subject for the creation of an icon. It tells the story of a criminal who had the habit of going to church to pray to the Mother of God before each of his crimes.

One day, while reading a prayer, the Mother of God and the Child appeared to this young man, whose whole body was covered in bleeding wounds. To the young man’s question about the child, the Virgin Mary replied that these ulcers appear on the body of Jesus from every bad deed committed by sinners on Earth. After being dried, the criminal repented and begged for forgiveness, but Jesus forgave him only the third time, then he touched with his lips every wound on the body of the Baby, and he and the Mother of God melted into the air. From that moment on, the criminal repented and completely changed his lifestyle, directing it in a righteous direction. When a prayer was read to them, unexpected joy visited him along with liberation from sins. Thanks to this event, the icon received its name.

To this day, prayer in front of the icon “Unexpected Joy” awakens in people morality, decency, tolerance towards themselves and others and makes them rethink their lives, behave righteously, and if you pray for loved ones and relatives, you can help them find relief, save them from sorrow and troubles, if any are present in their life.

What is depicted on the icon?

The appearance of the icon completely coincides with the plot of the story. It depicts a praying sinner kneeling before the Virgin Mary, and the Baby Jesus wearing rags instead of clothes and with bleeding wounds. The sinner is located in the lower left corner, and under the icon the first lines from the story of Demetrius of Rostov or sometimes the prayer “Unexpected Joy” are written. Some icons depict a sinner with a ribbon in his mouth, on which words of forgiveness addressed to the Mother of God are visible.

How does prayer in front of the icon “Unexpected Joy” help?

The Mother of God, having heard people’s prayers addressed to her, protects those who ask from troubles, tears, sadness and sadness. The prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos “Unexpected joy” protects people from all kinds of diseases associated with hearing, both literally and figuratively.

She hears the call of the soul and asks the Lord for the people, and they say that he answers prayers to the Mother of God and other saints. “Unexpected Joy” helps in many other ways.

Here is a small list of problems that she will certainly cope with:

Quarrels and separation of husband and wife;

Sadness from the loss of relatives;

Various hardships;

Saving your own reputation from slander and gossip;

Protection in any difficult situations.

The “Unexpected Joy” prayer will help protect those traveling by sea and land from the dangers that may arise on their way, as well as facilitate their speedy return home safe and sound.

In what matters does an icon help?

The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” helps everyone get what they have longed for a long time, but were secretly afraid that they would never get it. For example, a priest may want sinners to repent and thereby save their souls; those who kneel before the icon will receive forgiveness and remission of sins. Parents will finally be able to find a common language and reason with their rebellious, disobedient children, and set them on the right path. The “Unexpected Joy” prayer helps to find lost loved ones, reconcile warring parties, and suggest a good, bright solution even in the darkest, confusing situations.

Unexpected good news

Prayer in front of an icon gives people the most desired and at the same time unexpected, sudden joy. There is information that during the Great Patriotic War, women, being in the rear, did not leave the icon day or night, praying for their husbands and sons who were at war or missing. Some, especially desperate ones, continued to pray for the health of their loved ones even after they received news of their death - a “funeral”. And they begged the sky for their unexpected joy: information about the tragic death turned out to be erroneous, and the soldier returned home alive.

Many believers know that the prayer to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” helps everyone and fulfills almost any desire, especially those in which people have already despaired of believing.

The icon will help you find female happiness

Many women or couples turn to the icon together when they have problems conceiving a child. The prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos “Unexpected Joy” helps everyone who passionately desire it to feel the happiness of motherhood and fatherhood. Many cases have been recorded when couples, trying in vain to have a child for a long time, turned to the icon and, lo and behold, they achieved their goal. Everyone knows that keeping the fire in the family hearth is hard work, and also that the life of a modern social unit is like a powder keg.

But wise women who want to preserve the sacred marriage union, instead of discussing problems with their friends, resort to the miraculous power of the icon. Any quarrels or grievances are forgotten between spouses, and complete harmony and mutual understanding, harmony and peace reign in the family.

To sum it up...

After reading all of the above, someone will decide that he has found the ideal key to solving all problems, but you need to understand that it cannot be so easy. That without making any effort, it is impossible to achieve any success, that you need to fight, and not just sit back and pray. Faith in the Lord God helps you gain faith in your own strength. reason guides a person to perform noble deeds. Perseverance and determination, supported by faith - this is the ideal union that guarantees success in any life situations. The “Unexpected Joy” icon will give all those who ask and need happiness, grace and the solution to all difficulties and obstacles in their lives. By turning their souls to faith and the Most Holy Theotokos, everyone will find their own innocent joy.

Miraculous words: icon prayer of the mother of God unexpected joy in what is in full description from all the sources we found.

If God were fair, say the holy fathers, we could not hope for forgiveness. On the pages of the Old Testament Scripture, the Lord appears as a formidable Judge and Accuser, punishing the slightest crime against the Law, and today the earth does not open up even under inveterate sinners. Why this happens is explained by an instructive story shown in a pictorial image known as the “Unexpected Joy” icon.

Miracles occurring from miraculous icons are carefully studied and recorded. They did the same at the Holy Trinity Elias Monastery near Chernigov. In 1662, the first miracle was recorded from the icon of the Mother of God, painted by the monk Gennady. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Most Pure Virgin, holding the Divine Infant in her arms, for 10 days. All of Chernigov “looked with great horror” at the weeping Virgin.

The miracle of the Ilinsk-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God became famous and has come down to the present day thanks to St. Dmitry of Rostov.

Interesting. St. Dmitry Rostovsky is a church writer and educator who has written many books, including the lives of saints, sermons on faith and repentance, discussions on gospel stories and God's miracles.

Resurrection of the Youth

Traveling through the monasteries of Little Russia, St. Demetrius wrote the book “Irrigated Fleece,” based on stories about miracles from Our Lady of Chernigov. The stories were accompanied by teachings. One of the chapters, “The Dew of Resurrection,” talks about a youth who suddenly died. There was no illness or other reasons indicating the approach of death. The hieromonk of the Elias Monastery, who was then nearby, advised the parents to pray before the miraculous icon of Chernigov.

The parents went to the monastery and fell to the Intercessor. And a miracle happened: the child came to life. No one expected such happiness, although they believed in the mercy of the Mother of God. To the story of the resurrection of the youth, which occurred in April 1679, St. Demetrius attached a parable, on the basis of which the icon “Unexpected Joy” was written.

Parable of St. Dimitri and writing a new image

A certain sinner had the custom of praying to the Blessed Virgin with the words of the angelic greeting “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”, going to his iniquity. One day, kneeling in front of the icon and about to say the usual prayer, he saw a terrible vision: blood flowed in streams from the feet and hands of the Infant God, and the Mother of God Herself appeared to him as if alive.

“Who did this, Lady?” - the sinner shouted in horror. “You and those like you constantly wound My Son, like the Jews on the Cross, with your iniquities,” answered the Mother of God. Instantly repenting, the man began to beg for forgiveness, but the Lord did not look in his direction. Then he appealed to the Mother of God: “Let my sins not overcome Your mercy, Lady, ask the Lord for me!”

The Mother of God turned to her Son with a prayer for forgiveness for the sinner. The Lord answered Her, like a Son, with respect: “I cannot forgive, for I endured his iniquity for a long time.” The petitioner, who watched this with fear, completely despaired of his salvation. Then the Most Pure One stood up and wanted to fall on her knees before Christ: “I will lie at Your feet until this man receives forgiveness!” The Lord did not allow this to happen, saying that although He is God, He honors His Mother and is ready to fulfill Her prayers. The forgiven sinner rushed to kiss the wounds of the Lord, which immediately healed and the vision ended.

After reading “The Irrigated Fleece,” an unknown artist painted an icon based on the parable where a man prays to the Mother of God, calling it “Unexpected (unexpected) joy.”

The connection between the miracle and the parable is obvious: just as the parents of the dead boy did not expect to see him alive, so the sinner from the parable did not expect forgiveness from the Lord. But through the prayers of the Intercessor of the Mother of God, everyone received what they asked for, which became an “unexpected joy” for them.

Meaning of images

The Lord, depicted as a Youth, does not hold a scroll in his hand, but shows his hands with traces of sores to a kneeling sinner. The tunic has been thrown off, wounds on the rib and legs are visible. According to the Gospel, Christ received four wounds when He was crucified on the cross, and the fifth, in the rib, when the guards wanted to make sure of the death of the condemned man.

On old copies of the icon there is always a drawn-back curtain in the background - a symbol of the church's royal doors, the entrance to heaven, slightly opened for the sinner. The red color of the veil is a symbol of resurrection.

The sinner himself is dressed in a green chiton. Green is the color of the earthly, human world. In such clothes they depicted the Old Testament prophets, who were righteous, but did not know Divine grace, only foretelling the coming of Christ. The praying sinner is not yet forgiven, but expects forgiveness and renewal of life.

Inscriptions on the icon

In the field under the image of the Virgin Mary there is the text of the parable, written in illegible Church Slavonic script. Usually the initial words are placed: “A certain lawless man has a daily rule of praying to the Most Holy Theotokos...”, sometimes the title “The Unexpected Joy of the Most Holy Theotokos” is written.

It is believed that the word sanctifies the image; it must be included in the composition. Due to lack of space for text, it is placed in a greatly abbreviated form, symbolizing the entire inscription. On large images the words of the sinner are sometimes written: “Oh, Lady, who did this?” and the response of the Mother of God “You and other sinners with your sins...”, in lines directed from the sinner to the Mother of God.

Location of the “Unexpected Joy” icons and miracles

St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv. Miraculous image of the 19th century. has been in the cathedral since the Great Patriotic War. The Mother of God and the Lord are depicted wearing royal crowns. Unfortunately, now the Vladimir Cathedral is in the hands of schismatics.
“The Burning Bush” in Khamovniki (before the revolution). The oldest known list was kept here. In 1838, on Easter week, he miraculously healed a woman who suffered from complete deafness. Anisya Stepanova could not even hear the bell ringing. After serving the prayer service to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy,” Anisya heard the singing of the Easter troparion and the deafness disappeared. In 1930, the temple was destroyed and the miraculous image was lost.
The Tretyakov Gallery houses a unique icon “Unexpected Joy” (1st half of the 19th century), where the main picture is surrounded by 120 small images of other miraculous icons of the Mother of God. The central image carries the main meaning: the Lord forgives sins through the prayer of the Mother of God - the Prayer Book and Intercessor for the human race.

This is not a complete list of temples under the protection of the Queen of Heaven. In the 2000s, many churches were built in honor of “Unexpected Joy”, charitable institutions are named after her, and springs are consecrated. This image of the Mother of God can be found as a revered icon in other churches.

Important. “Unexpected Joy” is prayed before the image of the Mother of God in difficult life situations, when hope has dried up. During the war, mothers prayed for their sons, for whom “funerals” were received; later it turned out that the letters were sent erroneously and the soldiers returned alive.

Nothing is impossible for the mercy of the Mother of God, but first of all, before prayer, you need to remember and realize your sins, from which the wounds of the Lord bleed.

How does the “Unexpected Joy” icon help?

The Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” on May 14, June 3 and December 22. The first part of the image is a man standing in front of the icon, whose gaze and hands are turned to the Mother of God. It is located in the lower left corner. The image of the Mother of God herself belongs to the “Hodegetria” type. At the bottom there is usually either the beginning of the story about the miracle of St. Demetrius of Rostov, or part of the prayer to the “Unexpected Joy” icon. The Infant of God is depicted on the icon with open wounds on his body.

The history of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

The legend tells of the appearance of the Mother of God with the Child of God to a man. It was described by the saint of Rostov in his work “Irrigated Fleece.” The man suffered from a sin that he could not overcome. After each violation of a promise, he asked for forgiveness from the icon of the Mother of God. One fine day, before committing a sin, the man again turned to the icon and, leaving, he noticed that the Mother of God had turned her face to him, and wounds appeared on the body of the Infant of God, from which blood flowed. This event seriously affected the man, and he felt spiritual cleansing and forgot about his sin forever. This story became the basis for painting the famous icon.

The most famous image is located in the Church of Elijah the Prophet, which is located in Moscow. Several copies were made from this icon, which also showed their power and worked miracles. Every day people come to the image and turn to Higher powers with their problems.

How does the “Unexpected Joy” icon help?

During life, a person commits different actions and experiences feelings, for example, envy, anger, etc. All this negatively affects the internal state. By turning to the icon, a believer can find joy, peace, and find his true path and purpose. For example, in different historical periods during wars, women prayed to the image for the return of their husbands, and as a result, the desired became a reality.

To receive help, you need to read a prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, and then state everything that lies like a stone in your soul. Many women who want to get pregnant make this request and soon the wish comes true. The icon helps to heal from various diseases; for example, there is evidence that people were cured of deafness and blindness. The icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” will help strengthen faith and give hope in better times. If you read a prayer for the family before this image, you can improve relationships, get rid of hostility, conflicts and other problems. You can pray in front of the icon about various family problems, the main thing is to do it from the heart. Lonely people can ask the Higher Powers for help in finding their soulmate. Prayers about earthly affairs are read in front of the icon. For example, you can get protection from existing enemies, gossip and various troubles. The face will also help in solving material problems.

There are no specific rules on how to pray in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon. The clergy say that the main thing is to do it from the heart. It is recommended to first contact the priest to receive his blessing. If the text of the prayer is difficult to remember, then you can read it from a page, but it is important to write everything yourself. It is also allowed to address the face in your own words, the main thing is to speak from the heart without any thoughts.

The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” sounds like this:

This is the most important prayer for addressing this icon, but there are also other texts that are used depending on the situation, that is, taking into account what exactly needs to be asked from the Higher Powers. You can also read the Akathist to the icon “Unexpected Joy”.

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Icon of Unexpected Joy: How it Helps

This article was written for those believers who want to know how the icon of Unexpected Joy helps. Also here you can learn not only how the icon helps, but also where to hang it and what prayer to read before it.

Brief history of the icon

How does an icon help?

You need to ask for help from the Mother of God depicted in the “Unexpected Joy” icon in the following cases:

if you have a hearing-related disease;
if you can't get pregnant;
if your child has followed a “crooked path”, and you want to set him on the right path;
if relatives have died and this has become an irreparable loss for you and you are very worried about this tragedy;
if you are looking for a missing relative or loved one.

Where to hang an icon?

In order for the icon to help you, you need to place it correctly in your home.

Here's where you can't weigh an icon:

in dirty places such as a toilet;
in places where various rubbish is stored;
You should not place an icon in the hallway.

You need to remember that during prayer you must be alone with God and no one should disturb you. Therefore, it is best to place the icon in your bedroom.

Moreover, it does not need to be weighed, but rather placed on something. The support can be a table, a bedside table, a chest of drawers or a special shelf for icons in the far right corner of the room.

How to pray correctly in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon?

In order for the Mother of God, depicted in the icon, to hear you and come to your aid, you must correctly send prayers to her.
As we said above, it is better to pray alone.
This can be done both in the morning and in the evening.
It will be good if you light a church candle before reading the prayer.
You should also observe all fasts, not sin and thank the Lord for everything you have, then he and the Mother of God will give you what you ask.
You can read the Orthodox prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon, or you can read your own. If you, say, want to get pregnant, then the words of the prayer could be like this:

“Mother of God, our Almighty! Let me feel the joy of becoming a mother, send me a baby. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen!"

Here is the icon of Unexpected Joy, which helps and now you know how to correctly address prayers to it and where to place it in your home.

How does the miraculous icon “Unexpected Joy” help?

Orthodox believers especially venerate the Most Holy Theotokos, calling her protector, intercessor, and helper. Almost every day in churches, according to the calendar of Orthodox dates, one or another icon of the Mother of God is remembered with a prayer request. Twice a year, on May 14 and December 22, the miraculous image “Unexpected Joy” is celebrated. Please note that both words in the title are capitalized, because Joy refers to the Most Pure Virgin herself. What does unexpected joy mean? - the one they didn’t expect, didn’t expect. Such an unexpected heartfelt feeling once touched a sinner.

How was the image “Unexpected Joy” revealed?

The exact date and place of appearance of the icon is unknown; it became widespread less than three centuries ago.

It is surprising that an icon is usually called miraculous after it has performed numerous miraculous healings and phenomena. Only the image “Unexpected Joy” precedes a wonderful event. Saint Dmitry of Rostov mentions it for the first time in his work “Irrigated Fleece”. This book was written by the Saint to glorify the locally revered Holy Mother of God Icon of the Elias Monastery in the city of Chernigov.

The last chapter described the following story: one unrighteous man lived wickedly, but always treated the Most Holy Theotokos with special reverence. One day he was about to commit lawlessness once again, and as usual, he said the words of prayer, addressing him with an angelic greeting: Rejoice, full of grace. Suddenly the icon seemed to become alive; instead of joy, sorrow was reflected on the face of the Mother of God. She held in her arms the Infant of God, whose shirt was torn and bleeding wounds opened on his arms, legs and under his ribs. The wicked man was amazed at what he saw. He bent down and knelt down, asking who could do this to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The answer he received floored him. The Mother of God replied that this was the work of his hands and other sinful people who crucified her Son again and again. The sinner prayed for a long time, without receiving forgiveness twice. The Mother of God together with him asked the Divine Child for help. For the third time, after the heartfelt repentance of the wicked man and the desire of the Mother of God to pray with him at the feet of the Son, the Lord said that the law commands that the Son honor the mother, let it be as she says. The forgiven one kissed the icon, falling unconscious. Having come into himself, he felt unprecedented joy in his heart, hope for forgiveness for his actions. The man was reborn spiritually and began to lead a righteous life.

This event formed the basis for painting the icon “Unexpected Joy”. It received an incredible response in the hearts of believers; by the end of the 18th century, a copy of the miraculous image was in almost every Orthodox church. It can still be found today in many churches; it is especially revered in Moscow in the Church of Elijah the Prophet. Initially, this icon was kept in one of the Kremlin churches, in the mid-20th century it was transported to Sokolniki, and since 1959 it has been in the Elias Church of Elijah; it is known that Patriarch Pimen often prayed in front of it.

What type of Mother of God icons does it belong to?

On the icon “Unexpected Joy” the Mother of God is depicted with the Infant Christ in her arms, this is a type of Hodegetria, which translated means Guide, she, pointing with one hand to her Son, asserting which path a Christian should go. The unique image differs from most canonical images. This is not just an icon, but an iconographic composition (an icon within an icon).

The action takes place in the temple. In the lower left corner there is a man who knelt in prayer before the image of the Mother of God. Sometimes the letters from his mouth are depicted as ribbons to show his earnest prayer. The head of the Queen of Heaven is slightly tilted, her gaze is indirect, directed at the person praying. She points to the Son with one hand, and holds Him with the other as if on a throne. The Divine Infant has wounds from which blood flows, one hand is raised, it blesses all believers. A number of theologians classify “Unexpected Joy” as a type of akathist icon.

Below the image are words from the book of the Saint of Rostov: A certain lawless man. Think about it, after all, each of us daily commits lawlessness, sins: discussing, despondent, shouting, swearing, being proud, performing seemingly harmless actions, thereby becoming an accomplice in this distant history, again and again crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ, the way out is in repentance, hope for forgiveness and prayer help.

What should she pray for?

Often a person finds himself in a critical situation when he can only rely on God’s help. Then they pray to the Mother of God, asking her to cling to the heart of her Son and ask for spiritual joy, help in business, strengthening in faith, for the return of the lost and the preservation of children.

Parents prayerfully ask the Mother of God for their children, so that they are healthy, follow the right path in life, for their confirmation in faith, for spiritual and physical insight. The image of the Mother of God helps spouses to establish peace and mutual understanding, eliminate divisions, and reconcile those at war. This icon is approached with a request to protect from enemies and spiteful critics. Through prayers from the image of “Unexpected Joy” many healings and miracles occur, but most often people receive healing from deafness. This means not only a physical illness, but also a spiritual one: the inability to hear the words of Holy Scripture, loved ones. Cases have been established when women prayed for a quick marriage, for the return of their husbands from the battlefield, from a trip, they received help, prayer is effective against serious adversity, unjust accusations.

There are several prayer rules that are read depending on life circumstances. When time allows, it is better to read the full text of the prayer or even an akathist. There is a lot of evidence that reading the akathist helps infertile women: despite the diagnosis, they get the opportunity to experience the joy of motherhood.

Prayer for pregnancy to the Mother of God in front of the icon “Unexpected Joy”:

Accept this prayer song from us, unworthy of Your servants, offered to You: and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Your venerable icon, You did not despise Him, but You granted the unexpected joy of repentance, and through Your zealous intercession with Your Son for the forgiveness of the sinner Thou hast bowed thus, and now do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, but pray to Thy Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness before Thy celibate image, who, according to each need, grant unexpected joy: may all in heaven and on the lands lead You as a steadfast and unashamed Representative of the Christian race, and this leading, they glorify You and Your Son with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

If there is a lack of time, you can limit yourself to a short call to the help of the Mother of God the Virgin Mary. The clergy emphasize that the main thing is that the prayer comes from a pure heart. It is important to first say the words of prayer, after which formulate a petition in your own words.

To the Mother of God and the Queen, chosen from all generations, who sometimes appeared to a lawless man to turn him away from the path of wickedness, we offer a song of thanksgiving to Thee, the Mother of God: But You, who have unspeakable mercy, free us from all troubles and sins, let us call to Thee: Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Today, return to the people who glorify the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, and who flow to Her most pure image, we cry out to the Lord: Oh, Merciful Lady Theotokos, grant us unexpected joy, burdened with many sins and sorrows, and deliver us from all evil, praying to Your Son, Christ God ours, to save our souls.

What does the name of the icon say?

Unexpected joy is an image that reminds us that forgiveness of sins is possible with heartfelt repentance and prayer. A joyful feeling does not immediately fill a person; he read the prayer and immediately became happy, no. After heartfelt labor and repentance (remember that Jesus Christ did not immediately forgive the sinner), when it would seem there is no more strength, forgiveness comes, and at the same time, unexpectedly, the heart becomes light and joyful. The icon teaches you to remain true to your word. A person, after repentance and received forgiveness, does not go further to lawlessness, but begins to lead a righteous life.

It is no coincidence that according to legend, the first to go to heaven with Christ was a robber who sincerely repented. No matter what circumstances happen in life, the Most Holy Theotokos becomes the first intercessor of every person. And you need to be able to notice joy in every moment. It is that there is a family, children, a favorite job, that you can hear the ringing of bells, birdsong and admire nature, it is that there is hope for healing, help, eternal life, there is a heavenly Intercessor ready to help everyone who addressed her.

Rejoice, you who grant unexpected joy to the faithful!

Thank you very much for such a detailed explanation.

Everything about religion and faith - “miracles, prayer, unexpected joy” with detailed descriptions and photographs.

No. 15 (720) / April 8 ‘13

What to pray for in front of the icon?

The celebration of the “Unexpected Joy” icon of the Mother of God takes place twice a year - December 9/22 and May 1/14.

Prayer in front of this icon helps us get everything that we have wanted for so long, that we no longer expected to receive, each according to our own desire: for a priest it can be the repentance of a sinner in the flock and the salvation of his soul, for someone asking for the forgiveness of sins it can be forgiveness. It helps parents in cases where it is necessary to bring some sense to children who have lost their way or gone down a vicious path. Someone finds lost loved ones, someone reconciles with someone with whom reconciliation seems impossible, and much, much more happens, even a seeming failure can turn into a happy accident.

It is believed that prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon helps in healing from diseases, especially those associated with deafness. Here, physical deafness is probably subconsciously associated among believers with spiritual deafness, with the loss of moral guidelines, which obviously manifests itself at the bodily level.

Appeal to the image helps in diseases associated with hearing. Before “Unexpected Joy” they pray for the return of the lost, for reconciliation, in hardships and sorrows. In a word, everyone who has already lost all hope of salvation turns to the icon.

Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” helps to find just such a joy, the most amazing, because it is unexpected, sudden. It is known that during the Great Patriotic War, many women in the rear prayed in front of this icon (there is information about this) for the men of their family who were missing, and others even for the fallen, after the funeral. And unexpected joy happened - the information about the death turned out to be erroneous, the fighter returned home.

Many believers know: ask Her icon “Unexpected Joy” for everything that your soul grieves about, and She, the Intercessor, helps everyone who comes with faith and prayer, even in what seems almost impossible, returning lost hopes.

If you carefully read the prayer with which this image is addressed, it will become clear that in front of this icon they pray for insight and healing: spiritual, mental, physical. The icon “Unexpected Joy” is turned to when there is almost no hope, when despair settles in the heart. No longer expecting any joy, people suddenly receive it thanks to fervent prayer.

How often do parents of children who have embarked on the path of vice find themselves in despair. Turning to the image with heartfelt prayer gives the unexpected, unexpected joy of salvation and conversion to virtue. Children realize their mistakes, those at war see the light and make peace, those who betrayed them repent and return to the bosom of their family...

Miracles, you say? Maybe. Only the beginning of this miracle is made by the one who kneels before a familiar image and with sincere repentance and mental pain asks for forgiveness from the One who hears everyone, listens to everyone and grieves for every sinner.

Prayer of the Mother of God before her icon “Unexpected Joy”

Oh, Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Patroness of this city, faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Accept this prayer song from us, unworthy of Your servants, offered to You: and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Your venerable icon, You did not despise Him, but You granted the unexpected joy of repentance, and through Your zealous intercession with Your Son for the forgiveness of the sinner Thou hast bowed down, so even now do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, but pray to Thy Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness before Thy celibate image, who, according to each need, grant unexpected joy: may all be in Heaven and they bring You to earth as a steadfast and unashamed Representative of the Christian race, and this leading, they glorify You and Your Son with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

In other rooms:

No. 45 (894) / December 6 ‘16

Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov: Miraculous renewal, change of mind and heart

No. 35 (932) / September 19 ‘17

Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov: Humility is an understanding of one’s place in the Divine hierarchy

No. 19 (916) / May 24 ‘17

Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov: “Jesus, my Creator, do not forget me. »

Faith sets you free

We are near Munich, in the house where the family of the late Gleb Alexandrovich lives - widow Sofya Vasilievna, daughter Ksenia, son Dmitry came to visit them. In total, Gleb Aleksandrovich, together with Sofia Vasilievna, raised and raised six children in Germany, all of them Orthodox, loving Russia and speaking Russian. And one of them, Mikhail, became a priest and serves today

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Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

In times of weak faith, a person turns to God only after realizing the futility of his own efforts. It is not easy to beg the Lord, feeling the burden of sins on your soul. It is even more difficult for the prayer of one who does not want to see his guilt to reach Him. While waiting for repentance, the Lord hesitates in fulfilling requests and, surrounded by unsolvable problems, a person feels despair in his soul.

Despair is a terrible spiritual state inspired by demons. You cannot give in to this feeling, which entails disbelief and madness. In case of prolonged misfortunes, there is a last refuge for the sinner - the Most Holy Theotokos.

Wanting to show people the power of Her intercession, the Mother of God showed the Orthodox image of “Unexpected Joy.” The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” brings hope, strength of patience and fulfills petitions that seemed useless.

In what cases do you turn to “Unexpected Joy”

The image of “Unexpected Joy” is glorified by many miracles. To a Christian believer they do not seem incredible: mercy and love for the human race are common for the Mother of God.

The story depicted on the icon recalls the strong prayer of the Mother of God, overcoming even the righteous anger of the Lord. But to fulfill what is asked, one condition is necessary - repentance of sins.

The very name of the icon - “Unexpected Joy” - encourages people to turn to it in a hopeless situation. But the love of Christians for this image is so great that they flock to it with any requests, with confidence that they will receive what they ask for.

Important! It is traditional to pray before the image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” in the following needs:

serious illnesses
family feuds
inability to have a child
in search of a spouse, etc.

Where to start a prayer

In a difficult situation, if you want to get what you ask for, you should follow a small but constant rule. Be sure to consult with a priest to be sure that the work you are starting is pleasing to God. The blessing received will give strength to carry out prayer work when demons begin to interfere, fearing to lose the sinner’s soul.

It is necessary to examine your conscience: remember unrighteous deeds that could bring the wrath of the Lord. Be sure to go to confession and take Communion. Without communication with the Church, prayer weakens many times over. It must be remembered that the sinner depicted in the “Unexpected Joy” icon received the Lord’s forgiveness only after sincere repentance.

What to pray for

Having received the priest’s blessing, you can order a prayer service to the “Unexpected Joy” icon. During prayer, you should distract yourself from your problems and try to understand the meaning of the words being spoken. The canonical (accepted in the Orthodox Church) text turns the mind of the person praying to the “root of evil” - unrepentant sins.

Akathist to the icon “Unexpected Joy”

Akathists are most often included in the prayer rule. They are read at home in front of icons; you can also do this in a church, where the atmosphere is more conducive to prayer. For individual reading of the akathist in the temple, choose a time when there is no service. It is better to read silently, so as not to interfere with someone else’s prayer.

Church prayer is much stronger than individual prayer. To participate in a prayer service with the akathist “Unexpected Joy,” believers make a pilgrimage to churches and monasteries where there are miraculous and revered icons. There you can hear many stories about miraculous help received from the Mother of God.

Often miracles from prayer go unnoticed: a person considers them an accident and does not consider it necessary to thank God and the Mother of God. The famous church pastor of the 20th century, Bishop Vasily Rodzianko, said: “They tell me: this is just a coincidence. Maybe this is correct, but when I stop praying, the coincidences stop.”

The Akathist “Unexpected Joy” consists of verses glorifying the Mother of God and setting out the parable on the basis of which the icon was written. It does not contain specific requests for the gift of children or a husband; the main idea is that the prayer of the Mother of God can do a lot for those who come to Her with faith.

Important! The text in Church Slavonic is difficult to understand, but constant reading reveals its meaning over time. Having taken the rule of reading the Akathist daily or on Sundays, you cannot deviate from your obligation during the entire time for which the prayer is intended. A request pleasing to God will certainly be fulfilled.

Prayer to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

Prayers are added to the akathist or read separately. In it, the worshiper puts himself in the place of the sinner from the parable. Constantly sinning, he used to pray to the Mother of God daily. Likewise, the petitioner, although burdened with sins, should not retreat from the All-Merciful Lady.

The prayer of the Mother of God contains petitions relating to different areas of life. The reader asks not only for himself, but also for all those in need:

“... pray to Thy Son and our God, and to all of us... grant unexpected joy for every need.” The use of the plural is not accidental. This reminds the person praying of the duty of Christian love - prayer for others.

“Oh, Most Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor Your all-honorable Name” - these words remind us that the sinner was chosen by the Mother of God for a miraculous vision because he constantly called on Her in prayers. Although his sins wounded the Lord, for the sake of faith and repentance he became worthy of forgiveness.

“Keep marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses who exist in enmity and division, die, unite them to each other and establish an indestructible union of love for them.” These are petitions for family integrity. It should be borne in mind that these words refer to prayer for faithful spouses.

Important! You should not dare to pray for a husband who has “left for another”: the Church does not bless preserving a marriage in the event of adultery. You also need to pray “for the return of the guy” with caution and thought, since choosing a life partner is a matter of God’s will; Christian “love spells” do not exist.

“Train up babies, teach chastity to young ones, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching” - the words of the prayer relating to the upbringing of children. It is difficult for parents to protect them from the “influence of the street,” but what is impossible for man is possible for God and His Most Pure Mother.

There is a lot of evidence of the help of “Unexpected Joy” in cases of infertility. For spouses who are unable to conceive a child, the resulting pregnancy is truly an “unexpected joy.”

“To those who died a sudden death, entreat Thy Son to be merciful” - an important petition to the Mother of God for those who died without repentance. Christians are most afraid of “sudden death,” when it is impossible to prepare adequately: to confess and receive communion. It is believed that God sends such a death as punishment for especially serious sins. But even in this case, the Mother of God can beg the Lord to grant relief to the soul of the deceased.

How else can you pray to “Unexpected Joy”

Akathist and prayer are used for church or home rule. There are short, easy-to-remember prayers to the Mother of God that should be known by heart and repeated mentally at work, in transport, in church in front of an icon. Simple texts can be learned with children.

There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope except You, Lady, help us! We hope in You and we boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed of Mercy, open the doors of mercy for us, blessed Mother of God, hoping in You, let us not perish, but let us be delivered from troubles by You, for You are the salvation of the Christian Virgin Mary, Hail, Blessed Mary, Lord with you! Blessed are You among women and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

The miracle of the Ilinsk-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God became famous and has come down to the present day thanks to St. Dmitry of Rostov.

Resurrection of the Youth

Parable of St. Dimitri and writing a new image

After reading “The Irrigated Fleece,” an unknown artist painted an icon based on the parable where a man prays to the Mother of God, calling it “Unexpected (unexpected) joy.”

Meaning of images

Inscriptions on the icon

Location of the “Unexpected Joy” icons and miracles

St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv. Miraculous image of the 19th century. has been in the cathedral since the Great Patriotic War. The Mother of God and the Lord are depicted wearing royal crowns. Unfortunately, now the Vladimir Cathedral is in the hands of schismatics.
“The Burning Bush” in Khamovniki (before the revolution). The oldest known list was kept here. In 1838, on Easter week, he miraculously healed a woman who suffered from complete deafness. Anisya Stepanova could not even hear the bell ringing. After serving the prayer service to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy,” Anisya heard the singing of the Easter troparion and the deafness disappeared. In 1930, the temple was destroyed and the miraculous image was lost.
The Tretyakov Gallery houses a unique icon “Unexpected Joy” (1st half of the 19th century), where the main picture is surrounded by 120 small images of other miraculous icons of the Mother of God. The central image carries the main meaning: the Lord forgives sins through the prayer of the Mother of God - the Prayer Book and Intercessor for the human race.