Woman icon unfading color. Icon of the virgin unfading color. Who helps the icon Fadeless Color

Almost every icon has its origin and its own, sometimes not very clear, history. And the most interesting and unusual are the stories about ancient images, which, moreover, have worked wonders more than once. This is exactly what the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Fadeless Color" is.

The history of the origin of the icon

How and when this image appeared in Rus' is unknown. This is a mystery that many have tried to unravel. Maybe that's why the icon has acquired so many stories and legends? True, they consider the time of the appearance of the image in Rus' to be the 17th century, when pilgrims brought it with them. But it is known for certain how and why it acquired its name. The icon began to be called so thanks to the hymns in honor of the Mother of God. And besides, since ancient times, the Mother of God has been compared to a flower that blooms forever and never loses its freshness and beauty.

The Blessed Virgin "Fadeless Color": the meaning of the icon

The meaning of this image is truly great. It symbolizes purity and innocence. Perhaps that is why girls come to the icon with prayers, wanting to preserve innocence for their future spouse. By the way, with requests for the Mother of God to help choose a husband, they also turn to her. Most often, when blessing the young, it is the "Fadeless Color" that is used. The significance of the icon in the family life of a woman is also very great - it helps to cope with all the hardships that fall on a difficult female lot.

Interesting!

There is an opinion among the people that if you pray to the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Fadeless Color", then youth and beauty will not leave you for many years. And it also helps to get love and recognition from others. But this opinion was kept in strict confidence, transmitted from the mother to the daughter.

Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Fadeless Color"

Why is she remarkable? The canvas depicts the Mother of God, who holds a baby in her left hand, and a white lily flower in her right hand. It is considered a sign of the purity and eternal beauty of the Blessed Virgin, to whom they turn in prayers: "You are the root of virginity and the unfading flower of beauty." Of course, there are interpretations where instead of a lily in the hand of Our Lady there are roses or some other flower. By the way, many are very different from each other. But there is one common motif in all of them - flowers. The Mother of God herself on all the icons, like the baby, is dressed in royal clothes.

"Fadeless icons. Legends

As you know, the origin of the icon is shrouded in mystery, but you can look into the annals or the Orthodox calendar. They have a plot according to which the image is associated with Mount Athos. Immortals grew on its slopes. But then there is a fair question: "Why are lilies painted on the icon?" According to the same sources, earlier the image of the Most Holy Theotokos "Fadeless Color" was written somewhat differently. She was depicted on a throne and with a scepter entwined with flowers in her hands. But over time, the complex parts disappeared from the canvases, and only the image itself remained, which amazes with its beauty and peace.

Miracles done in a way

Icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color", the meaning is the most miraculous. After all, it is not in vain that she helps to preserve youth, get married or save a family. And many more authors tell stories in their works about how the miracles performed by the flower on the icon took place. For example, the monk Meletius writes about how the healing from the lily of the Virgin took place in 1864. He talks about this in detail in his "Tale of the Miracles of the Mother of God, which took place in recent times on the holy Mount Athos."

And finally

This image has been revered since antiquity by women of all ages. The Mother of God "Fadeless Color" (the meaning of the icon is not known to everyone) causes genuine awe and delight among the fair sex. On a subconscious level, women are drawn to her. And not in vain! Her miracles are truly immeasurable.

The icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" is not very common today in Russian churches. But everyone who sees it, the image, at first sight, attracts with its unearthly purity and tenderness. Its main feature is the image of the Virgin Mary holding the Divine Infant in one hand, and a beautiful flower in the other. Most often it is a white lily.

According to legend, once it was the Archangel Gabriel who handed it over to the Mother of God as a sign of the good news that she would become the Mother of God himself. This flower is of the utmost importance in the symbolism of the “Fadeless Color” icon, denoting the deep spiritual purity of the Mother of God, which was placed by the Lord above even incorporeal Angels.

The history of the emergence and symbolism of the icon

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

The emergence of the icon "Fadeless Color" was influenced by the tradition of writing the Orthodox icon "Praise to the Mother of God", the earliest Russian copy of which dates back to the 14th century. It was the first icon created on the basis of the oldest akathist dedicated to the Mother of God.

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

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

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

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

Thus, the authors of the icon "Fadeless Color", having borrowed this version of the image, singled it out as an independent icon-painting plot. Its development was also influenced by the process of literal embodiment in Christian painting of the words of various liturgical books and hymns, especially the thanksgiving canon of Joseph the Songwriter, written in the 9th century. In them, the appearance of the Virgin is shown by prototypes-symbols:

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

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

A variety of images of the icon "Fadeless Color"

It is believed that the first such icon was most likely painted in Constantinople. Then, despite the Turkish yoke, more and more of its variants began to appear in Greece. She was especially revered in Thessaloniki. One of the lists of the icon "Fadeless Color" was created on Athos and, approximately at the end of the 17th century, was brought to Russia.

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

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

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

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

Lists of the icon "Fadeless Color" famous in Russia

Moscow shrines

In pre-revolutionary Russia, several revered lists of the “Fadeless Color” icon are known. One of the oldest was kept in the Alekseevsky Monastery in Moscow. It was the first convent in the city intended for unmarried girls. Therefore, the icon here turned out to be in its place, because one of the main requests addressed to this image is a prayer for the preservation of the purity of soul and body.

Alekseevsky list, apparently, was brought to Russia at the end of the 17th century, since its copy made in 1691 is known. It differed significantly from the current image. The Divine Infant stood on it in full growth, leaning with a bent handle on the shoulder of the Virgin Mary. The right hand of the Mother of God was wrapped around a ribbon on which the name of the icon was displayed. A beautiful flower branch was placed on the throne, in a special jug.

Another well-known Moscow list of the icon was in the Assumption Church on Mogiltsy. On it, Christ, supported by the Mother of God, stands on a beautiful flower growing from the bottom of the image. In the hand of the Mother of God is a white lily, and above her head are Angels crowning her with a royal crown. This temple, erected in the very center of the capital, is mentioned in the works of Russian classics: L. Tolstoy, F. Dostoevsky and A. Griboyedov. Today it has been revived again, but the miraculous icon was lost under Soviet rule, and now its modern list has appeared in the church.

Miraculous icons from the outback

The Russian provinces were also not left without a miraculous image. In a small monastery in the town of Kadom, Ryazan province, a special list became famous. On it, near the head of Christ, one could see a half-length image of John the Baptist.

The history of the icon is unusual. It was brought as a gift to the monastery by the Bogdanov family. The head of the family brought the image from Georgia. The icon accompanied him everywhere and saved him more than once in military campaigns: both when crossing the stormy Terek, and from the bullets of the Circassian cavalry. And most importantly, the image, according to the memoirs of the old-timers, being already in the temple, was very revered by the great Russian Saint Seraphim of Sarov.

The list, located in the city of Kungur, Perm Territory, was especially revered by the parishioners. Its peculiarity was the half-length image of the Virgin Mary, as it were, growing out of a magnificent flower garland. A copy of it is kept today in the Tretyakov Gallery.

In the icons of the 19th century, the plurality of elements, as a rule, disappears. Mary is most often depicted with a modest branch or even a single flower in her hand. It is not visible on such images and lush garlands of flowers, shimmering with richness of colors. Their authors are trying to return to more expressive examples of the Middle Ages, trying to focus on the main thing - the figures and faces of the Mother of God and Christ.

There is no information about the existence in Russia before 1917 of temples dedicated to this image. After the end of the persecution of the church in our country, four churches were built in his honor (all of them are located in Moscow and the Moscow region) and two chapels.

Since 1998, such a church, for the first time, began to be built in the village of Rublevo near Moscow. The Church of the Icon "Fadeless Color" is located on the banks of the Moskva River, which offers beautiful views of its picturesque surroundings. The project of the church was created by a descendant of the famous family of Russian artists - architect and musician Nikolai Vasnetsov.

The lower church was consecrated in the name of the icon of the Mother of God "The Inexhaustible Chalice". The church has Sunday schools for children and adults, where you can get acquainted not only with the basics of Orthodoxy, but also with the symbolism of the temple of the “Fadeless Color” icon, find out what they pray for this icon.

By 2012, in the best traditions of Russian northern wooden architecture, a small temple of the “Fadeless Color” icon was built in the village of Sumarokovo, Ruzsky district.

The celebration of the icon took place in Russia on April 3 and December 31 according to the Julian calendar. Currently, usually only 3, or, respectively, April 16, according to the new style.

What helps the icon "Fadeless Color"

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

There is a wonderful akathist to the icon "Fadeless Color", praising the Virgin Mary in the most exalted terms. In it, the Mother of God is called "an inexhaustible source of love" and immortality.

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

Prayer for marriage icon Unfading color

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

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

Be our Mother and Patroness, we entrust ourselves to Your merciful cover.Lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life; May we pay for our sins.O Mother Mary, our favored and quick Intercessor, cover us with Your intercession.Protect from enemies visible and invisible, soften the hearts of evil people who rise up against us.
O Mother of the Lord our Creator!You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity and chastity, send help to us who are weak and overwhelmed by carnal passions and wandering hearts.Enlighten our spiritual eyes, so that we can see the ways of the truth of God.
By the grace of Your Son, strengthen our weak will in fulfillment of the commandments, that we may be delivered from all misfortune and misfortune and be justified by Your wonderful intercession at the terrible judgment of Your Son.To him we give glory, honor and worship now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen".

How to pray icon

Prayer one:
“My queen, my hope, the Mother of God, a friend of orphans and strange Representatives, grieving Joy, offended Patron! See my trouble, see my sorrow; help me like a weak one, feed me like a strange one. I’ll offend my weight, resolve it, as if you will: as if I don’t have any other help for You, nor another intercessor, nor a good comforter, only You, O Bogomati, as if you would save and cover forever and ever. Amen".

Prayer two:
“Oh, the Most Holy and Immaculate Mother Devo, the hope of Christians and the refuge of sinners! Protect all those who resort to You in misfortune, hear our groaning, incline Your ear to our prayer. Lady and Mother of our God, do not despise those who require your help and do not reject us sinners, enlighten and teach us: do not depart from us, your servants, for our grumbling. Be our Mother and Patroness, we entrust ourselves to Your merciful cover. Lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life; May we pay for our sins.
Oh, Mati Mary, our favored and quick Intercessor, cover us with Your intercession. Protect from enemies visible and invisible, soften the hearts of evil people who repay us. Oh, Mother of the Lord our Creator! You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity and chastity, send help to us who are weak and overwhelmed by carnal passions and wandering hearts. Enlighten our spiritual eyes, so that we can see the ways of the truth of God. By the grace of Your Son, strengthen our weak will in fulfillment of the commandments, that we may be delivered from all misfortune and misfortune and be justified by Your wonderful intercession at the terrible judgment of Your Son. To him we give glory, honor and worship now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen".

Troparion:
"Rejoice, God's bride, secret wand, Blooming unfading flower, rejoice, Lady, with her joys we are filled and we inherit life."

Icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color"...

April 16
Day of Remembrance
Icons of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color"

The celebration in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Fadeless Color” takes place on April 3/16, and in honor of the later list of the “Fragrant Color” image, which is related to her and today has almost completely approached her, on November 15/28.

In older images, the difference was as follows. On the icon "Fadeless Color" the Divine Infant sat on the right hand of the Mother of God, and on the icon "Fragrant Flower" - on the left. In modern icons, these distinctions are often not respected.

What does the icon help with?
The image of the Mother of God “The Unfading Color” is an icon-painting embodiment of chastity and purity, first of all, as spiritual properties, therefore, the Mother of God will grant help to those who pray before her in gaining and preserving these wonderful and saving qualities for each of us. Chastity - the integrity of wisdom, inner peace, peace of mind, humility and meekness, they give the female nature that fortitude of the spirit, which is not found anywhere else.

Prayer before this image helps in saving the marriage, strengthening the family, in resolving family problems, in overcoming the sorrows that sometimes happen in our everyday life.

Sincere and zealous prayer in front of the “Fadeless Color” icon guides the spiritually afflicted on the right path, helps to find the strength to endure deep sorrows, not to become exhausted from disappointment, relieves despondency and heavy thoughts.

Prayer one
C favoring my aritsa, my hope, the Theotokos, the friend of the orphans and the strange, the Representative, the grieving Joy, the offended Patron! See my trouble, see my sorrow; help me like a weak one, feed me like a strange one. I’ll offend my weight, resolve it, as if you will: as if I don’t have any other help for You, nor another intercessor, nor a good comforter, only You, O Bogomati, as if you would save and cover forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer two
O, Most Holy and Immaculate Mother Devo, the hope of Christians and the refuge of sinners! Protect all those who resort to You in misfortune, hear our groaning, incline Your ear to our prayer. Lady and Mother of our God, do not despise those who require your help and do not reject us sinners, enlighten and teach us: do not depart from us, your servants, for our grumbling. Be our Mother and Patroness, we entrust ourselves to Your merciful protection. Lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life; May we pay for our sins.
Oh, Mati Mary, our favored and quick Intercessor, cover us with Your intercession. Protect from enemies visible and invisible, soften the hearts of evil people who repay us. Oh, Mother of the Lord our Creator! You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity and chastity, send help to us who are weak and overwhelmed by carnal passions and wandering hearts. Enlighten our spiritual eyes, so that we can see the ways of the truth of God. By the grace of Your Son, strengthen our weak will in fulfillment of the commandments, that we may be delivered from all misfortune and misfortune and be justified by Your wonderful intercession at the terrible judgment of Your Son. To him we give glory, honor and worship now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion icon
R Hail, O God-bride, secret wand, Blooming unfading flower, rejoice, Lady, with her joy we are filled and we inherit life.

About the history and meaning of the icon

Our Lady of the Fadeless Color,
XVIII century, Tretyakov Gallery

The history of the origin of the icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" is touching and majestic at the same time. For a long time, on the island of Kefalonia, located near Athos, a very beautiful and largest island in the Ionian Sea, there has been a tradition - it is preserved even now: on the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, white flowers are brought here, similar to a lily, with which the archangel appeared in his hand to the Most Pure Gabriel, to show her the will of God for her. Flowers are tremulously and carefully placed under the kiot, to Her face, and there they remain until the very feast of Her Assumption without water and without sunlight. But a miracle happens: after almost five months, their stems, dried up, in the twilight, are incredibly filled with moisture, come to life, instead of dried inflorescences, new buds appear and bloom into white lush flowers - here it is, "unfading color"!

Brought from about. Rhodes Greece.
Located in Moscow

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

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

At about the same time, other lists appeared in Central and Southern Russia, and their diversity is simply grandiose, they are all magnificent, and their indispensable attribute is white, pink, red flowers in flowerpots, garlands, tapestries, hand of the Mother of God. Sometimes the flowers are woven into halos around the head of the Infant Jesus or make up a pedestal on which the Most Pure One stands with the Divine Infant in her arms. In marvelous stylized in one way or another inflorescences one can guess roses, lilies, immortelle, abundantly growing on the slopes of the Holy Mount Athos and considered a symbol not only of immortality, but also of purity.

Mother of God "Fadeless Color"
from the Church of the Intercession in Fili, Moscow, 18th century

Also, this image originated from the Orthodox iconographic heritage: in the Benaki Museum, in Athens, there is an icon of St. Anne with little Mary, dating from the 15th century. The Most Pure Virgin has a white flower in her hand, and this symbolism clearly reads the prototype of a white lily, which the archangel Gabriel will someday give to Her. In the State Historical Museum there is an icon of the 16th century "The Virgin and Child with a Flower", where the flower in the hand is not the Mother of God, but Jesus, as well as on the icon of the first half of the 17th century "The Mother of God with the Child", created in Belarus. It is believed that this list became the starting point for the images of the crown on the heads of the Mother of God and the Infant and organically fit into the canonical principles of Orthodox icon painting.

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

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

The icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" is my favorite. This, from my point of view, is the most beautiful icon dedicated to Her. It belongs to the Akathist type, since it embodies in colors one of the literary laudatory epithets in honor of the Virgin. Day of celebration of the icon - April 16.
I made a selection of ancient icons of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color", among them there are also Greek icons. And in the Balkans, its own version of this iconographic type of the Mother of God "The Unfading Rose" turns out to be very common. The most famous is located in the monastery of Esfigmen on Athos.

Icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Rose".Monastery of Esfigmen. Athos

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

Fadeless color icon. Tikhon Filatiev. Moscow. 17th century

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

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

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

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

What does the "Fadeless Color" icon help in?

There is a wonderful akathist to the icon "Fadeless Color", praising the Virgin Mary in the most exalted terms. In it, the Mother of God is called "an inexhaustible source of love" and immortality.

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

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

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

Be our Mother and Patroness, we entrust ourselves to Your merciful cover. Lead us sinners to a quiet and serene life; let us mourn our sins. O Mother Mary, our favored and quick Intercessor, cover us with Your intercession. Protect us from enemies visible and invisible, soften the hearts of evil people who rise up against us.

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

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

Fadeless color icon. Greece

The icon, where the Mother of God is depicted with a flower in her hand, is called "Fadeless Color". One interesting story in my life is connected with this icon. My unbelieving friend had large pimples on her face, which brought her great suffering. No medicines and ointments helped, and scars remained on the face from acne. The girl suffered a lot. And then one believing grandmother told the girl that the icon of the Unfading Color could heal her terrible acne. At first she did not believe it, but the words of the old woman sunk into her heart. Now the girl has clean and delicate skin, like a lily's - white and beautiful. The Mother of God helped her get rid of her ugly face, because she sees pure and faithful hearts.

History of the icon

The Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos published the Tales of the Mother of God, where the story of one miraculous healing is recorded. Healing took place with the help of the Virgin flower growing on Mount Athos. This flower is considered immortal and life-giving. According to legend, the Archangel Gabriel gave the Mother of God a flower as a symbol of purity and innocence, when he announced the miraculous conception of a baby from the Holy Spirit.

The flower symbolizes the spiritual purity and holiness that the Virgin was endowed with. This woman surpassed the incorporeal angels by the grace of God. She was chosen to be the mother of the Lord incarnate in the flesh.

This image appeared on Athos in the 17th century. The motive for writing the holy image was the words from the akathist to the Theotokos, where she was called the unfading color of purity.

On the Annunciation, it is customary to bring white flowers to the icon of the Virgin of the Unfading Color, reminiscent of those brought to the Mother of God by the archangel Gabriel. In Athos, flower arrangements brought on the feast of the Annunciation are kept fresh until the Assumption of the Mother of God, and they are not watered at all.

Variety of icons

In Tsarist Russia, girls often turned to the icon of the Mother of God the Unfading Color with a plea for preserving virgin purity before the wedding. So we can say that the icon was especially revered by girls of marriageable age. The oldest sample of the saint is kept in the Alekseevsky Monastery (Moscow). On it, the God-child is depicted in full growth, he rests his elbow on his mother's shoulder. The flower branch was depicted in a picturesque vase and placed on the throne.

In the Assumption Church on Mogiltsy, another image of the icon is kept, where the Mother of God holds a white lily in her right hand. The icon depicts angels located above the head of the Mother of God. Angels hold a crown over the head of the Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, the original of the icon disappeared during the reign of Soviet power, and now the monastery has a copy of the icon.

In Ryazan there is an amazing copy of the icon, which was presented to the monastery of the town of Kadom by a certain Bogdanov. This icon was brought from Georgia; it always accompanied Bogdanov on military expeditions. This miraculous image was especially revered by the elder Seraphim of Sarov.

In the city of Kungur in the Perm Territory, there was a miraculous image in which the Mother of God is depicted waist-deep, framed by flowers. A copy of the holy image is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. Photo of the icon Fadeless Color:

Sometimes in the hands of the Mother of God there may be a blossoming wand. The image of the wand is associated with the biblical legend about Aaron, in which the flowers on the wooden wand bloomed miraculously as a symbol of the high priesthood.

On later icons, many attributes disappear, and the Mother of God remains with a modest flower in her hand. The icon painters focused the attention of believers on the main images - the Mother of God and the Divine Infant.

Help icons

What is the meaning of the Fadeless Color icon and how does it help? Prayers are offered before the holy image:

about a happy marriage;
about the preservation of chastity and spiritual purity;
about the right choice of spouse;
about saving marriage;
about women's well-being;
about solving family problems;
prolongation of beauty and youth.

Prayers are offered before the icon by both girls and young people who dream of creating a strong Orthodox family. The Mother of God answers sincere and pure prayer, helps young people to find family harmony.

The value of the icon Fadeless Color for family happiness is difficult to overestimate. The face of the Virgin blessed the bride before the wedding. Orthodox believe that blessing with an icon will help a girl find a happy marriage in harmony and understanding with her husband. This icon should always be in the home of the spouses, it will protect the family hearth from unforeseen troubles and temptations.

Older people offer prayers for overcoming the passions of the flesh and spiritual confusion. The Mother of God helps to find peace of mind and harmony, fills hearts with quiet joy and happiness. In family quarrels, the image of the Most Pure helps restore peace and understanding between spouses.