The icon of the desperate one hope: in what does it help?
Icon of the "Desperate One Hope" - one of the mostwidespread images in Orthodoxy. This icon is worshiped by many believers who believe that it can help them solve their problems, improve their lives.
Why pray this icon?
The icon of "Desperate One Hope" is considered a great patron of all Orthodox. It is designed to give them hope in the most difficult situations, which many may seem hopeless.
It is believed that this icon gives man strength,helps to go on in life a true and sinless road, and also believe in the power of the Lord. Since even priests in temples claim that it is not enough to just pray. We still need to believe that help will come. Only such a faith will save from all the evil and bad that can only appear on earth.
Meaning of the icon
The icon of the Virgin "Desperate One Hope" hasgreat importance in the Orthodox world. After all, every person in his life regularly faces difficulties and difficulties. Their causes can be a variety of circumstances. Often such misfortunes are accompanied by mental suffering. So strong that it is not everyone who can cope on their own, no matter how hard he tries and whatever efforts he exerts. In order to heal the soul, there is often a need for outside help.
In the most difficult moments of life a person needsreal and tangible support. Then the icon of the Virgin "Desperate One Hope" comes to his aid. After all, an ordinary person can not always help, often spiritual support from above is required. Even when human help is powerless, the icon of the "Desperate One Hope" comes to the rescue.
The meaning of the icon of the "Desperate One Hope" lies in the fact that tOnly she can save a person in the mosthopeless life situations. If you really believe in its power, then the problem will be resolved so easily that it will not be easy to believe in it at once. At least, so say those who in reality encountered the miraculous properties of this icon.
Faces of the Virgin
On the icon of "Desperate One Hope" is beautiful himselfthe face of the Mother of God, Orthodox believers assert. At the same time, without detracting from the attractiveness of her face on other icons, all the same note that on this he looks especially beautiful and refined.
On her the Son of God to himself gently presses the youngmother. And he at that moment tremblingly embraces her. Pure and true love is the main motive of the image of "Desperate One Hope". The icon of the Mother of God is considered one of the most revered in the Christian church.
At the same time it is not known for certain where, by whom and whenit was written this work of church art. The history of Orthodoxy is silent about this. One can find only brief information about the fact that this image was first found on the territory of modern Ukraine at the beginning of the last century. The icon so impressed the Orthodox believers that they still consider it to be one of the most significant. Even though its canonicity has not been proven. There is no common opinion whether it belongs to the church canon.
What can help this icon?
Many turn with prayers to the icon of "DesperateOne hope, "what helps it to them? Most importantly, before the icon it is customary to pray for all the suffering of life, for oneself and for one's loved ones, more often than not, they come to her in a state of profound sadness.
Then the icon is asked to overcome laziness, increase faithin Christ and Christian benefactors, love of others. They are asked to rid themselves of the most serious sins, for example, love of money and idle talk, eradicate fornication and vicious passions not only from life, but even from thoughts. They ask you to soften your own heart, to permanently rid it of bad thoughts, to forget forever about such an unpleasant feeling as envy. They are asked to protect themselves from adversity, both external and internal, which are buried deep in the soul of each person. They ask to be taught to endure in the most difficult and unpleasant sufferings.
They also apply with very specific requests. For example, heal from tobacco, alcohol or drug addiction. The main thing that this icon can help is to see your own sins. Only in this case a person will be able to realize how wrong he was in this life, how to correct him. Then he can atone for his guilt.
Feast of the Theotokos
To see the face of the Virgin, including thisicon, can be in different countries throughout the country and the world. In Russia, in almost every Orthodox church there is at least one icon dedicated to the mother of Christ.
For the Mother of God, even a special day is set. This is November 18th. Every year on this day, Orthodox believers come to the church to turn to the mother of Christ with their most cherished requests, share the most intimate desires. After all, they understand who, no matter how much the mother can feel the most pain and suffering.
Prayer to the Theotokos
There is even a special prayer icon"Desperate One Hope". In it, the believer should turn to the face of the Mother of God. Asking not to depart from ordinary people, who often fall into despondency, are lamented for nothing. Forgive these ordinary people their disbelief, doubts, countless sins.
The main thing in prayer is asked to save from sinfulhabits, from passions that are capable of capturing a weak-willed person. Forgive all those cases when a person, by virtue of his weakness, violated the biblical commandments, went against his conscience and his convictions.
Akathist to the Theotokos
This is a very important prayer. After all, the icon with the Virgin on it symbolizes the essence of all living things in this world. It is in this image, the mother with the baby in her arms, the heavenly beginning that gives life to all life on earth, illuminates the future with hope, which is unshakable under any circumstances. Especially if you really believe.
Everyone who returns day by day andrefers to this image, understands one important truth. The truth that the Most High proclaimed. It consists in the fact that the main thing that exists on earth is true and sincere love. The kind that a mother has for her child. Such, what is embodied in this symbolic icon. Indeed, it is in the name of this love that all the most beneficial acts are performed on earth. With such thoughts, believers approach the icon of "Desperate One Hope". Akathist, who utters at this time, helps them to praise the Theotokos.
Where to meet the icon?
Despite its relevance, this icon can not be found in all Orthodox churches. In many respects, because the debate over whether it is canonical does not abate so far.
True, the icon of the "Desperate One Hope" in the templesMoscow can always be bought in a church shop. But to see it on the iconostasis is a big rarity. One of the most famous Orthodox churches in which it is represented among other shrines is the Ascension Church in Krasnoperekopsk in the Crimea. He refers to the Moscow Patriarchate.
In it you can also meet the icon of SeraphimSarov, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Monk Matrona of Moscow, the Blessed Virgin Mary "Skoroposlushnitsa". This temple appeared relatively recently. It was built only in 2010. It was then installed a dome, weighing 8 tons, completed the basic installation and construction work. The official opening took place in 2011. As we see, despite its youth, the temple has already managed to acquire a large number of valuable and important icons for the Orthodox world.
