Assuage My Sorrows icon

Mother of God Assuage My Sorrows icon

Assuage My Sorrows is the name of a wonderworking icon known as the Mother of God, Assuage My Sorrows treasured in the St. Nicholas Odrino Monastery in the Orel Diocese, Karachev district. This icon is commemorated January 25 (February 8 by the NC) and on October 9.

History

The "Assuage my Sorrows" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was glorified at Moscow by many miracles in the second half of the eighteenth century, particularly during a plague in 1771. The icon had been brought to Moscow by Cossacks in 1640 in the reign of Tsar Michael (1613-1645), and placed in the church of St Nicholas in the Pupishevo district of Moscow.

Until 1784, this icon belonged to Count Nicholas Borisovitch Samoilov, who regarded it as a holy icon. At first, it was at the Count's home in Moscow, where it was renowned for many miraculous healings. Later, N.B. Samoilov moved it to his estate adjoining the St Nicholas Odrino Monastery. He constructed, at his own expense, a heated chapel in honor of the "Assuage My Sorrows" Icon as part of the St Nicholas katholikon (main church). The Count later donated the icon to the monastery.

Once, perhaps after a fire and the rebuilding of the temple, the icon was carelessly put in a bell tower. However, the abundant mercies manifested by the Mother of God would one day bring about a renewed veneration of this holy icon.

The Feast of the wonderworking icon on January 25 was established in 1760 to commemorate the healing of a sick woman who had seen the icon in a vision. A voice instructed her to go to the church of St Nicholas in the Pupishevo district of Moscow where she would find this icon. "Pray before it, and you will receive healing." She obeyed and went to Moscow, where she found an icon, darkened by age and dust, in the church's bell tower. When the sick woman saw the face and inscription she cried out, "It is She!" The woman, who previously had been unable to move her arms and legs, walked out of church on her own after a Molieben was served before the icon on January 25.

The icon was placed in an honored place in the church, and later a chapel was built in its honor. The services and the Akathist in honor of the icon date from this period.

Copies of the "Assuage my Sorrows" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos are to be found in churches all over Moscow and other cities. The icon is also commemorated on September 25 and October 9.