THEODORE ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 545.

16/29 August

The Theodore Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke, and resembles the famous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

This icon received its name from the father of St Alexander Nevsky, Great Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (+ 1246), who in holy Baptism was named Theodore in honour of St Theodore Stratelates. According to tradition, his elder brother had found the icon in an old wooden chapel near the city of Gorodets. Later, the Gorodets monastery of St Theodore was built on this spot. Prince Yaroslav-Theodore became the Great Prince of Vladimir after his brother Saint George perished in battle with the Mongols at the Sita River. In the following year, 1239, he ceremonially transferred the relics of Saint George from Rostov to the Cathedral of the Dormition in Vladimir. With the icon inherited from his brother he blessed his son, Saint Alexander Nevsky, who in that same year entered into marriage with princess Alexandra Briacheslavna of Polotsk.

The wonderworking Theodore Icon of the Mother of God was constantly with Saint Alexander and he often prayed before it. After his death in 1263, in his memory, the icon was taken by his younger brother Basil.

IV. http://www.pravmir.com/