An unexpected prayer to the Mother of God. Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” - meaning, what it helps with

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 indicate the right way. Icon " Unexpected joy"has a very strong impact on a person, brings 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 God's protection from people who wish to harm them or try 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 illnesses and diseases physical level, just 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 where men returned after many years 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 become 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 by bowing to this image, they suddenly begin to “ white stripe", whatever they did was 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 help higher powers. You need to ask in front of the icon from pure heart and this should be a request, 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 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 Thy servants, offered to You, and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Thy 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 beg 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, for those who find invisible help and admonition sent down from Heaven, save them from temptations, seductions and destruction, from all evil people protect and preserve 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, be chaste to young ones, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, teach 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 them 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 the departed, who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Thy Son, Be the unceasing and warm Prayer Book and Intercessor: may all in Heaven and on earth lead Thee as a firm 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."

Prayer to the icon Mother of God“Unexpected joy” about 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.

Listen to prayer online

Prayer to the icon Unexpected Joy was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub

I recently watched a program and they talked about the elders. The episode was about one actor; he and his wife were unable to conceive for a long time. And at one point we went to Orthodox elder. He said

ALL PEOPLE WAITING TO CONCEIVE CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD READ A PRAYER TO THE ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF UNEXPECTED JOY AT 20:30 MOSCOW TIME.

And soon after meeting the elder and reading the prayer, the family had children. This is such a beauty!

So I decided to talk about it here, maybe someone is looking for advice now. Everyone good mood and more joy!

I am attaching a prayer to the above.

to the Blessed Virgin Mary

in front of Her icon “Unexpected Joy”

(from the service with akathist)

O Most Holy Virgin, All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, Patroness of the city of Moscow, Faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who live 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 unexpected joy and You bowed down Your Son with many and zealous intercessions towards Him. for the forgiveness of this sinner and erring 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 bow before Thy celibate image, unexpected joy for each need: to sinners , mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; for those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; for those who find themselves in troubles and embitterment - a complete abundance of these; for the faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; to those who live in joy and abundance - unceasing thanksgiving to 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 - the 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 everyone who honors the all-honorable Your name, and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession; abide in piety, purity and honest living until their last death in goodness; 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, those who find invisible help and admonition were sent down from Heaven; save from temptations, seductions and destruction; protect and preserve from evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; floating float; for those who travel, travel; Be the Nourisher for those in need and hunger; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, provide cover and refuge; Give clothes to the naked; for those offended and unjustly persecuted - intercession; invisibly justify the slander, slander and blasphemy of those who suffer; expose slanderers and slanderers before everyone; Grant unforeseen reconciliation to those who are bitterly at odds, and to all of us for each other love, peace and piety and health with long life. 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; to mothers and children giving birth, grant permission quickly; raise the babies; For young people to be chaste, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, instruct them in the fear of God, abstinence and hard work; Protect from domestic strife and enmity of half-bloods with peace and love. Be the Mother of motherless orphans, turn them away from every vice and filth and teach them everything that is good and pleasing to God, and bring those seduced into sin and impurity, having revealed the filth of sin, from 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 the Christian end of our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the terrible Judgment of Christ. Having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, with the Angels and all the saints, create a life for those who died of sudden death, beseech the merciful existence of Your Son, and for all the departed who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Your Son, Be yourself a constant and warm Prayer and Intercessor May everyone in Heaven and on earth lead You as a steadfast and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and, leading, glorify You and Your Son, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Troparion, tone 4

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 Yours, Christ our God, save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 6

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

Greatness

We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, God-chosen Youth, and honor Your holy image, through which you bring healing to all who come with faith.

Prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon is considered a very strong petition. First of all, she gives inner peace, and this helps a person begin to feel self-sufficient, which helps to become successful. It is noteworthy that before this image of the Blessed Virgin Mary there is no need to repeat the memorized text. Each time you can turn to the Mother of God with a specific request, the main thing is that it sounds sincere and comes from the depths of your soul.

Text of the prayer before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Unexpected Joy”

Prayer for conception and giving children

Women often turn to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon with a prayer for conception and the gift of children.

The prayer text in this case may sound like this:

"O Most Holy Virgin Mary, All-Blessed Holy Mother of God, Patroness and Helper of all those who mourn, who supported everyone in sorrows, illnesses and troubles. Accept my prayer offered to you. Grant, Most Holy Theotokos, the joy of repentance for all my known and unknown sins and the hope for their forgiveness by the All-Merciful Lord. Ask Your Son, the Savior of the human race, to hear my prayer and deliver me for the sins I have committed, for they were committed by me through foolishness. Grant me, Most Holy Theotokos, wisdom and patience, deliver me from anger and cowardice. Help me find happiness in earthly life. Give me the opportunity to conceive and bear a child. Help, Most Holy Theotokos, to raise him in the fear of God and in respect for his parents. Cover me with your protective cover and do not allow unkind people to harm me, either in word or deed. Destroy all evil around me with your power, deliver me from difficult life circumstances, save me from devilish temptations. Grant me your intercession and allow me to maintain sincere faith in my soul. I will pray and glorify you. Amen".



Prayer for pregnancy and childbirth

Prayer for pregnancy in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon will allow you to safely carry a child and give birth to him. Also, a prayer request will help that in the future a woman will again have to experience the feeling of motherhood.

In this case, the prayer might sound like this:

“Oh, Most Holy Theotokos, I am the Servant of God ( given name) I appeal to you to support me in this difficult period of life. Pray, Mother of God, for forgiveness of my sins before the Lord, so that I do not have to be punished for them. Let me bear a child and experience the happiness of motherhood again. All my sins, known and unknown, were committed by me due to my foolishness and inexperience. I sincerely repent of all my misdeeds, and I sincerely and with tenderness ask you, Most Holy Theotokos, to pray to Your Son for the forgiveness of my sins. Amen".

Young girls who dream of marriage can turn to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon.

The prayer appeal is as follows:

“Oh, Most Holy Theotokos, hear the prayer of the Servant of God (proper name) and do not refuse your help and intercession. Lift my prayer to the throne of Your Son and beg him for forgiveness of all my sins, committed through my foolishness and for which I sincerely repent. Help me, Most Holy Theotokos, meet my destiny, arrange my prosperous marriage and grant me a prosperous family life filled with mutual understanding and happiness. Ask our Savior, Your Son, for good things for me. Cover me with your protective shelter, Mother of God, and do not allow me to succumb to all sorts of demonic temptations in the world, for which I will have to answer before the throne of the Lord. Let me find happiness in family life, after all, Jesus Christ said that it is not good for a man to live alone, every man is given a wife in true friends and assistants. Hear my sincere prayer, Most Holy Theotokos, and allow me to meet a decent and kind husband, so that we may live in harmony with him and raise our children in the fear of God, and glorify the Almighty Lord in prayers. Amen".

How does the “Unexpected Joy” prayer help?

The icon “Unexpected Joy” was painted in 1683 by St. Dmitry of Rostov. This amazing image was created by him under the influence of all those miraculous healings that took place in the Chernigov St. Elias Monastery. From the first moments, the created Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos began to flow myrrh after another healing took place.

Today, prayers with a variety of requests are offered in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon. And if a prayer comes from the depths of the soul and sounds sincere, then it will certainly be heard and the believer will be given what he asks for.

Prayer in front of this icon grants a person peace of mind and fills the soul with joy. It allows a person to accurately determine his life desires and choose the right path to realize them. Many women prayed in front of this icon for the return of their husbands from the war during periods of terrible events. The prayer filled their souls with hope and soon their husbands returned to the family safe and sound.

Also a prayer before the icon “Unexpected Joy”:

• It is considered a consolation for parents whose children have wandered off the true path of life. He helped reach the hearts of his children and returned them to the righteous path.
• Helps in difficult life situations when there is no hope for a positive outcome.
• Capable of completely reversing a life situation, after it misfortunes for many people turned into real luck and joy.
• Gives happiness to motherhood and supports a successful pregnancy.
• Helps people return home safely from a long trip.

The prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon brings admonition to sinners. It removes anger, envy and hatred from the soul, filling life with new meaning. It also promotes healing from serious illnesses. Moreover, many people do not even think about the fact that they recover after their soul is cleansed of negativity.

For any troubles and adversities in life, you can turn to the Most Holy Theotokos for help before praying “Unexpected Joy.” She will definitely respond to your sincere plea for help and provide support. For example, her help will be very appropriate if you feel abandoned and are tormented by mental anguish, if you are constantly haunted by life’s troubles and you are tired of problems, if you feel absolutely helpless and your mind is overwhelmed by turmoil.

Holy Mother of God, like a real one loving mother will comfort and calm, give strength to overcome obstacles on the way to the goal. It will help you rise after the fall and continue life with a clean slate. It should be understood that the Mother of God always accepts us as we really are, she does not punish or condemn. With this in mind, you should pray to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon in the morning and evening during difficult periods of life.

There are no special rules on how to properly pray in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon. It is very important that there is sincere faith in your soul, and that you really need help. You should pray sincerely, every word should be filled with the desire to resolve the current situation and the faith that the Most Holy Theotokos will definitely hear you and help you.

Notable feature prayer appeal is that it is not at all necessary to remember the words of the akathist, which is read by the clergy in the Church in front of this icon. This is a complex prayer text that must be said while standing. It is filled with words of gratitude, as well as a large number words of praise and joy.

You can address the Most Holy Theotokos at home in front of this icon using arbitrary words. It is very important to accurately voice your desire and request. It is necessary to describe in detail everything that saddens your soul. An appeal to the Most Holy Theotokos should sound humbly and with love. Only in this case will real peace come to the soul. After prayer, life takes on new colors and a person gains the ability to realistically assess the events happening around him and make the right decisions.

Video: akathist “Unexpected joy”

Prayer of the Mother of God before the icon of Her Unexpected Joy

O Most Holy Virgin, All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, Patroness of the city of Moscow, Faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who live 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 unexpected joy and You bowed down Your Son with many and zealous intercessions towards Him. for the forgiveness of this sinner and erring 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 bow before Thy celibate image, unexpected joy for each need: to sinners , mired in the depths of evils and passions - all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; for those who are in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; for those who find themselves in troubles and embitterment - a complete abundance of these; for the faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; to those who live in joy and abundance - unceasing thanksgiving to 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 - the 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 honorable name, and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession; abide in piety, purity and honest living until their last death in goodness; 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, those who find invisible help and admonition were sent down from Heaven; save from temptations, seductions and destruction; protect and preserve from evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; floating float; for those who travel, travel; Be the Nourisher for those in need and hunger; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, provide cover and refuge; Give clothes to the naked; for those offended and unjustly persecuted - intercession; invisibly justify the slander, slander and blasphemy of those who suffer; expose slanderers and slanderers before everyone; Grant unforeseen reconciliation to those who are bitterly at odds, and to all of us for each other love, peace and piety and health with long life. 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; to mothers and children giving birth, grant permission quickly; raise the babies; For young people to be chaste, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, instruct them in the fear of God, abstinence and hard work; Protect from domestic strife and enmity of half-bloods with peace and love. Be the Mother of motherless orphans, turn them away from every vice and filth and teach them everything that is good and pleasing to God, and bring those seduced into sin and impurity, having revealed the filth of sin, from 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 the Christian end of our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful and a good answer at the terrible Judgment of Christ. Having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, with the Angels and all the saints, create a life for those who died of sudden death, beseech the merciful existence of Your Son, and for all the departed who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Your Son, Be yourself a constant and warm Prayer and Intercessor May everyone in Heaven and on earth lead You as a steadfast and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and, leading, glorify You and Your Son, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Our sins and iniquities grew... The holy miraculous icons of the Queen of Heaven were hidden, and until there is a sign from the saint miraculous icon Mother of God, I don’t believe that we are forgiven. But I believe that there will be such a time and we will live to see it.
Hieromartyr Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov)

There are not many churches in Moscow whose fate one can only envy. They were spared fires, they were not captured by renovationists, they were not closed, they were not rebuilt beyond recognition and they were not demolished. Like lonely candles, they stood amid the rampant atheism, gathering within their walls wonderful priests and wonderful laity, helping them to survive and maintain their faith...

One of these temples is the church in the name of the prophet Elijah Obydensky in a quiet Moscow lane, Vtoroy Obydensky, not far from the revived Cathedral of Christ the Savior. All around are the lovely noble mansions of old Moscow, which have absorbed the comfort of the former patriarchal life of the city, when all the parishioners knew each other, visited each other, and socialized at a hospitable table. But the center of spiritual life was the temple.

Known exact date completion of the construction of the current stone temple - June 14, 1702. Previously, in its place stood a wooden one, erected in one day. Hence the name "Ordinary". Such temples were erected in Rus', either asking the Lord for something very important, or as a vow, in gratitude. The location was well chosen. The Kremlin is nearby, and the timber needed for construction was brought along the river. Neither the date nor the circumstances of this are known; but by 1589 the wooden Elias Church already existed. Even then, she was loved by both kings and patriarchs, and ordinary Muscovites: “On the 11th day of June, the sovereign [Alexey Mikhailovich] went behind the crosses [in the procession] to the prophet Ilya to the Ordinary, which is behind the Chertol Gate, and in 7191 on May 14 day…" Processions of the Cross They visited Ilya the Ordinary not only on holidays, they often prayed for rain or a bucket.

In 1612, the zemstvo militia of Prince Pozharsky stood near this temple. And to the very early XVIII century, the current stone building appeared. On the northern outer wall there is an inscription: “In the summer of the incarnation of God the Word of 1702, indictment 1, June 14 in memory of St. Prophet Elisha, this temple of the holy and glorious prophet Elijah the Ordinary was created under the power ... of Tsar Peter Alekseevich with the blessing of the Holy Governing Synod, member of the Most Reverend Stephen, Metropolitan of Ryazan and Murom, Duma clerk Gabriel Fedorovich, his brother commissar Vasily Fedorovich Derevnin"; Inside, on the wall of the refectory there are two tombstones with the names of the brothers.

The old Moscow intelligentsia, the descendants of ancient noble families, those who survived and survived without betraying either their faith or their Fatherland, have been flocking here to “Ilya the Ordinary” for decades.

And the most remarkable thing is that “Ilya the Ordinary” became a refuge for many icons from closed and destroyed Moscow churches.

This is how the miraculous “Unexpected Joy” came here. Its origin is not known for certain. Most likely, this particular icon was in the Church of Constantine and Helena in the Taininsky Garden of the Kremlin, destroyed in 1928. From there, along with many other shrines of the Mother See, in a roundabout way it came to the Church of the Resurrection in Sokolniki, then one of the centers of the Renovationist heresy. When the godless government stopped supporting the renovationists, their movement disintegrated and the icons from Sokolniki began to return to the surviving Orthodox churches Moscow.

The then rector of “Ilya the Ordinary,” Father Alexander Tolgsky, asked Patriarch Sergius for a blessing, and in 1944 the icon was solemnly moved to its current location. This happened on Friday, and since then the solemn cathedral akathist “Unexpected Joy” has been served here on Fridays.

Hundreds of people prayed to this miraculous image, turning to the Most Pure One with faith and in the hope of receiving the unexpected joy of forgiveness and gracious consolation, help in their affairs and especially praying for their children.

The first known mentions of the icon itself date back to the 1830s, but the event that gave rise to its writing occurred at least a century earlier and was described in the book “The Irrigated Fleece,” compiled by St. Demetrius of Rostov. A certain dashing man led a sinful life, but was nevertheless reverently attached to the Most Pure One, daily praying unforgivingly to Her icon. One day, getting ready to “go out for a sinful deed,” he prayed and suddenly saw how the Baby’s ulcers on his arms, legs and sides began to bleed, and the voice of the Most Pure One said: “You and other sinners are again crucifying My Son with your sins, like the Jews. You call Me Merciful, but why do you insult Me with your lawless deeds?” The shocked sinner begged the Most Pure One for intercession, kissed the Savior’s sores as a sign of forgiveness, and from that time returned to an honest and pious life.

According to this legend, on the icon “Unexpected Joy” it is written “a certain lawless man”, praying on his knees before the image of “Hodegetria”, under which the first words of the story itself or a special prayer are usually inscribed.

On the miraculous robe from the temple in the name of Elijah the Ordinary there is an inscription: “With the blessing His Holiness Patriarch Moscow and All Rus' Alexy on the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, the chasuble was restored in the summer of 1959 under the rector of the Church of the Holy Prophet of God Elijah the Ordinary, Archpriest A.V. Tolgsky.”

The deceased especially loved this icon and therefore considered himself a parishioner of the Church of Elijah the Ordinary, often coming here for evening services. They say that one day he saw this image in subtle sleep, and when I found myself in the Church of Elijah the Prophet for the first time, I immediately recognized just such a list of “Unexpected Joy.”

Let's talk here about other shrines of this temple. A beautiful image of the Kazan Mother of God written by Simon Ushakov. The icon of the “Assumption”, which came here from the closed Church of the Assumption on Mogiltsy. When the nearby Zachatievsky was closed in 1924 convent, then his last abbess brought here the icons of the “Three-Handed Lady” and the Mother of God “Merciful” (exactly seventy years later this monastery was restored, and its icons were returned to their original place, to the monastery). Icon of the Sovereign Mother of God, painted by the artist Nikolai Chernyshev, who was arrested and died for his faith in December 1924.

Hieromartyr Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov), one of the first hagiographers St. Seraphim Sarovsky, at one time images of the Savior and the venerable were painted, and the icon of the Savior was confiscated during the arrest of the bishop in 1937 and, unknown how, ended up in the temple after the execution of St. Seraphim.

The temple gathered within its walls amazing people. Father Alexander Egorov recently completed his earthly journey: how many people did this truly Russian shepherd care for, how much wise advice he gave, how much love and consolation the parishioners saw from him... Peace be upon his ashes...

Another locally revered image, “Unexpected Joy,” has long been in the Moscow church in the name of the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” in Maryina Roshcha.

There were also revered lists in the demolished churches of the Burning Bush near Smolensky Boulevard, the Annunciation at the Zhitny Dvor in the Kremlin, as well as in the church in the name of Fyodor Stratilates at the Myasnitsky Gate that has survived to this day; outside the capital - also in the village of Selgi, Simbirsk province.

Let us trust in the mercy of the Mother of God, give thanks for those unexpected joys that She sends us and believe that She will not abandon us in difficult and difficult times. thorny path, whose name is life.

Troparion, tone 4

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.

Prayer

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 Thy servants, offered to You, and like the sinner of old, who prayed many times before Thy honorable icon, You did not despise Him, but You gave him the unexpected joy of repentance and You bowed Your Son to His many and zealous ones. intercession for the forgiveness of this sinner and erring 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 bow 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; for 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 - the 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 Thy all-honorable name and show to all Thy all-powerful protection and intercession: in piety, purity and honest living, keep them in goodness until the end; 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 those 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, be chaste to young ones, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching, teach 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 all vice and defilement and teach everything that is good and pleasing to God, and bring those seduced into sin and uncleanness, having revealed the defilement of sin, from 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 life; to those who died a sudden death, beseech the mercy of Thy Son, and for all the departed, who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Thy Son, Thou thyself be a ceaseless and warm Prayer Book and Intercessor; Yes, everyone in heaven and on earth leads You, as a firm and shameless Representative of the Christian race, and, leading, glorify You and Your Son, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.