Why icons stream myrrh - scientific explanation. What is a myrrh-streaming icon and what is its peculiarity?

The Church is considering icon as a special form of revelation of Divine reality.

All canonical icons in churches or homes are sacred due to their spiritual content and meaning. However, some are elected By God's providence for special signs. The indescribable light, fragrance, and myrrh emanating from them are material signs of the appearance of the heavenly world, the Kingdom of God.

Laboratory tests show that myrrh is a liquid of organic origin, sometimes resembling olive oil, but how it appears at shrines remains inexplicable. As a result of a study of moisture taken from one of the weeping icons, it was established that “these are real tears.” Myrrh is not removed from the substance of the icon, but appears on it “out of nothing.” It happens that moisture appears and swells on the glass of the icon case covering the image, or appears on the icon itself underneath it. The antiquity or novelty of the icon, its material does not matter; images can stream myrrh on wood, paper, glass, etc.

The type, color, and consistency of the resulting liquid are varied: from thick, viscous resin to dew, which is why they sometimes talk about “oil flow” or “dew flow.” It may have a fragrant aroma. The shape and size of the droplets are also extremely variable. Sometimes they cover the entire image, sometimes they seem to flow from certain points. In the broad sense of the word, myrrh streaming refers to any miraculous appearance of moisture on icons and sacred objects. Often, through anointing with the exhausted world, healing of ailments occurs.

The history of the Orthodox Church includes about a thousand images, famous for their miracles throughout the history of Christianity. Most of them are images of the Mother of God, the Heavenly Intercessor of the human race. The main basis for venerating a particular image as miraculous was the certified gift of specific help to people, be it healing the sick, intercession from enemies, fires, or the elements. Sometimes this help was preceded or accompanied by a certain supernatural event: the Mother of God Herself came in a dream or in a vision and informed where and how Her image should be found; icons walked through the air, descended or rose by themselves; a radiance was observed from them when they were acquired (Eletskaya-Chernigovskaya, Czestokhovskaya-Tyvrovskaya, Tsarevokokshaiskaya, Zhirovitskaya,"Merciful" Akhtyrskaya, Galichskaya, Dubovitskaya), a fragrance emanated (“Uncleaning”), a voice sounded (“Quick to Hear”, Yugskaya, Smolenskaya-Solovetskaya), the icon was updated by itself (Kasperovskaya) or the image on it came to life (« Unexpected Joy», Serafimo-Ponetaevskaya).

Some images miraculously emitted blood, tears, and myrrh. Bleeding (“Slaughtered”, Doliska, Częstochowa, Iverskaya, Kiprskaya, Pakhromskaya,“Unexpected Joy”), as a rule, came from a wound inflicted on the image - to admonish people who had offended the shrine. Tears flowing from the eyes Holy Mother of God("Crying" Tikhvinskaya- Afonskaya, Ilyinskaya-Chernigovskaya, Pryazhevskaya, Ryaditenskaya, Kazanskaya-Vysochinovskaya, Kazanskaya-Kargopolskaya, “ Tenderness"-Novgorodskaya, Kaplunovskaya, Mirozhskaya, “Znamenie”-Novgorodskaya, Korsunskaya-Izborskaya), were perceived both as a sign of the sorrow of the Mother of God for human sins, and as a sign of the mercy of the Lady, crying for her children. From April 16 to April 24, 1662, the Ilinsko-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God wept. This happened four years after the image was painted. Subsequently, this icon became famous for many wondrous miracles described by St. Dimitry Rostovsky in the book “Irrigated Fleece”. In 1854, Bishop Melchizedek of Romania became one of the eyewitnesses of the flow of tears from the icon, which later received the name “Weeping” (in the Romanian Sokolsky Monastery). The Bishop said that similar events occurred in ancient times and that this “always foreshadowed difficult trials for the Church of Christ and for the Fatherland.”

Church tradition knows several icons from which holy myrrh exuded. Even in ancient times, in the 6th century, on Pisidian The icon flowed with oil from the hand of the Mother of God. Subsequently, this miracle was confirmed in its truth VII Ecumenical Council. In the 13th century after fervent prayer, the blessed one. Procopius and people about salvation from the stone city of Veliky Ustyug according to the icon Annunciation("Ustyug"), myrrh began to flow - a sign of the mercy of the Mother of God that had taken place over the city. On September 16, 1392, the myrrh arose from the right hand of the Mother of God on Tomsk icon. In 1592 image "Praises to the Blessed Virgin Mary" was kidnapped from Mount Athos by robbers. But when the icon was covered with fragrant myrrh, they repented and returned the shrine. On the fifth week Lent 1635 in Oran Bogoroditsky Monastery Nizhny Novgorod diocese during the evening doxology with akathist on Vladimirskaya- Oranskaya The icon flowed with ointment from the head of the Infant Jesus and the whole temple was filled with a fragrance. In 1848 in Moscow in the house of Colonel D.N. Boncheskul there was a just written list miraculous icon "Helper of sinners." IN Easter the icon began to sparkle, and drops similar to rain were seen on it. They were oily to the touch and fragrant. Through the anointing with miraculous moisture, the sick received healing. The image was donated to the temple, where it became famous for other miracles.

Up to the 20th century. myrrh-streaming or lacrimation of an icon (in the book E. Poselyanina“Tales of the miraculous icons of the Mother of God and of Her mercies to the human race” describes, respectively, 6 cases of myrrh-streaming and 12 lacrimation - for the almost 2000-year history of the Church) was a rare, exceptional phenomenon. Mass signs were observed in Russia only in the 20th century. The first such period occurred in the early 1920s, when, along with numerous icon updates Myrrh-streaming also occurred (for example, on July 25, 1921, in the Harbin Cathedral, drops of myrrh flowed from the eyes of the Savior Not Made by Hands and remained visible for several months).

1991 - the beginning of the time of widespread signs from icons. Although some cases have been observed before (for example, the flow of myrrh from the icons of the Kazan Mother of God, etc. Ambrose V Optina Pustyn November 16, 1988), precisely since 1991, reports of miracles from icons begin to arrive one after another from various places in Russia. Hundreds of cases were recorded in the following decade. Icons are miraculously found, renewed, and stream myrrh—in churches, monasteries, and homes ordinary people.

Fateful for the history of Russia, 1991 marked the beginning of the dismemberment of the state that had been assembled for centuries. Huge country found herself plunged into the abyss of trials. On Bright Week 1991, the icon of the Mother of God exuded fragrant myrrh "Sovereign" from Nikolo-Perervinskaya monastery in Moscow. In the summer of 1991, in one of the ancient churches of Vologda, tears flowed from the eyes of the Lord in the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands. On August 18, an ancient icon of the Mother of God began to cry in Georgia. On November 22, 1991, in the Smolensk Assumption Cathedral, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God shed a tear (Smolensk is the closest Russian city to Belarus, on whose territory two weeks later the Belovezhskaya Conspiracy was concluded).

Several icons at once showed grief in different parts of Russia and beyond its borders. “Tears of the Mother of God! A phenomenon that brings awe and reverence, writes Archpriest Mikhail Pomazansky about the crying icons. “It testifies to how close the Mother of God is to the world.” But let these tears not exist! If there is no greater grief for children in a family than to see their mother crying, then for Christians what a strong and terrible shock it must be to know that the Mother of God is shedding tears for them and because of them!.. Do they testify that Heaven do they see sorrow, that they hear those crying and that the Mother of God through Her icon speaks comfortingly: “I am with you”? Does the Mother of God grieve over the troubles in the Orthodox Churches? We don't know. But let us not turn away from ourselves the thought of the great significance of these signs for all of us and for each of us, we will not allow the thought that “this does not apply to us.” We must accept the tears of the Mother of God as a reproach for us, as a warning, and as a call to repentance!”

As in previous centuries, signs from icons are most often given during the days of Great Lent - a time of special repentance and laments about sins. Nowadays, blessed dew or myrrh often appears not on one, but on several temple icons, on crucifixes. It can disappear and appear again. Eyewitnesses seem to be called upon to imprint in their hearts the action of the good will of the Lord, as if sanctifying the “house of prayer” with the sprinkling of peace. And - according to the Oros of the Ecumenical Council - to “raise honor to the original”, in sorrowful and difficult times to once again be convinced that the Fatherland and the Church have not lost their heavenly army.

In the 1920s, renovations of icons took place across the country in waves, affecting only certain areas. In the 1990s, all of Russia became a place of signs: city and rural churches, monasteries, houses of pious people. Never before Russian Orthodox Church I have never encountered icons crying and streaming myrrh everywhere. This is an unprecedented phenomenon in the history of the country - there is no doubt historical fact, which has great spiritual significance. This is the clear voice of God addressed to the entire Russian people.

However, compared to past centuries Among clergy and laity there is a decrease in love and attention to the shrine of the Lord. The canonical rules are not always followed: drawing up a document signed by the rector of the church and witnesses to the miracle and then submitting it to the bishop, who appoints a commission to certify the authenticity of what happened. Sometimes clergy remain indifferent to such phenomena, sometimes they are afraid of unhealthy excitement. But practice has shown that such fears are unfounded. Even after reports in the press, on radio and television about a certified miracle, no one rushes to the temple to see it. Only a small part of lay believers experience genuine reverence in the face of the mysterious sign of God.

For several years, icons have been streaming with myrrh in the centers Orthodox holiness- Optina Hermitage, Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya Hermitage of the Riga Trinity-Sergius Monastery. They are recorded in photographs and film. Icons stream myrrh and cry in newly built monasteries - monasteries in the name of the icon “Quick to Hear” in the city of Pechory (Komi Republic) - in 1994, in the Intercession-Tervenichesky Monastery of the St. Petersburg Diocese - in 1994 - 95 and in the monastery monastery - in 1997 etc.

In July 1994, myrrh-streaming of icons was observed in the church in the village. Puchkovo Moscow diocese, including a paper reproduction of the icon of St. New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Several icons stream myrrh at once in a number of Moscow churches (St. Nicholas in Pyzhi, St. Nicholas in Kuznetsy, etc.), in the St. Petersburg Church of St. right Simeon and Anna, in the churches of Kazan, Kaluga, Naberezhnye Chelny and many others.

Myrrh streams are surprisingly diverse in nature. During the first week of Great Lent 1996 in the church of the village. Nizhnyaya Baygora, Voronezh region. the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God streamed myrrh: February 24, on the eve of Forgiveness Sunday the myrrh flowed from the image in a stream, so that a towel was placed under the icon, and the temple was filled with an indescribable fragrance. IN Clean Monday myrrh flowed from under the crown and from the forehead of the Mother of God; on Tuesday - drops all over the icon; on Wednesday - the icon dried up, and tears flowed from the eyes of the Lady. The rector was most amazed at the lack of faith and indifference of the people: no one came to the temple even just to look at the manifestation of God’s mercy.

Signs from icons in the North Caucasus marked the beginning Chechen war: On May 27, 1994 the icon of St. Nicholas in Stavropol, and on June 9, a holiday Ascension of the Lord, in the presence of hundreds of pilgrims in the church of the village of Zelenchukskaya, tears streamed from the eyes of the Mother of God on two icons - Iveron and “Quick to Hear”.

Many miracles are associated with the patron saints of Russia - the Royal Martyrs. In September 1994, myrrh streamed in Tsarskoe Selo Feodorovskaya icon - patroness of the House Romanovs. In the Intercession Church of Marienburg (near Gatchina), built in memory of the miraculous salvation Royal family during a train crash near Borki station, the icon “ Recovery of the dead." This happened on February 17, 1994, on the eve of the celebration of this icon. First, a thin stream of light flowed from the eye of the Mother of God, then tears flowed one after another, then three stripes of the world appeared from the left shoulder. Later the entire surface of the icon became myrrhized. The miracle lasted about two months. The icon itself was also painted in memory of the deliverance from the death of the Imperial family.

On January 31, 1997, in the house of a Moscow parishioner, a small paper icon of the Martyr Tsar was bathed in transparent, fragrant myrrh. Nikolai Alexandrovich and St. equal to book Vladimir. In 1998, the myrrh-streaming of the icon of Sovereign Nikolai Alexandrovich began in the Moscow Church of the Ascension of the Lord on the Pea Field. The image was transferred here from the apartment of one of the parishioners, where the miracle was first recorded on November 7, 1998. An abundant outflow of the world occurred almost every day, and the wondrous fragrance did not stop for a single day, especially intensifying during the funeral services for the Royal Martyrs. Contrary to the laws of physics, the myrrh flowed across the icon lying on the analogue not down, but from four sides of the icon case towards the image of the Tsar. The icon is one of the lithographic copies of the image painted in California. The porphyry-bearing Anointed of God is depicted on it in golden-red tones, extraterrestrial radiance, with symbols royal power- orb and scepter in hands. “This holy icon was written to glorify the Tsar-Martyr in Russia,” reads the inscription on the image. The streaming of myrrh from the icon was perceived by believers as another sign of the Tsar’s holiness, another evidence of the need for his speedy canonization in his earthly Fatherland.

Signs of myrrh streaming and weeping icons are given to everything Orthodox world in different parts of the world.

The most famous myrrh-streaming icon of the 20th century. became the Iveron-Montreal image of the Mother of God. Painted by an Athonite icon painter, the copy of the ancient Iveron icon was given to Joseph Muñoz, an Orthodox Spaniard, who placed it in his apartment in Montreal. Beginning in 1982, this icon constantly exuded holy myrrh, and in August 1991, tears were seen on it for the first time. Cotton wool with wonderfully fragrant myrrh was sent to Russia in large numbers. Healing mercy was poured out on people who resorted to the Intercessor in sorrow and illness. In the families of pious Christians who pray, paper reproductions and photographs of the Montreal Icon exude myrrh. A number of circumstances indicated that the image was mystically connected with the fate of Russia and the feat of the New Martyrs. After Joseph Muñoz, the custodian of the miraculous icon, was killed in October 1997 mysterious circumstances in Greece, the icon disappeared.

The cry of the Mother of God in New York is known: a Greek Orthodox family living in New York bought a small paper icon of the Mother of God "Passionate." In the spring of 1960, tears flowed from the eyes of the Mother of God, causing grooves to form on the paper. The icon of the Mother of God wept Hodegetria" in the church of St. Nicholas in Chicago.

In a small church in the Australian town of Mount Pritchard on the patronal feast day Dormition of the Mother of God, On August 28, 1994, a one and a half meter crucifix began to exude myrrh. Drops appeared on the face, arms, chest and legs of the Savior. They were light, oily and emitted a fragrance reminiscent of roses or incense. During prayer services, the flow of myrrh intensified so that drops fell from the icon to the floor. The miracle, which lasted more than a year, bore spiritual fruit. Many eyewitnesses, previously indifferent to faith and God, repented and became true Orthodox believers.

In November 1996 in Bethlehem, in the Church of the Nativity of Christ, the image of the Savior began to cry. It is located on top of a marble column located on the side of the main altar, before descending into the cave where the Infant God was born. The Basilica of the Nativity was erected in the 4th century. St. equal to queen Elena, and over the past sixteen centuries, service in it has never been interrupted. The miracle was officially witnessed by priests of the Greek Church, one of whom said: “Jesus is crying because the world is going the wrong way.”

February 3, 1997, on the day of celebration of the icon of the Mother of God "Consolation and Consolation" In the Kykkos monastery in Cyprus, a copy of this miraculous icon began to cry. Tears simultaneously streamed from the eyes of the Blessed Virgin and the right eye of the Infant God. The Archbishop called on the people to repent, so that the entire island would not suffer the fate of its eastern part, where thousands of Orthodox Christians were exterminated by infidels.

The abundance of miracles and signs from icons occurring in the 20th century is a sign of God for all of Russia. This is a harbinger of grandiose events in the history of all mankind, a sign of the eschatological era. But miracles are not performed by God in order to capture anyone's imagination. In Christians, signs give rise to feelings of fear of God and joy in the Lord, and encourage intense prayer and repentance.

Most people do not believe in miracles, but they happen right before our eyes, and denying that this is really something unusual is simply pointless. It is difficult to figure out who leads them and where they come from, but Orthodox Christians believe that miracles come from the Lord God.

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ performed miracles in front of people more than once, and today these miracles can also be observed. But it is important to remember that a miracle occurs only where they really believe in it and where they want to see it with their own eyes.

How can icons cry?

A weeping icon does not mean at all that tears will flow from the eyes of the image; it is most correct to say that a special oil begins to be released, which is called myrrh, but this oil should not be confused with another, which is prepared by priests and used for Orthodox rites.

Very rarely, oil begins to appear on icons that has nothing in common with the oil that is used for anointing. The tears of an icon can be of different consistency, for example, oil can be thick or liquid.

What does the crying icon portend?

In fact, icons cry in churches extremely rarely and, as a rule, after this some terrible event occurs in the world, so it is generally accepted that the tears of an icon are a sign or sign to humanity that warns people that they need to repent. And then, perhaps, the Lord will forgive his children and prevent the threat. In no case should the tears of an icon be considered a bad sign; on the contrary, they are a good sign sent by God.

The oil that comes from the icon is necessarily collected and given to the parishioners in the church; it is considered healing, and many people can once again be convinced that miracles exist, because it can cure even the most serious diseases.

Historical cases and interesting facts about myrrh-streaming icons

For the first time, the weeping icon was seen in Veliky Ustyug. A holy fool named Procopius lived here, who had a special gift of foresight. Procopius called on people to repent, otherwise they would all perish. No one took Procopius' words seriously, and then one day a black cloud appeared over the city and covered the entire city. Frightened people rushed to pray near the icon in the church, which immediately began to exude myrrh. The parishioners collected it in vessels, and then anointed themselves and thanked God for forgiving them of their sins.

Later, a miracle happened again, and already in 1953, an icon of the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms was shed in Sicily. There was too much controversy around this case, but scientists wanted to check the authenticity of the tears. And when they took the liquid for analysis, they were convinced that it was real human tears in composition.

Another miraculous weeping icon is the “Laying on crown of thorns on the head of the Savior." This icon is located in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Myrrh began to stand out in the image back in 1572. That year, streams of fragrant oil constantly flowed down the icon, which somewhat resembled blood, and this was a sign before terrible tragedy, which happened in France. Later this event became known as St. Bartholomew's Night.

What icons stream myrrh?

Neither scientists nor priests can answer many questions. For example, no one can say for sure why icons cry, since this is not always an omen of something bad. It is also worth noting that the crying of icons can also be different. Icons are crying all over the world, but most of these images, oddly enough, are located in Russia.

The clergy say that in lately There are many more myrrh-streaming icons than ever before. Not only ancient images can cry, but also icons that were painted not so long ago. The myrrh-streaming icon is considered a real miracle, and not a single scientist in the world has yet been able to study the origin of this oil that is released.

The crying icon does not have to be depicted on a tree. There have been cases when myrrh appeared even in photographs of icons or photocopies.

A huge number of scientists have constantly studied the consistency of oil, and none of them have been able to find out exactly what it consists of. Recently, they even came to the conclusion that the oil has a high protein content, but as it turned out, such a substance can only be released from a living organism. Therefore, the tears of icons remain the biggest unsolved mystery in the world.

How should one treat such a miracle?

The crying icon is a sign that is explained in different ways. Orthodox Christians treat this phenomenon with great trepidation. Priests try not to advertise the myrrh streaming of icons, because modern people pay attention to the external miracle and forget that Jesus did not recognize the sign. It should be remembered that a miracle must be a spiritual necessity, and it achieves its goal only if you believe in it.

Icon of the Mother of God Weeping

The most famous is the weeping icon of the Mother of God. She streamed myrrh for 15 years. For the Orthodox, this was one of the greatest miracles of the last century. The keeper of this icon is considered to be Joseph Muñoz, who, having once seen the icon, decided that it should stay with him.

The icon was located on Athos, and when Joseph first asked to give it back, he was refused, but later the abbot came to Joseph and gave the icon, saying that the Mother of God herself blessed him for this act. The tears that were collected from the icon helped many people to heal. Today the fate of the icon Mother of God unknown, since in 19997 Joseph was killed and the icon was stolen.

Myrrh-streaming icon in Belgorod

Miracles happen and are not that far away. Quite recently, on the territory of the Belgorod clinic, where there is a hospital church, the icon of the Matrona of Moscow was cast in peace. The weeping icon in Belgorod caused a real storm of emotions among Orthodox Christians, who lined up in a huge line to see the miracle with their own eyes, and, of course, to venerate it. As soon as it became known that the icon began to stream myrrh, a procedure was carried out that was supposed to testify that this was really a miracle, and not someone’s cruel joke.

Holy Matronushka is not the only weeping icon in Belgorod. In a small village near Belgorod there is a wooden church erected in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The icon also began to stream myrrh in it, and everything happened in the evening before the great feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

All Orthodox Christians should know that the origin of such a miracle cannot be proven; a person should believe and see what the Lord shows him. No analysis has been able to prove that the oil is of terrestrial origin. Therefore, it is simply impossible to shake the faith of people who truly believe with all their souls in the Lord God.

Probably no more in the Christian religion amazing phenomenon than the myrrh-streaming of icons. For priests, connoisseurs of icons, and scientists, this phenomenon has always been a subject of controversy and great debate. But the answer to the question of why this phenomenon occurs has still not been found. It is quite possible that humanity will never be able to reveal this secret.

What is myrrh-streaming of icons?

This is the appearance of oily moisture on their surface, which is called myrrh. In addition, this ointment has a very pleasant fragrant odor that can be felt at quite a distance. Moreover, myrrh can be either thick or liquid, and can have very different colors.
But there was once an icon in our world that streamed myrrh for 15 years. And the name of this icon is the Myrrh-Streaming Iveron-Montreal Icon of the Mother of God.

This icon was painted in 1981 on Mount Athos. And Hieromonk Chrysostom wrote it. In 1982, Orthodox Canadian Joseph Muñoz Cortes saw this icon and asked the creator of the icon to sell it. But he was refused.

Joseph spent several days in the monastery, and on the day of his departure he received an icon as a gift. Before leaving the monastery, he attached the received icon of the Mother of God to the original in the Iveron Monastery.

Joseph returned home to Montreal, and the resulting icon took its rightful place in his “red corner.” And a few days later a real miracle happened - the icon began to stream myrrh. This event occurred on November 24, 1982. And it lasted for 15 long years. The myrrh of this icon had a very strong aroma of roses, and it was even collected in special vessels.

Over these 15 years, the icon has visited many countries around the world. And Orthodox Christians everywhere simply could not take their eyes off such a miracle. And its keeper Joseph was incredibly proud and happy that this icon entrusted its fate to his hands.

But in 1997, on the night of October 30-31, Joseph Muñoz was killed in Athens, and the Myrrh-streaming Iveron-Montreal Icon of the Mother of God simply disappeared without a trace. Her true fate is still unknown.

But in September 2007, a miracle happened again. A simple paper copy of the missing myrrh-streaming icon began to myrrh-stream again, but on the other side of the world - in Honolulu, Hawaii.

We are all earthly people and we want to fit all miracles into the framework of a rational explanation. This happened with the myrrh-streaming of icons.

There are 3 versions of the origin of myrrh:

Deception and fraud for the sake of profit and popularity.
The natural process of moisture formation when an icon is kept in certain conditions.
Myrrh is nothing more than oil with which believers are anointed. When kissing the icon, part of this oil remains on it. In addition, oil from the lamps that hang in front of it can get on the icon.

Of course, all these explanations can easily be considered true. But in our gray and everyday life we are so lacking in miracles, we so want to believe that the streaming of myrrh from icons actually happens, that icons are not just pictures, they are holy things that can not only stream myrrh, but also heal many diseases.

Laboratory tests showed that miro is a liquid of organic origin. How it appears at shrines remains inexplicable. As a result of studying the moisture taken from one of the weeping icons, it was found that “these are real tears.” Myrrh appears on the icon literally “out of nothing.” It happens that moisture appears and swells on the glass of the icon case covering the image, or appears on the icon itself underneath it. The antiquity or novelty of the icon, its material does not matter; images can stream myrrh on wood, paper, glass, etc.

Some images miraculously emitted blood, tears, and myrrh. The flow of blood (“Slaughtered”, Dolisskaya, Chen-stokhovskaya, Iverskaya, Cyprus, Pakhromskaya, “Unexpected Joy”), as a rule, from a wound inflicted on the image, occurred to admonish people who had offended the shrine. Tears flowing from the eyes of the Most Holy Theotokos ("Weeping", Tikhvinskaya-Athos, Ilyinskaya-Chernigovskaya, Pryazhevskaya, Ryaditenskaya, Kazan-Vysochinovskaya, Kazan-Kargopolskaya, "Tenderness" - Novgorodskaya, Kaplunovskaya, Mirozhskaya, "Znamenie" - Novgorodskaya, Korsunskaya-Izborskaya), were perceived both as a sign of sorrow for human sins, and as a sign of the mercy of the Lady, crying for her children.

1991 marked the beginning of the dismemberment of Russia. The country found itself plunged into the abyss of trials. On Bright Week 1991, the “Sovereign” icon of the Mother of God from the St. Nicholas-Perervinskaya monastery in Moscow exuded fragrant myrrh. In the summer of the same year, in one of the ancient churches of Vologda, tears flowed from the eyes of the Lord at the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands.

On November 22, 1991, in the Smolensk Assumption Cathedral, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God shed a tear. “Tears of the Mother of God! A phenomenon that brings awe and reverence,” Archpriest Mikhail Pomazansky writes about the crying icons. “It testifies to how close the Mother of God is to the world. But let these tears not exist! If in the family there is no greater grief for the children, how to see crying mother, then for Christians what a strong and terrible shock it must be to know that the Mother of God is shedding tears for them and because of them!..

We must accept the tears of the Mother of God as a reproach for us, as a warning, and as a call to repentance!" For several years, icons have been streaming with myrrh in the centers of Orthodox holiness - Optina Hermitage, Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya Hermitage of the Riga Trinity-Sergius Monastery, in newly built monasteries, etc.

The number of reports of miracles from icons in Russia at the end of the 20th century - beginning of XXI century broke all records. For example, in the Holy Vvedensky Monastery in the city of Ivanovo, from December 1998 to March 1999, 1047 icons streamed myrrh.

Pavel Florensky, a member of the commission for describing miraculous signs in the Russian Orthodox Church, believes that there is nothing unusual in this: the mass flow of myrrh is caused by the fact that churches are being restored and there are more icons. Many miracles are associated with the patron saints of Russia - the Royal Martyrs.

In September 1994, the Feodorovskaya icon, the patroness of the House of Romanov, streamed myrrh in Tsarskoe Selo. In the Church of the Intercession of Marienburg (near Gatchina), built in memory of the miraculous rescue of the Royal Family during a train crash at the Borki station, the icon “Recovery of the Dead” was myrrhized. This happened on February 17, 1994, on the eve of the celebration of this icon.

First, a thin stream of light flowed from the eye of the Mother of God, then tears flowed one after another, then three stripes of the world appeared from the left shoulder. Later the entire surface of the icon became myrrhized. The miracle lasted about two months. At one time, the story of the myrrh-streaming icon of the Holy Royal Martyrs also received wide publicity.

On January 31, 1997, in the house of a Moscow parishioner, a small paper icon of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas Alexandrovich and St. equals - ap. book Vladimir.

In 1998, the myrrh-streaming of the icon of Sovereign Nikolai Alexandrovich began in the Moscow Church of the Ascension of the Lord on the Pea Field. The image was transferred here from the apartment of one of the parishioners, where the miracle was first recorded on November 7, 1998. An abundant outflow of the world occurred almost every day, and the wonderful fragrance did not stop for a single day, especially intensifying during funeral services for Royal Martyrs.
Contrary to the laws of physics, the myrrh flowed across the icon lying on the analogue not down, but from four sides of the icon case towards the image of the Tsar. Since then, the icon periodically exudes myrrh, which has been repeatedly recorded by film cameras. This icon traveled throughout Russia and was solemnly received in different dioceses.

“At first we observed how a red drop appeared on the icon of the Crucifixion of Christ, on the forehead of Jesus, then it flowed in a trickle. After that, blood appeared on the palms, legs, and ribs,” he said.

A little later, “The Savior Not Made by Hands,” “The Blessing Savior,” “The Pantocrator Savior,” “Epiphany,” and another “Crucifixion” were bled - only those icons that depict Jesus Christ. They all stand either on the altar or next to it.

After the service, parishioners collect cotton wool and handkerchiefs from under the icons, onto which the myrrh flows. Then believers apply them to sore spots and are cured. “My son Vladimir has sore legs; he even had surgery. One leg hurt so much that he couldn’t sleep at night. I applied a handkerchief soaked in myrrh to him, and the pain went away. Now he’s much better,” said one of the parishioners. All the myrrh-streaming icons of this church used to be in the houses of parishioners. And not one of them ever leaked myrrh, much less bled. And only in the temple a miracle happened.

WHAT IS MYRO?

Laboratory tests showed that myrrh is a liquid of organic origin. How it appears at shrines remains inexplicable. As a result of studying the moisture taken from one of the weeping icons, it was found that “these are real tears.” Myrrh appears on the icon literally “out of nothing.” It happens that moisture appears and swells on the glass of the icon case covering the image, or appears on the icon itself underneath it. The antiquity or novelty of the icon, its material does not matter; images can stream myrrh on wood, paper, glass, etc.

The type, color, and consistency of the resulting liquid are varied: from thick, viscous resin to dew, which is why they sometimes talk about “oil flow” or “rosy flow.” It may have a fragrant aroma. The shape and size of the drops are also different. Sometimes they cover the entire image, and sometimes they seem to flow from certain points. In the broad sense of the word, myrrh streaming refers to any miraculous appearance of moisture on icons and sacred objects. Often, after anointing with the exhausted myrrh, healing of various diseases occurs.

MIRACLE ICONS

The history of the Orthodox Church includes about a thousand images, famous for their miracles. Most of them are images of the Mother of God. The main reason for venerating the image as miraculous was the certified gift of specific help to people: healing the sick, intercession from enemies, fires, and the elements. Sometimes this help was preceded or accompanied by a supernatural event: the Mother of God Herself came in a dream or in a vision and informed where and how Her image should be found; icons walked through the air, descended or rose by themselves; a radiance was observed from them when they were acquired (Eletskaya-Chernigovskaya, Czestokhovskaya-Tyvrovskaya, Tsarevokokshaiskaya, Zhirovitskaya, “Merciful”, Akhtyrskaya, Galichskaya, Dubovitskaya), a fragrance emanated (“Uncleaning”), a voice sounded (“Quick to Hear”, Yugskaya, Smolenskaya- Solovetskaya), the icon was updated by itself (Kasperovskaya) or the image on it came to life ("Unexpected Joy", Seraphimo-Ponetaevskaya).

Some images miraculously emitted blood, tears, and myrrh. The flow of blood (“Slaughtered”, Dolisskaya, Chen-stokhovskaya, Iverskaya, Cyprus, Pakhromskaya, “Unexpected Joy”), as a rule, from a wound inflicted on the image, occurred to admonish people who had offended the shrine. Tears flowing from the eyes of the Most Holy Theotokos ("Weeping", Tikhvinskaya-Athos, Ilyinskaya-Chernigovskaya, Pryazhevskaya, Ryaditenskaya, Kazan-Vysochinovskaya, Kazan-Kargopolskaya, "Tenderness" - Novgorodskaya, Kaplunovskaya, Mirozhskaya, "Znamenie" - Novgorodskaya, Korsunskaya-Izborskaya), were perceived both as a sign of sorrow for human sins, and as a sign of the mercy of the Lady, crying for her children.

MASS SIGNS

Until the 20th century the streaming of myrrh or tearing of icons was a rare, exceptional phenomenon. Mass signs began to be observed in Russia in the 20th century. The first such period occurred in the early 1920s. 1991 - the beginning of the time of widespread signs from icons in Russia. Icons are miraculously found, renewed, and stream myrrh in churches, monasteries, and in the homes of ordinary people. This is an undoubted historical fact. 1991 marked the beginning of the dismemberment of Russia. The country found itself plunged into the abyss of trials. On Bright Week 1991, the “Sovereign” icon of the Mother of God from the St. Nicholas-Perervinskaya monastery in Moscow exuded fragrant myrrh. In the summer of the same year, in one of the ancient churches of Vologda, tears flowed from the eyes of the Lord at the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands. On August 18, an ancient icon of the Mother of God began to cry in Georgia. On November 22, 1991, in the Smolensk Assumption Cathedral, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God shed a tear. “Tears of the Mother of God! A phenomenon that brings awe and reverence,” Archpriest Mikhail Pomazansky writes about the crying icons. “It testifies to how close the Mother of God is to the world. But let these tears not exist! If in the family there is no greater grief for the children, how to see crying mother, then for Christians what a strong and terrible shock it must be to know that the Mother of God is shedding tears for them and because of them!.. We must accept the tears of the Mother of God as a reproach for us, as a warning, and as a call to repentance!” For several years, icons have been streaming with myrrh in the centers of Orthodox holiness - the Optina Monastery, the Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya Hermitage of the Riga Trinity-Sergius Monastery, in newly built monasteries, etc. The number of reports of miracles from icons in Russia at the end of the 20th - beginning of the 21st century broke all records. For example, in the Holy Vvedensky Monastery in the city of Ivanovo, from December 1998 to March 1999, 1047 icons streamed myrrh. Pavel Florensky, a member of the commission for describing miraculous signs in the Russian Orthodox Church, believes that there is nothing unusual in this: the mass flow of myrrh is caused by the fact that churches are being restored and there are more icons. Many miracles are associated with the patron saints of Russia - the Royal Martyrs. In September 1994, the Feodorovskaya icon, the patroness of the House of Romanov, streamed myrrh in Tsarskoe Selo. In the Church of the Intercession of Marienburg (near Gatchina), built in memory of the miraculous rescue of the Royal Family during a train crash at the Borki station, the icon “Recovery of the Dead” was myrrhized. This happened on February 17, 1994, on the eve of the celebration of this icon. First, a thin stream of light flowed from the eye of the Mother of God, then tears flowed one after another, then three stripes of the world appeared from the left shoulder. Later the entire surface of the icon became myrrhized. The miracle lasted about two months. At one time, the story of the myrrh-streaming icon of the Holy Royal Martyrs also received wide publicity. On January 31, 1997, in the house of a Moscow parishioner, a small paper icon of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas Alexandrovich and St. equals - ap. book Vladimir. In 1998, the myrrh-streaming of the icon of Sovereign Nikolai Alexandrovich began in the Moscow Church of the Ascension of the Lord on the Pea Field. The image was transferred here from the apartment of one of the parishioners, where the miracle was first recorded on November 7, 1998. An abundant outflow of the world occurred almost every day, and the wondrous fragrance did not stop for a single day, especially intensifying during funeral services for the Royal Martyrs. Contrary to the laws of physics, the myrrh flowed across the icon lying on the analogue not down, but from four sides of the icon case towards the image of the Tsar. Since then, the icon periodically exudes myrrh, which has been repeatedly recorded by film cameras. This icon traveled throughout Russia and was solemnly received in different dioceses.

AND MYROUS AND BLOOD

On the eve of Easter, parishioners of the Church of the Holy Trinity in the village of Stary Valovay, 200 kilometers from Penza, witnessed an unusual phenomenon: myrrh was dripping from the icons, and blood appeared on them. “For the past year, we have had 27 icons bleeding myrrh, but two weeks before Easter they began to “cry” especially hard. And six icons actually bled,” said the head of the church, Gennady Zalivnoe. “At first we observed how a red drop appeared on the icon of the Crucifixion of Christ, on the forehead of Jesus, then it flowed in a trickle. After that, blood appeared on the palms, legs, and ribs,” he said. A little later, “The Savior Not Made by Hands,” “The Blessing Savior,” “The Pantocrator Savior,” “Epiphany,” and another “Crucifixion” were bled - only those icons that depict Jesus Christ. They all stand either on the altar or next to it. After the service, parishioners collect cotton wool and handkerchiefs from under the icons, onto which the myrrh flows. Then believers apply them to sore spots and are cured. “My son Vladimir has sore legs; he even had surgery. One leg hurt so much that he couldn’t sleep at night. I applied a handkerchief soaked in myrrh to him, and the pain went away. Now he’s much better,” said one of the parishioners. All the myrrh-streaming icons of this church used to be in the houses of parishioners. And not one of them ever leaked myrrh, much less bled. And only in the temple a miracle happened.

Christians often observe how an oily or red liquid begins to emerge from icons, very reminiscent of blood. Moreover, as a rule, this comes precisely from the eyes of the one who is depicted on the shrine.

It is difficult for people who did not observe this to believe in such unusual phenomenon. However, it does happen and there is a huge amount of real evidence for this. Why do icons stream myrrh and what does it mean?

It is difficult for people who have not observed this to believe in such an unusual phenomenon.

Before you understand why icons stream myrrh and what it means, you should find out what myrrh streaming is.

This word comes from the term “myrrh”, which is translated from ancient Greek as “oil having a aroma”. Christians use it to consecrate a newly built church, or during the ritual of Confirmation. The creation of myrrh is also a kind of sacrament that was carried out during the life of the apostles of Christ.

The creation of myrrh is also a kind of sacrament that was carried out during the life of the apostles of Christ

In the Orthodox Church, the patriarch blesses the creation of the chrism. This sacrament occurs once every few years and is combined with the singing of songs and the reading of a large number of prayers.

After making the myrrh, it is poured into special containers, then sealed and transported to dioceses.

So, it is this liquid that, as a rule, is highlighted by various icons. A few drops may appear on its surface, or it may happen that the shrine is completely covered with myrrh.

If you believe the Holy Scriptures, then every year the oil is released from the relics of Theodotus, John the Theologian and the Apostle Philip. When icons stream myrrh, not all Christians understand what it means, but everyone knows that this phenomenon is miraculous and serves as a sign from above.

When icons stream myrrh, not all Christians understand what it means, but everyone knows that this phenomenon is miraculous and serves as a sign from above.

It is also unknown which icons distinguish the myrrh. This can be either an ordinary shrine located in the house or one that has been preserved since ancient times.

Myrrh-streamings of past centuries

What does it mean when icons stream myrrh, they tried to find out in past centuries. The first cases of the release of an oily liquid were described in Holy Tradition and non-canonical apocrypha.

Myrrh-streaming of icons occurred back in the 7th century

It is known that the phenomenon first occurred in 1040. John Skylitzes reported this in writing. But Dmitry Rostovsky stated that the streaming of myrrh from icons occurred back in the 7th century.

However, Christians observed the phenomenon long before this - in the 3rd century. A striking example served as a myrrh flow from the remains of Fedot of Ancyra and the Apostle Philip.

A striking example was the flow of myrrh from the remains of Fedot of Ancyra and the Apostle Philip

World currents of recent decades

Many reports of icons streaming myrrh began to arrive at the end of the 20th century. So, in the early 90s, a rumor spread among Christians that they began to “cry” en masse at the shrine of the Mother of God called “Sovereign”.

This phenomenon first occurred in the Nikolo-Perervinsky Church, and then in the Assumption Cathedral, when droplets of liquid appeared on the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

Droplets of liquid appeared on the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

And what is history worth when the image of Tikhon Zadonsky became myrrh in 2004? After this, residents all over the world learned that the TU-154 plane had crashed along with its passengers and pilots.

The same phenomenon was observed before the terrorist attack in Beslan and the military conflict in Ukraine. From all this we can conclude that icons “cry” precisely before terrible events that claim a huge number of lives.

Icon of the Iveron Mother of God

It is worth telling about the case when, located in Montreal, streamed myrrh for 15 years. The bloody tears of the shrine of the Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts” deserve special attention. This happened in Sevastopol during a service in 2009.

What to do if the icon of the house is streaming myrrh

What this means and why the icons of the house stream myrrh, no one knows except the Lord God. But we are sure of one thing. This phenomenon is miraculous and is directly related to the message from heaven. Therefore, under no circumstances should you wipe the ointment from the shrine.

You need to treat the icon with care and respect, because it is you who have the honor of observing this miraculous event.

Why do Divine icons stream myrrh and cry in churches and at home: folk signs

It is popularly believed that if myrrh stands out from the eyes of the Saint depicted on the icon, then global changes should be expected. Dark tears? Wait bad news and grief. If they are light, then events will develop for the better.

If the surface of the shrine is completely covered with droplets of the world, then wait good news. The holy face highlights large quantities oils? This is a harbinger of kindness and favorable events.

Why does the icon stream myrrh with blood?

If the icon bleeds, this is a harbinger of terrible news. The Orthodox Church claims that this happens when people are separated from God. From this, the Saints and the Mother of God’s hearts begin to break with pain, and bloody tears flow.

One confirmation of this is the incident that happened to a resident of Kurgan. The icon that was lying on her table began to cry tears of blood. Then the woman realized that with her alienation she had greatly offended Saint Irene. After repentance, the shrine stopped crying.

In addition, icons can bleed when some terrible event is coming. The Sacred Chronicles indicate that one of the shrines of the Mother of God cried tears of blood before the persecution and mass murder of Christians began.

Which icons are currently streaming myrrh in Russia: list

On at the moment In Russia, the allocation of myrrh to:

the shrine of the “Hodegetria of Dorogobuzh” of the Most Holy Mother of God;
icon of the Virgin Mary of Cyprus;
icon of the Mother of God "Iverskaya".

Church ministers' point of view

Even priests do not know the answer to the question of what it means when icons stream myrrh, despite the presence of numerous videos on the Internet. However, some of them have their own opinion on this matter.

Many of God’s servants urge us not to be so enthusiastic about this phenomenon, and, moreover, to consider it a sign from above or a harbinger of some event.

Thus, one of the priests, Andrei Kuraev, claims that at one time pagan statues also streamed myrrh. And even now in one of the most terrible sects “Orthodox Sovereign Church Mother of God" this phenomenon is observed.

Therefore, it would be wrong to say that the flow of myrrh is a sign of the holiness of a particular image.

Bishop Nikolai Kutepov of Nizhny Novgorod also thinks the same. He argues that this phenomenon should be treated with caution. After all, liquid may be released on icons for other reasons - vapor condensation, capillary effect, unfavorable conditions in the place where the shrine is kept.