Girdle of the Virgin in Moscow: in which church?

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

People's faith in the Almighty is so great that it gives strength to overcome the most incredible obstacles and heals from any ailments. After all, there is nothing in this world that would be inaccessible to our God. Of course, not all Orthodox have such a faith that would support them and give them strength in different life circumstances. Therefore, we have been given shrines, having venerated them with prayer and sincere request, we can see a real miracle with our own eyes. One of these wonderful things is the Belt of the Virgin.

In Moscow, this shrine visited only once, but made a lot of noise. According to some reports, during the month of your stay in Russia, venerate the Belt for about three million believers. Even more Orthodox did not manage to get into the temples where the shrine was located. Today our article is devoted to the presence of the Belt of the Virgin in Moscow, as well as the story of the shrine itself and its particles, whichlocated in various metropolitan churches.

The Belt of the Blessed Virgin: what is it

Much less is known about this relic than about other Christian shrines. It is known that the Belt belonged to the Mother of God when she was carrying her son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, it has great healing power and helps to cope with various women's problems.

It is noteworthy that until the ninth century, Christians did not mention in any sources the Belt of the Virgin, which was considered lost. Only later did information about its miraculous power appear, and it turned into a revered shrine in Constantinople.

In the calendar of Orthodox holidays there is even a special day dedicated to this relic. The holiday is celebrated on August 31.

Finding the Belt of the Virgin

The first written sources mentioning this shrine appeared in Constantinople. They were written by different authors around the same time.

One of them said that the Belt was kept in a small temple built in the city of Zila. Here the relic lay forgotten by everyone until it was transported to Constantinople. A separate chapel was built for her, and a little later the canon of the feast dedicated to the shrine arose.

According to another version, the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos was kept in Jerusalem, from where it was transported to Constantinople around the fifth century. They put him in an ark and practically forgot about the relic for four hundred years. During this period on the throneEmperor Leo was sitting, his beloved wife was suffering from mental illness. Many healers considered her possessed and shrugged when the emperor asked about the possibility of her healing. But one day the patient herself saw in a dream how the relic hidden in the ark completely healed her of her illness. The emperor immediately ordered to get the Belt of the Virgin and unfolded it over the head of his wife. Immediately the demons left the woman, and the shrine took its rightful place in the temple of Constantinople. Since that time, the clergy have marked a special day in the calendar, when a feast was solemnly celebrated in honor of the amazing and miraculous relic.

Fall of Constantinople

After the city was sacked and partially destroyed, the trace of the Belt of the Virgin was lost for some time. From time to time, information came about his whereabouts in various temple complexes.

To date, there are eleven temples where particles of the Belt of the Virgin are kept. In Moscow, such a place also exists, although many believers are not even aware of it.

Temple of Prophet Elijah

If you, like many other pilgrims, could not bow to the Belt of the Virgin in Moscow in 2011, then do not despair. Of course, this shrine, first brought from Athos, is of great importance in the eyes of believers. But in fact, its particles have long been stored in the Church of the Prophet Elijah in Moscow. The Belt of the Virgin did not get there by chance, but let's talk about everything in order.

One of the most revered temples in the capital was built at the endsixteenth century. Surprisingly, it was built in just one day. Therefore, they called it "Ordinary", the lanes closest to the construction received the same name.

Initially, the temple was wooden, and only at the beginning of the eighteenth century did it acquire the outlines familiar to our contemporaries. It is noteworthy that even during the years of Soviet rule, divine services were held here, and in the most difficult times, a religious procession was made to the temple.

At the moment, about seventy-three shrines are stored in this church, among them there is also a particle of the Belt of the Virgin. It came to Moscow under the tsarist regime and is kept in a reliquary at the chapel of Peter and Paul. Some believers, in order to have a memory of this shrine at home, acquire a small icon of the Mother of God and apply it to the relic during a visit to the temple. It is not known whether such an icon can work miracles, but many Orthodox talk about healing and help in business after praying at home to the Blessed Virgin.

What does the Belt of the Virgin help with?

Among the pilgrims to this shrine there are always a lot of women and there is a simple explanation for this - the Belt especially helps to get pregnant, endure and give birth to a he althy baby. Therefore, every woman who dreams of replenishment in the family can come and bow to the relic. Numerous evidences are known that the Belt of the Virgin even helps to cure infertility at all its stages. Also, the shrine contributes to the successful resolution of the burden during a difficult pregnancy or, for example, entanglement with the umbilical cord andfetal presentation.

Despite the fact that a piece of the Belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been in Moscow for more than a hundred years, many Orthodox dream of bowing to the relic, which is stored on Mount Athos. However, such an opportunity, unfortunately, is extremely rare. If you are interested in when the Belt of the Virgin was brought to Moscow, then we are in a hurry to disappoint you - this was the only time in modern history, in 2011. It is worth telling about the grand event separately.

The way from Athos to Russia

The relic left Greece for the first time, accompanied by monks from Mount Athos. It is noteworthy that not a single woman can set foot on the land of Athos - this is strictly prohibited. Therefore, it was difficult to even imagine that the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos would ever be in Moscow.

In what temple was the relic kept all these years on Athos? She was in the male monastery known as Vatopedi. It is considered the second most important among the Athos monasteries, and is also the richest and most ancient.

Where has the shrine been?

The Virgin's Belt traveled across Russia for thirty-nine days on a special plane. Everywhere he was accompanied by monks from Athos, they managed to visit fourteen cities and one monastery.

The route was designed in a special way. It formed an Orthodox cross, and the Russian capital was the last point.

The Belt of the Virgin in Moscow: in which church was it

In 2011, an event took place that is still remembered by all Orthodox in Russia. For the first time in the history of finding a shrine on Mount Athos, the Belt of the Virgin came to our country. In Moscow, in which temple was he placed? This question is irrelevant for the Christians of the capital. They all know that the shrine was in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior for several days, where many kilometers of queues lined up.

In a few days, many people managed to visit the relic, but even more believers could not even get close to the walls of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Until now, people remember that it was possible to get inside only in one case - after standing in line for fifteen to twenty hours in the cold. After all, the shrine came to the capital at the end of November.

To touch the Belt of the Virgin could as many people as possible, the clergy changed the order of approach to the relic. It was necessary to touch it not with lips, but with a hand. This allowed the queue to move as quickly as possible. In parallel, the pilgrims handed over notes to the servant of the temple, which indicated the names of loved ones. Later, these names were listed during the church service.

Will the Belt of the Virgin be brought to Russia from Mount Athos? Nobody knows. But miracles do happen, so don't stop praying for them.