Prayer is an unexpected joy. Prayer for the gift of children: icon of the Mother of God unexpected joy

Religious reading: icon of unexpected joy, prayer for marriage to help our readers.

From time immemorial, many people have worshiped the image of " Unexpected joy"and they honor her. Even those who are passing through Moscow come to pray to her.

Prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” helps the suffering and heals the sick. Its very name seems to be clear to everyone, but there is still a certain misunderstanding.

Few people are familiar with the origin story prayer appeal"Unexpected joy." Once upon a time there lived a sinful man. Once again about to sin, he turned in prayer to the icon. Before he could utter the words of Archangel Gabriel “Hail, O Blessed One,” he fell silent in shock.

Open, bleeding ulcers appeared on the arms, legs, and side of the Divine Infant.

The sinner, in horror, bowed face down in front of the icon, and in fear asked who did this.

In response to his question, the sinner heard the reproachful words of the Most Holy Theotokos, pointing to lawless deeds, endless insults and sins of sinful people. These words touched the man so much that he began to cry in tears for mercy, for forgiveness. He asked the Son of the Mother of God to pray for his sinful actions. When he was completely desperate, he heard words of forgiveness. Joy came to the sinner when he no longer hoped or hoped. From that time on, his life changed; the sinner began to lead a pious life.

It was thanks to this story that the image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” was created. It depicts a kneeling man stretching out his hands to the face of the Mother of God and the Child of God.

In what cases is an icon used?

The image of the Mother of God was created in the eighteenth century. Since its writing, it and other lists from it have revealed miraculous events. Prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” helps to heal many diseases, promotes early marriage, and helps lost souls return home.

People turn to prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon when they despair of getting any help. Prayer to the Mother of God will protect a person from diseases associated with hearing, not only physical, but also spiritual.

A prayerful appeal to the Mother of God will help in all sorrows associated with the separation of spouses, with the loss of relatives, with hardships, with salvation from slander, and will help in a quick marriage.

Also, many people turn to the image in search of protection. If loved ones are going on a long voyage or traveling overland, their relatives begin to read a prayer appeal to the Most Holy Theotokos asking them to protect them from all dangers and for the soon successful return of the traveler home.

What is the name of the icon associated with?

The name of the image calls people to both spiritual and prayerful work. Although the results will not appear immediately. It will take a long time to achieve them. The teaching of the ancient ascetics speaks of constant “work and prayer.” The name of the icon of the Mother of God, as well as the prayer itself, speaks of an unexpected, unexpected joy that can well decorate the life of any person.

The “Unexpected Joy” prayer teaches a person gratitude. Before the face of the Most Holy Theotokos, every person is pitiful, although this should not be ashamed at all. You need to accept this fact, accidentally rejoice that you were accepted and opened up unlimited possibilities. Prayerful appeal teaches people to be faithful in deed, in a word, it teaches hatred of sin. Prayer helps to get closer to the heights of faith, gives strength, and enlightens.

Prayer Unexpected joy: comments

One comment

There was a time when everything was bad, both in my personal life and at work. I once came to church and saw this icon, some kind of hope settled in my soul. I prayed in front of the icon for several weeks and noticed that my affairs were going well. But even after that I don’t stop praying to her. This prayer calms you down and gives you faith in yourself, instilling hope that everything will be fine!

Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

In times of weak faith, a person turns to God only after realizing the futility of his own efforts. It is not easy to beg the Lord, feeling the burden of sins on your soul. It is even more difficult for the prayer of one who does not want to see his guilt to reach Him. While waiting for repentance, the Lord hesitates in fulfilling requests and, surrounded by unsolvable problems, a person feels despair in his soul.

Despair is a terrible spiritual state inspired by demons. You cannot give in to this feeling, which entails disbelief and madness. In case of prolonged misfortunes, there is for the sinner last refuge - Holy Mother of God.

Wanting to show people the power of Her intercession, the Mother of God showed the Orthodox image of “Unexpected Joy.” The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” brings hope, strength of patience and fulfills petitions that seemed useless.

In what cases do you turn to “Unexpected Joy”

The image of “Unexpected Joy” is glorified by many miracles. To a Christian believer they do not seem incredible: mercy and love for the human race are common for the Mother of God.

The story depicted on the icon reminds us of strong prayer Theotokos, overcoming even the righteous wrath of the Lord. But to fulfill what is asked, one condition is necessary - repentance of sins.

The very name of the icon - “Unexpected Joy” - encourages people to turn to it in a hopeless situation. But the love of Christians for this image is so great that they flock to it with any requests, with confidence that they will receive what they ask for.

Important! It is traditional to pray before the image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” in the following needs:

serious illnesses
family feuds
inability to have a child
in search of a spouse, etc.

Where to start a prayer

IN difficult situation If you want to get what you ask for, you should follow a small but constant rule. Be sure to consult with a priest to be sure that the work you are starting is pleasing to God.

The blessing received will give strength to carry out prayer work when demons begin to interfere, fearing to lose the sinner’s soul.

It is necessary to examine your conscience: remember unrighteous deeds that could bring the wrath of the Lord. Be sure to go to confession and take Communion. Without communication with the Church, prayer weakens many times over. It must be remembered that the sinner depicted in the “Unexpected Joy” icon received the Lord’s forgiveness only after sincere repentance.

What to pray for

Having received the priest’s blessing, you can order a prayer service to the “Unexpected Joy” icon. During prayer, you should distract yourself from your problems and try to understand the meaning of the words being spoken. The canonical (accepted in the Orthodox Church) text turns the mind of the person praying to the “root of evil” - unrepentant sins.

Akathists are most often included in the prayer rule. They are read at home in front of icons; you can also do this in a church, where the atmosphere is more conducive to prayer. For individual reading of the akathist in the temple, choose a time when there is no service. It is better to read silently, so as not to interfere with someone else’s prayer.

Church prayer is much stronger than individual prayer. To participate in a prayer service with the akathist “Unexpected Joy,” believers make a pilgrimage to churches and monasteries where there are miraculous and revered icons. There you can hear many stories about miraculous help received from the Mother of God.

Often miracles from prayer go unnoticed: a person considers them an accident and does not consider it necessary to thank God and the Mother of God. The famous church pastor of the 20th century, Bishop Vasily Rodzianko, said: “They tell me: this is just a coincidence. Maybe this is correct, but when I stop praying, the coincidences stop.”

The Akathist “Unexpected Joy” consists of verses glorifying the Mother of God and setting out the parable on the basis of which the icon was written. It does not contain specific requests for the gift of children or a husband; the main idea is that the prayer of the Mother of God can do a lot for those who come to Her with faith.

Important! The text in Church Slavonic is difficult to understand, but constant reading reveals its meaning over time. Having taken the rule of reading the Akathist daily or on Sundays, you cannot deviate from your obligation during the entire time for which the prayer is intended. A request pleasing to God will certainly be fulfilled.

Prayer to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

Prayers are added to the akathist or read separately. In it, the worshiper puts himself in the place of the sinner from the parable. Constantly sinning, he used to pray to the Mother of God daily. Likewise, the petitioner, although burdened with sins, should not retreat from the All-Merciful Lady.

The prayer of the Mother of God contains petitions related to different areas life. The reader asks not only for himself, but also for all those in need:

“... pray to Thy Son and our God, and to all of us... grant unexpected joy for every need.” Use plural not by chance. This reminds the one praying of his duty Christian love- prayer for neighbors.

“Oh, Most Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor Your all-honorable Name” - these words remind us that the sinner was chosen by the Mother of God for a miraculous vision because he constantly called on Her in prayers. Although his sins wounded the Lord, for the sake of faith and repentance he became worthy of forgiveness.

“Keep marriages in love and like-mindedness; spouses who exist in enmity and division, die, unite them to each other and establish an indestructible union of love for them.” These are petitions for family integrity. It should be borne in mind that these words refer to prayer for faithful spouses.

Important! You should not dare to pray for a husband who has “left for another”: the Church does not bless preserving a marriage in the event of adultery. You also need to pray “for the return of the guy” with caution and thought, since choosing a life partner is a matter of God’s will; Christian “love spells” do not exist.

“Train up babies, teach chastity to young ones, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching” - the words of the prayer relating to the upbringing of children. It is difficult for parents to protect them from the “influence of the street,” but what is impossible for man is possible for God and His Most Pure Mother.

There is a lot of evidence of the help of “Unexpected Joy” in cases of infertility. For spouses who are unable to conceive a child, pregnancy is truly an “unexpected joy.”

“To those who died a sudden death, entreat Thy Son to be merciful” - an important petition to the Mother of God for those who died without repentance. What Christians fear most is " sudden death”, when it is impossible to adequately prepare: to confess and receive communion. It is believed that God sends such a death as punishment for especially serious sins. But even in this case, the Mother of God can beg the Lord to grant relief to the soul of the deceased.

How else can you pray to “Unexpected Joy”

Akathist and prayer are used for church or home rules. There are short, easy-to-remember prayers to the Mother of God that should be known by heart and repeated mentally at work, in transport, in church in front of an icon.

Simple texts can be learned with children.

There are no other imams of help, no other imams of hope except You, Lady, help us! We hope in You and we boast in You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed of Mercy, open the doors of mercy for us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, let us not perish, but let us be delivered from troubles by You, for You are the salvation of the Christian Virgin Mary, Hail, Blessed Mary, Lord with you! Blessed are You among women and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

Prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon is considered a very strong petition. First of all, it 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:

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:

Prayer for Marriage

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:

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 the next 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 the periods 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.

The Most Holy Theotokos, like a true loving mother, will console and reassure, and give strength to overcome obstacles on the path to the goal. She will help you rise after the Falls and continue life with 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.

How to read the prayer “Unexpected joy” at home

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.

A notable feature of the 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 lot of 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.

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Prayer before the icon “Unexpected Joy”

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People turn to the Mother of God with prayer requests in sorrow and despair, which simply overwhelm the soul and no enlightenment is visible. Calm, peace of mind and healing is given by the “Unexpected Joy” icon.

Prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy”

In the prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, people ask for:

protection in everyday affairs;
birth of a baby;
long-awaited pregnancy;
forgiveness of those mired in lawless deeds;
family reunification;
missing relatives.

In addition, they bow to the icon of the Intercessor with a request to protect it from people with evil intentions and from slander. The Mother of God protects, and severely punishes and denounces those who offend the person who prays.

Prayer to the icon “Unexpected joy” and what it bestows

Illness and disease bring with them spirituality, which manifests itself at the physical level, a complete loss of morality, anger, hatred and envy, which have firmly taken possession of a person. People who are blind simply cannot understand that spiritual and physical healing are interconnected.

This icon gives inner peace and joy, and helps believers determine the right direction of the path and find true joy. Women in front of this Holy image prayed for the return of their husband, who had gone missing many years ago in a war or during a journey. And they, in a very short period of time, returned to their families and relatives.

Prayer in front of the icon “Unexpected Joy” allowed people not to ask for help in a memorized form, but to speak with their hearts and souls, in which there was plenty of pain for each person asking:

More than once, the shrine consoled parents whose children had wandered off the righteous path and gone into all sorts of troubles.
The image of the Virgin Mary brings happy occasions even in situations where there is simply no hope.
Bowing to the holy image, people became convinced that misfortune in a matter of days turns into real success and joy.
In some cases, turning to the icon for help with a prayer for pregnancy, women lost faith in becoming a mother and took the child from the shelter, surrounding him with love, care and affection.

The “Unexpected Joy” prayer asking for pregnancy will provide an opportunity to gain an unforgettable feeling of motherhood. After a short period of time, the Lord blesses and the woman becomes pregnant. It is important not to reject your first child, but to raise him in love and treat him as your own blood.

Prayer for children

A large number of women simply dream of becoming a wife and mother. Usually women venerate the Holy Image, which gives them the opportunity to ask for marriage.

Prayers coming from the heart allow you to sincerely, without a hint of falsehood, ask the icon good husband and a real strong and warm family hearth. She helps in some way, and subsequently protects and protects the family from unfavorable people.

There is an Akathist to the icon “Unexpected Joy,” which means gratitude, which is pronounced in words of praise and joy. Women, every Sunday, sing the praises of the Saint so that in the future there will be children in their family.

After some time, their prayers for conception were answered. And after the allotted time, the prayer for the birth of a child confirmed the power of the icon and the Lord’s Blessing. The children were born healthy and Blessed.

Do not neglect icons and prayers. Seek help not only during times of grief and failure. Thank Him for your good fortune, success and blessings. Only then will he be able to help you and never leave you in trouble.

The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” is very powerful. You need to pray standing, slightly bowing your head, and the words should come from the very heart, which is restless due to failure and adversity, with these words:

“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 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, 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 away from all vice and defilement and teach everything good and pleasing to God; those who were seduced and fell 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 those who have died, who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Thy Son, Thou thyself be a ceaseless and warm Prayer Book and Intercessor: that all in Heaven and on earth may lead Thee as a steadfast 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."

God bless you!

Watch also the video story about the holy image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”.

Miraculous words: icon prayer of the mother of God unexpected joy in what full description from all the sources we found.

If God were fair, say the holy fathers, we could not hope for forgiveness. On the pages of the Old Testament Scripture, the Lord appears as a formidable Judge and Accuser, punishing the slightest crime against the Law, and today the earth does not open up even under inveterate sinners. Why this happens explains instructive story, shown in a pictorial image known as the "Unexpected Joy" icon.

Miracles occurring from miraculous icons are carefully studied and recorded. They did the same at the Holy Trinity Elias Monastery near Chernigov. In 1662, the first miracle was recorded from the icon of the Mother of God, painted by the monk Gennady. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Most Pure Virgin, holding the Divine Infant in her arms, for 10 days. All of Chernigov “looked with great horror” at the weeping Virgin.

The miracle of the Ilinsk-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God became famous and has come down to the present day thanks to St. Dmitry of Rostov.

Interesting. St. Dmitry Rostovsky is a church writer and educator who has written many books, including the lives of saints, sermons on faith and repentance, discussions about gospel stories and God's miracles.

Resurrection of the Youth

Traveling through the monasteries of Little Russia, St. Demetrius wrote the book “Irrigated Fleece”, based on stories about miracles from Our Lady of Chernigov. The stories were accompanied by teachings. One of the chapters, “The Dew of Resurrection,” talks about a youth who suddenly died. There was no illness or other reasons indicating the approach of death. The hieromonk of the Elias Monastery, who was then nearby, advised the parents to pray before the miraculous icon of Chernigov.

The parents went to the monastery and fell to the Intercessor. And a miracle happened: the child came to life. No one expected such happiness, although they believed in the mercy of the Mother of God. To the story of the resurrection of the youth, which occurred in April 1679, St. Demetrius attached a parable, on the basis of which the icon “Unexpected Joy” was written.

Parable of St. Dimitri and writing a new image

A certain sinner had the custom of praying to the Blessed Virgin with the words of the angelic greeting “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”, going to his iniquity. One day, kneeling in front of the icon and about to say the usual prayer, he saw a terrible vision: blood flowed in streams from the feet and hands of the Infant God, and the Mother of God Herself appeared to him as if alive.

“Who did this, Lady?” - the sinner shouted in horror. “You and those like you constantly wound My Son, like the Jews on the Cross, with your iniquities,” answered the Mother of God. Instantly repenting, the man began to beg for forgiveness, but the Lord did not look in his direction. Then he appealed to the Mother of God: “Let my sins not overcome Your mercy, Lady, ask the Lord for me!”

The Mother of God turned to her Son with a prayer for forgiveness for the sinner. The Lord answered Her, like a Son, with respect: “I cannot forgive, for I endured his iniquity for a long time.” The petitioner, who watched this with fear, completely despaired of his salvation. Then the Most Pure One stood up and wanted to fall on her knees before Christ: “I will lie at Your feet until this man receives forgiveness!” The Lord did not allow this to happen, saying that although He is God, He honors His Mother and is ready to fulfill Her prayers. The forgiven sinner rushed to kiss the wounds of the Lord, which immediately healed and the vision ended.

After reading “The Irrigated Fleece,” an unknown artist painted an icon based on the parable where a man prays to the Mother of God, calling it “Unexpected (unexpected) joy.”

The connection between the miracle and the parable is obvious: just as the parents of the dead boy did not expect to see him alive, so the sinner from the parable did not expect forgiveness from the Lord. But through the prayers of the Intercessor of the Mother of God, everyone received what they asked for, which became an “unexpected joy” for them.

Meaning of images

The Lord, depicted as a Youth, does not hold a scroll in his hand, but shows his hands with traces of sores to a kneeling sinner. The tunic has been thrown off, wounds on the rib and legs are visible. According to the Gospel, Christ received four wounds when He was crucified on the cross, and the fifth, in the rib, when the guards wanted to make sure of the death of the condemned man.

On old copies of the icon there is always a drawn-back curtain in the background - a symbol of the church's royal doors, the entrance to heaven, slightly opened for the sinner. The red color of the veil is a symbol of resurrection.

The sinner himself is dressed in a green chiton. Green is the color of the earth, human world. In such clothes they depicted the Old Testament prophets, who were righteous, but did not know Divine grace, only foreseeing the coming of Christ. The praying sinner is not yet forgiven, but expects forgiveness and renewal of life.

Inscriptions on the icon

In the field under the image of the Virgin Mary there is the text of the parable, written in illegible Church Slavonic script. Usually the initial words are placed: “A certain lawless man has a daily rule of praying to the Most Holy Theotokos...”, sometimes the title “The Unexpected Joy of the Most Holy Theotokos” is written.

It is believed that the word sanctifies the image; it must be included in the composition. Due to lack of space for text, it is placed in a greatly abbreviated form, symbolizing the entire inscription. On large images the words of the sinner are sometimes written: “Oh, Lady, who did this?” and the response of the Mother of God “You and other sinners with your sins...”, in lines directed from the sinner to the Mother of God.

Location of the “Unexpected Joy” icons and miracles

St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv. Miraculous image of the 19th century. has been in the cathedral since the Great Patriotic War. The Mother of God and the Lord are depicted wearing royal crowns. Unfortunately, now the Vladimir Cathedral is in the hands of schismatics.
“The Burning Bush” in Khamovniki (before the revolution). The oldest known list was kept here. In 1838, on Easter week from him there was a miraculous healing of a woman who suffered from complete deafness. Anisya Stepanova could not even hear the bell ringing. After serving the prayer service to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy,” Anisya heard the singing of the Easter troparion and the deafness disappeared. In 1930, the temple was destroyed and the miraculous image was lost.
IN Tretyakov Gallery a unique icon “Unexpected Joy” (1st half of the 19th century) is kept, where the main picture is surrounded by 120 small images of other miraculous icons of the Mother of God. Central image carries main meaning: The Lord forgives sins through the prayer of the Mother of God - the Prayer Book and Intercessor for the human race.

Moscow, Church of Ilya the Ordinary. Here is an ancient icon in a beautiful metal frame, restored in 1959. Before the revolution, it was in one of the Kremlin churches, then the image was hidden from the renovationists. After the Great Patriotic War, “Unexpected Joy” was moved to the Church of Ilya the Ordinary. The icon's robe is completely hung with rings and crosses brought by people who received healing from prayer in front of the icon.
Maryina Roshcha, Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”. This temple was built in 1904 and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The image itself (painted in the 19th century) appeared there later; numerous decorations on it spoke of former miracles, unfortunately, not recorded. A symbolic event took place in the temple in 2003. A 90-year-old naval officer approached the priest with a request for baptism. In a dream he was commanded to be baptized and wait for death. The old man endured Lent in preparation for Baptism. His death followed immediately after the completion of the Sacrament, in the temple itself.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, Ryazan. In the Transfiguration Cathedral of the monastery there is “Unexpected Joy”, which recently became famous for its miracles. The mutilated icon was found and bought at the market by Moscow resident Georgy. After some time, misfortune befell him: he was seriously injured, leading to partial paralysis. Sincere prayers before the found image bore fruit, George rose to his feet. For a long time he did not want to part with his beloved icon, but finally decided to donate it to the Transfiguration Monastery. The board and paint layer were restored, and a carved icon case was made. During the stay of “Unexpected Joy” in the monastery, several cases of healing from eye disease, cancer and drunkenness were recorded.
Holy Trinity Cathedral in Odessa. During the Great Patriotic War, the cathedral, closed by the Bolsheviks, was reopened by the occupation authorities. At this time, from nowhere, the icon “Unexpected Joy” appeared in it. It is interesting that back in 1840 one of the cathedral’s aisles was consecrated in her name. The parishioners of the temple were mainly women and children. In front of the new image of the Mother of God, they prayed for the return of their husbands and fathers from the front. Although no high-profile miracles were recorded, the icon is highly revered by Odessa residents; they pray in front of it for the military in “hot spots.”
Holy spring in the village. Zhaisk, Nizhny Novgorod region. According to legend, at this source in the 18th century. The icon “Unexpected Joy” was found. The Murom noble princes Peter and Fevronia were hiding here. At this place, the saints granted forgiveness to the residents of Murom who expelled them, just as the Most Holy Theotokos forgave the repentant sinner. The source is located in a picturesque place, with a chapel built above it.

This is far from full list temples under the protection of the Queen of Heaven. In the 2000s, many churches were built in honor of “Unexpected Joy”, charitable institutions are named after her, and springs are consecrated. This image of the Mother of God can be found as a revered icon in other churches.

Important. Before the image of the Mother of God, “Unexpected Joy” is prayed in difficult life situations, when hope has dried up. During the war, mothers prayed for their sons, for whom “funerals” were received; later it turned out that the letters were sent erroneously and the soldiers returned alive.

Nothing is impossible for the mercy of the Mother of God, but first of all, before prayer, you need to remember and realize your sins, from which the wounds of the Lord bleed.

How does the “Unexpected Joy” icon help?

Orthodox Church On May 14, June 3 and December 22, the feast of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is celebrated. The first part of the image is a man standing in front of the icon, whose gaze and hands are turned to the Mother of God. It is located in the lower left corner. The image of the Mother of God herself belongs to the “Hodegetria” type. At the bottom there is usually either the beginning of the story about the miracle of St. Demetrius of Rostov, or part of the prayer to the “Unexpected Joy” icon. The Infant of God is depicted on the icon with open wounds on his body.

The history of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”

The legend tells of the appearance of the Mother of God with the Child of God to a man. It was described by the saint of Rostov in his work “Irrigated Fleece.” The man suffered from a sin that he could not overcome. After each violation of a promise, he asked for forgiveness from the icon of the Mother of God. One fine day, before committing a sin, the man again turned to the icon and, leaving, he noticed that the Mother of God had turned her face to him, and wounds appeared on the body of the Infant of God, from which blood flowed. This event seriously affected the man, and he felt spiritual cleansing and forgot about his sin forever. This story became the basis for painting the famous icon.

The most famous image is located in the Church of Elijah the Prophet, which is located in Moscow. Several copies were made from this icon, which also showed their power and worked miracles. Every day people come to the image and turn to Higher powers with their problems.

How does the “Unexpected Joy” icon help?

Throughout life, a person commits different actions and experiences feelings, for example, envy, anger, etc. All this in a negative way affects internal state. By turning to the icon, a believer can find joy, peace, and find his true path and purpose. For example, in different historical periods during wars, women prayed to the image for the return of their husbands, and as a result, the desired became a reality.

To receive help, you need to read a prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, and then state everything that lies like a stone in your soul. Many women who want to get pregnant make this request and soon the wish comes true. The icon helps to heal from various diseases; for example, there is evidence that people were cured of deafness and blindness. The icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” will help strengthen faith and give hope in better times. If you read a prayer for the family before this image, you can improve relationships, get rid of hostility, conflicts and other problems. In front of the icon you can pray for different family problems, the main thing is to do it from the bottom of your heart. Lonely people can ask the Higher Powers for help in finding their soulmate. Prayers about earthly affairs are read in front of the icon. For example, you can get protection from existing enemies, gossip and various troubles. The face will also help in solving material problems.

There are no specific rules on how to pray in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon. The clergy say that the main thing is to do it from the heart. It is recommended to first contact the priest to receive his blessing. If the text of the prayer is difficult to remember, then you can read it from a page, but it is important to write everything yourself. It is also allowed to address the face in your own words, the main thing is to speak from the heart without any thoughts.

The prayer to the “Unexpected Joy” icon sounds like this:

This is the most main prayer appeals to this icon, but there are also other texts that are used depending on the situation, that is, taking into account what exactly needs to be asked from the Higher Powers. You can also read the Akathist to the icon “Unexpected Joy”.

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Icon of Unexpected Joy: How it Helps

This article was written for those believers who want to know how the icon of Unexpected Joy helps. You can also learn here not only how the icon helps, but also where to hang it and what prayer to read before it.

Brief history of the icon

How does an icon help?

You need to ask for help from the Mother of God depicted in the “Unexpected Joy” icon in the following cases:

if you have a hearing-related disease;
if you can't get pregnant;
if your child has followed a “crooked path”, and you want to set him on the right path;
if relatives have died and this has become an irreparable loss for you and you are very worried about this tragedy;
if you are looking for a missing relative or loved one.

Where to hang an icon?

In order for the icon to help you, you need to place it correctly in your home.

Here's where you can't weigh an icon:

in dirty places such as a toilet;
in places where various rubbish is stored;
You should not place an icon in the hallway.

You need to remember that during prayer you must be alone with God and no one should disturb you. Therefore, it is best to place the icon in your bedroom.

Moreover, it does not need to be weighed, but rather placed on something. The support can be a table, a bedside table, a chest of drawers or a special shelf for icons in the far right corner of the room.

How to pray correctly in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon?

In order for the Mother of God, depicted in the icon, to hear you and come to your aid, you must correctly send prayers to her.
As we said above, it is better to pray alone.
This can be done both in the morning and in the evening.
It will be good if you light a church candle before reading the prayer.
You should also observe all fasts, not sin and thank the Lord for everything you have, then he and the Mother of God will give you what you ask.
You can read the Orthodox prayer in front of the “Unexpected Joy” icon, or you can read your own. If you, say, want to get pregnant, then the words of the prayer could be like this:

“Mother of God, our Almighty! Let me feel the joy of becoming a mother, send me a baby. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen!"

Here is the icon of Unexpected Joy, which helps and now you know how to correctly address prayers to it and where to place it in your home.

How does the miraculous icon “Unexpected Joy” help?

Orthodox believers especially venerate the Most Holy Theotokos, calling her protector, intercessor, and helper. Almost every day in temples according to the calendar Orthodox dates I remember this or that icon of the Mother of God with a prayerful request. Twice a year, on May 14 and December 22, the miraculous image “Unexpected Joy” is celebrated. Please note that both words in the title are written with capital letters, because by Joy is meant the Most Pure Virgin herself. What does unexpected joy mean? - the one they didn’t expect, didn’t expect. Such an unexpected heartfelt feeling once touched a sinner.

How was the image “Unexpected Joy” revealed?

Exact date and the place where the icon appeared is unknown; it became widespread less than three centuries ago.

It is surprising that the icon is usually called miraculous, after numerous miraculous healings, phenomena. Only the image “Unexpected Joy” precedes a wonderful event. Saint Dmitry of Rostov mentions it for the first time in his work “Irrigated Fleece”. This book was written by the Saint to glorify the locally revered Holy Mother of God icon of the Elias Monastery in the city of Chernigov.

IN last chapter The following story was described: one unrighteous man lived wickedly, but always treated the Most Holy Theotokos with special reverence. One day he was about to commit lawlessness once again, and as usual, he said the words of prayer, addressing him with an angelic greeting: Rejoice, full of grace. Suddenly the icon seemed to become alive; instead of joy, sorrow was reflected on the face of the Mother of God. She held in her arms the Infant of God, whose shirt was torn and bleeding wounds opened on his arms, legs and under his ribs. The wicked man was amazed at what he saw. He bent down and knelt down, asking who could do this to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The answer he received floored him. The Mother of God replied that this was the work of his hands and other sinful people who crucified her Son again and again. The sinner prayed for a long time, without receiving forgiveness twice. The Mother of God together with him asked the Divine Child for help. For the third time, after the heartfelt repentance of the wicked man and the desire of the Mother of God to pray with him at the feet of the Son, the Lord said that the law commands that the Son honor the mother, let it be as she says. The forgiven one kissed the icon, falling unconscious. Having come into himself, he felt unprecedented joy in his heart, hope for forgiveness for his actions. The man was reborn spiritually and began to lead a righteous life.

This event formed the basis for painting the icon “Unexpected Joy”. It received an incredible response in the hearts of believers; by the end of the 18th century, a list with miraculous image was in almost every Orthodox church. It can still be found today in many churches; it is especially revered in Moscow in the Church of Elijah the Prophet. Initially, this icon was kept in one of the Kremlin churches, in the mid-20th century it was transported to Sokolniki, and since 1959 it has been in the Elias Church of Elijah; it is known that Patriarch Pimen often prayed in front of it.

What type of Mother of God icons does it belong to?

On the icon “Unexpected Joy” the Mother of God is depicted with the Infant Christ in her arms, this is a type of Hodegetria, which means Guide, she, pointing with one hand at her Son, asserting which way a Christian should go. The unique image differs from most canonical images. This is not just an icon, but an iconographic composition (an icon within an icon).

The action takes place in the temple. In the lower left corner there is a man who knelt in prayer before the image of the Mother of God. Sometimes the letters from his mouth are depicted as ribbons to show his earnest prayer. The head of the Queen of Heaven is slightly tilted, her gaze is indirect, directed at the person praying. She points to the Son with one hand, and holds Him with the other as if on a throne. The Divine Infant has wounds from which blood flows, one hand is raised, it blesses all believers. A number of theologians classify “Unexpected Joy” as a type of akathist icon.

Below the image are words from the book of the Saint of Rostov: A certain lawless man. Think about it, after all, each of us daily commits lawlessness, sins: discussing, being despondent, shouting, swearing, being proud, performing seemingly harmless actions, thereby becoming an accomplice in this distant history, again and again crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ, the way out is in repentance, hope for forgiveness and prayer help.

What should she pray for?

Often a person finds himself in a critical situation when he can only rely on God’s help. Then they pray to the Mother of God, asking her to cling to the heart of her Son and ask for spiritual joy, help in business, strengthening in faith, for the return of the lost and the preservation of children.

Parents prayerfully ask the Mother of God for their children, so that they are healthy, follow the right path in life, for their confirmation in faith, for spiritual and physical insight. The image of the Mother of God helps spouses to establish peace and mutual understanding, eliminate divisions, and reconcile those at war. This icon is approached with a request to protect from enemies and spiteful critics. Through prayers from the image of “Unexpected Joy” many healings and miracles occur, but most often people receive healing from deafness. This means not only a physical illness, but also a spiritual one: the inability to hear the words of Holy Scripture, loved ones. Cases have been established when women prayed for a quick marriage, for the return of their husbands from the battlefield, from a trip, they received help, prayer is effective against serious adversity, unjust accusations.

There are several prayer rules, which are read depending on life circumstances. When time allows, it is better to read the full text of the prayer or even an akathist. There is a lot of evidence that reading the akathist helps infertile women: despite the diagnosis, they get the opportunity to experience the joy of motherhood.

Prayer for pregnancy to the Mother of God in front of the icon “Unexpected Joy”:

Oh, Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the Patroness of this city, faithful to the Representative and Intercessor of all who are 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 every day, You did not despise, but You granted the unexpected joy of repentance, and through Your zealous intercession with Your Son for the forgiveness of the sinner Thou hast bowed thus, and now do not despise the prayers of us, Thy unworthy servants, but pray to Thy Son and our God, and to all of us, with faith and tenderness before Thy celibate image, who, according to each need, grant unexpected joy: may all in heaven and on The lands lead You as a steadfast and unashamed Representative of the Christian race, and this leading, they glorify You and Your Son with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

If you don't have enough time, you can limit yourself brief vocation to the aid of the Mother of God the Virgin Mary. The clergy emphasize that the main thing is that the prayer comes from a pure heart. It is important to first say the words of prayer, after which formulate a petition in your own words.

To the Mother of God and the Queen, chosen from all generations, who sometimes appeared to a lawless man to turn him away from the path of wickedness, we offer a song of thanksgiving to Thee, the Mother of God: But You, who have ineffable mercy, free us from all troubles and sins, let us call to Thee: Rejoice, you who give unexpected joy to the faithful.

Today, return to the people who glorify the zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, and who flow to Her most pure image, we cry out to the Lord: Oh, Merciful Lady Theotokos, grant us unexpected joy, burdened with many sins and sorrows, and deliver us from all evil, praying to Your Son, Christ God ours, to save our souls.

What does the name of the icon say?

Unexpected joy is an image that reminds us that forgiveness of sins is possible with heartfelt repentance and prayer. A joyful feeling does not immediately fill a person; he read the prayer and immediately became happy, no. After heartfelt labor and repentance (remember that Jesus Christ did not immediately forgive the sinner), when it would seem there is no more strength, forgiveness comes, and at the same time, unexpectedly, the heart becomes light and joyful. The icon teaches you to remain true to your word. A person, after repentance and received forgiveness, does not go further to lawlessness, but begins to lead a righteous life.

It is no coincidence that according to legend, the first to go to heaven with Christ was a robber who sincerely repented. No matter what circumstances happen in life, the Most Holy Theotokos becomes the first intercessor of every person. And you need to be able to notice joy in every moment. It is that there is a family, children, a favorite job, that you can hear the ringing of bells, birdsong and admire nature, it is that there is hope for healing, help, eternal life, there is a heavenly Intercessor ready to help everyone who addressed her.

Rejoice, you who grant unexpected joy to the faithful!

Thank you very much for such a detailed explanation.

Dejection and despair are mortal sins, decadence imposed by demonic spawn. If you succumb to weakness and allow these feelings into yourself, you can lose faith and even fall into madness. If a person lives in sin for a long time, only an appeal to the Mother of God can save him. The Most Holy Theotokos provides intercession to all those in need through the image of “Unexpected Joy”, captured on the icon of the same name.

In what cases do you turn to “Unexpected Joy”?

The “Unexpected Joy” icon is famous for its miraculous story, however, true believers do not perceive her as something extraordinary, since grace and love for mankind, supported by corresponding gifts, are common for the Mother of God. The parable underlying the plot of the image refers us to the powerful prayer of the Mother of God, which is able to overcome the impossible, including God’s righteous wrath. In order for the request reflected in the prayer to come true, it is necessary to repent of all sins.

The name of the icon gives the right to ask her for help in the most hopeless situations. They pray to the image for such things as:

Healing from deadly diseases;
Calming family feud;
Infertility;
Finding your other half;
A successful marriage.

Where to start prayer?

If there is a dark streak in life that has dragged on for a long period, you should resort to prayer as quickly as possible. To get what you want, get into the habit of following a simple rule, but do it regularly. When it is difficult to understand the canons on your own, ask for advice from spiritual mentor or another clergyman in order to gain confidence in the correctness of his undertaking. Having secured a blessing, it will be easier to perform the work of prayer, you will be able to resist the demons trying to get hold of the soul and drag it to the side of darkness.

The prayer “Unexpected joy” begins with reading the akathist (full text). Remember that simply saying prayer words and letting them pass through you are two different things. You need to clear your conscience: you cannot pray without relieving your soul of sinful deeds that could anger the Almighty. Before prayer, be sure to confess and take communion. Orthodoxy teaches that prayer said in isolation from contact with the church does not acquire full power.

What to pray for?

Prayer is a universal way of communicating with higher powers. As you turn to heaven, think: does the request really need to be voiced? Will this not become a temptation or an obstacle to achieving a righteous life? To eliminate doubts, say the prayer “Unexpected joy,” adding, if possible, to each new phrase the words “If it is God’s will.”

When you receive a blessing from a clergyman, order a prayer service to the icon. During the process of prayer, leave aside all the burdens and problems that torment your soul., and pay full attention to the meaning of the spoken text. Its canonical version has a specific task - to direct the parishioner’s mind to the root of the essence and identify his unrepentant sins.

In the Christian religion, akathists are attached to prayer rule and read in a suitable place, the best of which is undoubtedly the church. If you decide to read the akathist in church, choose a time so that it does not fall during the service, otherwise you will disturb the rest of the parishioners.

Akathist to the prayer book “Unexpected Joy” contains in its structure 12 ikos and 13 kontakia, which glorify the Mother of God in poetic form and tell about the parable that serves as the plot for the icon. There are no specific requests in it. The prayer itself is read in order to make a request for the granting of a happy marriage, childbirth, and healing from infertility.

Prayer of the Mother of God “Unexpected joy”

How to correctly read the prayer to the image of the Mother of God? The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” should be added to the akathist. It is permissible to read it on a separate basis: in this case, the person uttering the prayer words must relate himself to the image of the sinner from the parable, who lived unrighteously, but prayed to the Mother of God day and night. The text of the holy prayer is voluminous, it includes many requests related to different areas life. The one who reads it prays not only for himself, but also for all those who suffer.

The prayer is said in Church Slavonic. It is important to maintain punctuation and stress correctly. At first it seems that it is extremely difficult to understand its essence, but daily reading will help to reveal the meaning of the prayer completely (the entire prayer is possible).

If you have committed to reading "Unexpected Joy" every day or on Sundays for a certain period of time, you should not deviate from this commitment.

How else can you pray “Unexpected Joy”?

You can consult the icon both in church and at home. The first method is more preferable from the point of view of the church, since it involves the parishioner entering into a special religious mood necessary for the ritual. But if you say a prayer or akathist alone with yourself, there is nothing reprehensible in this. You can read them to yourself while in transport, while on the road - the main thing is to have the appropriate attitude. The short Akathist to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” exists in several forms. They are quite simple and easy to learn by heart.

The first akathist expresses humility before the holy face:

“There are no imams of other help, no imams of other hope, unless You, Lady, help us! We rely on You and boast in You, for we are Your servants, so let us not be ashamed.”

The second akathist asks for mercy and deliverance from misfortune:

“Open the doors of mercy for us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You, for You are the salvation of the Christian race.”

When pronouncing the third akathist, give thanks to the Mother of God:

“Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You! Blessed are You among women and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.”

Where to make a pilgrimage for prayer?

By making a pilgrimage to the holy image, the believer is filled with special grace, which is difficult to achieve when praying to the list. To see the icon, visit the following places.

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-Good Most Holy Theotokos, Patroness and Helper of all 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

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 person to live alone; every man has been given a wife as a faithful friend and helper. 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?

Prayer in front of this icon gives 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 Most Holy Theotokos, like a true loving mother, will console and reassure, and give strength to overcome obstacles on the path 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.

Video: akathist “Unexpected joy”

There are situations when earthly forces, friends and relatives cannot help, and the person himself understands that he is powerless in a given situation. For example, an incurable illness, insurmountable grief from the loss of loved ones, and disobedient children. At such moments in life, a person is left either alone with himself or with faith and begins to ask the Lord and other saints to help and support him. In order for your requests and prayers to be heard faster, you need to address them directly to one or another saint. In this article you will find out what the prayer to the “Unexpected Joy” icon gives to people, who exactly it helps and why it is called that.

History of the creation of the icon

In the 18th century, the work “Irrigated Fleece” provided the subject for the creation of an icon. It tells the story of a criminal who had the habit of going to church to pray to the Mother of God before each of his crimes.

One day, while reading a prayer, the Mother of God and the Child appeared to this young man, whose whole body was covered in bleeding wounds. To the young man’s question about the child, the Virgin Mary replied that these ulcers appear on the body of Jesus from every bad deed committed by sinners on Earth. After being dried, the criminal repented and begged for forgiveness, but Jesus forgave him only the third time, then he touched with his lips every wound on the body of the Baby, and he and the Mother of God melted into the air. From that moment on, the criminal repented and completely changed his lifestyle, directing it in a righteous direction. When a prayer was read to them, unexpected joy visited him along with liberation from sins. Thanks to this event, the icon received its name.

To this day, prayer in front of the icon “Unexpected Joy” awakens in people morality, decency, tolerance towards themselves and others and makes them rethink their lives, behave righteously, and if you pray for loved ones and relatives, you can help them find relief, save them from sorrow and troubles, if any are present in their life.

What is depicted on the icon?

The appearance of the icon completely coincides with the plot of the story. It depicts a praying sinner kneeling before the Virgin Mary, and the Baby Jesus wearing rags instead of clothes and with bleeding wounds. The sinner is located in the lower left corner, and under the icon the first lines from the story of Demetrius of Rostov or sometimes the prayer “Unexpected Joy” are written. Some icons depict a sinner with a ribbon in his mouth, on which words of forgiveness addressed to the Mother of God are visible.

How does prayer in front of the icon “Unexpected Joy” help?

The Mother of God, having heard people’s prayers addressed to her, protects those who ask from troubles, tears, sadness and sadness. The prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos “Unexpected joy” protects people from all kinds of diseases associated with hearing, both literally and figuratively.

She hears the call of the soul and asks the Lord for the people, and they say that he answers prayers to the Mother of God and other saints. “Unexpected Joy” helps in many other ways.

Here is a small list of problems that she will certainly cope with:

Quarrels and separation of husband and wife;

Sadness from the loss of relatives;

Various hardships;

Saving your own reputation from slander and gossip;

Protection in any difficult situations.

The “Unexpected Joy” prayer will help protect those traveling by sea and land from the dangers that may arise on their way, as well as facilitate their speedy return home safe and sound.

In what matters does an icon help?

The prayer to the icon “Unexpected Joy” helps everyone get what they have longed for a long time, but were secretly afraid that they would never get it. For example, a priest may want sinners to repent and thereby save their souls; those who kneel before the icon will receive forgiveness and remission of sins. Parents will finally be able to find mutual language and bring some sense into your rebellious, disobedient children, and guide them on the right path. The “Unexpected Joy” prayer helps to find lost loved ones, reconcile warring parties, and suggest a good, bright solution even in the darkest, confusing situations.

Unexpected good news

Prayer in front of an icon gives people the most desired and at the same time unexpected, sudden joy. There is information that during the Great Patriotic War, women, being in the rear, did not leave the icon day or night, praying for their husbands and sons who were at war or missing. Some, especially desperate ones, continued to pray for the health of their loved ones even after they received news of their death - a “funeral”. And they begged the sky for their unexpected joy: information about tragic death turned out to be wrong, and the soldier returned home alive.

Many believers know that the prayer to the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” helps everyone and fulfills almost any desire, especially those in which people have already despaired of believing.

The icon will help you find female happiness

Many women or married couples They turn to the icon together when they have problems conceiving a child. The prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos “Unexpected Joy” helps everyone who passionately desires it to feel the happiness of motherhood and fatherhood. Many cases have been recorded when couples, trying in vain to have a child for a long time, turned to the icon and, lo and behold, they achieved their goal. Everyone knows that keeping the family fire burning is hard labour, and also the fact that the life of a modern cell of society is like a powder keg.

But wise women who want to preserve the sacred marriage, instead of discussing problems with their friends, resort to the miraculous power of the icon. Any quarrels or grievances are forgotten between spouses, and complete harmony and mutual understanding, harmony and peace reign in the family.

To sum it up...

After reading all of the above, someone will decide that he has found the ideal key to solving all problems, but you need to understand that it cannot be so easy. That without making any effort, it is impossible to achieve any success, that you need to fight, and not just sit back and pray. Faith in the Lord God helps you gain faith in your own strength. reason and guides a person to do noble deeds. Perseverance and determination, supported by faith - that’s perfect union, guaranteeing success in any life situations. The icon “Unexpected Joy” will give all those who ask and need happiness, grace and the solution to all difficulties and obstacles in their lives. By turning their souls to faith and the Most Holy Theotokos, everyone will find their own innocent joy.