Among the many miraculous icons of the Mother of God, the image of the Tikhvin Mother of God is especially revered. On July 9, the Orthodox Church solemnly celebrates the day of the appearance of this image.
The appearance of the miraculous Tikhvin Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos took place in 1383 near Tikhvin. Until that time, the holy image was in Constantinople, only on the indicated date it was miraculously transported by air to a mountain near Tikhvin. This event took place shortly before the capture of Byzantium by the Turks. Until the moment the miraculous icon ended up in Tikhvino, the image stayed in some other places (especially near temples and chapels). Among the places where this miraculous icon appeared, the following can be noted: 30 versts from Lake Ladoga, 3 versts from Smolensk and others.
When the icon in its radiant radiance stopped over the Tikhvin Mountain, a multitude of people flocked to the miraculous image. The priests made a procession with the cross to the place of the appearance of the image and, together with the people, prayed to the Mother of God so that Her icon would descend from the air to them. After such prayers, the icon descended from the air to the praying people.
Believers with a special feeling of awe and reverence began to kiss the icon. The decision was immediately made to build a temple on this holy site. However, at night the icon was miraculously transported to the other side of the Tikhvinka River. Together with the holy image, the begun temple moved there, as well as all the material prepared for the construction of the House of God. Even the chips from the construction were in a new place. It was in this place that the temple was completed, and the icon was installed right there. Believers understood that the new place had been chosen by the Most Holy Theotokos herself. Subsequently, a monastery was erected on this site.
The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God became famous for its numerous miracles. Many copies of this miraculous image are found in different parts of Russia.
