Presidential Library celebrates 20th anniversary of Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God's return to Russia

On July 9th, the Orthodox world will be celebrating a great church holiday - the Day of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God. This year, the celebrations will be especially significant, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the return of one of the most revered Orthodox icons to Russia.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Tikhvin icon was taken to Riga and then to the United States, where it remained for 60 years before returning to its rightful place in the Tikhvin Dormition Monastery in Russia. The image is known as "The Saving Caretaker of the World" and is widely venerated by Orthodox Christians.

There are approximately 70 churches, cathedrals, and monasteries named after the Tikhvin image in Russia. On the Presidential Library's portal, readers can find rare publications about the icon and the stories that have been passed down through the years.

Thus, from the book Tikhvin and its shrine (1888), we can learn that the miraculous phenomenon of the shrine was observed in several places simultaneously. The icon was also seen by residents of other villages, and everywhere it "granted healing to the sick and consoled the indignant with its presence."

Historian and archaeologist Ya. I. Berednikov, in his work Historical and Statistical Description of the First-Class Tikhvin Monastery of the Mother of God, located in the Novgorod Diocese in the City of Tikhvin, published in 1859, provides an answer to the question of why the shrine remained in Tikhvin. He explains that priests with crosses and icons from surrounding areas came here with many people, attracted by previous miracles. The prayers and chants did not cease for a long time. Through their fervent prayers, the shrine slowly moved into the hands of the people.

The construction of the church was preceded by a miraculous event, as noted by L. I. Grigoriev, the compiler of the aforementioned edition of Tikhvin and His Shrine. After preparing the necessary building materials and laying three crowns for the foundation, the workers went home for the night, leaving a few people at the site for prayer. The next morning, when the remaining workers woke up, they were surprised to find that not only the icon but also the entire structure they had started had disappeared. They searched everywhere but could not find it.

That evening, the entire building, down to the last splinter, had mysteriously moved to a new location. Above the eastern wall, there was now a shining icon of the Mother of God. All those present interpreted this as a sign from above about the location where the temple should be built.

Where did the miraculous icon originate in these lands? Yu. I. Berednikov wrote that the shrine was brought to Russia from Constantinople. He referred to the authors of ancient texts, who based their opinion on the following circumstances: many wealthy Novgorod merchants who were on business in Constantinople at the time of the miracles that occurred at Tikhvin with the icon of the Virgin Mary, discussed them with the Patriarch there. After lengthy discussions, comparing phenomena, miracles, size, appearance, and other factors, the opinion was confirmed that the icon revealed in Tikhvin was not different from the one in Constantinople.

According to legend, the Tikhvin icon was painted by the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke during the lifetime of the Mother of God. A detailed description of this icon can also be found in the book by Yu. I. Berednikov. The description states that the Tikhvin wonderfully revealed icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, with the Eternal Infant on her left hand, measures 1 arshin 2 verstkas long and 14 verstkas wide, and is placed in the right pillar of the cold monastery cathedral named after the Dormition of the Mother of God. The image is mounted in a silver-gilt frame weighing 14 poods, decorated with various images from sacred history.

The image of the Virgin Mary became the reason for Orthodox Christians of various social classes to make a pilgrimage to the town of Tikhvin. In 1547, Grand Duke Ivan Vasilyevich, also known as "the Terrible", visited the city. Upon his arrival to worship the holy icon, he ordered the construction of a monastery in place of the parish church in Tikhvin after his return to Moscow. Thus, the foundation for the Tikhvin Monastery was laid in 1560.

Cooperation between the Presidential Library and the Tikhvin Diocese has been successfully developing for many years. Together, they have implemented various educational activities. The Presidential Library has digitized and donated electronic copies of ancient manuscripts and church services that are stored in the collections of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences to the Tikhvin Diocese. They have also done many other things.

Today, a remote electronic reading room is operating in the building of the Tikhvin Spiritual and Educational Center. Everyone has access to the unique digital collection of the Presidential Library, which contains more than one million items. The collection Orthodox Russia: Monasteries and Icons presents materials from the XIX - early XX centuries that describe the history of individual Orthodox monasteries in our country and especially revered icons.

On the 20th anniversary of the return of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God to Russia, the Presidential Library and the Tikhvin Diocese have prepared a special gift booklet called "Tikhvin Guidebook". The booklet tells the story of the miraculous appearance of the icon in 1383, the establishment of the Tikhvin Assumption Monastery, and the tragic events that led to its forced emigration during the Great Patriotic War. It also covers the long-awaited return of the icon to its home in the Tikhvin Monastery in 2004.

The booklet includes information on the history of the Tikhvin diocese and its main monastic centers, as well as photographs and archival materials from the Presidential Library's electronic collection. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about this important religious site and its significance for Russian history.