Svena Icon of the Mother of God

The Svena Icon of the Mother of God has two commemorations: May 3, the Feast of Saint Theodosios of the Caves, and August 17, the Feast of Saint Alypios of the Caves.

The Svena Icon of the Mother of God was painted by Saint Alypios of the Caves († August 17, 1114). It depicts the Mother of God sitting on a throne, with the Divine Child on her lap. To the right of the throne stands Saint Theodosios, and on the left is Saint Anthony of the Caves. Prior to 1288 it was kept in the Kiev Caves Monastery, where it became famous for miracles, and in 1288 it was transferred to the Bryansk Svena Monastery, which is dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Prince Roman of Chernigov became blind while in Bryansk. Hearing of the miracles from an Icon painted by Saint Alypios, the prince sent a messenger to the Monastery asking that the Icon be brought to him at Bryansk so that he might be healed. The Icon was sent with a priest along the Desna River. During the voyage, the boat landed on the right bank of the Svena River. After spending the night, the travelers went by boat the next morning to pray before the Icon, but they did not find it there. Then they saw it on a hill opposite the Svena River, among the branches of an oak tree. News of this reached Prince Roman, and he was led to the Icon on foot. The prince prayed fervently and promised to build a monastery at this place, and donate to it all the lands that he could see from the hill. After he prayed, the prince began to see light. First he saw a path, then close objects and finally, all the surrounding area. Then the prince had a Moleben served, and built a wooden church in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. The tree on which the Icon had rested was cut down and used to make boards for other icons. At the same time, the annual commemoration of the Svena Icon was established for May 3.

The Icon became renowned for healing the blind, deliverance from demonic possession, and protection from enemies.

One of its most significant miracles was revealed in 1812, when Bryansk was under the threat of invasion by Napoleon's troops. Residents of the city organized a Cross Procession, carrying the Svena Icon of the Mother of God in their arms, and offering prayers to their Protectress so that she would save the city from the French invasion. Their prayers were heard and the enemy bypassed the city.

Every year, on August 17, there was a Cross Procession in remembrance of the miracle at Bryansk, but this ended after the Revolution. The Monastery was closed in 1924, and all the buildings, including the XVIII century Dormition Cathedral, were destroyed. No one knows what would have happened to the ancient wonderworking Icon if it had not been rescued by the famous art historian Nicholas Pomerantsev (1891-1986). He brought the Icon to Moscow, and had it restored. After the most difficult painstaking work, it was placed in the Tretyakov Gallery, where it is kept to this day.