Constantinople Icon of the Mother of God

There are two Icons called Constantinople which differ significantly from one other. According to Tradition, the Constantinople Icon of the Mother of God commemorated on April 25, is one of the Icons painted by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke. How and under what circumstances this Constantinople Icon of the Mother of God appeared is unknown, but the date of its appearance is known: April 25, 1071. There is a legend that the Icon (or a copy) was brought from Constantinople in the middle of the XV century by Saint Euphrosynos of Pskov (May 15), who received it from the Patriarch of Constantinople. The revered Icon was in the Savior-Eleazar Monastery near Pskov, but, unfortunately, it was lost in the depths of the raging Tolba River, along with the ships of the Swedes, who had plundered the Savior-Eleazar Monastery and tried to remove its treasures.

Concerning the other Constantinople Icon of the Mother of God (commemorated on September 17) there is a legend that in ancient times two Greek monks from Constantinople were passing through Staraya Russ and served the Divine Liturgy there in the cathedral church. In remembrance of their stay, they left a miniature Icon of the Mother of God, engraved on a slate, in the cathedral. This miniature Icon soon became renowned for its miracles. Many believers flocked to this Holy Icon and took some water which was blessed by immersing the Icon in it, in order to heal sick infants.

There are copies of this Icon in Moscow: in the parish church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is on Malaya Dmitrovka, in the village of Nizherov, Rostov district, Yaroslavl province, and in the Savior-Eleazar Monastery, 25 versts from Pskov. The original name of the Monastery was Sretensky¹ - as a sign of the meeting of the Constantinople Icon of the Mother of God, which was brought to the Monastery after the Fall of Constantinople by Venerable Euphrosynos of Pskov, who received a copy from the Patriarch of Constantinople.

¹ The Great Feast of the Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple.