Smolensk Icon of Mother of God holiday to be held Wed.

SMOLENSK, August 10 (Itar-Tass) - The holiday of the Smolensk Icon of
the Mother of God - "Hodegetria" - one of the most revered Russian
Orthodox shrines, will be held in Smolensk on Wednesday, the
Administration of the Smolensk region told Itar-Tass, adding that "these
annual celebrations are included in the action of events in preparation
for the celebration of 1150th anniversary of Smolensk in September 2013."
"Hodegetria has been and remains the protectress of Smolensk and its
people," governor of the Smolensk region Sergei Antufiev stressed in a
greeting message to Bishop of Smolensk and Vyazma Panteleimon. "We believe
that through the intercession of the Holy Icon of the Smolensk Mother of
God it is possible to achieve lasting peace and harmony in society, the
prosperity of the Smolensk region and the whole of Russia," the governor
said.
The celebration is attended by representatives of the clergy and the
general public and youth organizations - participants of the sacred
procession who arrived in Smolensk from the source of the Dnepr River. A
divine liturgy will be held by the hierarch at the Assumption Cathedral.
In the evening, Honoured Artist of Russia Tatyana Petrova will sing at the
Glinka Concert Hall a prayer for the blessed Mother of God. A concert
"Offering to Hodegetria" was held here on Tuesday. A theatrical
performance "The Tale of the Intercessor of the Russian Land" was
organised on Cathedral Hill. Taking part in it were professional and
amateur artists. An art exhibition "Orthodox Russia" opened in the
regional centre.
According to legend, Hodegetria was painted by the evangelist and
artist Saint Luke. From Jerusalem the icon was taken to Constantinople and
became the main holy object of the Roman Empire. In the XI century the
icon arrived on Russian soil. In 1101 the Grand Duke Vladimir Monomakh
placed the holy image in the new Cathedral of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin. A cathedral is now located there. Since then the icon
became known as the Smolensk icon. Numerous copies have been made from it
since then. According to experts, there is no original miraculous image in
Smolensk. The worshipers pray in front of another miraculous Hodegetria
icon - of the late XVI or early XVII century. Nobody known where the
original is and if it exists at all.