July 6/June 23 – Presentation of the Icon of the Mother of God “Vladimir”.translated

The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God - the main shrine of Russia, the guardian of the entire Russian people, the Orthodox faith - according to legend, was painted during the life of the Blessed Virgin by the Evangelist Luke on the board of the table at which Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and Joseph the Betrothed had a meal. When the apostle brought this icon to the Most Holy Theotokos, she said: “Let the grace of the One born of Me and Mine be with this icon!” And this grace constantly remains with Her icon, manifesting itself in countless miracles, one of which the Russian Orthodox Church remembers on July 6 in thanksgiving for the deliverance of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Akhmat.

In 1480, the Great Sovereign Ivan III refused to pay tribute to the Golden Horde. Then the countless hordes of Khan Akhmat rushed to Moscow. Having reached the Ugra River (between the Tula and Kaluga regions), the khan’s army stood waiting for a favorable moment to attack. Russian troops lined up on the opposite side. In the front rows, the soldiers held the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God.

There was a battle, but both troops: Russian and Tatar, still occupied positions on different banks. The parties waited long and tensely for the attack and the decisive battle, but none of the opponents wanted...