Wonderworking Donskoy Icon Returns to Historic Moscow Monastery

MOSCOW — The wonderworking Donskoy Icon of the Mother of God has returned to its historic home at Moscow’s Donskoy Monastery after several months at Christ the Savior Cathedral, where it had been housed while restoration work at the monastery was completed. In April, it was transferred from the State Tretyakov Gallery to the Russian Orthodox Church under a 49-year agreement for ecclesiastical use.

The icon was solemnly transferred on Monday and welcomed in the monastery’s Small Cathedral by Metr. Theognost of Kashira, abbot of Donskoy Monastery, together with Bp. Alexei of Ramenskoye, clergy from the monastery, and other Moscow clergy. Following its arrival, the clergy and faithful offered the Akathist to the Donskoy Icon of the Mother of God before the revered image.

The icon had been kept at Christ the Savior Cathedral since April, when it and the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God were returned to the Church by the state. The Donskoy Icon is now available for veneration in the monastery’s Small Cathedral, where Divine Liturgy and evening services are celebrated daily. Moleben services with the Akathist are also served each day from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Long regarded as one of Russia’s most revered sacred images, the Donskoy Icon became closely associated with the founding of Donskoy Monastery after Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich prayed before it during the 1591 Crimean Tatar invasion. The monastery was established in thanksgiving for the Theotokos’ protection, and the icon has remained a symbol of that deliverance ever since.

Previously, the UOJ reported that an icon found in the ashes inspired hope for a Romanian family after a devastating fire.