APPEAL Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander on the occasion of bringing to Kazakhstan miraculous Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria-Polonskaya"

Your Eminences and Eminences,
honorable fathers, dear brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

For Kazakhstan land the Easter filled with rejoicing about the Risen of Christ, these days are illuminated by the light of pure spiritual joy - with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Hodegetria-Polonskaya" is brought to our country.
 
This ancient image of the Queen of Heaven has an unusual history that has been passed down for centuries from generation to generation by believers. In the 17th century one of the residents of the Kostroma Territory was captured. He spent many years in a foreign land, exhausted from overwork and longing for the Fatherland. One day, on the eve of Holy Easter, the captive's heart was filled with unbearable sorrow because for many years he had not had the opportunity to worthy celebrate the feast of the Holy Resurrection of Christ, pray in the holy church and take communion of the Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ. Immersed in sad thoughts, he walked along the seashore and suddenly saw two halves of a small icon floating in the waves. Throwing himself into the water, he took them, connected them together and saw the face of the Mother of God. The slave placed the icon under a tree and heartily prayed before it until he fell asleep from exhaustion. Waking up he heard a bell ringing and realized with amazement that the miraculous power of the Lord, through the prayers of the Queen of Heaven, transferred him to his native places: the former captive was near his parish church, and next to the tree stood the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos he had found. The miraculous image was brought to the village church, where it remained for a long time, revered by a huge number of residents of the northern regions of Russia. The shrine was named "Polonskaya", from the word "polon" - "captivity". In between Orthodox believers, this ancient icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria" received another name - "Warm Hand", because often people kissing it after fervent prayer, believers felt extraordinary warmth and fragrance. During the years of persecution of Orthodoxy, despite numerous attempts by atheists to destroy the revered image, the shrine remained unharmed. At present days, the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Hodegetria-Polonskaya" is in the Church of St. John Chrysostom in the city of Kostroma.

For centuries, believing people have been going to the ancient shrine, which we meet on Kazakhstan land as to an inexhaustible blessed source of living water. Many people looked with hope at the image of the Queen of Heaven, who once by the power of God showed the miracle of deliverance of an innocent sufferer from many years of captivity. Through prayers before the face of the Divine Infant Christ and His Most Pure Mother, miracles have never ceased to be performed and they continue in our time. Anyone who, with a humble heart and firm faith, turns to the Lady of Heaven and Earth receives an answer to his prayer - healing from mental and physical ailments, deliverance from troubles and sorrows, finding peace and prosperity in family life. One of the church hymns says this about the mercy of the Mother of God: “None of those who resort to You disgraced leaves You, Most Pure Mother of God Virgin, but asks for grace and accepts the gift for good at her request.”

The miraculous image of the Most Holy Theotokos visiting the territory of Kazakhstan call "Hodegetria" which means "Guide". This name is very deep in its meaning since the Blessed Virgin, who served the mystery of the Incarnation, has become a guiding Star for all mankind, directing all people to true faith, salvation and eternal life. On the icon, the Mother of God points with her hand to Christ, Who Himself said of Himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). It not only opens and shows us the way to the Lord, but also helps us in every possible way on the difficult path to the Kingdom of God. St. Gregory Palamas teaches: “No one comes to God except through the Most Holy Theotokos, and not one of God’s gifts is given to either angels or people, except through Her”.  St. Cyril of Alexandria called the Mother of God "the Organizer of our salvation."
What did the medieval icon painter present to our eyes, following the Apostle Luke depicting the Mother of God with the Christ Child? The love and care of the Blessed Virgin for Her Son and at the same time her maternal warmth, abundantly pouring out on all of us. As if in her arms, she brings the soul of every believer to the Savior God. The miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria-Polonskaya” is a reminder to all of the reality and closeness of the spiritual world, and a sign of the grace-filled gifts that the Most Blessed Lady is ready to pour out on everyone who turns to her with a fervent and humble request.

Once, through prayers before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos found in the waters, the captive was delivered from slavery and returned to his native land. Physical bondage is terrible and difficult, but there is an even more terrible slavery - sinful captivity. The Lord warns: “Very truly I tell to you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34), and the apostle Paul describes such a state as follows: “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do –this I keep on doing” (Rom. 7:19). Sins, passions, bad inclinations and habits make a person unhappy. Evil thoughts, words and deeds are the source of personal and social troubles and sorrows, epidemics and catastrophes. Therefore, bowing before the miraculous Polonsky image of the Queen of Heaven, we first need to ask her for deliverance from sinful captivity, from everything that darkens our conscience, which destroys peace with God and neighbors. In the words of the psalmist David, let us turn to the Mother of God: “Set me free from my prison” (Ps. 142:7).

May the bringing of the miraculous image of the Most Holy Theotokos to the land of Kazakhstan in the year of the celebration of a special historical date - the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkestan diocese - deliver us all from sinful captivity, strengthen "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Gal. 5: 1). Bless our good works and undertakings, sanctify the cities and villages of the country, confirm us all in doing good deeds and inspire us to fervent prayers for the eradication of hatred and all malice, for the multiplication of love in our families, among relatives and friends, in our Fatherland and throughout the world.

Three days later Risen from the dead, Christ, through the prayers of the Mother of God save us and have mercy on us!

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY IS RISEN CHRIST!

Расписание пребывания чудотворного образа Пресвятой Богородицы