The Miracle Icon "The Sign" of Tsarkoye Selo

The Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” of Tsarskoye Selo is an ancient miraculous image, donated to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich by one of the Eastern patriarchs, as considered by Saint Athanasius of Constantinople. Peter I transferred the icon, among other Moscow shrines, to the new capital. In 1747, the Sign Church in Tsarskoye Selo was built for the icon. Prayers were performed before her during national disasters, for example, during the plague of 1771, the cholera of 1831. By the intercession of the Mother of God, terrible epidemics almost did not affect Tsarskoye Selo. Prayer before the image of the “Sign” of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called Tsarskoye Selo, also helped with fires and shipwrecks.

The icon is placed in a gold frame laid on it by the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, and in 1849 it is covered with a precious robe with many precious stones. Stones are also present on the precious crown. At the bottom of the icon on a gold plate are carved the words: “For salvation from the epidemic, accept, merciful Lady, Patroness of the city of Tsarskoye Selo, these pearls, like tears of gratitude irrigating Your pure garment, from Thy zealous servants continue to have mercy on us”. On the image of the head of the Mother of God cherubs overshadow. In later times, the icon also depicted the apostle Peter, St. Zachariah, the holy righteous Elizabeth, Alexy, the man of God.

Blessed Virgin Mary, Intercessor to our Lord, pray to God for us, sinful servants of God.