This column we devote an amazing event in the life of our Church - the miraculous finding of the Port Arthur Icon of the Blessed Virgin. Most recently, in May of this year, she returned to the Vladivostok diocese. In the history of this icon are many gaps to be filled pious researchers, but the return of the icon in Russia - surely a sign of God's mercy .
Exactly two months before the Russian -Japanese War, 11 December 1903, the Kiev- Pechersk Lavra Caves came pogovet of Bessarabia an old sailor, a member of the defense of Sevastopol . He prayed earnestly about the Russian fleet at Port Arthur . Once in a dream he had a vision : standing with his back to the sea of ??the Most Holy Mother of God, holding the hands of an oblong board with a purple rim, which depicted the face of the Savior. Heaton Mother of God was blue and the upper garment - brown. Both of her feet bare and trampled honed double-edged swords . On the right side of the face of the Virgin Most Pure was the Archangel Michael, to the left - the Archangel Gabriel. Above It kept the Angels in the clouds royal crown topped with a cross intersecting rainbows above. Still above a disembodied forces supported clouds on which sat the Lord of hosts : and over them was an inscription on the brilliance of "Let there be one flock and one shepherd ."
Holy Mother of God reassured affected by fear sailor and told him that soon will start a war in which Russia will face hard loss and tests . Mistress of Heaven ordered to make an image that accurately represent your vision, and an icon in the Port Arthur church, promising to help, protection and victory of Russian troops immediately after the arrival of the image to the specified location .
The vision of an old sailor, sevastopoltsa became known worshipers of Kiev- Pechersk Lavra. When the first news of the beginning of the Russian -Japanese war, ten thousand worshipers at Piglet (more than one person did not accept) collected the amount needed for materials for the icon . For the wizard did not take anything .
The image was made exactly as directed by the sailor. Enameled lettering on it was written: "In blessing and a sign of the triumph of Christ- host of the long-range Russian sacred monasteries of Kiev and 10,000 worshipers and friends ."
The image with a carved frame was 2 yard of 1 1/2 inches (about 149 cm ) tall and 1 1/2 a yard (about 107 cm ) wide. The size of the icon without frame : height - 1 3/4 a yard ( about 124 cm), width - 1 yard 1 1/2 inches ( about 77 cm).
In the summer of 1904 arrived on the icon of the Far East, as told in detail " Vladivostok Diocesan Gazette » (? 16-17. September 1, 1904 ; ? 2 . Jan. 15, 1905 ; ? 10 . May 15, 1905 ) .
In early August, an icon of "The Triumph of the Virgin " was delivered to Vladivostok . August 2, His Grace Bishop Eusebius of Vladivostok and Primorye ( Nikolsky, ? 1922) in the Cathedral took holy icon "The Triumph of the Virgin ", destined for Port Arthur to the Cathedral and the time is located at the head of the Pacific squadron of Vice-Admiral N. Skrydlova .
Vice -Admiral N. Skrydlov which this order was given to the Empress Maria Fedorovna, on arrival in Vladivostok asked her for permission to temporarily put an icon in the Vladivostok Cathedral. Her Majesty has agreed in a telegram, which was received in The Vladivostok on August 2.
Many believers expressed bewilderment and displeasure that Port Arthur icon is not delivered to the destination. However, the delay in shipment was due to unavailability of ships able to safely deliver an icon, and active military operations in the besieged Port Arthur.
With icons "The Triumph of the Virgin " was filmed several copies. Initially, there were several copies of the photographic method. With a photocopy of Vladivostok painter took another copy ( on the tree was painted with oil paints reduced in size) . It was assumed that several copies of the icon will be sent by mail by land in the name of Chefoo Russian consul requested at the first opportunity to send them to Port Arthur.
A copy of the icon on the tree, it was decided to send to Port Arthur by the first transport. Deliver a copy of the icon in the picturesque Port Arthur undertook volunteer sailor films, it was in October . But transport is caught in a heavy storm and returned to Vladivostok. Second time on the same transport icon was sent on November 16. The results of this trip were unknown .
Finally deliver true icon to Port Arthur took Nikolay Fedorov - 50 -year-old retired captain of the Life Guards Lancer Regiment of Her Majesty, a member of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, in 1904 - the clerk of the Imperial hunting. He learned from the newspapers about the fate of Port Arthur icon and decided to take on the difficult and dangerous feat - to deliver the Reference icon to Arthur . His confessor Father John of Kronstadt gave him his blessing on it .
In early October, N. Fedorov left St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, where he arrived on November 7, 1904 . November 21 ( December 4), the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, after the Liturgy at the Cathedral of large crowds for the last time before the icon of "The Triumph of the Holy Mother of God" was made a solemn Te Deum . After the service, the icon was enclosed in a specially prepared for her case and sent to the Norwegian steamer that took the icon from Vladivostok.
Vladivostoktsy have a copy of the icon in full size, written on copper plates with oil paints .
The first report of N. Fedorova was received January 7, 1905, it was the telegram, he filed Jan. 4 from the station «First outpost " in the Liaohe River . In this telegram Fedorov asked to send his stuff to Harbin on demand . On the icon Fedorov said in the letter, which came on January 11. It was learned that the icon " Triumph of the Virgin " in Port Arthur was not delivered . The city had already been delivered. Having asked permission in St. Petersburg, Fedorov sent it to the army, to General Kuropatkinu .
The fate of the Port Arthur Icon of many troubled vladivostoktsev which addressed several requests to the Lord Eusebius . Expressing the general concern, the Lord asked the army chief priest Archpriest Sergius Golubev, who telegram of April 28, 1905 said, "The Icon " Triumph of the Virgin " after a failed attempt to transmit its official Fedorov in Port Arthur was taken to a bet -Chief and since that time is in the field church in Chief . "
On further events associated with the icon, you can only guess. There is a letter Father John of Kronstadt : " The leader of our troops ANKuropatkin left everything brought to him the icon of the Japanese heathen, while the worldly things are captured . What is the relationship of faith and holiness of the Church ! For the Lord will not bless our weapons and enemies defeat us. For that we have become a taunt and a violation of all our enemies . "
On the return of the icon to Vladivostok there is no information . The magazine " Sea Collection " (1994 . ? 2), telling about the history of Port Arthur icon, said that " now it is stored in the Moscow Patriarchate ." ( In Tserkovnoarheologicheskom Museum MDAiS kept a small copy of the icon . - Comm . Aut.)
About copies of the icon, taken in Vladivostok in 1904, is not known.
N. Miz, local historian, member of the Society for the Study of the Amur region