Icon of the Mother of God "the Joyful"

Commemorated on November 7

The “Joyful” (Vzigranie) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos appeared near Moscow on November 7, 1795. Nothing is known of the history of the icon, except that many miracles have taken place before it.

Icons of this name are found in the Novodevichy Monastery in Moscow, and in the Vatopedi Monastery on Mt. Athos. In appearance, the “Joyful” Icon resembles the “Pelagonitissa” Icon, a variant of the Glykophylousa (“Sweet-Kissing”) or Eleousa type.

The Icon is sometimes called “Child Leaping for Joy.”

By permission of the Orthodox Church in America (www.oca.org)