Icon of the Mother of God “Chukhloma”

Commemorated on July 20 (also on May 28, July 4 & August 15)

The Chukhloma Icon of the Mother of God of Galich appeared in 1350 to St. Abraham of Galich, who came from the north to live an ascetic life with the blessing of St. Sergius of Radonezh. On the shores of Galich Lake which was hidden in a dense forest, he turned with prayer to the Mother of God, asking Her blessing. After finishing his prayers, he sat down to rest, but suddenly a bright light appeared on a nearby mountain and a voice said, “Abraham, come up the mountain, where there is an icon of My Mother.”

The monk went up the mountain where the light shone, and indeed found an icon of the Mother of God with the Infant on a tree. With tenderness and in gratitude to God, he took the icon and, strengthened by prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos, built a chapel there in which he placed the icon.

Galich Prince Demetrius Feodorovich learned about St. Abraham’s trip, and asked him to bring the icon to him. St. Abraham journeyed across Galich Lake in a boat and, accompanied by clergy and a throng of people, took the wonderworking icon to the cathedral church in the city of Galich.

A large number of sick were healed by this icon. When St. Abraham told Prince Demetrius about the appearance of the icon, the Prince gave St. Abraham money to build a monastery. Soon, a church was built in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, around which a monastery grew. St. Abraham founded several more monasteries, the last being the Chukhloma, not far from the city of Chukhloma. From the name of this monastery, the wonderworking icon became known as the Chukhloma Icon of Galich.

The icon is also commemorated on May 28, July 4, and August 15.

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