"Shestokovskaya" or Sheltomezhskaya" Icon

6/19 March

This Icon appeared in Moscow during the middle of the 18^th Century in the household of a certain Nikolai Dimitrievitch Skripitsyn. A servant who was known as a “blessed” [i.e. Fool for Christ] woman once dreamed that there was an icon of the Most-holy Theotokos hidden in the stovepipe. The domestic servants did not pay any attention to her story about a vision in her sleep, until, the next day, a canvas scroll, bearing a large (about 2 x 1.5 meters) image of the Mother of God fell down onto the hearth. The right arm of the Mother of God bore a scorch mark, evidence that despite being in the fire, the Holy Icon miraculously had not been consumed by the flames. The precious Icon got its name, “Shestokovskaya” from the word shestok – i.e. canvas. The members of the household richly decorated the Icon, and accorded it great reverence. Shortly before his death, the master of the house gave it as a blessing to his children.

Because the heirs, uncertain as to whom the Miraculous Icon should belong, gave it to the church of the Sheltomezhi village, Tver Province, the Icon acquired its second name, the Sheltomezhskaya Icon. The ancient Icon, renowned as the source many miracles, was carried in processions of the Cross far beyond the boundaries of the Tver Diocese, in order to bring healing to the sick and those possessed by evil spirits.