From time immemorial, Russian people have been calling upon God
and His Saints in prayer for help, and have been making pilgrimages to holy
sites. One of the sites is the Vysotsky Monastery in the city of Serpukhov, a
place to which to this day people struggling with alcoholism stream from all
over Russia. There rests the miraculous Icon of the "Inexhaustible Cup," which gained renown at the close of the 19th Century.
The type of iconography exemplified by the "Inexhaustible cup" is the third type of ancient depiction of the Mother of God, i.e. "The Sign" Icon. However, in this Icon, the Infant is depicted standing in a Chalice. The Chalice, with the Infant bestowing His blessing, is the Communion Chalice. It is by way of this Holy Chalice that Christians receive all of the blessings given mankind through Christ's redemptive podvig. This Chalice is truly inexhaustible, unconsumable, for the Lamb is "ever eaten, but never consumed."
The Mother of God stands, like a mighty high priest, with arms upraised in intercession, offering up to God this Sacrifice - Her sacrificed Son. She announces that the Inexhaustible Chalice of Divine of help and mercy has been prepared for every person in need.
Copies of the "Inexhaustible Cup" are available in the kiosk in our church.
icon from www.days.ru