Icons of the Mother of God
The Kazan Mother of God
Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Θεοτόκος του Καζάν · Каза́нскаѧ ꙶ҆кѡ́на Бж҃їѧ Ма́тере · Казанская икона Божией Матери
The Kazan Mother of God is remembered on 8 July (21 July on the Old Calendar). Orthodox Christians pray to the Kazan Mother of God for healing of the eyes and the restoring of sight, a son or daughter on the eve of their wedding and a strong and faithful marriage.
Feast days
- Feast
- Appearance of the icon in Kazan (1579) (summer Kazan)
- Kept on
- 8 July (21 July on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
- Feast
- Deliverance of Moscow from the Poles (1612) (autumn Kazan)
- Kept on
- 22 October (4 November on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
The New Calendar is kept by the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts; the Old Calendar by the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos, 13 days later on the civil calendar.
The story of the icon
In 1579, after a great fire in Kazan, the Mother of God appeared in dreams to a ten-year-old girl, Matrona, and showed her where her icon lay buried in the ashes. The icon was found, and as it was carried in procession two blind men, Joseph and Nikita, received their sight. Matrona later became a nun of the monastery built on the spot. In 1612 the Russian militia of Prince Pozharsky carried a copy of the icon before them and freed Moscow from foreign occupation, and the Kazan icon became the protectress of all Russia. To this day Orthodox parents make the sign of the Cross over their son and daughter with the Kazan icon before the wedding crown, place it at the cribs of their babies, and turn to it in every hard time. Orthodox Christians pray before it for sight, for strong families, for the gift and protection of children, and for the deliverance of their homeland.
What the faithful ask of the Kazan Mother of God
The faithful pray for
- healing of the eyes and the restoring of sight
- a son or daughter on the eve of their wedding
- a strong and faithful marriage
- the health and wellbeing of loved ones
- the gift of children
- the protection of small children
- intercession in times of heavy trial
- the deliverance of the homeland from enemies
The Kazan Mother of God protects
- the homeland from invaders
- the family and the marriage bond
- small children in their cribs
- from blindness and disease of the eyes
Patron of
- newlyweds
- Russian families
- the Russian homeland
- the city of Kazan
- small children (the icon is placed at children's cribs)
Miracles
In 1579, after the Mother of God revealed the icon to the girl Matrona in burned-out Kazan, two blind men, Joseph and Nikita, received their sight during the procession bearing it to the cathedral.
In 1612 the Russian militia, praying before the Kazan icon, freed Moscow from the Polish occupation; the 22 October feast was established in thanksgiving.
Source: Wikipedia: Our Lady of Kazan
Where the traditions differ
A specifically Russian icon and feast; Greek churches rarely keep it. The 4 November civil date is also Russia's Day of National Unity. The 'eyes and sight' and 'newlyweds' associations are long-standing popular piety rather than liturgical texts.
the Kazan Mother of God: icons and items in our shop
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.
Ask our priest
Our priest can serve a moleben to the Kazan Mother of God for the people and the need you name.
Prayed to for
Related saints
Questions
When is the feast day of the Kazan Mother of God?
Appearance of the icon in Kazan (1579) (summer Kazan): 8 July (21 July on the Old Calendar); Deliverance of Moscow from the Poles (1612) (autumn Kazan): 22 October (4 November on the Old Calendar).
What do Orthodox Christians pray to the Kazan Mother of God for?
Orthodox Christians pray to the Kazan Mother of God for healing of the eyes and the restoring of sight, a son or daughter on the eve of their wedding, a strong and faithful marriage, the health and wellbeing of loved ones, the gift of children and the protection of small children.
What is the Kazan Mother of God the patron of?
The Kazan Mother of God is the patron of newlyweds, Russian families, the Russian homeland, the city of Kazan and small children (the icon is placed at children's cribs).
What does the Kazan Mother of God protect from?
The Kazan Mother of God protects the homeland from invaders, the family and the marriage bond, small children in their cribs and from blindness and disease of the eyes.
Sources
- Азбука веры: Казанская икона Божией Матери (read 14 October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Our Lady of Kazan (read 14 October 2026)
- 360.ru: Казанская летняя (read 14 October 2026)