This heading we devote to surprising event in a life of our Church - to wonderful finding Port Arthur of icon Presvjatoj of the Virgin. More recently, in May of this year, it has returned to the Vladivostok diocese. In history of this icon it is a lot of blanks with which it is necessary to fill to pious researchers, but returning of an icon to Russia - undoubtedly sign Bozhiej of favour.
Exactly for two months prior to the beginning of the Russo-Japanese war, on December, 11th, 1903, in kievo-ia?a?neo? to lavra, in Distant caves, the old man-sailor, the participant of defense of Sevastopol has come pogovet from province Bessarabskoj. It assiduously prayed for Russian fleet in Port Arthur. Once in a dream to it there was a vision: costing a back to a gulf exhausting Presvjataja the Virgin holding in hands oblong payments with a lilac border on which the face of the Savior has been represented. Chiton Bozhiej of Mother was dark blue, and the top attire - brown. Its both stops trampled on the naked and perfected two-edged swords. From the right party above prechistym a face of the Virgin there was Arhistratig Michael, with left - Archangel Gabriel. Above It Angels held the imperial crown topped perekreshchivajushchimisja by rainbows with a cross above in clouds. Still above Besplotnye Forces supported clouds on which Lord Savaof sat; above it there was an inscription on light: " Yes the herd will be uniform and the pastor " is uniform.
Presvjataja the Virgin has calmed the sailor amazed by fear and has told to it, that war in which Russia heavy losses and tests wait will soon begin. Vladychitsa Heavenly has ordered to make an image precisely displaying vision, and to send an icon in Port Arthur church, promising the help, protection and a victory to Russian troops immediately after the arrival of an image on the specified place.
Vision of the old man-sailor, sevastopoltsa, became known bogomoltsam kievo-ia?a?neie lavra. When the first news about the beginning of the Russo-Japanese war has come, ten thousand bogomoltsev on pjatachku (more from one person did not accept) have collected the sum necessary on materials for an icon. For work of the master have taken nothing.
The Image has been made precisely under the instruction of the sailor. On it enameled vjazju it has been written: " In blessing and a sign of a celebration to religous troops of Distant Russia from sacred monasteries Kiev both 10 000 bogomoltsev and friends ".
The Image together with a carved frame made 2 arshins 1 1/2 vershoks (about 149 sm) in height and 1 1/2 arshins (about 107 sm) at width. The sizes of an icon without a frame: height - 1 3/4 arshins (about 124 sm), width - 1 arshin 1 1/2 vershoks (about 77 sm).
In the Summer of 1904 the icon has arrived to the Far East about what have in detail told " the Vladivostok eparchial sheets " (№ 16-17. On September 1sh, 1904; № 2. On January 15th, 1905; №10 On May 15th, 1905).
In the beginning of August the icon " Celebration Presvjatoj of the Virgin " has been delivered to Vladivostok. On August, 2nd Preosvjashchennyj bishop Vladivostok and Seaside Evsevy (Nikolsky, + 1922) in a cathedral has accepted a sacred icon "Feast of the Mother of God ", intended for Port Arthur of a cathedral and till that time was at the chief of the Pacific squadron of vice-admiral N. I.Skrydlova.
Vice-admiral N. I.Skrydlov to whom this assignment has been given gosudarynej by Empress Maria Fedorovnoj, after the arrival to Vladivostok has addressed to it with the request for the sanction temporarily to put an icon in the Vladivostok cathedral. Its Imperial Majesty has expressed the consent in the telegram which has been received in Vladivotoke on August, 2nd.
Many believers expressed bewilderment and displeasure to that Port Arthur the icon is not delivered to destination. However the delay with sending has been caused by absence of the free ships, capable it is safe to deliver an icon, and active military actions in the besieged Port Arthur.
" Celebration Presvjatoj of the Virgin " has been removed From an icon some spears. In the beginning some spears have been made by photographic way. One Vladivostok painter has removed one more copy from a photocopy (pisana on a tree oil paints in the reduced size). It was supposed, that some photocopies of an icon will be sent dry by by mail in CHifu addressed to the Russian consul with the request at the first opportunity to forward them to Port Arthur.
The Copy of an icon on a tree it has been decided to send to Port Arthur the first transport. To deliver a picturesque copy of an icon to Port Arthur volunteer-sailor Plenkov has undertaken, it was in October. But transport has got in a whole gale and has returned to Vladivostok. Again on the same transport the icon has been sent on November, 16th. Results of this trip have remained unknown persons.
At last to deliver an original icon to Port Arthur Nikolay Nikolaevich Fedorov - 50-years retired captain of eaea-guards Ulanskogo of Its Majesty a shelf, the participant of Russo-turkish war of 1877-1878, in 1904 - the clerk of Imperial hunting has undertaken. It from newspapers has learned Port Arthur of an icon about destiny and has decided to incur a difficult and dangerous feat - to deliver the marked icon in Arthur. Its confessor father John Kronshtadtsky has given it on this blessing.
In the first of October N.N.Fedorov has left Petersburg to Vladivostok where has arrived on November, 7th, 1904. On November, 21st (on December, 4th), in day of a holiday of Introduction in temple Presvjatoj of the Virgin, after the Liturgy in a cathedral at the big gathering of people last time before an icon " Celebration Presvjatoj of the Virgin " has been accomplished solemn molebstvie. After molebna the icon has been concluded in case specially prepared for it and sent on the Norwegian steamship which has taken away an icon from Vladivostok.
Vladivostoktsam there was a copy of this icon full-scale, written on a copper board oil paints.
The First message from N.N.Fedorova has been received on January, 7th, 1905, it was the telegram submitted by it on January, 4th from station " the First zastava " on the river Liaohe. In Feodor's this telegram asked to send its things to Harbin poste restante. N.Fedorov has informed on an icon in the letter which has come on January, 11th. It became known, that the icon "Feast of the Mother of God " to Port Arthur has not been delivered. The city by then has already been handed over. Having asked the sanction in Petersburg, Feodors has sent it in a field army, to general Kuropatkinu.
The Further destiny Port Arthur of an icon disturbed many vladivostoktsev which repeatedly addressed with inquiries to Lord Evseviju. Expressing the general anxiety, the Lord has addressed to the main priest of army to archpriest Sergiju Golubevu who from April, 28th, 1905 has answered with the telegram: "Icon" the Celebration of the Virgin " after unfortunate attempt of official Fedorova to forward it to Port Arthur has been delivered in the rate of the Commander-in-chief and from now on is in marching church of the Commander-in-chief ".
About the further events connected with an icon, it is possible to guess only. The letter of father John Kronshtadtskogo is known: " the Leader of our troops A.N.Kuropatkin has left all the icons brought to it at Japanese-pagans, meanwhile as wordly things all has grasped. What attitude to belief and a relic church! For that the Lord does not bless our weapon and enemies win us. For that we became in a ridicule and violation to all our enemies ".
About returning an icon to Vladivostok there are no data. Magazine " Sea collection " (1994. №2), telling about history Port Arthur of an icon, has informed, that " nowadays it is stored in the Moscow Patriarchy ". (In TSerkovnoarheologicheskom museum MDAiS the small copy of an icon is stored. - a comment avt.)
About the copies of the icon which have been removed in Vladivostok in 1904, it is not known.
. MIZ, the regional specialist, Member of the Society of studying of the Amur edge