On May 18th (the 5th by the old calendar) the Church celebrates the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice.”
For many years the icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice,” located in the Vysotsky Monastery in the city of Serpukhov, has been deservedly venerated by the Orthodox people as miraculous.
The appearance of the original of this Icon occurred in 1878. A certain peasant of the Yefremov district in the Tula Province, who was a decorated soldier retired from the military, was afflicted by alcoholism. He spent his entire pension and everything he could find in his home on drink, and soon reached a state of poverty. Due to excessive drinking, he lost the use of his legs, but he still continued to drink. And then one time this already depraved person saw an extraordinary dream. A resplendent schema-elder appeared before him and said: “Go to the city of Serpukhov, to the convent of the Holy Mother of God. There is an icon there of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice.” Have a moleben served to it, and you will regain the health of your body and soul.”
Having lost the use of his legs, not having outside assistance, and no longer having any means, the peasant did not risk embarking upon such a lengthy travel. The same elder appeared to him once again, but the peasant still did not risk doing what he had been told. The elder appeared to him yet a third time, and so sternly ordered him to fulfill the command, that the miserable drunkard immediately set out, crawling on all fours. He stopped for the night in one of the villages. A tenderhearted old woman rubbed down his legs, in order to ease his pains, and lay him down. During the night the traveler felt a pleasant sensation in his legs, tried to stand up, and although very weakly, was able to remain on his legs. The next night he felt even better. Thus, walking first on two crutches, and then on one, he reached Serpukhov.
Arriving at the convent in honor of the Entrance of the Holy Virgin into the Temple, the sufferer told of his dreams and asked to have a moleben served. But no one in the convent knew of an icon of the Mother of God with such a name. Then someone had the thought that perhaps this was the icon with an image of a chalice, which was hanging in the passageway between the cathedral and the vestment room. To the amazement of all, they did see the inscription “The Inexhaustible Chalice” on the back of the icon! And in the schema-elder who had appeared to the peasant, the latter recognized the elder Varlaam – the builder of this convent. The newly-discovered icon was transferred to the church, and a moleben was served before it. The former drunkard returned home from Serpukhov a completely recovered man. Not only were his sick legs healed, but most importantly – he ceased experiencing an irresistible and destructive hankering for wine.
Soon these glad tidings spread beyond the walls of the convent, and a multitude of pilgrims began streaming to the miraculous Icon from the city of Serpukhov and its environs, as well as from faraway places. For those who were afflicted by alcoholism, their relatives strove to present their prayers to the Mother of God to have their family members healed, while many came to thank the Holy Theotokos for the mercy extended to them.
During the post-revolutionary years, the monasteries and churches in Serpukhov began to be closed down, as they were all over Russia. After the closing down of the convent of the Theotokos, the miraculous icon was transferred to the municipal St. Nicholas Cathedral. In 1929 the St. Nicholas Cathedral was also closed down and all its holy treasures burned on the shores of the Nara River. The Icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice” and all its copies disappeared without a trace, and the molebens before it ceased.
Currently, people who need the divine aid of the Mother of God come from all corners of the country to the miraculous Icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” (a copy of the original), located in the Vysotsky Monastery in Serpukhov. And it helps them to be rid not only of drinking, but also of the modern scourge – drug addiction.
Rejoice, o Holy Theotokos, the Inexhaustible Chalice, Thou Who assuages our spiritual thirst.
|
