The Wonderworking Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Vladimirskaya-Desyatinnaya"

The Vladimir-Desiatynna Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos

Troparion, Tone 4:
Today the city of Kyiv rejoices and is adorned with radiant splendor, exulting in Thy glorious manifestation, O Sovereign Lady; for upon the Desiatynna Monastery dost Thou pour forth Thy mercy, and from every tribulation dost Thou deliver us. O Most Pure Mother of Light, who art hymned in psalms, deliver from illnesses and sorrows all who with steadfast prayer call upon Thee.

Kontakion, Tone 1:
From Thy holy icon, O Theotokos and Virgin, the grace of the Holy Spirit abundantly poureth forth upon those who with faith and repentance draw near unto it. Wherefore, we too magnify Thy wonders, crying out with compunction: Be Thou the Mediatress of our salvation, through Thy grace, O Most Pure Lady.

The Wonderworking Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Vladimirskaya-Desyatinnaya"
A sacred image of our days a sign of grace, healing, and divine presence on the holy grounds of ancient Kyiv

The wonderworking icon was written in our times. It is considered a copy of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and belongs to the Eleusa (Tenderness) iconographic type. The first miracle associated with it occurred in 2006, on the Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving Spring". On that day, before this icon, with Her hands raised in prayer, the Most Holy Theotokos Herself appeared. Since then, the icon has come to be known as “Desyatinnaya”, in honor of the first cathedral of Kyivan Rus' the Church of the Tithes (Desyatinnaya).

Feast Day: Friday of Bright Week (moveable date)
Date of the Icon’s Writing: 1998
Iconographic Type: Eleusa
Location of the Original: Desyatinnaya Monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos (Kyiv)

Historical Background

The Vladimirskaya-Desyatinnaya Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was painted in 1998 in Berkeley, California, USA, by iconographer and teacher Alexander Khuron. At first, the icon served as a model for iconography students. In the year 2000, in San Francisco, a large group of American Christians studying iconography embraced the Orthodox Church and formed a parish dedicated to the Assembly of the Most Holy Theotokos.

In 2006, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the Paschal Divine Liturgy was served on the site of the first cathedral church of Kyivan Rus’ the Church of the Tithes. On the eve of the service, a tent, or tabernacle, was set up, in which the festive liturgy was held. The icon was transferred to the newly erected church, after which it came to be known as the “Desyatinnaya” icon.

Initially, only one Paschal Liturgy was planned, but realizing the importance of prayer on the sacred grounds of the Desyatinnaya Church, it was decided to continue the divine services throughout the entire Bright Week. After the evening service on the eve of the Feast of the Icon “Life-Giving Spring,” most of the faithful left, and only a few parishioners stayed behind to pray. The clergy and some of the faithful were standing outside the church, discussing the future of the tabernacle. Suddenly, they saw two women lying unconscious on the floor of the church. The priests quickly entered to assist and began to revive them, asking what had happened.

The young woman and the older woman, who did not know each other before, both began to speak almost in unison they had seen the Most Holy Theotokos Herself!
They were asked: “How do you know it was the Most Holy Theotokos and not someone else, like Princess Olga?”
They replied: “No, we felt deep grace and holy fear when She looked upon Her icon. And then, when She entered the altar through the Royal Doors and raised Her most pure hands in prayer we lost consciousness.”

This occurrence was reported to His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr. He responded:
“If the Most Pure One Herself appeared at the site of the first cathedral of Kyivan Rus’ and blessed it with Her presence, then it is now our sacred duty to continue liturgical life on this holy site.”

Years later, in 2012, a fire broke out in the Desyatinnaya Monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, destroying the church dedicated to the Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr and Princess Olga. The icon of the Mother of God remained standing in the flames for over three hours unharmed!

In 2016, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the brethren of the Desyatinnaya Monastery began gathering materials to formally glorify the icon.
On December 29, 2016, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, established the commemoration of the Vladimirskaya-Desyatinnaya Icon of the Mother of God to be celebrated in the Kyiv Diocese on the Friday of Bright Week.

On May 6, 2017, the feast day of the Holy Great-Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the rite of glorification of the icon in the Vladimir-Olga Church of the Desyatinnaya Monastery.

That same year, in the city of Chernivtsi, during the Polyeleos at a service in the presence of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, a parishioner captured a miraculous moment on video: a glowing silhouette appeared beside the icon, radiating light.

Miracles and Intercessions

Through prayers before the wonderworking Vladimirskaya-Desyatinnaya Icon of the Mother of God, the faithful receive help in their needs, healing from illnesses, and peace in their families. Notably, couples who were unable to have children have received the gift of parenthood, and there are cases of healing from severe diseases including cancer.

A Testimony of a Miracle:

“We came to the Desyatinnaya Monastery so that the priest would pray for my wife. She had stage four cancer. The doctors did everything they could and then told us to go home… They said: ‘Let your wife spend time with her grandchildren she may have two or three weeks, maybe a month left.’ My wife was on strong painkillers…
A moleben was served before the Vladimirskaya-Desyatinnaya Icon.
When the doctors later examined her again, they were completely shocked. All tests came back normal she was healed. Not a trace of the illness remained!
The doctors asked, ‘What treatment did you undergo? We thought you had already passed away.’
We replied: ‘We prayed before the Vladimirskaya-Desyatinnaya Icon of the Mother of God!’”

People also turn to the Theotokos for family reconciliation and peace in marriage. No one is left unheard who brings their heartfelt prayer and hope for God’s mercy to the Most Pure Mother.