The Mother of God of Chernigov
While Lazar Baranovich was Archbishop of Chernigov and Zosima was Abbot of the Ilinsk Monastery, tears poured forth from this icon from the 16th to the 24th of April, 1662. In that same year, the Tatars attacked Chernigov and devastated all of the surrounding villages. However, the monks of the monastery knew nothing of the imminent danger. In the night, they received the news. After rushing to the church, and earnestly, tearfully, praying to their Heavenly Intercessor, they hid in a cave. At midnight the Tatars broke into the monastery and looted the church, but the miraculous icon and all of its precious decorations remained untouched. An unseen power did not permit the barbarians to touch the Holy Icon. That same unseen force kept them from entering the cave where the monks were hiding. Suddenly, terrified by a vision, the barbarians fled. Her feast is celebrated on April 16th (O.S.).
