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| Synaxis of the Kupyatich Icon of the Mother of God (Feast Day - November 15) |
The Kupyatich Icon of the Mother of God appeared in the year 1182 near the village of Kupyatich in the area of the former Pinsk district of the Minsk governance. The icon was found in the forest on a tree by the peasant girl Anna, a cattle herder.
While guarding the flock, Anna saw a light in the forest. When she got close to that light, she saw on a tree a medium cross with the image of the Theotokos. Anna took that cross and brought it home, then she returned to her flock. Again she saw the same cross on the same tree. She took it, put the image in her bosom, and once again brought it home. When she wanted to show the cross to her father, she put her hand into her bosom, but the cross was not there. She told her father everything; so she left with her father, saw the cross in the forest and carried it home. The next day the cross was not in the house again. They alarmed the whole village, and all the villagers went and saw the cross and venerated it.
While guarding the flock, Anna saw a light in the forest. When she got close to that light, she saw on a tree a medium cross with the image of the Theotokos. Anna took that cross and brought it home, then she returned to her flock. Again she saw the same cross on the same tree. She took it, put the image in her bosom, and once again brought it home. When she wanted to show the cross to her father, she put her hand into her bosom, but the cross was not there. She told her father everything; so she left with her father, saw the cross in the forest and carried it home. The next day the cross was not in the house again. They alarmed the whole village, and all the villagers went and saw the cross and venerated it.
On the spot of the miraculous appearance of the icon, peasants built a church in the name of the Most Holy Theotokos, and placed the icon within it. After some years, Tatars burned the church. The icon was found a second time after many years by a traveler named Joachim. Peasants transferred the cruciform-icon to the village church. Joachim remained at the church as the church attendant. Numerous miracles were manifested from that miraculous cross with the image of the Mother of God.
At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Kupyatich Monastery was built next to the church. The Roman Catholics seized both at the end of the century. Later on, Uniate monks lived there. Orthodox monks, when they abandoned the monastery, took with them the holy icon of the Kupyatich Mother of God. They transferred the wonderworking icon to the Hagia Sophia Cathedra in Kiev.
At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Kupyatich Monastery was built next to the church. The Roman Catholics seized both at the end of the century. Later on, Uniate monks lived there. Orthodox monks, when they abandoned the monastery, took with them the holy icon of the Kupyatich Mother of God. They transferred the wonderworking icon to the Hagia Sophia Cathedra in Kiev.
The Kupyatich Icon is a small copper cross. On one side of the cross the Mother of God is depicted with the Pre-eternal Infant, and on the other side, the Crucifixion.
