The Tolga Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos appeared on August 8, 1314 to the Rostov hierarch Prochorus (Tryphon in schema). Going about his diocese, the saint visited the environs of White Lake and from there traveled along the banks of the Rivers Sheksna and Volga, to Yaroslavl. He stopped with the approach of night 7 versts distant from Yaroslavl, at the right bank of the Volga River where there flows opposite into it the River Tolga.
At midnight, when everyone was asleep, the saint awoke and saw a bright light illuminating the area. The light proceeded from a fiery column on the other bank of the river, to which there stretched a bridge. Taking up his staff, the saint went across to the other bank, and having approached the fiery column, he beheld on it the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, suspended in the air. Astonished at the miracle, the saint prayed for a long time, and when he went back, he forgot to take his staff.
The next day, after serving Matins, when Saint Prochorus was preparing to continue his journey by boat, they began to search for his staff, but they were not able to find it anywhere. The saint then remembered that he had forgotten his staff on the other side of the river, where he had gone across on the miraculous bridge. He then revealed what had occurred, and sent servants across on a boat to the other shore. They came back and reported that in the forest they had seen an icon of the Mother of God suspended in the branches of a tree, next to his bishop’s staff.
The saint quickly crossed over with all his retinue to the opposite shore, and he recognized the icon that had appeared to him. Then after fervent prayer before the icon, they cleared the forest at that place, and put down the foundations of a church. When the people of Yaroslavl learned of this, they came out to the indicated spot. By midday the church was already built, and in the evening the saint consecrated it in honor of the Entrance into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, and having installed the icon there he established a Feast on the day of its appearance. Saint Prochorus later built the Tolga monastery near this church. Saint Prochorus died on September 7, 1328.
The Tolga Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is also commemorated on July 18.
Troparion — Tone 4
Today, O Most Pure Virgin Theotokos, your Icon shines radiantly upon Tolga, and as a never-setting sun, it always appears to the faithful. / Seeing it in the heavens, invisibly supported by Angels, / His Grace Bishop Tryphon of Rostov came to the luminous pillar of fire which appeared, / and walking on the water as if on dry land, / he prayed to you with faith for his flock and for all people. / And turning to you we cry out: / “Most Holy Virgin Theotokos, we glorify you with faith, / save our land, save the Hierarchs, / and deliver us all from misfortune, / according to your great mercy.”
Kontakion — Tone 8
The miraculous and divinely inspired appearance of your luminous Icon, O Most Pure Virgin, / is for those who look upon it with faith the undoubted hope of salvation; / for as a pillar of fire you show your protection, tirelessly and ardently for us, / and you entreat God, by which you deliver us from all misfortunes, / and with joyful voices we pray and cry out to you: / “Rejoice, O Intercessor for our eternal blessedness.”