Zaraysk, Moscow Province, Russia, August 13, 2025
Photo: zarrayon.ru
On August 11, the city of Zaraysk in the Moscow Province celebrated the 800th anniversary of the transfer of a miraculous icon of St. Nicholas from Korsun to this historic Russian city.
His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Patriarchal Vicar of the Moscow Metropolis, presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. John the Baptist to mark this significant milestone in Russian Orthodox history. The Metropolitan was assisted by Archpriest Peter Spiridonov, dean of the Zaraysk Church district of the Kolomna Diocese and rector of the church, along with other clergy members, reports Patriarchia.ru.
During the service, Met. Pavel read the prayer for Holy Rus’. The service concluded with the glorification to St. Nicholas.
Following the service, festivities continued on the grounds of the Zaraysk Kremlin, with refreshments and a concert by a local orchestra.
Photo: mosmit.ru
According to tradition, the icon’s journey to Russian lands began with a Divine vision. In 1225, St. Nicholas appeared in a dream to Eustathy, a priest in Korsun where Prince Vladimir had been baptized in 988, commanding him to take the miraculous icon to the Ryazan lands along with his wife Theodosia and son Eustathy.
On July 29, 1225, Fr. Eustathy brought the holy icon to the Ryazan region. In the town of Krasny, situated on the high bank of the Osetr River, St. Nicholas appeared in a vision to Prince Theodore, instructing him to receive the icon and build a church. The miraculous icon became the city’s principal sacred treasure.
The icon gained its current name following tragic events in 1237 during Batu Khan’s invasion. Prince Theodore traveled to the Khan’s headquarters with gifts, hoping to persuade him to cease his raids, but was martyred. Upon learning of her husband’s death, Princess Eupraxia took her young son John in her arms and threw herself from a high tower to avoid capture by Batu’s forces.
The ancient Byzantine icon has been credited with numerous miracles, many documented in the chronicle Tale of Nicholas of Zaraysk. Throughout Russian history, pilgrims from across the country came to venerate the wonderworking image. Among those who prayed before the icon were St. Sergius of Radonezh, various grand princes and Russian sovereigns, Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, and poet Vasily Zhukovsky.
After the closure of churches in the Zaraysk Kremlin during the Soviet period, the miraculous icon became a museum exhibit. For nearly half a century, it was housed in the Andrei Rublev Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art. On August 11, 2013, the holy icon was returned to Zaraysk.
The tradition of venerating this sacred relic has been restored, with annual celebrations held on August 11 (the date of the icon’s transfer).
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