This Icon appeared in 1483 in the vicinity of Ryazan in a desert place called "Staroe," near the village of Theodotiev. Since numerous healings began to occur from the Icon, by order of the Ryazan prince it was transferred to the city of Ryazan and placed with due honor in the cathedral church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. In 1611, by order of Archbishop Theodoret of Ryazan, a copy of the Icon was made and sent to the village of Theodotiev.
The chronicles recorded miraculous healings by the power of the Mother of God from a plague in 1771. The Theodotiev Icon was carried both into the city and in the surrounding villages. If it was brought to some house in which the disease had not yet been brought, then the plague did not appear in it at all. If the house were already infected with the pestilence, then it ceased at once.
Another striking case of miraculous healing from the icon of the Mother of God dates back to 1812. In the home of a resident of Ryazan, a retired sergeant, his sick sister-in-law Xenia was lying. She was greatly tormented by an eye ailment, and for thirteen weeks she could not see anything. On March 19, 1812, the Theodotiev Icon was brought to the house next door.
The ailing Xenia's sister went there to ask permission to bring the Icon to her home. At that time, Xenia seemed to doze off and saw some unknown woman in a dream, who said to her: "Get up, for a most revered Visitor will soon come to you, and you shall see her." The sick woman replied: "How can I see her, if I am blind?"
"Believe me, you shalll see her," the unknown woman said again. The patient then woke up and wondered what this vision would mean. Soon they brought the wonderworking Icon and served a Moleben with an Akathist. During the reading of the Akathist, the patient's eyelashes began to flutter, and while reading the Kontakion "O All-Hymned Mother," her eyes suddenly opened.
The inhabitants of Ryazan have revered the Theodotiev Icon from ancient times, and there are always many who bow down before it. The Icon was frequently taken to homes, and Molebens were served before the beginning of some family business, a marriage, for example. More than once, during a dry spell, a Cross Procession was made with it, and the lack of rain ended.
July 2, the Feast Day of this Icon was established in 1618, in remembrance of the deliverance of Ryazan from an invasion of robber detachments of the Zaporozhye Cossacks.
After the closure of the Dormition Cathedral in the nineteen thirties, all traces of the original Icon were lost. Perhaps it is in some museum storeroom. However, copies of the Icon have survived to this day, and they are also glorified by miracles. One of these is located in the village of Thedotievo, Spassky District, Ryazan Region, the other is in Ryazan's Cathedral of Saints Boris and Gleb.
Troparion — Tone 4
Let us sinners and wretched people now run most earnestly to the Theotokos, / and let us fall down in repentance, crying out from the depths of our souls: / “O Sovereign Lady, have compassion on us, / help us, and come quickly, for we are perishing from a multitude of transgressions. / Do not turn your servants away empty-handed, for we have you as our only hope.”
Kontakion — Tone 6
We have no other help, we have no other hope, but you, O Sovereign Lady. / Help us, for in you do we hope, / and of you do we boast, for we are your servants. / Let us not be put to shame.
Kontakion — Tone 6
Steadfast protectress of Christians, / most constant advocate before the Creator, / do not despise the voices of us who have sinned, / but in your goodness come speedily to help us, who cry to you in faith: / “Hasten to intercede for us, O Theotokos, / and speedily make supplication, for you always protect those who honor you.”