Dependence on something is the scourge of the modern world. Many people suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, harmful gambling or overeating, making their loved ones unhappy. Of course, they try to fight it - but modern medicine is often unable to heal them. After all, such problems are caused not by physiological characteristics, but by psychological and even spiritual difficulties, loss of moral guidelines, and disappointment in eternal values. Therefore, it is necessary to seek help from those who heal souls, not bodies.

And it is precisely in such situations that the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon is needed. What helps, where to hang the image of grace, what is its history and theological significance - you will learn all this from our article.

The appearance of the relic “The Inexhaustible Chalice”

This shrine, like the prayer “Inexhaustible Chalice” against drunkenness, was given by the Virgin Mary to people not so long ago - in 1878. This is the legend associated with its appearance.

The chronicles say that in the Efremov district of the Tula province there lived one retired soldier, obsessed with the disease of drunkenness. His addiction reached such an extent that he sold all his property, becoming practically a beggar. Then the man's legs became paralyzed - but he continued to drink alcohol.

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But somehow in a dream an old man appeared before him, crowned with a shining halo. The righteous man ordered the soldier to go to a monastic monastery located in the city of Serpukhovo and order a prayer service there before the image of the “Inexhaustible Chalice.” At first the sinner did not listen to these words, mistaking them for a delusional vision. In addition, he did not have a penny and could not walk at all. But the dream returned again and again. The third time, the tone and words of the righteous man became so menacing that the man nevertheless set off on the road, and he had to cover the entire distance on all fours.

Having finally arrived at the monastery, the sufferer told the monks about what had happened to him and asked to conduct the Divine Liturgy. But none of the brethren knew of a relic with that name. Finally, one elderly monk remembered that in the passage leading from the cathedral to the sacristy there hung an image showing a cup. And indeed, when they examined it more closely, on the bottom of the icon they found the inscription “Inexhaustible Chalice.” She immediately held a service - and what a surprise and delight all those present were when the soldier was completely healed of all his ailments! And later he recognized the old man who appeared to him in a dream. It was the Monk Varlaam, a miracle worker from Novgorod.

The news of what had happened spread very quickly. People suffering from drunkenness and other harmful addictions came to the blessed shrine from all over the country. Now there are lists of the image in almost every temple. But where is the icon of the “Inexhaustible Chalice”, in which the very first healing was revealed? She still resides in the Serpukhov Vysotsky Monastery. Every Sunday a prayer service is held at the shrine, and then an akathist is read about those who suffer from excessive addiction to alcohol. But you can also offer prayers at a home relic, because the Mother of God hears everyone who turns to Her with faith, hope and repentance.

The symbolism of the image - what is encrypted in the image

It is not known for certain who and when the shrine was painted, because for the time being it was hidden from human eyes. But, looking at the photo of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon or a list poured out of natural amber, one can note that the master who created it belonged to the Byzantine school.

This relic is considered one of the oldest types of images of the Most Pure Virgin - “Oranta”, that is, the Blessing One. She shows the Heavenly Queen with her arms raised and outstretched to the sides - this pose symbolizes Her constant intercessory prayer for every person.

But the main feature of the icon is undoubtedly Jesus standing in the bowl. It personifies Holy Communion, given to Christians as a sign of atonement for original sin. The grace emanating from it never runs out, so the cup is truly “Inexhaustible” - just as there is no limit to the Lord’s mercy and patience. The Son of God became a sacrifice for the sake of people, so no one should reject Him, exchanging eternal salvation for fleeting pleasure from tobacco, alcohol or drugs - this is what the image reminds of.

Icon “Inexhaustible Chalice”: what it helps with and where to hang it

Many people in need resorted to this relic, and through prayer offered to it, various miracles were performed. Most often, relief from cravings for alcohol is observed, which is why, when listing what the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon helps with, they first of all remember the healing of drinking family members. But the shrine saves not only from this - it can heal addiction to any drugs, smoking, gambling. The grace of the Mother of God strengthens faith and gives willpower, helps to resist sinful temptations, protects from evil and powerful devilish power that pushes a person to self-destruction and death.

There is also evidence that the image has repeatedly contributed to the solution of housing issues. Thus, it facilitates the conclusion of transactions for the purchase, sale or exchange of an apartment, allows you to timely identify a problem with documents and resolve problems with inheritance. Of course, your thoughts must be pure, and your actions must comply with legal and moral standards.

In addition, the akathist “The Inexhaustible Chalice” is read by parents who are sending their children into adulthood. It helps to avoid distortion of moral guidelines, protects against the dangers and unpleasant vicissitudes of independence, and guides on the righteous path.

As for the location of the icon in the house, for healing you need to place the image of the Mother of God at the head of the bed of a person suffering from alcoholism. And, of course, you must pray before the blessed icon every day, expressing your requests, hopes, wishes and sorrows. An image can become an inexhaustible source of spiritual joy, support and consolation - you just need to approach it sincerely and with faith. And the online store “Amber Polesie” will help you purchase it - our craftsmen carefully and lovingly poured a unique relic from shining precious stones, making it truly alive and spiritual!

An endless source of healing power and help, and often the last hope for people suffering from serious bodily ailments, cravings for alcohol, smoking and other addictions, is the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon in Serpukhov.

The significance of this image is difficult to overestimate. Indeed, in our time, what the Mother of God helps with through her icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” is that all harmful addictions affect almost every person!

This image of the Mother of God is inextricably linked with the city of Serpukhov near Moscow, where believers have been flocking for centuries to pray for themselves or their loved ones and find healing from terrible ailments.

The history of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon began at the end of the 19th century. Back in 1878, people learned about this image, and since then, through her miraculous Image, the Mother of God has been sending us help.

That year, a resident of the Tula province, who was driven to complete poverty by an irresistible craving for wine drinking, had a vision. In a dream, he saw an elder, and he advised the villager to go to Serpukhov City and there, in the monastery of the Lady Theotokos, ask for mercy and heavenly help in front of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon. Then, as the saint who appeared said, the peasant will become absolutely healthy.

But by that time, the villager had lost both legs due to continuous drunkenness. And without help, and even without money, he was afraid to set out on such a long journey. But the visions did not stop, and the elder already strictly indicated to the peasant what he should do.

And then the man made up his mind - crawling, on all fours, he covered the entire path to the Serpukhov monastery, so far away for him.

But no one in the entire Temple was able to show him an icon with such a then unknown name.

But one of the employees suddenly remembered that in the passage to the sacristy there was a magnificent icon depicting the Chalice. And, indeed, “The Inexhaustible Chalice,” that’s what was written on the back of the icon.

In addition, seeing the icon with the image of the Monk Varlaam, the first abbot of this holy monastery, the peasant immediately recognized him as the saint from his night visions.

After performing the prayer service, the former drunkard was completely healed: his health was completely restored, and the craving for alcohol disappeared, as if it had never existed.

Loss and acquisition of new shrines

There is a huge amount of confirmed evidence of truly miraculous deliverance of people from various types of harmful addictions.

The huge number of jewels with which the Life-Giving Icon is decorated in gratitude for the healings speaks of the heavenly help that people received from the Mother of God in various difficult situations.

Even those who know nothing about the icon, saints come in visions and advise them to turn to the image of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” with a prayer for help.

At numerous requests from hopeful believers, eight copies of the healing icon were painted at different times.

Initially, the miraculous image was located in the Serpukhov Vladychny Monastery. In the 20s of the 20th century, the Vladychny Monastery was closed, and this icon was able to be transported to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Bely in the city of Serpukhov.

But it so happened that in 1929 it was also closed, and all the holy relics were burned on the banks of the Nara River flowing nearby. Thus, all the shrines, including the prototype of the “Inexhaustible Chalice,” disappeared without a trace.

And only in 1980 did the veneration of icons resume. A little later, through the efforts of the rector of the Serpukhov city church of the Prophet Elijah, a tradition that had existed even before the revolution in the Alexander Nevsky Temperance Brotherhood of the ancient city was revived - prayer services began to be held every Sunday with a prayer request and the reading of an akathist for deliverance from the craving for drunkenness.

In Serpukhov on Vysokoy, a monastery soon began to operate, which is called Vysotsky after the name of this place. And the prayer service before the miraculous image began to take place there.

In 1992, another significant event occurred. The new icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” was painted by A. Sokolov, a Russian icon painter. Now it is she who is known throughout the Orthodox world.

The magnificent Image was decorated with an amazing silver robe, and a little later a reliquary with a piece of the belt of the Blessed Virgin was placed in the lower left corner of the icon.

After the Image was consecrated, a huge number of people began to come to it. And immediately there was evidence of healing from incurable diseases and complete deliverance from addictions.

And where the Prototype appeared - in the convent of Serpukhov, another copy of the icon of the Heavenly Intercessor was consecrated. And the parishioners also began to be healed miraculously.

May 18 - Icon Celebration Day

According to iconography, the icon belongs to a special type - Oranta. The Mother of God is represented on it with her arms raised and outstretched to the sides, this is a gesture of intercessory prayer. She prays for people, wishing everyone salvation and giving her protection in getting rid of various ailments.

The Mother of God calls us to the Inexhaustible Chalice, where everyone will receive consolation and merciful help. The Infant God is depicted standing in the Chalice, the Chalice of Communion.

In 1997, Patriarch Alexy-2 included this revered relic in the Orthodox calendar. This event became proof of the special veneration of this saint for all believers of the Face of the Mother of God.

In the Intercession Temple of the monastery, prayer services for water are held daily in front of the holy icon. But especially many pilgrims and believers gather in front of the image of our Intercessor on May 18. This is a significant day - the day of celebration of the great icon.

For many years now, the “Inexhaustible Chalice,” kept in the Vysotsky Monastery, has been bringing healing to those who trust in it. Here, in this holy place, the revival of special veneration of the Face of the Mother of God once began. Without going out, either day or night, the lamp burns there as a symbol of people’s cry for help.

This fire symbolizes the faith of each sufferer that healing will definitely occur and someday all humanity will get rid of harmful passions, gain health, reason, begin to lead a decent lifestyle and thereby make their lives and their descendants happy.

Icon of the Mother of God
"INEXHAIBLE CHALICE"

May 18 - celebration of the icon of the Mother of God "Inexhaustible Chalice" Orthodox believe that this image was given by God for the salvation, correction and healing of drunkards.

The appearance of the holy image of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice” occurred in 1878.

One peasant of the Efremov district of the Tula province, an honored retired soldier, was obsessed with the passion of drunkenness. He drank away his entire pension, everything he found in his house, and reached a beggarly state. His legs were paralyzed from excessive drunkenness, but he continued to drink. And this completely degraded man one day sees an extraordinary dream. A magnificent old man approaches him and says: “Go to the city of Serpukhov, to the monastery of the Lady Theotokos. There is an icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice”; serve a prayer service before it and you will be healthy in soul and body.”
Without a penny of money, without the use of his legs, the peasant did not dare to go on a journey. But the holy elder appears to him a second, third time and orders him to fulfill the command so threateningly that the unfortunate drunkard immediately sets off on his way on all fours.
Arriving at the monastery and telling about his dreams, the sufferer asked to serve a prayer service in front of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon. But no one in the monastery knew the icon of the Mother of God with that name. Someone said: “Isn’t this the same icon with the image of a bowl that hangs in the passage from the temple to the sacristy?” This icon was removed from the wall and on the reverse side they actually saw the inscription: “The Inexhaustible Chalice.” The newfound image was transferred to the temple and a prayer service was performed in front of it.
And in the icon of St. Varlaam of Serpukhov, the founder of the Vladychny Monastery, the peasant recognized that magnificent old man who appeared to him in a dream and ordered him to find this icon. The former drunkard returned from Serpukhov completely healthy. Not only did he receive healing for his sore legs, but most importantly, he stopped experiencing an irresistible craving for wine.

The news of the wonderful glorification of the icon of the Mother of God quickly spread in Serpukhov. In the center of the city, at the temple of the blessed prince Alexander Nevsky, the Alexander Nevsky Temperance Brotherhood was created. Every Sunday, with a large crowd of people, prayer services were held in front of the icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice”, ending with moral conversations.

Possessed by the passion of drunkenness, their relatives and friends hurried to offer their prayers to the Mother of God for healing from their illness, and many came to thank the Heavenly Lady.

According to iconography, the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon belongs to one of the most ancient types of images of the Mother of God, called “Oranta”, that is, “Praying” - when the Mother of God is depicted with raised hands. In the Russian tradition, this iconography was also called “The Sign”. The difference between the icon is the image of the Infant God not in the arms of the Blessed Virgin, but standing in the Chalice.

The Chalice with the blessing of the Infant God is the Chalice of Holy Communion. And the Mother of God, with raised hands, acts as a prayer intercessor for the human race. This icon testifies that there is no other, more faithful means of acquiring for us the love and favor of the Mother of God, than through Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

The miraculous icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” was found in 1878 in Serpukhov and was in the Vladychny Monastery until 1919, and after its closure by the Soviet authorities - in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Bely in Serpukhov. In 1929, St. Nicholas Cathedral was also closed. After the closure of the Serpukhov monasteries, all icons were burned on the banks of the Nara River... The icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice” and several copies of it disappeared without a trace, prayer services before the miraculous image ceased.

Now there are two revered miraculous lists from the icon. Both are located in Serpukhov - one in Vysotsky Monastery , the other - in Vladychny Convent .

In the Vysotsky Monastery, a list of the miraculous icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” was written in 1993, two years after the opening of the monastery. This marked the beginning of a revival of the veneration of this icon after many years of fighting against God.

The image of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” is in Intercession Church of the Vysotsky Monastery . The list is also miraculous; a lamp burns inextinguishably in front of it as a symbol of all prayers to the Mother of God.

Vysotsky Monastery near Serpukhov. Temple interior

The miraculous icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice”, located in the Vysotsky Monastery, has truly become an all-Russian shrine. Every day in the Intercession Church of the Vysotsky Monastery, water-blessing prayers are performed in front of the miraculous image, at which prayers are offered for the suffering and for everyone who asks for mercy from the Queen of Heaven in front of her holy icon.

And in 1996, immediately after the revival of the Vladychny Monastery, an exact copy of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon was written from an old photograph of the miraculous icon and consecrated in the place where the icon appeared more than a century ago, and now the icon is venerated in the same way as before. When writing, all the proportions of the icon and the academic style characteristic of the original were preserved. The icon is in St. George's Church of the Serpukhov Vladychny Convent. It has been periodically streaming myrrh since August 19, 2000. Some people and entire pilgrimage groups testify that sometimes the eyes of the Mother of God become as if alive: they squint or open wider. This unusual phenomenon was twice recorded in photographs. People come from all over Russia and other countries to venerate the Mother of God.

The miraculous icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” is famous for its speedy healing of the afflicted from the ailments of drug addiction, alcoholism and smoking, resolving housing problems . It has been noticed that the icon not only heals, but also helps to change the way of life of a lost person, leading him to awareness of his sins, to repentance and a pious life.

Unfortunately, the day on which the icon was revealed is unknown. In the 19th century, the celebration of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon took place on November 27 (Old Art.) / December 10 (N.S.) on the same day as the “Sign” icon of the Mother of God, since these icons are similar in iconography.

At the end of the 20th century, when the veneration of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon was restored, its celebration was timed to coincide with the day of the repose of St. Varlaam of Serpukhov - May 18 (NS), since the icon was revealed through the intercession of this saint. In 1997, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, it was established that a church-wide celebration of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of the Mother of God should be held on May 18 (NS).

Now in the Vladychny Monastery, with the blessing of Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, along with church-wide veneration, the tradition of celebrating the icon of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” on December 10 (NS), as it was in the 19th century, is being revived.

Troparion, tone 4
Today we are the harbinger of faith / to the Divine and wonderful image of the Most Holy Mother of God, / watering the hearts of the faithful / with the heavenly inexhaustible cup of Her mercy / and showing miracles to the faithful people. / Seeing and hearing, we spiritually celebrate and cry warmly: / Most merciful Lady, / heal our ailments and passions, / beseeching Thy Son, Christ our God, to save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 6
Thy belly became the holy Table, / having the Heavenly Bread, / Christ our God, / from what is worthless, no one who eats poison dies, / as everyone said, the Mother of God, the Nourisher.

Stichera for Psalm 50, tone 6
Today the miraculous icon of the Lady is glorified, / today the faithful gather from everywhere to pray before her, / today even those of little faith are illuminated with thoughts of repentance, / the powers of Heaven rejoice in the glory of the Most Pure One, / but we, as taught by the Angel, thus cry out: / Rejoice, O Gracious One, the Lord is with you By You, / blessed are You among women, / blessed is Your mercy towards us, / blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, glory to You.

Prayer
Oh, most merciful Lady! We now resort to Your intercession, do not despise our prayers, but graciously hear us: wives, children, mothers; and the serious illness of drunkenness of those possessed, and for this sake from your mother - the Church of Christ and the salvation of those who fall away, brothers and sisters, and heal our relatives.
Oh, merciful Mother of God, touch their hearts and quickly raise them from the falls of sin, bring them to saving abstinence.
Pray to Your Son, Christ our God, to forgive us our sins and not to turn His mercy away from His people, but to strengthen us in sobriety and chastity.
Accept, O Most Holy Theotokos, the prayers of mothers who shed tears for their children, of wives who weep for their husbands, of children, orphans and wretches, abandoned by those who have gone astray, and of all of us who fall before Your icon. And may this cry of ours, through Your prayers, come to the throne of the Most High.
Cover and protect us from the evil trap and all the snares of the enemy, in the terrible hour of our exodus, help us to pass through the airy ordeals without stumbling, with Your prayers deliver us from eternal condemnation, so that the mercy of God will cover us for the endless ages of ages. Amen.

The Icon of the Mother of God of the Inexhaustible Chalice is one of the miraculous icons revealed in the Vladychny Monastery in the city of Serpukhov in 1878. We'll tell you about it in the article!

Icon of the Mother of God Inexhaustible Chalice. History of origin

“I hear some people say: if there was no wine, we would not be drunkards! Oh, crazy ones! People sin, but we despise the gift of God! Is wine really the cause of such evil? No, not wine, but the intemperance of those who abuse wine. So, better say: “Oh, if only there were no drunkenness!” And if we say: it would be better if there was no wine, then we can further say: it would be better if there was no iron, because there are murderers; It would be better if it were not night, because there are thieves; It would be better if there was no light, because there are slanderers. Thus, you will finally want to destroy everything. But don't do that, because that is the satanic spirit. Do not despise wine, but despise drunkenness.”

St. John Chrysostom

The history of the appearance of this icon is connected with the life of one retired soldier of the Tula province, who drank uncontrollably and could not quit, despite the poverty and illness that befell him. His legs even became paralyzed from drinking, but he continued to drink. One day this degraded man saw a dream in which an elder appeared to him and ordered him to serve a prayer service before the icon of the Mother of God in Serpukhov - in the Vladychny Monastery.

This man did not immediately go to the monastery: he had no money and his legs could not walk. But the dream repeated itself 2 more times, then the old man crawled to the monastery. In the monastery, no one knew the icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice” and could not tell me which icon to serve a prayer service in front of. Then someone suggested that this was about the icon with the image of the Chalice, which hangs in the passage from the cathedral church to the sacristy. On the back of the icon we actually saw the inscription: “The Inexhaustible Chalice”!

The newfound image was transferred to the temple and a prayer service was performed in front of it. The former drunkard returned from Serpukhov completely healthy. Not only did he receive healing for his sore legs, but most importantly, he stopped experiencing an irresistible craving for the destructive cup of wine.

Soon this good news went beyond the walls of the monastery, and crowds of people from the city of Serpukhov, and then from all over Rus', began to come to the newly appeared image.

Icon of the Mother of God Inexhaustible Chalice. What are they praying for?

In front of this icon of the Mother of God, the Inexhaustible Chalice, Orthodox Christians and drug addicts - the church has witnessed many miraculous healings through prayers in front of this icon.

So, for example, the entire icon located in the Vladychny Monastery is hung with gold jewelry - as a sign of gratitude for fulfilled requests, for healing from illness; according to ancient tradition, over time, precious frames were made from these gifts to icons, these decorations are a visible evidence of fulfilled prayer requests.

Iconographically, the image goes back to the type of the Mother of God-Oranta: the Infant Christ is depicted standing in a bowl, which symbolizes the Cup of Communion. The Mother of God in the icon with her hands raised up prays for sinners and calls for an inexhaustible source of spiritual joy and consolation.

Today in Russia there are many centers for helping patients with alcoholism in the name of the icon of the Inexhaustible Chalice. “Fundamentals of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church” define the main cause of alcoholism and drug addiction as spiritual emptiness, loss of meaning in life, and blurred moral guidelines.

At the end of 2005, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' gave his blessing to the creation of self-help groups for people suffering from alcohol and drug addiction at Moscow churches.

Some cases of healing through prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos in front of Her miraculous icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice”

Icon of the Mother of God Inexhaustible Chalice - So I stopped drinking

In the winter of 1994, something unusual happened to me. I am a builder, and at that time I liked to drink heavily. As usual, after the next payday, my friends and I got drunk, and I fell asleep right on the construction site on the slabs. It was freezing, and if it weren’t for this miracle, I would have frozen to death. I was sleeping, suddenly someone pushes me on the shoulder. When I woke up, I saw a tall, beautiful woman in shiny white clothes with a cape covering her head, who told me: “Run home, your wife is waiting for you there and praying.” The time was about 3 o'clock in the morning and I wondered where this woman came from at the construction site at night. When I wanted to ask her who she was, I saw no one around. All frozen, he returned home and told his wife everything. At that time, my wife was already going to church and praying for me to the Mother of God in front of Her icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice.” Although I was baptized, I didn’t have faith, I didn’t go to church and I didn’t know anything. After some time, my wife and I first came to the Vysotsky Monastery for a prayer service, and when I saw the icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice,” I immediately recognized it as that woman. I couldn’t believe my eyes and then I realized that the Mother of God Herself had saved me. Since I continued to drink, I decided to code myself, but this made my drinking even worse. My wife called me to the monastery, and I began to go with her to church, confess, and receive communion. I attended prayer services at the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of the Mother of God. Over time, I felt that I had no craving for alcohol at all.
So I quit drinking. I am very grateful to the Mother of God and the Lord for my salvation.

Nikolay, Serpukhov, April 2002

Icon of the Mother of God Inexhaustible Chalice – I see Jesus Christ in a dream

He came to the Vysotsky Monastery because he was addicted to wine, which caused various troubles in his family and at work.
One day, having come home pretty drunk, I went to bed. I see in a dream, Jesus Christ stands in front of me, holding out his hands, and says: “Go to the Vysotsky Monastery to the icon of the Mother of God of the Inexhaustible Chalice, she will save you!!!” Arriving at the monastery, he ordered a prayer service for a year to the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, “The Inexhaustible Chalice.” Now I read an akathist to this icon every day. I go to church periodically. I feel great. Family relationships have improved.
I thank the Mother of God for my healing and continue to pray to Her.

Icon of the Mother of God of the Inexhaustible Chalice – Pilgrimage brought to the monastery

An ordinary pilgrimage brought me to the monastery, and there was no thought of getting here on purpose. There was a disease that she did not admit to strangers, but everyone knew about and suffered from. I drank one bottle of vodka a day. She was a believer, kept fasts, went to confession and started drinking again. My child suffered greatly from my drunkenness, and one day, leaving the church, he gave me an akathist to the icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice.” I began to pray. During Lent I kept fast and didn’t drink, and then everything started all over again. On my knees I read the akathist for each post 40 times in a row. And at the end of the fast, when I drank again, I began to notice a decrease in the days of drinking. First 7 days, then 6, 5, 4 and 3 days. The last time I couldn’t drink for more than 3 days in a row. During confession, the priest made the sign of the cross over me and forbade me to drink any more.
I haven't drunk for about 3 years.

Icon of the Mother of God Inexhaustible Chalice – Spiritual Changes

Before arriving at the monastery in August 1997, he suffered from the disease of drinking and smoking, although he did not realize it. I considered this the norm of life. After the second visit and repentance in confession, epiphany came. My sister brought me to the monastery. Without her, I probably would never have gotten there, so great was the force holding me back. After my second visit to the monastery, I quit smoking without much effort, although I had tried several times before, but without success. There is not even a desire to drink. The meaning of life has changed dramatically. The spiritual changes that took place in me by the will of the Most Holy Lady Theotokos many times exceed the feelings of a physically healthy person who has never been sick. On Sundays and holidays I regularly visit church, fast, and confess.
I thank our Most Holy Lady Theotokos.
God bless!

Icon of the Mother of God of the Inexhaustible Chalice – I bought a book with the icon on the cover...

For 20 years I was subject to the passion of drunkenness and binge drinking. The binges lasted from three days to one month at intervals of up to two months. I went to the doctor and with a “torpedo” he interrupted his binge drinking for two years. But then everything started all over again. In 1980, I was baptized, prayed and received communion very rarely. In the early 90s. coded, but started drinking on the same day.
I don’t remember exactly what year, I bought a book in Sergiev Posad “How to get rid of the sin of drunkenness” with an icon on the cover. From that time on I began to think about how I could go to the icon. Time passed, and I drank and drank. Once, after another binge, I prayed to the Mother of God to help me get rid of drunkenness. During the Holy Week of Lent in 1997, I went hunting and drank there for several days. After that I felt very bad and I firmly decided to go to the Vysotsky Monastery to see the icon. At the same time, I asked my wife to pray for me.
I arrived in Serpukhov immediately after Easter 1997. Father took me to the miraculous icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” and said: “Here is the miraculous icon - pray,” and left. The hangover had not yet left me, and I, trembling, timidly approached the icon. I don’t remember how I prayed, I only remember that I asked to get rid of this passion. Then I ordered a prayer service and bought a small icon and a candle. It seems like nothing happened. But he noticed that he arrived home in a joyful state unusual for a hangover. He hung the icon right above his head in the bedroom.
And now exactly a year has passed. Finally, I celebrated the holidays soberly - Easter. On Sundays I always try to read the akathist to the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon. I came to the icon again and now with sober eyes I see that the holy icon of the Mother of God of the Inexhaustible Chalice is mysterious and wonderful, but words cannot convey it.

Icon of the Mother of God Inexhaustible Chalice – Both fell to the icon

My husband started drinking and fell to his breaking point. On May 22, 2000, we arrived at your monastery and both fell before the miraculous icon of the “Inexhaustible Chalice.”
Now my husband has stopped drinking and has returned to his previous job.
There are no limits to gratitude to the Most Holy Theotokos “Inexhaustible Chalice”. Joy, peace and silence came to our home.
We bow deeply to all the priests who prayed with us.

Icon of the Mother of God of the Inexhaustible Chalice - The Mother of God healed her husband from an illness

On August 24, 2000, my husband and I visited the icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice.” We came to the Mother of God to ask for help, since my husband was drinking heavily. He was unbaptized. Shortly before his trip to the monastery, he was baptized. But the drinking bouts continued with even greater force.
Here, in the monastery, we attended a service and prayer service for the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon.
And when we arrived home, we saw that a miracle had happened. My husband not only doesn’t drink vodka, but even beer. He is not at all drawn to alcohol.
We came to thank the Mother of God for healing her husband from this illness.
It is impossible to express my feelings and gratitude in words.

Icon of the Mother of God Inexhaustible Chalice - When the enemy attacks, I call on the Mother of God

Three years ago I was an alcoholic. Didn't believe in God. I drank 1-1.5 bottles of vodka daily. They took me to the “grandmothers”, I was coded by Dovzhenko - nothing helped. The last time I was taken to a “traditional healer”. She sent me to the Vysotsky Monastery to see the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon. When I arrived, I didn’t even know how to cross myself. I held a prayer service, bought an icon, and took holy water. I didn't feel anything. The “healer” said that I shouldn’t drink for 1 year. I didn't drink. Now I understand that it was not the “healer” who helped me, but the Mother of God. I was drawn to church. I began to regularly confess and receive communion. I had another passion - smoking. Smoked for 22 years. I tried to quit myself, but it didn’t work. I came to this monastery for the third time to ask the Mother of God. Before the monastery I smoked my last cigarette and tore open the pack. After the prayer service, the desire to smoke still remained, but the drug addiction disappeared. A month later I completely forgot that I smoked. Sometimes only the “enemy” attacks, but I immediately call on the Mother of God and the desire disappears.
Thank God for everything!

Have you read the article Icon of the Mother of God Inexhaustible Chalice: history. Read also:

Alcohol addiction is one of the most common in Russia. Per capita in our country, 40 bottles of vodka are consumed per year. Drunkenness, alcoholism, and, more recently, drug addiction are rapidly destroying the bodies and souls of people. Those subject to such sin are rejected by the Kingdom of Heaven, but the Lord is merciful.

Through the image of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon, everyone can be healed of harmful sins and passions and receive the necessary help. It should be noted that not only the sufferer himself, but also his relatives can pray in front of this image.

Story

The legend about the appearance of the miraculous icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” originated in the monastery Church of the Lady Theotokos in the city of Serpukhov.

At the end of the nineteenth century, a peasant, who had served the Tsar and his fatherland for 25 years, surrendered entirely to the sin of drunkenness. There was no way I could stop drinking. Even after the retired soldier’s legs gave out, all his thoughts were aimed at obtaining the next portion of the harmful potion.

One night he had a dream in which an old man ordered him to go to the temple at the Vysotsky Monastery and perform a prayer service there in front of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon. The peasant was unable to walk right away due to sore legs and a complete lack of money and physical strength. But the old man continued to dream about him and each time more and more sternly ordered the drunkard to carry out the order.

Finally, the poor fellow wandered towards the monastery almost on all fours. At night he was sheltered by an old healer, who rubbed his feet and put healing poultices on them. Upon waking up, the patient realized that he was able to walk on two legs with sticks.

A day later, the former soldier, limping, was already walking through the city of Serpukhov with only one crutch.

Having reached his goal, the wanderer told about his dreams at the temple and asked about a prayer service in front of the icon. But it turned out that no one had heard of this image. Finally, the icon was found in the passage. On the back of the image was written “The Inexhaustible Chalice”. They performed a prayer service. According to the legend, the peasant recovered and never touched alcohol again.

Since then, the news about the icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” spread throughout Russia and until the onset of the period of godlessness associated with the Revolution of 1917, the loving eyes of the Mother of God illuminated all the sick and their relatives with their light, generously giving healing from all kinds of passions, including drunkenness .

Later the icon was burned.

Currently, there are two exact copies of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon. Both are miraculous. One is located in the women's Vladychny Monastery, the other in the men's Vysotsky Monastery. Both monasteries are located on the territory of the city of Serpukhov.

The list is a copy of the image, written with the blessing of the Lord. All lists are authentic, since during creation the artist is the receptacle of the Holy Spirit. Each list is therefore miraculous and exuding inexhaustible grace.

Meaning

According to iconography, the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon belongs to the “Oranta” type. Where the Virgin Mary is depicted praying with her hands raised. Her palms turn to the suffering.

In this way she intercedes for the entire human race before the Lord. The blessing God-infant stands waist-deep in the communion cup, which is an inexhaustible source of grace.

This means that the surest way to find help in getting rid of addictions is Holy Communion.

How does the “Inexhaustible Chalice” help?

Before this image, you can ask for help in getting rid of:

• drunkenness and alcoholism
• drug addiction of any severity
• smoking
• fornication in any form.

The icon can also help:

• In solving the housing issue.
• In the organization of personal life (it is especially recommended to turn to this icon for those who are desperate to find their “soul mate”, who are diagnosed by psychics).

Where is the best place to hang an icon?

The iconostasis is located in the Red corner of the apartment - the farthest to the right of the entrance. If it is not possible to organize the Red Corner, then it is best to hang shelves for icons in the east of the room or to the right of the front door.

When arranging icons, it is very important to observe the hierarchy:

1. to your left there should be icons of the Mother of God, including the “Inexhaustible Chalice”
2. on the right - our Savior
3. after the icon of the Savior on the right you need to place all the other images of the Holy Saints.

This icon can also be placed on the bedside table at the head of the bed.

Objects of worldly origin cannot be kept next to icons. For example, cups, cosmetics, writing items.

You can only put it on this shelf vase with blessed willow and a box for church candles.

It is best to purchase all icons in special church shops at churches and monasteries. There they are already properly consecrated.

How to pray?

You can pray to the icon:

• in the temple
• at home.

Prayers in the temple are read after the liturgy. Then it is advisable to read the akathist. This can be done while sitting on a bench.

In many churches, prayers have now begun to be sung for the deliverance of addicts from addiction to alcohol and drug addiction, and the granting of patience and love to their loved ones. Attending such services is especially useful for people who are not accustomed to regular prayers at home.

At home, you need to say prayer after completing the morning rule, kneeling in front of the icon, bowing your head. Women must cover their heads with a scarf.

It is necessary to pray to the icon for deliverance from addictions of various kinds for forty days in a row.

If there is a problem, then there must be a solution. This is the law of the Universe. A person who wants to recover from any type of addiction will definitely find support from the Higher Powers in the person of the Most Holy Theotokos through the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon.

Prayer text

Oh, most merciful Lady! We now resort to Your intercession, do not despise our prayers, but graciously hear us: wives, children, mothers; and the serious illness of drunkenness of those possessed, and for this sake from your mother - the Church of Christ and the salvation of those who fall away, brothers and sisters, and heal our relatives.

Oh, merciful Mother of God, touch their hearts and quickly raise them from the falls of sin, bring them to saving abstinence.

Pray to Your Son, Christ our God, to forgive us our sins and not to turn His mercy away from His people, but to strengthen us in sobriety and chastity.

Accept, O Most Holy Theotokos, the prayers of mothers who shed tears for their children, of wives who weep for their husbands, of children, orphans and wretches, abandoned by those who have gone astray, and of all of us who fall before Your icon. And may this cry of ours, through Your prayers, come to the throne of the Most High.

Cover and protect us from the evil trap and all the snares of the enemy, in the terrible hour of our exodus, help us to pass through the airy ordeals without stumbling, with Your prayers deliver us from eternal condemnation, so that the mercy of God will cover us for the endless ages of ages. Amen.