Rejoice, Unexpected Joy of Sinners!
Rejoice, Unexpected Joy of Sinners!
The Story of the Miraculous Icon of That Name
Which the Holy Church Commemorates on December 9th
A certain iniquitous man had it as a daily rule to pray to the all-holy Theotokos, often repeating the words of the archangel’s salutation: Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace! One day, while preparing to set out to commit a sinful act, he first turned to the image of the all-holy Theotokos to pray, as was his custom, before going forth to do what he intended. But, lo! while he was praying as usual, fear suddenly fell upon him, and in a trance he saw that the image was moving, the all-holy Theotokos appearing to him as though alive, holding her Son in her arms. Wounds opened on the divine Child’s hands, feet and side, and blood flowed in streams from the wounds, just as it had on the Cross.
When he saw this, the sinner fell to the ground in fear and cried out: “O Lady, who hath done this?” The Theotokos answered: “Thou and all other sinners: ye have crucified my Son again by your sins, just as the Jews and Romans did of old.”
Groaning, the sinner then said: “Have mercy on me, O Mother of lovingkindness!” And she replied to him: “Ye call me the Mother of lovingkindness, yet ye cause me grief and bitterness by your ac-tions.” The sinner then said: “Nay, O Mistress! Let not my wick-edness prevail over thine ineffable goodness and loving-kindness, for thou alone art the hope and refuge of all sinners! Incline thyself to mercy, O good Mother, and entreat thy Son and my Creator in my behalf!”
Then the all-blessed Mother began to pray to her Son, saying: “O my compassionate Son, for the sake of my love have mercy on this sinner!” But her Son replied: “Be not angry, O my Mother, if I do not heed thee: I prayed to my Father that the cup of sufferings might pass from me, but He did not heed Me.”
The Mother of God then said: “My Son, remember the breasts wherewith I nourished Thee, and forgive him!” The Son answered: “I prayed twice to the Father concerning the cup of sufferings, and He did not heed Me.”
Again, the Mother of God said: “Remember the pangs I endured with Thee when Thou wast suspended in body upon the Cross, and I, standing at the foot of the Cross, was wounded in my heart, so that it was a though a sword had pierced my soul.” The Son answered, saying: “A third time I prayed to the Father that He take away the cup, but He was not pleased to heed Me.”
Then, rising up, the Mother set her Son down and made as though to fall at His feet. “What art thou doing, O my Mother?” cried the Son. “I shall remain prostrate at Thy feet with this sinner, until Thou forgive him his sins!” she replied.
Then the Son said: “The law commandeth that a son honor his mother, but justice demandeth that the giver of the law also fulfill the law. I am thy Son, and thou art My Mother: I must respect thee, doing what thou askest of Me. Let it be as thou desirest. I now forgive him his sins for thy sake. And in token of this forgiveness let him kiss My wounds.”
Rising up, with trembling and joy the sinner pressed his lips to Christ’s all-pure wounds, and then came to himself. As the vision ended, he felt his heart full of both fear and joy, and he began to weep and lament all the more, falling down before the image of the Mistress; and he gave thanks and prayed that as he had beheld in the awesome vision the goodness of the Lord which forgives sins, so might he ever find mercy. And thenceforth he set his life aright and began to live in a God-pleasing manner.
Saint Demetrius of Rostov concludes this account, saying: “See how our Mediatress careth for the forgiveness of our offenses! Glory to her lovingkindness! Glory to her ineffable compassion! Glory to the wealth of her sympathies, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages! Amen.”