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 actions.” The sinner then said: “Nay, O Mistress! Let not my wickedness 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.”
A PRAYER TO THE ALL-HOLY THEOTOKOS, "UNEXPECTED JOY"
O all-holy Virgin, most good Mother of the most good Son, protectress of the great city of Moscow, faithful intercessor and helper of all who find themselves amid sin, tribulation, misfortune, and sickness! Accept this hymnody of supplication which is offered unto thee by us, thine unworthy servants; and as of old thou didst not disdain the sinner who prayed many times each day before thine honored icon, but gavest him the unexpected joy of repentance, and by thy great and ardent mediation before thy Son didst incline Him to forgive that errant sinner: so now disdain not the entreaties of us, thine unworthy servants; beseech thy Son and our God that He grant unexpected joy unto all of us who with faith and compunction bow down before thy healing image, unto each according to his need: to sinners bemired in the pit of evils and the passions, all-effective admonition, repentance, and salvation; to those in sorrow and grief, consolation; to those who find themselves in misfortune and affliction, utter deliverance therefrom; to the hopeless and those who have lost courage, hope and endurance; to those who live in joy and abundance, unceasing gratitude to the Benefactor; to the poor, charity; to those long ill and in sickness, who have been abandoned by the physicians, unexpected healing and fortitude; to those who have lost their mind through illness, the return and restoration of their sanity; to those who are departing to the everlasting and never-ending life, the memory of death, compunction, and contrition for their sins, a watchful spirit and steadfast hope in the forbearance of the Judge. O all-holy Lady, have pity on all who venerate thy most precious name, and show thine omnipotent protection and aid unto all: those who abide in piety, purity, and an honorable manner of life do thou preserve in goodness until their final departure; make the evil good; guide the lost to the right path; assist every good deed which is pleasing to thy Son; set at naught every evil deed which is contrary to God; send down invisible help and admonition from heaven upon those who find themselves in perplexity and difficult and perilous circumstances; save them from temptations, stumbling-blocks, and destruction; defend and preserve them from all wicked men and from enemies visible and invisible; sail with those who journey by water; accompany those who travel by land; nurture those who hunger and are in need; be thou a shelter and refuge for those who have no roof or haven; clothe the naked; help those who are oppressed and unjustly persecuted; invisibly vindicate those who are victims of slander, reproach, and calumny, and unmask in the sight of all those who slander and calumniate them; to those who are at bitter enmity grant unexpected reconciliation; and unto all of us give love one for another, peace, piety, health, and length of days. Preserve marriages in love and oneness of mind; pacify spouses who are separated and at enmity, unite them to one another, and render their bond of love unbreakable; to mothers who are giving birth to children grant a quick delivery; nurture infants; make chaste the youth, open their minds to accept every profitable teaching and the fear of God, and teach them moderation and industry; and with peace and love preserve them all from domestic strife and the malice of kinfolk. Be thou a mother to motherless orphans; turn them away from every fault and defilement, and teach them every good and God-pleasing thing. Taking away the defilement of sin, lead thou the deluded and those who have fallen into sin and impurity up from the pit of destruction. Be thou the comforter and helper of widows, and a staff for the elderly. Deliver us all from sudden death without repentance, and grant to all of us a Christian ending to our life, peaceful, without fear and shame, and furnish us with a good defense at the dread tribunal of Christ. Cause those who have departed this life in faith and repentance to dwell with the angels and all the saints; beg thy Son to be merciful unto those who have died a sudden death; and for all the departed who have no kin to entreat thy Son for their repose, be thou a tireless and fervent advocate and mediatress: that all in heaven and on earth may see thee to be a steadfast and unashamed intercessor for the Christian race, and knowing this may glorify thee, and with thee thy Son, and His unoriginate Father and His consubstantial Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.