September 17, the day of the memory of the prophet Moses,Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate and in honor of such an image as the icon "Burning Bush". The history of this relic refers us to a deep past, which you can learn about in ancient books. In addition, the very image of it is very symbolic.
Icon of the Burning Bush: Origins
This image is a reflection of the Old Testamentthe events set forth in the book of Exodus. Thus, according to this scripture, the prophet Moses, herding sheep at the foot of Mount Sinai, saw a wonderful bush. It was remarkable that it was engulfed in flames, but it did not burn. When the great righteous man approached him, he heard the voice of God, who commanded Moses to lead his people out of the slavery of Egypt to the promised land. In the Christian tradition, the burning bush is a symbol of the Mother of God herself, her immaculate conception of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, her purity and sinlessness, despite living in a sinful place. The memory of this event is immortalized in a church built on the very Mount Sinai. Near this place there grows a marvelous bush, which, according to the legend, is the very burning bush. In addition, the memory of the Old Testament event was immortalized by the icon of the Mother of God, the Burning Bush. Orthodox Christians worship her to this day.
Icon of the Burning Bush: image
This image has a complex composition.Earlier, the icon "Burning Bush" was portrayed as a burning flaming shrub over which the Mother of God rises with the Infant Jesus in her arms. Now the image represents the eight-pointed star surrounding the Virgin Mary. The green color of the ends of the star is commemorated by the bush itself, while the red color indicates the flame. In the corners of the icon there are four symbols - a man, a lion, a body and an eagle, as well as archangels, each of them with his personal prototype, as the Holy Scripture proclaims. Often in the hands of the Virgin depict a bush and a ladder. The latter is also the symbol of the Mother of God, indicated by God to Jacob. The ladder in this context is the connection between Heaven and Earth. It happens that the icon depicts other symbols, such as the mountain (nothing more than the Virgin itself), the gates and the rod (the prototype of the Savior).
Icon "Burning Bush": how to pray
There are prayers dedicated specifically to thisimage. These include Troparion and a special prayer for this icon. Often they worship an unbroken bush, reciting the prayer "Virgin of the Virgin, rejoice ...". You can read other prayers dedicated to the Mother of God. It is not forbidden to pronounce before the image words coming from the heart and not recorded as a prayer in any of the holy books. In order to pray this shrine, you need the icon "Burning bush" (a photo of her image is also acceptable). The image protects against fires and other natural disasters caused by flames and lightning, therefore it is considered miraculous. The icon "Burning bush" is considered one of the most revered shrines in Orthodoxy, therefore it is important to have it in the house and worship it daily.
