The “Joy of All Who Sorrow” refers to a wonder-working Icon of the Mother of God which was the subject of a miracle in the year 1688. Euphymia, the sister of Patriarch Joachim (1674-1690), lived at Moscow and suffered from an incurable illness for a long time. One morning during a time of prayer she heard a voice say, “Euphymia! Go to the temple of the Transfiguration of My Son; there you will find an icon called the ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow.’ Have the priest celebrate a Molieben with the blessing of water, and you will receive healing from sickness.” Euphymia did as she was directed by the Most Holy Theotokos, and she was healed. This occurred on the 24th October, 1688.
The icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” (with coins fused to it by a bolt of lightning), was manifested at Saint Petersburg in 1888. This specific miracle is celebrated on the 23rd of July.
Below is an Akathist commemorating the 1688 miracle but is also a general prayer to the Mother of God.
