Mother Of God Paramithia Replica of Miraculous Icon

Mother Of God Paramithia Replica of Miraculous Icon

Icon's History

This icon is a wall-painting of the 14th century, which at one time was located on the outside wall of the exonarthex of the main church, in front of the Chapel of St. Nicholas. Following the miracle related below, it was moved to the chapel dedicated to the icon itself. In former times, there was a custom for the monks to kiss the icon as they came out of the main church and for the Abbot to hand over the keys of the Monastery to the gatekeeper.  

The Tradition relates that one day, in Byzantine times, as the Abbot was giving the keys to the gatekeeper, he heard a voice from the icon saying, “Do not open the gates of the Monastery today, but go on to the walls and drive off the pirates”. The voice repeated the same words a second time. As the Abbot turned to look at the icon, he saw the Divine Child putting His hand over His Mother’s mouth, saying, “Mother, do not watch  over these sinful monks, but let them be chastised by the pirates, as they deserve”. But the Blessed Virgin, drawing down Christ’s hand and turning her head a little, repeated the same words. The monks immediately hastened to the walls and saw that pirates had indeed encircled the Monastery and were awaiting the opening of the gates in order to plunder it. The miraculous intervention of the Theotokos saved the Monastery, and the icon has preserved since then the last movements of the figures. From that time on, the monks have kept a perpetually - burning lamp in front of the icon, celebrate the Divine Liturgy in its honor every Friday in the chapel and chant a supplicatory canon in front of it every day. At one time it was customary for the tonsuring of monks to take place in this chapel. 

 Also associated with this icon is the life of the St Neophytus, who was steward of the same chapel. At one point, he was sent by the Monastery to serve for a period in a metochion (a dependency) in Evvia (Euboea). There he fell seriously ill and asked the Blessed Virgin to grant that he should die in his home monastery. He immediately heard a voice telling him, “Neophytus, go to the Monastery and, after a year, be ready”. Neophytus thanked the Mother of God for this extension of his life and told his disciple to prepare for their return. A year later, after he had received Holy Communion and as he was climbing the stairs, Neophytus again heard the voice of the Mother of God, this time in front of the Chapel of the Paramythia, saying, “Neophytus, the time of your departure has come”. He went to his cell, where he fell ill and, having asked and received forgiveness from all his brethren, yielded up his spirit. 

Icon Materials

• The images are constructed from copper, silver-plated with 999/1000 silver, and gold-plated with Au 24-karat gold.
• The frames on the images with glass are made of synthetic material to avoid woodworm or other parasites. They do not require a pest control certificate.
• The rest are made from MDF, lined with high-quality veneer.
• The faces are silk-screen printed or, where this is not possible in order to accurately depict the face, digitally printed with UV colors that remain unchanged over time.