Virgin Mary Gerontissa

Orthodox icon of Virgin Mary Gerontissa on thick plywood 20mm, which does not sting and keeps its shape over time. Preparation with acrylic stucco and have been used acrylic colors. It has been covered with varnish to keep the colors undiluted in time and humidity. Hanging clip included on the back of the icon. 

The Holy icon of the Virgin Mary "Gerontissa" is located in I.M. Pantokratoros, it is the icon of the Monastery and it is a gift of the Byzantine emperor Alexios A' of Komnenos to the monastery. This particular icon is the only portable icon, which depicts the Virgin Mary full-body in a posture of supplication. The icon of Panagia Gerontissa is miraculous. The first miracle attributed to her refers to the years of the reign of Alexios I Komnenos. At the time when the miracle happened, a very virtuous and elderly abbot was counting the last hours of his earthly life. By divine revelation he knew his end and wanted to receive communion of the Immaculate Mysteries. For this reason, he begged the vicar hieromonk who officiated on that particular day, to shorten the Divine Liturgy, so that he could have time to receive communion. The hieromonk, however, did not obey and continued to work at a slow pace. Suddenly, the voice of the Virgin Mary was heard from the icon, commanding the hieromonk to finish the Divine Liturgy quickly, so that the abbot could receive communion. So it happened. As soon as the Elder took communion, he fell asleep and because of this incident, the icon acquired the nickname "Old Woman"(Gerontissa). The jar depicted on the icon was made to commemorate a miracle of the Virgin Mary in the 17th century. At that time the monastery did not have any olive oil and, while the needs were great, the shortages were huge and as a result the monks left the Monastery. The abbot prayed to Gerontissa and had placed all his hopes in her. After the abbot's prayers, one morning the Fathers saw the olive oil running from the entrance of the warehouse, where the empty jars were kept. When they entered, they saw one of the jars, which has survived to this day, overflowing with olive oil. With this olive oil, whose flow was unstoppable, all the empty jars in the warehouse were filled and only then did it stop gushing out.