Iconography from Mount Athos

This icon is also available in smaller dimensions, as our Mother of God icon.

The Story Behind This Icon:

The icon of the Panagia Eleoussa (also Virgin of Tenderness) is known for showing mercy. The icon depicts the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus Christ who is nestling against her cheek and wraps his arm around His Mother’s neck. The term “Eleoussa” translates from the Greek “to show mercy”.

***

This icon of the Panagia Eleoussa is reproduced, with permission, from the authentic icon painted by the monks in the Cell of St. John the Theologian Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou in Mount Athos, Greece. This icon is part of our collection “Icons from Mount Athos”, which features all icons from the Cell of St. John the Theologian.

This icon is made of solid, natural Limewood that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.  

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. 

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here. 

The Story Behind This Icon:

The original icon is found in the Holy Monastery Pantokratoros on Mount Athos, Greece.

Theotokos Gerontissa is the only Icon depicting the Virgin Mary in full stature and alone. The Icon was brought to Mount Athos from Constantinople with the purpose of establishing a monastery. It miraculously moved three times from the place it was originally placed to its current location before the builders finally decided to leave it on the site The Theotokos had selected. Since then, countless miracles have occurred:

I. Once there lived a monk who received a revelation about his impending end. Before death, he wanted to be communed in the Holy Mysteries of Christ and he asked the serving priest to hasten the end of the Service, but the priest would not respect his request and continued to perform the Service at a slow pace. Suddenly a threatening voice coming from this icon of the Mother of God was heard, ordering the priest to do as the monk wished.

II. Another miracle occurred when through the prayers of the head of the monastery, the empty oil jars of the monastery were suddenly found filled with oil. In memory of the miracle, a jar was added on the silver cover of the icon when it was later refurbished.

***

This icon of the Theotokos Gerontissa is reproduced, with permission, from the authentic icon painted by the monks in the Cell of St. John the Theologian Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou in Mount Athos, Greece. This icon is part of our collection “Icons from Mount Athos”, which features all icons from the Cell of St. John the Theologian.

This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.  

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. 

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.