Where the icon of Our Lady Gerontissa was located

The miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary Gerontissa meaning Elderss, is the protective icon of the Holy Monastery of Pantokratoros on Mount Athos. According to the Orthodox tradition, the icon of the Theotokos was a gift from the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos to the Holy Monastery.

The first miracle of the Virgin Mary Gerontissa The first miracle, performed by the venerable icon of Our Lady Gerontissa, occurred during the reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.

The original monastery was planned to be built about 500 meters away from the current location of the Holy Monastery of Pantokratoros . However, when the workers began construction, the icon, along with the builders’ tools, mysteriously disappeared.

In the morning, as they searched for the tools, they found them at the place where the Holy Monastery is standing today. This fact made them realize that it was the will of the Theotokos for the monastery to be constructed at its present location.

The miracle with the elder abbot

At some point in the past, an elderly and virtuous abbot lived at the monastery and came to reach near the end of his earthly life. Having received divine revelation regarding the time of his death, he decided to receive the Holy Sacraments.

On this occasion, he asked the hieromonk, who conducted the Divine Liturgy, to hasten the service so that he could partake of Holy Communion in time. However, the hieromonk did not obey the abbot’s request and continued the Liturgy at the usual pace.

Why the icon of our Lady was named Gerontissa

At that moment, a voice was heard from the holy icon of the Theotokos, instructing the hieromonk to speed up the Divine Liturgy so that the abbot could receive the Holy Communion. Indeed, as soon as the abbot partook of the Holy Sacraments, he peacefully passed away.

Until then, no specific title had been attributed to the Most Holy Theotokos. Following this miracle involving the elderly abbot, she was given the name Gerontissa, the Eldress.

What the icon of the Virgin Mary Gerontissa depicts

The icon of Our Lady the Eldress depicts the Theotokos in full figure, without Jesus Christ, in a posture of prayer. Her expression exudes sweetness and joy, inspiring feelings of hope and happiness to every faithful that beholds her.

Excerpt from monastiriaka.gr (official Mt. Athos website), Links to full article, where to purchase an icon copy from Mt. Athos and A video showing the icon below…