Product Description
Iverskaya Mother of God. The power of an icon can be known by the many names that are given to it. One of the most famous the icon Panagia Portaitissa ("She who resides by the door" or "Keeper of the gate") also known as Theotokos Iverskaya, and more recently, the Iveron (Иверская) Mother of God. The traditional name was always "Portaitissa", however, in more recent times, the icon has come to be known by the American and Russian communities as the "Iveron" Mother of God.
The most unique characteristic of the image is what appears to be a scar from a wound on the chin of the Virgin. She made Her appearance in the middle of the 9th century at a time when the Church was agitated by iconoclasts under Emperor Theophilus. In order to protect icons, pious people hid them or entrusted their destiny to the will of God by setting them afloat. One day, a blow dealt by a soldier left a mark on the cheek (some said chin) of the Holy Virgin. The sight of blood so terrified him that he turned to God and to the life of a holy ascetic. According to tradition, the Iverskaya icon was floated on the waters of the sea and finally appeared to the Monks of Iveron Monastery, where a chapel was built on the spot.
Inscription in Slavonic: ΜΡ ΘΥ (Mother of God), IC XC (Jesus Christ), Иверская (Iverskaya) and Пресвятая Богородица (Holy Mother of God), "Ό ώΝ" ("I am").
A beautifully rendered image. 4"x 6", Russia. 1 only.
