Virgin Mary Iverskaya, (Panadia Portaitissa), Gold / Silver Foiled Icon,
SIZE: 18 1/2" x 13 1/4"
The original
icon to the Iveron Monastery appeared on Mount Athos (Greece) in 999AD. During the 9th Century Iconoclastic controversy the faithful of Nicea put the icon into the sea to preserve it from destruction. The icon was found as a flaming image floating in the Marmara Sea near Mount Athos. The
Mother of God appeared to an old Georgian monk named Gabriel living on Mount Athos telling him to walk on the waves to retrieve the icon. The monk obeyed and took the icon to his monastery, the Georgian monastery of the Iberians.