SIZE: 8 3/4" x 7 1/4"
Virgin Mary "Joy and Consolation" (Otrada I Uteshenie).
Vatopedi
icon of the
Mother of God "Joy and Consolation" is in the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos in the church of the
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The history of this image is associated with events that have occurred in the year 807. The gang of robbers, who decided to rob the Vatopedi monastery hid, waiting for the opening of the gate. At a time when the robbers were waiting for the abbot heard the warning about the danger of a woman's voice from the stands near the Mother of God. Looking at the icon, the abbot saw the hand of Jesus is blocking the mouth of the Virgin, said: "No, my mother, do not tell them this, let them be punished for their sins." But the Mother of God, evading his hands twice said, "did not open the gates of the monastery, and climb the walls of the monastery and drive away the robbers." Struck by the abbot assembled brethren at the monastery walls, and they repelled an attack by robbers.
Since then, became known as Vatopedi icon "Joy and Consolation".