Man, created in the image and likeness of God, very often seeks support and protection from the Mother of God and God himself. The Lord blessed people with many icons that have miraculous powers. The images of the Mother of God enjoy special love among the parishioners, it is always easier to come to the Mother Intercessor, for the mother remains the mother.
The Uniqueness of the Icon of Gerontissa
The Gerontissa icon is unique in that it depicts the Mother of God in full growth. She is alone, without a Son. The full growth of the Mother emphasizes Her greatness, determination and strength. Being an old woman, the Mother of God in prayer asks the Son to help people. Open hands testify to unceasing prayer for all those in need and readiness to accept any request.
At the feet of the Mother of God is a jug filled with oil. The life-giving liquid flows over the edge, which symbolizes the constant fullness of the Lord's mercy. No matter how much a person asks, God will always give much more, even over the edge. You just need to ask with faith, in purity andsimplicity, humility and patience, forgiving offenders.
The icon of the Mother of God Gerontissa, the significance of which is difficult to overestimate, more than once saved from death, healed from diseases and even cancer, returned the joy of motherhood, prolonged life and helped to calmly depart into the world of God.
Founder of Pantokrator Monastery
Athos monasteries are the stronghold of Christianity. The Pantokrator Monastery, whose name translates as "Almighty", according to legend, was built on the site indicated by the Mother of God herself.
In 1361, the Greek emperor Alexei Stratopedarchus and his brother John Primikirius decided to build a temple.
Gerontissa, the icon of the Mother of God, was brought to the construction site of a new temple, but in the morning the builders did not find either her or the tools here. After a short search, things were found in a completely different place. This was repeated for several days, until the novices realized that the Mother of God herself chooses a place for the construction of a new temple, a sheer cliff above the sea, perhaps to emphasize the precariousness of this world and the strength of God's protection.
Currently, not the altar, but the northeastern column of the monastery is decorated with the icon of the Mother of God. The image of Gerontissa became the guardian of the magnificent and picturesque temple of Pantokrator.
Icon of the Old Lady and Mentor
Gerontissa, the icon of the Mother of God, is especially revered by the elderly. One of the first miracles performed by her was an incident inmonastery. The dying abbot, anticipating his imminent death, asked for communion and a liturgy that absolves sins. The serving priest did not understand the importance and urgency of the moment and was in no hurry to fulfill his duty, when suddenly the Greek icon of the Mother of God Gerontissa spoke, ordering the abbot to take communion as soon as possible, who soon departed to another world. After that, the icon acquired its name - Gerontissa, Elder, Mentor.
The 17th century was marked by a new miracle, when during a severe famine, after incessant prayer, a bright light appeared near the icon in the pantry. The brothers who entered the cell saw that all the jugs were filled with oil, which overflowed over the edge. Having praised the icon of the Mentor, the novices immortalized the miracle by adding a jug of oil to the icon.
God's protection over the miraculous icon
Gerontissa, the icon of the Mother of God, demonstrated her miraculous and divinity more than once. During the attack of the pirates, who took away all the silver and wanted to split the icon, they were blinded. Frightened, the robbers threw the image into the well. Only 80 years later, the descendants of the repentant robber specially came to Athos and found the icon. It was a miracle that she remained completely undamaged.
The Icon of the Protector stopped the fire of 1950 by turning the fire in the other direction.
The healing power of the Gerontissa icon
Great and wonderful are the works of the Lord, and Gerontissa, the icon of the Mother of God, prayer near which works miracles, is proof of this.
The Mother of God has becomeguardian of the elders. Repeatedly after a prayer in front of the icon, healing occurred. The Mother of God also helps with childbirth, not only the elderly but also the barren come to her. For children are the comfort of old age.
Exact copies of the miraculous icon, with the blessing of the rector, were consecrated and sent to many monasteries so that Orthodox around the world could pray before the miraculous image.
Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God works wonders
The great mercy of the Mother of God extends to those in whom love and reverence live, who, with faith and humility, constantly ask for the salvation of their own and their loved ones.
Prayer has great power. "Skoroshlushnitsa" - the icon of the Mother of God, which is especially loved. It is after the request made to her that petitions are most quickly fulfilled, help is provided and healing occurs.
The icon is especially venerated in the Transfiguration Monastery of the Savior, because after the prayer was said to it, the "Quick Hearer", the icon of the Mother of God, twice saved the monastery from ruin by a miraculous way.
1878 was the year of the first devastation, but the elders of Athos heard about the misfortune and presented the temple with a list of the icon of the Mother of God. After a couple of years, the monastery returned to its former glory and God's power.
After 100 years, the Transfiguration Monastery of the Savior became just a warehouse of a military unit. 1995 - the year of the new revival of the temple, but things were going badly, there were no funds for restoration. And again the icon of the "Quick Hearer" and the zealous prayer of the elders worked a miracle. The temple began to be rebuilt, and funds and people appeared. The monks are sure - "Quick Hearer" helps.
Many people treat the icon as if it were alive, they bring flowers and gifts to it as a token of gratitude for answers to prayers.
An incessant stream of miracles given by the icon of the Mother of God
And the miracles given by the icon of the Mother of God do not stop. So, in the city of Murom, a mother prayed at the icon "The Quick Listener" about the fate of her son, who disappeared in the war, prayed with faith that he was alive. However, after some time, a closed zinc coffin was brought. Before the undertakers had dug the grave, the son, alive and unharmed, appeared in the house. The mistake came out, a strange guy was sent in a coffin, and the native son of that woman was in captivity. Subsequently, they were repeatedly seen near the image of the Savior.
Helps the icon "quick listener" sick and addicted to alcohol and drugs. Many former drug addicts simply stay in the monastery without any treatment and pray near the miraculous image, from which grace, extraordinary love and tenderness emanate.
Living evidence of the help of the icon of the Mother of God
Nothing strengthens faith like the testimonies of people who received help, or seeing a miracle.
They come to the Mother of God with requests for the restoration of families, and by the most inexplicable miracle, mutual understanding, patience come to the house, love returns. Maybe the young do not understand what happened, but the mother who knelt before the miraculous icon knows everything.
Hears the Mother of God and requests for employment of children, for welfare. A mother will always understand a mother.
The icon of Gerontissa leaves no one unanswered, especially the requests of children for the recovery of their parents. There were cases of healing when people recovered right in the temple, after kissing the icon. At that moment, surprise, admiration and gratitude embraced all those present in the monasteries.
After receiving an answer to their prayers, people gain faith, their lives change, values change, and real faith in the great power of God and the Mother of God comes.
