There are many unique relics in the world. One of these is kept in the Kiksky Monastery: the icon of the Kiksky Mother of God (Panagia Eleusa). She has miraculous powers. Those who do not have family relationships pray before the icon. Her image is asked for healing from infertility, bleeding, for healing from a headache. In addition, in dry years, they pray in front of this icon and ask for rain. The faces on the icon, according to ancient custom, are covered from the gaze of people with a thick veil, which is never removed, except when the monks change it due to dilapidation to a new one. And then, at this moment, they try not to look at the icon, raising their eyes up. Why do they do it? There is a legend in Cyprus, according to which one who dares to look at the faces may go blind.
Origin of the icon
As the legend says, the icon of the Mother of God of Kik is the creation of St. Luke. As a model for creating the image, he used the Mother of God herself. At that time she was still alive. Apart fromThis was created two more icons. According to the same legend, the boards on which the icons were written were given by angels. The Kiki Icon of the Mother of God is made using mastic and wax, it depicts the Mother of God herself with her son in her arms.
The historical path of the icon
During the move to Egypt, Luke took the icon with him. After his death, the icon remained with the Christians, who managed to preserve it during the period of iconoclasm. During this period, the emperor banned the veneration of icons and destroyed them in every possible way. In addition to them, frescoes, painted altars, statues of saints and mosaics were destroyed. In order for this icon not to be destroyed, the believers decided to send it to Greece. On the way, they were captured, but, fortunately, they were saved by a Byzantine ship that sailed by. The captain of the ship brought the believers along with the icon to Constantinople, where the latter was given to the Emperor as a gift.
In the early 12th century, the icon was given to the Cypriot hermit Isaiah. In addition, the Byzantine emperor Alexei I Komnenos gave him funds for the construction of the Holy Monastery, which was later erected on Mount Kykkos. The icon of the Kik Mother of God was placed in it, and it is kept there to this day.
This event was preceded by an amazing story that originates during a hunt on the island of Manuil Vutomitis. That day he got lost in the mountains. In search of a way, he met the elder Isaiah, who hastened to hide so that he would not be recognized. Because of this, Manuel was very angry with him and severely beat him, for which he was punished.over paralysis. He realized his mistake and strongly repented of his deed, asking the elder for forgiveness. But neither Isaiah's forgiveness nor his prayers to God could restore the ruler to his he alth.
In one of his visions, the elder saw how he could be healed. For this, it is necessary that the icon of the Mother of God of Kik be moved to Cyprus, and Manuel immediately gave money to the elder to carry out this mission.
In Constantinople, the imperial daughter was very sick. Manuel hesitated for a long time to tell Alexei Komnenos about the elder's visions. But the daughter’s illness was similar, so Manuel told the emperor about his history, about the illness that he received by committing a sin, and about the salvation that his daughter could receive, but only after the icon of the Mother of God was transferred to a monastery in Cyprus. Alexei Komnenos did not really want to part with the icon, so he went to the trick. Having made a copy of it, he invited Manuel to make a choice than to determine the one that would go to Cyprus. Isaiah himself came for the icon. The night before the choice, he had a vision, according to which a bee would land on the original. Since then, this insect has adorned the coat of arms of the monastery.
Where can I see the icon
Now the Kikskaya Icon of the Mother of God (Cyprus) is on the iconostasis of the church, to the left of the main entrance on a carved oak throne. Initially, it was inlaid with gold, and in 1576 it was covered with silver. In 1795, the precious coating was replaced with a less expensive one, but visually the appearance remained almost the same. The first coating is stored inmonastery museum.
