One of the most treasured and revered Icons of Mount
Athos is that of Panagia of the Akathist Hymn or Salutations of the Holy
Monastery of Dionysiou. It is the oldest Icon chronologically of all of the
others of Mount Athos.
It is made of beeswax and mastich, a product derived
from tree sap along with myrh. On the back of the Holy Icon, a silver plate is
fixed and the Emperor Alexios 3rd Komninos and Saint Dionysios, the founder of
the Holy Monastery of Dionysiou are depicted on it. The following writing is
also inscribed on the back. "This is the miraculous Icon which Patriarch
Sergios held whilst circling the walls of Constantinople and which ridded the
city of the barbarian siege and was donated to the Monastery of Dionysiou by
Emepror Alexios."
It is therefore the Icon that Patriarch Sergios,
during that historic night in the year 626 A.D., used to lead the procession
with other clergy and faithful, around the walls of Constantinople, thus giving
the small number of soldiers and the polpulation the courage to continue to
defend the City of Cities. It is historically accepted that the supernatural
powers of the Holy Icon was key in defending Constantinople and ridding her of
the Avar invaders. There is no other historical explanation since the Byzantine
army with Heraclius was in Persia waging war and was not there to defend the
city. The leader of the Avars, Hagano, surrounded the entire city via land and
sea. He sent a message to the defenders of the city, "Don't be fooled by
your God, tomorrow I will be the ruler of your city."
This statement had a negative impact on the soldiers
and population of the city and affected their confidence in defending the city.
In the midst of this fear, Patriarch Sergios issued a statement to the soldiers
and people of the city, in reply to Hagano’s comments. “It is a shame to lose
faith. Think as people that they do not believe in God and in the results of a
Holy war. I entrusted the city and its people into the hands of Our Lady, The
Theotokos. Let us pray fervently to Panagia.” Once the message had spread, a
sense of confidence and renewal in the soldiers and people took hold. Patriarch
Sergios, immediately held a procession led with the Holy Icon of Panagia of the
Akathist Hymn, the Holy Belt of Panagia, relics of saints and thousands of
faithful around the city walls. One of the greatest miracles then occurred. The
invaders heard what sounded like many thousands of soldiers commencing an
attack against them. It was in fact an attack by an unseen force which
destroyed the majority of their forces and left their remaining soldiers
confused, who in turn fled.
This was the result of the fervent prayers and tears
of the faithful who rejoiced with fervor at this joyous occasion and glorified
the Lord and the Holy Icon of Panagia. All the faithful of the city gathered at
the Church of Blacherna, where Patriarch Sergios chanted the famous hymn: Τη Ύπερμάχω Στρατηγώ τα νικητήρια….. for
the rest of the night, a vigil took place before the Holy Icon, where all of
the salutations of the Theotokos were chanted thus resulting in the first ever occurrence
of the Akathist Hymn service, the service took its name from this occurrence.
In the 13th century, the Holy Icon of
Panagia of the Akathist Hymn, was donated to the Holy Monastery of Dionysiou,
Mount Athos, by Emperor Alexios. Another miracle attributed to the Holy Icon is
as follows:
In 1592, an Algerian pirate named Ef Artavan Alfa took
off from the island of Skyros, with a large number of his men, to loot the
Monastery of Dionysiou. He had been informed that a highly revered Icon of the
Theotokos was treasured at the Monastery. Once he reached the Monastery, he and
his men, about 200 in number with heavy weaponry, began to threaten the monks
of the Monastery. The Abbot of the Monastery in an effort to save the Monastery
and the monks from certain destruction and death, decided to offer the pirates
precious gifts. A monk from one of the windows of the Monastery, called out to
Artavan “In the spirit of friendship lets end this without blood being spilt.
We have decided to give you 50,000 florins, oil and wine”. Artavan the pirate
responded with “We agree, however, I would like to select one item of my choice
from your Monastery in addition to this”. The Abbot agreed, and Artavan with 10
men were allowed inside the Monastery. Once inside the Katholikon (Main Church)
of the Monastery, Artavan immediately spotted the Holy Icon of Panagia of
Akathist and went to take it from its stand. The Abbot immediately protested
saying, Icons are for Christians not for Pirates, however, the pirate
threatened them all with death if they dared to stop him. The Abbot then
responded, take the Icon, however, you will leave here with my curses.
The pirates, having loaded their ship with all that
was offered and the Holy Icon, departed the Monastery’s shores headed back to
the island of Skyros. That night, Panagia appeared to Artavan in a dream and
said to him “why did you take me sly one? Take me back where I was in peace
immediately”. Artavan awoke immediately however, did not take this seriously.
Within the hour, the weather changed and the pirates found themselves in the
midst of a great storm. The ship was now in danger of sinking. Artavan now left
with the possibility of losing everything he had gained, including thje Icon,
went to the chest in which he had placed the Icon and found it full of myrrh
with the most beautiful fragrance. At this point he realized that his actions
had caused them to be in danger of their lives. He took the Icon in his hands,
and immediately the storm ceased. All of the other pirates, with fear in the
hearts, begged Artavan to take the Icon back to the Monastery.
A few hours later, they were back at the shores of
the Monastery, Artavan, sent a pirate named Sarif to the Abbot, and he said “Man
of God, we realize that what we did was a vile act, my lord awaits you on our
ship to take back the Holy Icon and release us of your curse”. The monks
immediately went to the ship and took the Holy Icon into their possession.
The most significant of this entire occurrence was
that many of the pirates remained at the Monastery, were taught Christianity,
baptized and became monks.
Another of the many miracles of Panagia of the
Akathist took place in 1753. Bishop Evgenios Voulgaris, a teacher at the
Athonias Academy of Mount Athos, was suffering from a very bad stomach ulcer.
At that time, his condition was considered as fatal, due to his inability to
eat and from the enormous pain. His doctors were unable to cure him. As a last
effort to save him, the Abbot of the Monastery thought it would be a good idea
to bring the Holy Icon of Panagia of the Akathist to Bishop Evgenios Boulgaris,
and cross him with it, in order to give him some strength. Bishop Evgenios
immediately began praying with the salutations of Panagia and venerated the
Holy Icon. Once the Icon touched his lips, he immediately felt the pain subside
and he was cured of his terrible illness.
