The Miraculous Icon of Virgin Mary Acheiropoietos (Made Without Hand) from skete Prodromou on Mount Athos
Icon's Sacred Location
The revered icon is placed in a carved wooden shrine at the northeast column of the main church of the Romanian Skete of John the Baptist (Prodromou), affiliated with the Great Lavra Monastery.
Origin of the Icon
In 1863, the founders of the skete, Hieromonks Niphon and Nectarius, during their visit to their homeland in Moldova, set out to find a proficient iconographer to craft a Virgin Mary icon for their recently constructed church. Their search led them to the artist Nikolau Iordache, with the specific directive that he fast and pray throughout the creative process.
The Miraculous Completion
As Nikolau painted, he grew frustrated being unable to capture the divine essence he envisaged. He paused, planning to resume the next day. That night, he earnestly sought the Virgin Mary's assistance in his work. To his astonishment, the next morning, the faces of Christ and the Virgin Mary on the icon were miraculously completed. Nikolau, humbled, didn't dare add to it, only sealing it with a varnish layer. He then shared this miraculous account with Niphon and Nectarius, certifying it in writing and sealing it with his signature. This document is preserved in the skete's archive.
Reverence and Miracles
According to the declarations of Athonite monks Niphon and Nectarius, the miracle occurred on the night of June 28th in Moldova. The very next day, the local metropolitan, along with other clerics, came to venerate the icon. News of this marvel spread throughout the country. As the monks returned to Mount Athos, passing through various cities, the icon performed numerous miracles, granting hearing to the deaf and healing to the ailing.