Icon of Virgin Mary Esfagmeni (The Stabbed) from Zographou Monastery

Historical Backdrop

The miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary currently resides in the church of the Saints Cyril and Methodius, mounted on the northern wall. The story etched in the lower part of this icon dates back to the period between 1821 and 1830 when Ottoman army factions were stationed on Mount Athos.

During this period, a soldier from the army, while at Zographou Monastery, slashed the throats of both the Virgin Mary and Christ with his sword. This act of blasphemy was met with divine retribution; the soldier lost his sanity and met a tragic end that same night, his fellow soldiers even refraining from burying him.

Iconography and Imagery

Stylized in the traditional "Hodegetria" or "She who shows the way" iconography, the Virgin Mary, garbed in deep violet and a crimson mantle, cradles the Christ Child. Christ, in His sky-blue tunic and ochre imation adorned with blue flowers, holds a scroll and blesses the devout with His right hand. Gold embellishes the backdrop of the icon, while intricate floral designs accentuate its frame.

Artistic Significance

From an artistic viewpoint, the Esfagmeni (The Stabbed) Virgin Mary icon reflects the stylistic and artistic attributes typical of the 18th century icons.