The Icon of Virgin Mary Koukouzelissa from Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos
The renowned Virgin Mary Koukouzelissa icon is closely intertwined with the life and devotion of the monk-musician, St. John Koukouzelis, from the 13th-14th centuries.
Origin & Tradition
Placed in the altar of the Great Lavra Monastery's main church, the icon served as a beacon of faith. Once, after a tiring Saturday vigil, John, who dozed off near the icon, was graced by the Virgin Mary's appearance. She comforted him, promising eternal support and leaving a miraculous coin in his hand.
When John later suffered unbearable leg pain due to prolonged standing, the Virgin Mary miraculously healed him.
The Hymn of Devotion
In reverence, John composed a hymn inspired by the Old Testament, still sung before the icon during its annual celebration on November 21st and other significant Marian observances. This hymn is also a prelude to the Divine Liturgy on Mount Athos.
Miracles & Traditions
The icon is renowned for numerous miracles, having repeatedly protected the monastery from calamities such as fires, destruction, and notably a malicious pirate raid in 1755.
The monastery's chronicles and several other sources frequently highlight the icon's miraculous interventions.
Current Residence
In 1713, adjacent to the monastery's gates, on the foundation of an older chapel built by Athanasius himself, a chapel dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary was founded, also known as the Koukouzelissa Chapel. Here, the miraculous icon is housed year-round and is carried to the main church for veneration four specific times a year.