Panagia Panton Hara

This incense is the handiwork of the monks of the Holy Monastery of Gregoriou in Mount Athos, Greece.

The monks have crafted a variety of traditional incense fragrances, using high quality elements.

Made with pure high quality frankincense, magnesium powder and fragrance.

Choose between small packs 1.7 oz. (50 g), medium packs 7 oz. (200 g), or select the Assortment Pack that contains twelve fragrances, each 0.88 oz (25 grams).

About the Holy Monastery of Gregoriou in Mount Athos, Greece:Also known as Gregoriou Monastery, the Monastery is built high on a rock and by the sea, on the southeastern side of the Mount Athos peninsula. It was founded in the 14th century by Saint Gregory the Hesychast who dedicated the main church to Saint Nicholas. The second protector of the Monastery is Saint Gregory and the third protector is Saint Anastasia of Rome,known forperformingmyriad of miraclesand whose relicsare kept in the Monastery. In its history, Gregoriou Monastery burned down twice (once in the 15^thcentury and then in the 18th century). Both times, it was successfully reconstructed without losing its treasureswhich now consist of, among other items, 4,000 printed books, 279 manuscripts, and parchments from the unique manuscript of Hermas belonging to the apocryphal books of the Gospel.

The Story Behind This Icon:

This is an iconographic posture of Jesus Christ the Lifegiver. Jesus Christ gives us his blessing with His right hand and holdsthe Gospel with Hisleft hand, and is here to teach us about eternal life. The IC and XC letters on the left and right upper corner are the Greek abbreviations for the words âJesus Christâ.

***

This icon of Jesus Christ the Lifegiver is reproduced, with permission, from the authentic icon painted by the monks in the Cell of St. John the Theologian Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou in Mount Athos, Greece. This icon is part of our collection ‚ Icons from Mount Athos‚ which features all icons from the Cell of St. John the Theologian.

Thisicon is made of solid, natural Limewood that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves thatwere meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere.

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.

This icon is also available in smaller dimensions, as our Mother of God icon.

The Story Behind This Icon:

The icon of the Panagia Eleoussa (also Virgin of Tenderness) is known for showing mercy. The icon depicts the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus Christ who is nestling against her cheek and wraps his arm around His Mother's neck. The term âEleoussaâ translates from the Greek âto show mercyâ.

***

This icon of the Panagia Eleoussa is reproduced, with permission, from the authentic icon painted by the monks in the Cell of St. John the Theologian Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou in Mount Athos, Greece. This icon is part of our collection âIcons from Mount Athosâ, which features all icons from the Cell of St. John the Theologian.

Thisicon is made of solid, natural Limewood that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves thatwere meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere.

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.

The Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on October 28 (moved by the Church of Greece from October 1 to coincide with âOxi Dayâ in honor of the Theotokos's protection of the Greek armed forces in their resistance of the Axis invasion). This commemorates the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God at the Blachernae Church in Constantinople in the mid-tenth century. It was in this church where the robe, veil and part of the belt of the Theotokos were preserved after being recovered from Palestine in the fifth century. On Sunday October 1, during an all night vigil, when the church was overflowing with the faithful, the Fool-for-Christ Saint Andrew, at four o'clock in the morning, beheld the Theotokos appearing above the people, holding her omophorion outstretched as a protective covering. She was clothed in gold-encrusted royal purple, and shone with an ineffable radiance, surrounded by apostles, saints, martyrs and virgins.

Our Beloved Holy Mother tearfully prayed for Christians for a long time, coming near the bishop's throne to continue her prayer. After, she took her veil and spread it over the people praying in the church, protecting them from enemies visible and invisible, resplendent with heavenly glory and gleaming like the rays of the sun. Saint Andrew gazed trembling at the miraculous vision and asked his disciple, named Epiphanius, standing beside him, "Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?" Epiphanius answered, "I do see, holy father, and I am in awe."

The Holy Icon pictured here is our Icon of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. On this glorious Feast we implore the defense and assistance of the Queen of Heaven, "Remember us in your prayers, O Lady Virgin Mother of God, that we not perish by the increase of our sins. Protect us from every evil and from grievous woes, for in you do we hope, and venerating the Feast of your Protection, we magnify you."

***

This icon is made of solid, natural Limewood that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere.

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.

The Story Behind This Icon:

The Church commemorates Saint John the Baptisteach year onJanuary 7th.

Saint John the Baptist was the last prophet of the Old Testament and has become one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox Church. Hewas a preacher from a young age and proclaimed that baptism was for the forgiveness of sins. For this reason, he is also called Saint John the Forerunner as he declared that âanother will come after him Who will not baptize with water but with the Holy Spirit." Although the Lord Himself had no need of the remission of sins, He nevertheless came to John âto be baptized by him and to fulfill all righteousnessâ (Matth. 3, 13-15).

Saint John had a martyric end: following the Baptism of Jesus Christ, he was imprisoned by Herod Antipas, the governor of Galilee whom he had openly denounced for having left his lawful wife for the wife of his brother Philip, Herodias.On Herod's birthday feast, Herodiasâ' daughter Salome, danced with Herod who, in turn, promised to give her whatever sheaskedfor. After consulting with her wicked mother, Salome asked to be given the head of John the Baptist on a plate. Herod gave the order to cut off the head of John and give it to Salome.

Joanna, the pious wife of Herod buried the head of John the Baptist on the Mount of Olives.The body of John the Baptist was taken that night by the disciples of Jesus Christ who buried it at Sebastia.

Apolytikion of Synaxis of John theBaptist:

The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; for thou hast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets, since thou was granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore, having contested for the truth, thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy.

***

This icon of Saint John the Baptist is reproduced, with permission, from the authentic icon painted by the monks in the Cell of St. John the Theologian Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou in Mount Athos, Greece. This icon is part of our collection "Icons from Mount Athosâ, which features all icons from the Cell of St. John the Theologian.

Thisicon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves thatwere meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere.

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.