The Story Behind This Icon:
This icon is a replica of the original Theotokos Glikofiloussa, "Sweet Kissing", an icon portraying The Virgin Mary caressing her son.
Just like the icon of Panagia Portaitissa, the original icon was thrown into the sea by a faithful woman when she refused to hand it over during the Byzantine Iconoclasm (8th & 9th century). The icon did not sink, and instead traveled upright in the sea from the Dardanelles in northwestern Turkey all the way to Mount Athos, Greece, where it was received with great honor by the Abbot and the fathers of the Philotheou Monastery. A spring of holy water sprouted on the shore at the very spot where the icon was placed.
Many miracles have been reported to this day. To name one, in 1801, a man stole the precious offerings placed around the icon and left Mount Athos in a boat. The boat sailed, but, despite the excellent weather, it remained immobilized in the sea - it would not move any further. When the Abbot realized that the treasures were gone, he sent monks in various directions. Two of them located the immobile ship and recovered the treasures. The man asked for forgiveness, which the monks granted, as they did not want to punish him.
The icon is remembered by the church on Bright Monday.
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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.
Our most popular dimensions are pictured, to scale.
Depending on the size and theme, Holy Icons are available in both Recessed and Level styles.
RECESSED
The groove in our recessed icons adds depth to the Iconography, making the icon even more dramatic and impressive. In order to keep the relative proportions, the depth of the groove changes with the size of the Holy Icon.
LEVEL
Level icons allow the Iconography to retain its boldness even in smaller sizes. As such most of our level icons have smaller dimensions.
Backside details vary with icon size and serve to ensure that your Holy Icon will stand the test of time.
Solid wooden icons of larger dimensions are prone to bending and damaging as time passes. Fortunately, our Holy Icons are supported by two additional, horizontal wooden protective panels on the backside. These panels bolster the icon and allow it to sustain its shape, ensuring that your Holy Icon will remain in its original, pristine condition as it is passed down from generation to generation.
Icons of smaller dimensions are naturally sustainable over time, and experience less structural stress. As such, you will find that the backside of smaller Holy Icons is flat and proportional to their shape.
