Theotokos Glikofiloussa

  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