In the world are many unique relics.One of those is stored in Kikskom Monastery Kikskoy icon Mother of God (Panagia Eleusa).It has miraculous powers.Before the icon pray those who do not develop family relationships.Her way of asking for healing infertility, bleeding, the healing of headaches.In addition, in dry years before this icon pray and ask for rain.Faces on the icon, according to ancient custom, covered by a dense veil of sight of people, which is never withdrawn, except in cases where the monks change it because of disrepair with the new.And at this point they are trying not to look at the icon, raising his eyes upward.Why do they do that?In Cyprus, there is a tradition according to which the one who dares to look at the faces, can cause blindness.
Origin icon
As the story goes, the icon of the Mother of God Kikskoy is the creation of St. Luke.As a model for creating an image he used the very Mother of God.While she was still alive.In addition, it was created two icons.According to the same tradition, the Boards on which the painted icons were given by angels.Kikskaya icon of the Mother of God performed by mastic and wax it depicts itself the Mother of God with her son in her arms.
Historical Path icon
During the journey into Egypt Luca took the icon with him.After his death, the icon left the Christians, who were able to keep it in the period of iconoclasm.During this period, the emperor forbade the veneration of icons and otherwise destroyed them.Besides them destroyed frescoes, painted altars, statues of saints and mosaics.To this icon has not been destroyed, the faithful decided to forward it to Greece.On the way they were captured, but fortunately, they saved a Byzantine ship sails past.The captain brought the faithful together with the icon of Constantinople, where the latter was handed over to the Emperor as a gift.
In the early 12th century icon was transferred to the Cypriot hermit Isaiah.In addition, the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos gave him the funds for the construction of the Holy Monastery, which later was erected on Mount Kykkos.It was posted Kikskoy icon of the Mother of God, where it is kept to this day.
This event was preceded by an amazing story, which originated during the hunt for Manu'a Vutomitisa.On that day he got lost in the mountains.Finding the way he met an old man Isaiah, who hastened to hide in order to avoid being recognized.Because of this, Manuel was very angry at him and brutally beaten, for which he was punished more than paralysis.He realized his mistake and greatly regretted his actions, asking the elders for forgiveness.But no forgiveness of Isaiah, nor his prayers to God could not regain his health ruler.
In one of the visions of the old man saw how the same method can be healed.For this it is necessary that the icon of the Mother of God Kikskoy was moved to Cyprus, Manuel and immediately gave the money to the elder on the implementation of this mission.
In Constantinople, the emperor's daughter is very sick.Manuel did not dare to tell the long Alexius Comnenus visions elder.But the daughter's illness was similar, so Manuel told the emperor about his history of the disease, which he received through sin, and salvation, which can receive and his daughter, but only after the icon of the Mother of God will be transferred to the monastery in Cyprus.Alexius Comnenus not want to part with the icon, so went to the trick.Making a copy, he invited Manuel to make a choice, you determine the one that will go to Cyprus.For an icon himself came to Isaiah.The night before he had a vision of choice, according to which the script will sit bee.Since this insect is the coat of arms of the monastery.
Where can I see the icon
Now Kikskaya icon of the Mother of God (Cyprus) is in the iconostasis of the church, to the left of the main entrance to the carved oak throne.Initially, it was encrusted with gold, and in 1576 covered with silver.In 1795 the precious coating was replaced by a less expensive, but the visual appearance has remained virtually the same.The first coating is kept in the museum of the monastery.
