The ''''Panagia of BlachernitissaBlachernae''' (Gr. ''Παναγία η Βλαχερνίτισσα'', Turkish: ''Meryem Ana Kilisesi''), also called <ref> Also known as ''Blachernitissa''or 'Blachernae'Vlachernae'', or ''Vlahernon''</ref> is a 7th century Byzantium Byzantine [[Hodegetria]] type [[icon]] from [[Constantinople ]] preserved in the imperial palace of Blachernai[[Church of the Virgin of Blachernae (Istanbul)|Blachernae]]. The icon , according to tradition , was not written ; rather , it was made from a composition of wax and the ashes of 6th -century martyred [[martyr]]ed Christians and wax. <ref> Wikipedia[[w: Blachernitissa |''Blachernitissa'' at Wikipedia]]</ref>. Within the church, <ref>The Eastern Orthodox [[Church]] tradition is that there is only one ''other '' icon of this type - see &mdash; the icon of the [[Archangel Michael of Mantamados]]. The </ref> This icon were defaced during the 1955 Riots in Istanbul. A rare copy of the ''Blachernitissa'' icon is currently also located in Russia at the [[Tretyakov Gallery]].

==The Church Origins of Panagia of Blachernae, Constantinoplethe name==There are two geographical places named "Blachernae" and "Vlachernae", respectivaly. The best known first, and most celebrated [[http://www.ec-patr.org/afieroma/churches/show.php?lang=en&id=02 shrine recognised as the origins of the Holy Virgin Blachernae icon and church tradition, is a district of Istanbul in Constantinople]] Turkey and is spelt with a '''B'''. The second area, is a municipality in the church prefecture of Panagia of BlacernaeArta, Greece; it is not so well known and is spelt with a '''V'''. The correct spelling for the icon and the Church should therefore begin with a "B".

==The Shrine of Blachernai==Blachernai, near There are some opinions about the northern tip origins of the walls name '''Blachernae'' of TheodosiosIstanbul, was Turkey.The [[Romanians|Romanian]] philologist Ilie Gherghel, wrote a study about Blachernae and concluded that it possibly derived from the site name of major shrine of the Virgin Mary in a Vlach (sometimes written as Blach or Blasi), who came to Constantinople built by from the Empress Pulcheria lower Danube.<ref>Gherghel, Ilie (ca1920). 450(Romanian)Cateva consideratiuni la cuprinsul notiunii cuvantului "Vlach". A circular chapel (Bucuresti: Convorbiri Literare</ref> Gherghel compared data from old historians like Genesios and from the Greek lexicon ''SorosSuidas''), was built by Emperor Leo I (457-474) next to and mentioned the Church to hold existence of a small colony of Vlachs in the robe area of the Virgin Mary, brought from Palestine in 473today Blachernae. The church was burnt down in 1070. It was rebuilt Similar opinions were sustained by 1077 by either Romanos IV Diogenes (1067-71) or Michael VII (1071-87) and then destroyed again 1434. Next to it was a bathhouse where a spring flowed, which still flows in the modern church on the site Lisseanu<ref> Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (ODB) 1:293; JaninG. Popa Lisseanu, Eglises CP, 161-71 and the end map entitled "Byzance Constantinople"Continuitatea românilor în Dacia, ref. D2; George P. MajeskaEditura Vestala, Russian Travelers to Constantinople in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth CenturiesBucuresti, (Washington2014, D.Cp.: 1984), 333-337 78</ref>

From Another opinion is that the time origin of the Patriarch Timotheos [511-18] there was name is derived from a procession - type of fish pronounced in Greek as ''Palamyda''. This type of fish would be fished from the "panhgur j" - which took place each Friday from Blachernai to Bosphorus river. In Latin, the Church same type of fish is pronounced ''Lakernai'' and this anecdote says that the Chalkoprateia, near Hagia Sophia, at the other end dialect of the city :region pronounced ''Lakernai'' as ''Blachernai''<ref> Janin, Eglises CP, 177 This opinion was supported by ''Skarlatos Byzantios'' who refers to this in Volume I of the Constantinople Theofilakton of 1351.</ref>.

==The Circular Chapel ("Soros")Churches==*'''[[Church of Panagia Blachernae (Istanbul)|The chapel first Church of Blachernae: Church of the Virginof Blachernae, Istanbul (Turkey)]]'''.*Church of Blachernae, Pontikonisi (Corfu, Greece)*Church of Blachernae, Peloponneso (Greece), ''s robe was covered in silver and considered a "reliquary 12th century church decorated with beautiful frescoes of architectural dimensions"St. Lay people were not allowed inside but could pray in John the main churchBaptist. <ref> ODB 3:1929 </ref>''*Isle of Dias, village of Kalligata (Kefalonia, Greece) ==Monasteries==*Panagia Blahernon (Corfu, Greece), 17th century. There was a specific icon, the *[[Panagia HagiosoritissaVlahernon Greek Orthodox Monastery (Williston, Florida)]], associated with this shrine. <ref> ODB 3:2171 </ref>

<small><references/></small> ==See also==* [[Panagia the Life Giving Spring]]* [[Life-giving Fount of the Theotokos]]* [[Theotokos of Tikhvin]] ==Sources==*[http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/subject/hd/fak7/hist/o1/logs/byzans-l/log.started941201/mail-21.html Paul Halsall - Response on Blachernae enquiry]*[http://www.paleks.com/icons.htm Russian Traditions]*[http://www.iconsexplained.com/iec/00019.htm The Virgin of Orans explained] ==External links==*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blachernitissa Wikipedia Article - the illustrious icon from Blachernae]*[http://www.icon.lt/list/blachernae.htm Article on the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria"]*[http://www.mgr.org/TheVeil.html Article on Protection of the Mother of God] - Church of the Panagia Blachernae*[http://www.guide-martine.com/istanbul_3.asp Travel Guide to Turkey]