Panagia tou Harou

Icon of Panagia tou Harou

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Panagia tou Harou is the name of the unique icon which depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the Crucified Christ rather than the God Child from where it gets its name (Haros in Greek means death). This icon is found in the church of Saint John the Theologian, Leipsoi (Greece). The annual commemoration of the icon takes place August 23 when the island of Leipsoi fills with pilgrims from all over the Dodecanese, to witness the procession of the icon around the entire island and see the annual blossoming of the dead bouquet of lillies on the icon.

History

In the 1940s, a maiden was praying to the "Panagia tou Harou" icon. Because her prayers were answered, she placed a simple bouquet of lillies on the icon. The lillies withered but remained on the icon. The following year, at the leave-taking of the feast of the Dormition August 23, the lillies blossomed again and gave off a fragrance. Since then, this miracle occurs annually on the day of the feast.

See also

• Metropolis of

External links

• Leipsoi on Wikipedia