Kiev’s Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God

I found this video years ago and I still love watching it. It is footage of a miracle working icon from Kiev that projected its own image on the protective glass that covered it. As you can see in the film, scientist examined it, trying to figure out how the image of the Mother of God and the Christ child could possible have imprinted itself on the glass. It’s very inspiring.

I also happen to love “Awed by Thy Beauty”, the hymn sung in the video. In The Scent of Holiness I entitle one of the stories “What shall I name thee? I am in Doubt and Stand in Awe!” as a reference to this song, because in the story the Elder I’m speaking to struggles to find words to describe the Most Holy Mother of God.

In the Greek Orthodox tradition the faithful come to church every Friday in Great Lent for the Akathist hymn. At the end of the service – at least in our neighbourhood parish in Thessaloniki – this hymn is sung. The entire congregation always joins in and it is very moving, their reverence for the Mother of God being so great. Also, every year we are blessed to have a special icon of the Mother of God, sometimes from Mt. Athos, other times from other places, accompany us during Great Lent that is set in the middle of the church for the Akathist each Friday. I wonder where she’ll come from this year. Well, we have just over a week to find out.

Iconography Trivia: The fact that Panagia is shown sitting in the presence of an angel illustrates that she is "higher than the Seraphim and beyond compare more glorious than the Cherubim". I don't think many would remain seated in the presence of an angel of God, but this icon testifies to the spiritual height of the Mother of God. (Not that she necessarily sat during this encounter - it depicts a spiritual reality more than a historical one).

Awed by the beauty of thy virginity, and the exceeding radiance of thy purity;

Gabriel called out unto thee, O Theotokos,

What worthy hymn of praise can I offer unto thee?

And what shall I name thee?

I am in doubt and stand in awe! Wherefore as commanded, I cry to thee:

Rejoice, thou bride unwedded.

 I hope you enjoyed the video, and the rich hymnology of our Orthodox Church!

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