Virgin Mary Holy Belt Icon – Engraved Arched Metal Frame

Description

The Virgin Mary Holy Belt, also called the Holy Girdle of the Theotokos, or Agia Zoni, references the ascension of the Theotokos. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary constructed the belt herself out of camel hair. Following the death of the Theotokos, Apostle Thomas, who was unable to attend the burial of the Virgin Mary, opened the tomb to say his final goodbye to Her. To his surprise it was empty, for She had resurrected and was to ascend into the heavens. It was during her ascension that she gifted the Holy Belt to the Apostle Thomas.

The Holy Belt has had many homes since the ascension of the Virgin Mary, with its first being Jerusalem. Later it was kept in Constantinople, where it was used to perform a miracle on the wife of Emperor Leo VI, or Leo the Wise. Emperor Leo’s wife, Zoe, was burdened by a malevolent spirit and healed by the Holy Belt. Eventually, the Holy Belt ended up in the Vatopaidi Monastery, where the brothers from the monastery would travel with the Holy Belt across modern day Greece and into Asia Minor, performing miracles and offering blessings. Today, the Holy Belt remains in the Vatopaidi Monastery on Mount Athens in Greece.