Description
The Virgin Mary Slained, also known as the Virgin Mary Esfagmeni, is an icon of the Virgin Mary from the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi. According to tradition, the icon was stabbed with a knife by a deacon-monk at the monastery when he was refused food for being late to the rectory. In his anger he drove a knife through the icon of the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus Christ, causing blood to flow from the icon while colour visibly drained from the face of the Virgin Mary.
The deacon-monk was blinded and driven insane by the event, remaining in this state for three years. However, the monks and Abbot at the monastery prayed for their brother’s health until one day they were visited by the Virgin Mary. She told them that their brother had been cured of his illness.
For the remainder of his life, the deacon-monk prayed to the icon of the Virgin Mary Slained for forgiveness of his actions. Although she did eventually forgive him, she informed him that his evil hand would be punished after death. Today his hand can be found in the Chapel of Saint Demetrios, completely black in colour but otherwise uncorrupted.
The icon depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus in her arms. On her face is a red mark, which indicates where the original icon had been stabbed and bled. Above the Virgin Mary are the letters ‘MP ΘΥ’, which means “Mother of God” in Greek, while next to Jesus Christ are the letters ‘IC XC’, which means “Jesus Christ” in Greek.
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