Crete: Thousands travel miles on foot to venerate miraculous Theotokos icon

Myriokefala, Crete, Greece, September 10, 2021

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Every year on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, thousands of faithful Orthodox Christians go on pilgrimage to Panagia Antifonitria Church on the slopes of Mt. Kryoneritis in the village of Myriokefala in Crete.

Many of the pilgrims walk many miles on foot to venerate the wonderworking icon of the Theotokos kep there.

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And this year was no exception, with thousands of pilgrims arriving on foot and by car beginning on Tuesday, the eve of the feast. Great Vespers for the feast was celebrated by Metropolitan Eugenios of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, reports goodnet.gr.

The Metropolitan also celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the feast the next morning.

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The Panagia Antifonitria Church is the catholicon of an old monastery founded by St. John the Hermit around 1020. Unfortunately, the monastery is no longer active. The church serves as a village parish church today.

It is said that St. John was passing through the area one day, when a huge thorn bush blocked his path. The saint fet fire to the bush to get through, but through the flames he heard a voice saying, “Here I am! Here I am!” He extinguished the fire and found an icon of the Panagia.

St. John then resolved to build a monastery on the same spot.

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9/10/2021

See also
Celebrating Pascha in St. Nicolas of Lasithi in Crete Celebrating Pascha in St. Nicolas of Lasithi in Crete Celebrating Pascha in St. Nicolas of Lasithi in Crete Celebrating Pascha in St. Nicolas of Lasithi in Crete
Beautiful scenes from around the island On the Miraculous Icon of the Theotokos of the Akathist Found in the Holy Monastery of Zografou on Mount Athos On the Miraculous Icon of the Theotokos of the Akathist Found in the Holy Monastery of Zografou on Mount Athos On the Miraculous Icon of the Theotokos of the Akathist Found in the Holy Monastery of Zografou on Mount Athos On the Miraculous Icon of the Theotokos of the Akathist Found in the Holy Monastery of Zografou on Mount Athos
The holy icon through which the elder had heard the voice of the Mother of God warn him of the arrival of the enemies of Christianity had been placed inside the tower together with the martyrs-to-be. Afterwards, however, it was found wholly unscathed by the fire which burnt the monastery to the ground. She Who Gusheth Forth Myrrh, Who Healeth Hearts She Who Gusheth Forth Myrrh, Who Healeth Hearts
A Conversation with Sergei Fomin, keeper of the Icon of the Theotokos, ”The Softening of Evil Hearts” She Who Gusheth Forth Myrrh, Who Healeth Hearts She Who Gusheth Forth Myrrh, Who Healeth Hearts
A Conversation with Sergei Fomin, keeper of the Icon of the Theotokos, ”The Softening of Evil Hearts”
Tatiana Veselkina
This icon is the contemporary work of Sofrino craftsmen. It is an ordinary lithograph. It had been in the apartment of Muscovite Margarita Vorobyova, where it began to gush myrrh. This happened in 1998, after it had been placed on the relics of the blessed Matrona of Moscow, during her glorification on the 2nd of May. After some time, the icon was miraculously transformed, and now many who have seen it cannot tell that it is a lithograph and not an icon painted long ago.
Comments
Margaret Maines9/19/2021 3:12 am
Peace.....Is it possible to get Myrrh from this Icon of Theotokos? Thankyou & God bless! (very good articles)
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