New Erythraia, North Athens, Greece, April 30, 2025
Photo: iellada.gr
A multitude of clergy and people were at the Church of St. Matrona in Nea Erythraia, 10 miles northeast of Athens, on Sunday, April 28, to joyously greet the wonderworking Icon of Panagia Megalospiliotissa.
The image, which is among the sacred treasures of the Holy Monastery of Mega Spileo in Kalavryta, is one of the surviving icons made by the hand of St. Luke the Evangelist, reports the Orthodoxia News Agency.
The icon is a relief, crafted by the divinely inspired hand of the Evangelist Luke using the encaustic technique, that is, with wax, mastic and other coloring materials.
Photo: kalavrytapress.gr
The treasure was brought by Metropolitan Ieronymos of Kalavryta, accompanied by Abbot Kallinikos of the Holy Monastery of Mega Spileo, and was received at the entrance of the Holy Church by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Kifissia, accompanied by the church’s rector Fr. George Kostis and other clergy.
“Many pilgrims from the wider area of the Holy Metropolis welcomed the holy icon with feelings of joy and tears in their eyes to receive its grace. With their prayerful participation, all sought the intercession of Our Lady the Theotokos and her mediation to her Son and God, our Risen Lord,” the Agency writes.
Met. Ieronymos then presided over the Hierarchical Vespers.
Photo: kalavrytapress.gr
In his address, Met. Kyrillos thanked Met. Ieronymos and the abbot for bringing the holy icon to the Metropolis, emphasizing the gratitude and respect that the devout people show to the Theotokos, the Mother of our Risen Lord, who provides Her Divine protection to the world and especially to Greece, which is scattered from end to end with Marian shrines.
Watch the reception of the holy icon:
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