The Batopedeia Icon of the Mother of God

The Batopedeia Icon of the Mother of God

Commemorated on January 21

The Batopedeia Icon of the Mother of God is located within the old Batopedeia monastery on Athos, in the church of the Annunciation. It received the appellation of "Batopedeia" from this, that nearby this monastery a young prince named Arkadios fell off a ship into the sea, and by the miraculous intercession of the Mother of God he was carried to shore safe and unharmed. They found him here standing by a bush, not far from the monastery. From this event came the name "Batopedeia" ("batos paidos" – "shrub of the Lord"). The holy Emperor Theodosius the Great in gratitude for the miraculous deliverance of his son embellished and generously endowed the Batopedeia monastery.
On the Batopedeia Icon, the Mother of God is depicted with face turned towards the right shoulder, in memory that in the year 807 on 21 January, She turned Her face towards the hegumen of the monastery, who was standing at prayer near the holy icon, and forewarned him of the intent of robbers to pillage the monastery. The hegumen took measures of precaution, and the monastery was saved. In memory of this miraculous event in front of the wonderworking icon there burns a perpetual lampada. On Athos this icon is called also "Consolation" ("Otrada") or "Solace" ("Uteshenie").

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