Panagia Giatressa – Handmade Iconography – Mount Athos

Description Handmade Iconography on Naturally Aged Wood by the Hands of an Athonite Monk Iconographer An exceptional icon depicting Panagia Giatressa (Virgin Mary the Healer), adorned with gold leaf on the halo, and painted entirely by hand. This icon has been created according to Byzantine iconographic tradition. The depiction of the Saint has been painted exclusively by hand. The coating of the icon with pure beeswax ensures that the colors remain unaltered over time. It is estimated that the Virgin Mary has about 500 epithets, attributed either to the way She is represented in icons, to the places where churches or monasteries dedicated to Her have been built, to the architectural style of those temples, or to the month in which She is celebrated. Other names derive from hymns or miracles attributed to Her. In Greece, and specifically in Loutraki, Corinth, there is a church dedicated to Panagia Giatressa. This church is said to have been built by local residents who, witnessing the miracles attributed to this particular icon of the Theotokos, wished to honor Her. There is also a historic monastery on Mount Taygetos dedicated to Panagia Giatressa.