Mother of God of Consolation

It dates back to the 7th century, and is linked to a miracle that saved the monastery from pirates who had attacked it on January 21, 807. Tradition has it that that morning, the abbot, while handing over the keys of the monastery to the monk in charge of opening the monastery – which always happened after the monks with the abbot had made a prayer and a gesture of devotion in front of the icon – heard a voice coming from the icon twice: «Do not open the doors of the monastery today, but scale the walls and drive away the pirates». And looking at the icon, he realized that the message came from the Mother of God, who spoke and moved together with the Child, and that they would change the position of the face and hands. Thanks to this indication, the monks were able to drive away the pirates and the monastery was saved.

Since then, the icon has been considered miraculous and an image of the protection of the Mother of God towards the monastery. And testimony of how the Mother of God continues, as at the wedding at Cana, to intercede for her children with Christ, to help them in the most difficult situations and bring them back to conversion and trust in Him.

Despite the time and the darkening of the colors, it remains a beautiful example of Byzantine art, where the simplicity of the composition meets the extreme, elegant attention to detail, and the sweetness of the faces and looks that make it unique for its beauty and communicative power.

The Mother looking at us, kisses her son's hand, as a sign of tenderness and deep respect, almost as if to distract a gesture from her son, who looks at her and lets her do, who allows her what she asks, as if he could not, nor wanted to deny her anything...

Let us entrust ourselves, in these difficult and hard times, where evil runs together with war and injustice, let us entrust ourselves to the sweet heart of this Mother, who never stops looking at us and interceding for us.

Chiara Dal Corso

NP Aug-Sep 2024