Orthodox Icon Virgin Mary Soumela

Orthodox Icon Virgin Mary Soumela

The Orthodox Icon of Virgin Mary Soumela is lovingly crafted in natural poplar wood. Its technique is lithography, while the wood is carved with a wavy outline that gives a modern touch to the icon.

Its embossed representation makes it a unique piece which requires high craftsmanship to be made. Its special design manages to combine traditional and modern elements, making it the most loved icon design in the customers preferences!

It is manufactured in Greece by experienced craftsmen and is produced in 4 dimensions in order to cover every need. Finally, it is worth noting that it has been specially treated and varnished to have maximum resistance to time and damage.

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Virgin Mary Soumela

According to the tradition of the Orthodox Church, the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary is the work of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke. The name Sumela is etymologically derived from the term Mela and the Pontic idiom sus, which means "to" and became Sumela "to Mela". The icon of Sumela was brought to Athens, after the death of Luke, by the student of Ananias and placed in the pericalli temple of the Theotokos. For this reason, she was originally named Panagia the Athiniotissa.

In 386 AD with deep faith and absolute devotion, the Athenian monks Varnavas and Sophronios found the monastery on Mount Mela in Trebizond, where hundreds of monks and ascetics lived as the uprooted Greeks of the East.

Tradition states that the monks, responding to the call of the Virgin Mary, followed the path of her icon that flew to the Pontus. They passed by Meteora, Halkidiki and the beach of the Vatopedi monastery, a stranger took them in his boat and took them to Maroneia. From there, they crossed Raidesto on foot, reached Constantinople and went to Trebizond in a ship. There, the Virgin Mary appeared to them again, informing them that her icon is leading to Mount Mela. With the Pyxitis river as their compass, they ascended the mountain, where they found themselves in front of a cave from the entrance of which they noticed a golden glow.It was the light of the Icon of Athiniotissa. Kneeling and in tears, they thanked the Virgin Mary and promised her that on the spot, they would build a church in her honor. With unique resources of faith, perseverance and hard work, the two hermit monks managed to build the church of Soumeliotissa, carved into the mountain. Since then she became known as Panagia Sumela.

After the uprooting of the Pontus Greeks, the icon of Panagia Sumela was transferred to Athens and in August 1952 the icon of Panagia was solemnly enthroned in the temple built on Mount Vermio in an area granted by the community of Kastania.

Orthodox Church celebrates her memory on August 15

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Orthodox Icon Virgin Mary Soumela