The miraculous icon of Theotokos Myrovlytissa is placed in the Katholikon of the Holy Monastery of Saint Paul. The icon comes from a monastery in Constantinople, from where Saint Paul of Xeropotamos transferred it. Bringing it to the Mount Athos, he placed it in the Monastery of Saint Paul, to which he gave his name.
The icon radiates the grace and affection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its artistic and spiritual beauty adorns the monastery. Its name comes from the miracle that was performed, as the icon once began to gush myrrh. Thus, she was given the nickname "Myrovlytissa".
It is a two-faced icon. The front side depicts the Virgin Mary with Jesus, while the back side shows the Assembly of the Archangels. As far as its iconographic type is concerned, the icon corresponds to a slight variation of the model of Theotokos Hodegetria. However, it has a more humanized perception, as the Virgin's right hand does not bless the faithful placed in front of her breastbone, but rests on the knee of the Divine Infant, supporting it in her arms. In this way, her maternal warmth, love and protection of her Son and God are most strongly conveyed. Her garment is adorned with three bright stars, on her two shoulders and on her head, which serve as symbols of the Trinitarian Divinity incarnated through the Virgin Mary.
Jesus blesses the faithful with his right hand, while with his left hand he holds a closed book on which the God “Ancient of Days” is depicted. In large letters there are noticed the inscriptions "Mother of God", "The Blessed Virgin" and "Jesus Christ".
The icon is covered by a silver-gilt frame, from which only the face of the Virgin Mary and the Divine Infant remain uncovered. The rich relief decoration that adorns both the halos and the Virgin's garment makes this cover a work of high art. Leafy, floral folds cover both the individual layers of the Virgin's clothing and the rectangular frame surrounding the depiction.
In this frame, there are even smaller reliefs of Archangels, Prophets, etc.
On the back of the icon there are depicted the two Archangels, Michael and Gabriel. Between them they are holding a medal with Christ Emmanuel. This depiction has been severely damaged.
The creation of the icon, both the front and the back, is dated to the 13th-14th century. It is a work of high artistic expression and a spiritual heritage of the monks of the Holy Monastery of Saint Paul.
