The icon of Theotokos Acheiropoietos is placed in the Kyriakon Church of the Romanian Skete of Saint John the Forerunner of the Holy Monastery of Great Lavra. It is highly revered for its miraculous grace by both the monks and visitors of the skete. In the wood-carved shrine that adorns it, one can see several elaborate dedications, which prove the faith and the appeal of the the Virgin Mary Acheiropoietos to the people.
According to tradition, the fathers of the Skete of Saint John the Forerunner, the monks Niphon and Nektarios, travelled to Moldavia, their homeland, in search of a charismatic iconographer who would depict the Virgin Mary in an icon that would be placed in the newly built church of the skete. There they found the painter, Georgakis Nikolaou, who had both the talent and the spiritual quality that the monks were looking for. They were not only interested in the artistic skills, but wanted the icon to be painted under conditions of fasting and prayer. And so it was done. The artist began the icon painting in obedience to the spiritual instructions of the monks. After completing the bodies and garments, he proceeded to the faces of the figures. Trying repeatedly to complete the work, he felt that he was not adequate to express the spiritual beauty of the Virgin and the Divine Infant. He stopped and began to pray to the Virgin Mary to support him and make his efforts fruitful. Returning, determined to continue the painting, he was surprised to see that the two faces had been miraculously carved. Thus, the work was completed, not by the hand of a man, but by the Virgin Mary herself, who intervened by her grace. From this fact the icon got the name "Acheiropoietos".
The painter made a written testimony to the elders Nephon and Nektarios about all that happened. The miracle became known throughout Moldova and people quickly began to flock to venerate the holy relic. In fact, on the way from the metochion of the skete to Mount Athos, the fathers stopped at various locations, giving the faithful the opportunity to receive a little of the grace of the Blessed Virgin Mary. During this period a great number of miracles took place.
On Mount Athos, the monks were anxiously waiting to honor the icon of the Virgin Mary and place it on the shrine in the holy temple of the skete. The miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary continued. One of them is related to the monk Innocent. The old man was bedridden and in poor health. As soon as the icon arrived at the skete, he made a pilgrimage and asked the Virgin Mary, if he was not to be cured of his illness, to sleep in peace so that he would stop being tormented by hardships. At the end of his prayer, he emphasized: "Let your will be done!". The monk was relieved. He could already feel her grace approaching him. After a while he left the world, just as he had asked of the Blessed Virgin.
Regarding her iconographic type, the representation follows the model of the Virgin Mary Hodegetria. The Virgin's right hand is raised to her chest, while her left hand supports the Divine Infant. Jesus blesses the faithful with his right hand, while with his left hand he holds a closed scroll. Their faces follow the stylistic principles of the Nazarene School. Finally, the icon is covered with a gold and silver lining with numerous decorative elements in relief. The crowns adorning the halos of the two figures contain precious stones.
