The miraculous icon of Theotokos Hodegetria is placed in a wooden shrine on the northeastern column of the new Katholikon of the Xenophontos Monastery and it dates from the late 14th to the early 15th century. However it wasn’t always placed there. On the contrary, it changed many locations and it was the Virgin Mary herself the one who decided the monastery where the icon would finally be placed.
It arrived from Constantinople to Mount Athos and at first it was kept on the northeastern column of the Katholikon of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi. In 1730 it was miraculously moved from Vatopedi to Xenophontos Monastery. The monks of Vatopedi believed that the icon had been stolen and so they searched for it and they brought it back without any negotiation. Despite the increased security measures they took in order to protect the great relic, the icon was once more found in Xenophontos Monastery. Having noticed the disappearance for the second time, they could not go against to the will of the Virgin Mary. The icon was decided to stay in the Monastery of Xenophontos. Additionally, the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi sends every year representatives with candles and oil in commemoration of the miracle. An overnight vigil is held every first Sunday of October to glorify the Mother of God.
As far as its iconographic type is concerned, the icon of the Virgin Mary follows the established type of Hodegetria. The inscription “Hodegetria” appears at shoulder height and means the one who shows the way. Christ is depicted seated on her left arm. The inscription above the halo reads “Jesus Christ”, while the inscription on the halo itself reads “He who is”. The two Archangels, Michael and Gabriel, are depicted on either side of the Virgin Mary.
In 1815 a gilded frame was created, by the abbot Paisius of Byzantium, in order to decorate the icon. The upper part of the frame depicts two angels and four silver medals. The two vertical sides depict the prophets, while the lower part shows the holy defenders of the monastery, George and Demetrius.
