The miraculous icon of Saint George is placed in the Katholikon of the Zograf Monastery. The icon is directly linked to the history of the monastery, while the nickname "Acheiropoietos" was given to it after a miracle that was performed.
According to tradition, when the three founders of the monastery, Hosios Moses, Hosios Aaron and Hosios Ioannis, were trying to decide to which saint they would dedicate the church, they found themselves in disagreement. Unable to find a solution, they decided to pray and ask for the divine will to act. Thus, they prepared a wood on which there would be painted the face of the saint, who would eventually become the patron saint of the monastery. They retired and continued to pray. When at the morning service they approached the Katholikon, they found the figure of Saint George painted on the wood. The miracle secured the dedication of the church to the Great Martyr and Trophy-bearer George. Furthermore, because of the icon created without the intervention of an iconographer, the monastery was given the name "Zograf", which derives from the greek word “Ζωγράφος” (zografos) and means painter.
This miracle is one of the most important events that have shaken the monastery since its foundation. However, the miraculous action of the icon is still visible today, as many elaborate offerings are placed on it.
Saint George is depicted frontally. He holds a sword in his right hand and a spear in his left. His status as a military man is thus pictorially attributed to him. The silver frame covering the icon is decorated with rich relief details and precious stones. To the right and left of the Saint's face there are the inscriptions "The Holy Great Martyr" and "George the Trophy Bearer". At the bottom there is an inscription indicating the origin of the icon. There is also a reference to the three patrons to whom the Saint appeared. In his honor they built the monastery at their own expenses.
Among the many miracles that Saint George has performed through his icon, there is the following. When a bishop visited the monastery he wanted to see the icon. Being of little faith, he put his finger on it and asked for more details about the miraculous way in which it was created. According to the Athonite tradition, his finger stuck to the wood. With great effort and pain he managed to remove it, while part of his skin remained stuck.
Saint George performs numerous miracles to this day. He guards the faithful who come to him and protects the Greek army.
