This miraculous icon of Saint George is placed in the Zograf Monastery. It is known for the particular path it followed until it found the holy place where it was destined to be hosted.
According to the Athonite tradition, the icon of Saint George arrived from Arabia to the port of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi. There, monks from all the monasteries of Mount Athos gathered to receive it and praise the Saint. Seeing the beauty and blessing that accompanied the icon, all the monasteries wanted to take it as a relic, so as to worship it every day. Unable to decide, the monks thought of a way to let the Saint himself choose the monastery that would host his miraculous icon. They tied the wood to a mule, which they set free to roam the mountains of Athos. When the animal stopped and settled on the hill opposite of the Zograf Monastery, the monks thought they had been given the answer they were looking for. A cell and a temple dedicated to Saint George were built on the same spot. His holy icon is still today placed in the same spot. It is taken out of the temple for procession and veneration on April 23 and November 3, during the solemn feasts.
As far as the iconography is concerned, the Saint is represented according to the standard type. It is a frontal depiction of the Saint, in which he appears young, with brown hair and military clothing. He holds a spear in his right hand and a sword and shield in his left. His uniform is rich in subtle gold details and other elaborate decorations. His shoulders are covered by a purple cloak. A thin crown is placed on his head, while the gold halo seems to brighten his form, especially as it contrasts with the deep blue of the background. To the right and left of his figure is the inscription "Saint George" "The Miracle Worker".
Despite its unparalleled beauty and richness of color, the icon is covered in silver plating. It is a relief work, as important as the pictorial representation. Particularly imposing is the halo of Saint George that surrounds his face with its sharp rays. His costume is filled with floral relief ornaments, while a great number of offerings are placed in front of the icon.
To conclude, the icon is an example of a two-sided work, as on the back of the wood there is a representation of the Archangel Michael riding a horse. It constitutes a quite rare iconographic choice, which makes this icon a distinctive example of Byzantine art.
