The miraculous icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is kept in the Xenophontos monastery on Mount Athos. It arrived on the Holy Mountain from Constantinople and was originally placed in the main temple of the monastery of Vatopedi. In 1730, however, the icon miraculously moved to Xenophontos. For the first time, the monks decided that the icon had been stolen and placed it in its original place. However, in spite of all the precautions taken, Hodegetria disappeared again and found herself in the monastery of Xenophontos. After this, the monks couldn't oppose the will of the Mother of God, leaving the icon where she herself wished to be. In memory of the miraculous event, Vatopedi annually sends a delegation of monks to Xenophonte with wax and oil for the icon, and every first Sunday in October an all-night vigil is held in front of it.
