The Spring of the Holy Monastery of Iviron

The history of the Holy Monastery of Iviron is strongly related to the miraculous icon of Theotokos Portaitissa.

In 1004 the icon arrived at the monastery floating upright on the sea. The monks, amazed by the sight, tried to pull it ashore. However, an invisible force kept pushing them away.

Just above the monastery, a monk named Gabriel used to live in isolation. The Virgin Mary appeared before him and said:

"I want you to come and take my holy icon out of the sea. I consider you worthy to carry it to the monastery."

The ascetic obeyed and went down to fetch the icon. When he entered the sea, everyone was surprised since his feet did not sink into the water. He floated upright and walked closer to the holy relic.

At the point where the icon touched the land for the first time, a holy water began to flow. To this day, the holy water of Theotokos Portaitissa flows abundantly from the spring of the Holy Monastery of Iviron.

The history of the icon of Theotokos Portaitissa of the Holy Monastery of Iviron

This particular icon is not just another sacred relic of the Athonite peninsula. It constitutes its foundation, it covers and guards the operation of the Athonite community. According to the legend, the icon of Theotokos Portaitissa must never leave the boundaries of Athos, as this would mean the end of the Athonite state.

Theotokos of the Iviron Monastery is considered to be one of the most important miraculous icons of Mount Athos. Moreover, it is claimed to be created by the Evangelist Luke. It is 137 cm high, 94 cm wide and weighs 96 kg!

The nickname "Portaitissa", which means “the one that stands at the gate”, was given to the holy icon of the Virgin Mary because of its location. It is placed in the chapel of the Holy Monastery of Iviron, to the left of the main gate. She welcomes all pilgrims and guards the entrance of the monastery.

The icon belonged to a pious widow from Nicaea. During the iconoclastic period, soldiers discovered it in the woman's house and wanted to destroy it. She managed to rescue it by throwing it into the sea. No one knows where it has been for 170 years, from 829 to 1004, when it appeared off the coast of Mount Athos, near the Monastery of Iviron.

To conclude, according to the legend, if the icon disappears from its location, it will mark not only the end of the Athonite state, but also the beginning of the countdown to the day of the Second Coming.