From Mount Athos to Thessaloniki - From Grece with love: Miraculous Icon of the Theotokos "Axion Esti" ( video )

The Holy Icon "Axion Esti" arrives in Thessaloniki from the Holy Mountain Athos. 

Panagia Axion Estin (Greek: Άξιον εστίν, Slavonic: Достóйно éсть, Dostóino yesť), or 'It is Truly Meet', the name given to the icon of the Virgin Mary before which, according to tradition, the hymn of Axion Estin was revealed.

Axion Estin - Monastery of Karyes, the Protaton (Athos)

It stands in the high place of the altar (sanctuary) of the katholikon (main church) of Karyes on Mount Athos.

According to tradition, an elder and his disciple lived in in a cell on Mount Athos. One Saturday night the elder left to attend the All-Night Vigil in the Protaton of Karyes. He told his disciple to chant the service alone. That evening an unknown monk who called himself Gabriel, came to the cell, and they began the Vigil together. 

During the ninth ode of the canon (the Magnificat), the disciple began to sing "My soul magnifies the Lord..." with the Irmos of St. Cosmas the Hymnographer (October 14), "More honorable than the Cherubim..." The stranger sang the next verse, "For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden..." Then he chanted something the disciple had never heard before, "It is truly meet to bless Thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God." Then he continued with, "More honorable than the Cherubim..."

When the disciple asked the visiting monk to write the words of the new hymn down, he took a roof tile and wrote on it with his finger, as though the tile were made of wax. The disciple knew then that this was no ordinary monk, but the Archangel Gabriel. At that moment the angel disappeared, but the icon of the Mother of God continued to radiate light for some time afterward. 

The Eleousa ("merciful") icon of the Virgin Mary, before which the hymn "It Is Truly Meet" was first chanted, was transferred to the katholikon (main church) at Karyes, known as the Protaton. The tile, with the hymn written on it, was taken to Constantinople when St. Nicholas II Chrysoberges was Patriarch (984-996). 

Since that time the icon has been considered the protector of the Holy Mountain and its holiest object.

The icon is commemorated by the Church on June 11 and July 13. The appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to a monk on Mt. Athos, and the revelation of the hymn "It Is Truly Meet..." is commemorated by the Church on June 11. 

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Fr. Gervasios from Thessaloniki nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

A Greek-Australian couple donated the total of 32 highly-priced acres in the region of Halkidiki, Greece, to the “Osia Xeni” Missionary Brotherhood, Religious Ministry of Discharge of Poor Inmates an Runaways, based in the Perea neighborhood of the city of Thessaloniki.

“In one of my many trips to Greece, while visiting my parents living there, I met Father Gervasios and the exceptional humanitarian work of the brotherhood he is in charge of” said Mrs. Roula Markou.

Afterwards, Mrs. Markou introduced Father Gervasios to her husband Panayiotis Markou, who was also impressed by the efforts made by the Father and his group despite its poor finances.

Therefore, the couple decided to proceed with the donation of an inheritance of Mrs. Markou in Halkidiki. “It’s better to use this land for a good cause than for personal ones” said Mrs. Markou.

“We do not regret for our action. On the contrary, we are really happy about it. This land has turned into a hospitable camp for non-privileged children from Greece and abroad. My wife and I just followed Father Gervasios’ motto ‘Our life is too short. Let’s hurry to do something good for our world’” added Mr. Markou.

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Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, among great personalities from around the world, is an Orthodox priest known as the “saint” of prisoners.

Father Gervasios from Thessaloniki has dedicated his life to offer assistance to needy prisoners.

The last 35 years he has contributed to the release of 15,200 needy prisoners, who come from 90 countries, having raised more than 4,100,000 euros!

People of the arts and many scientists from five continents have suggested the Archimandrite Gervasios Raptopoulos as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Academy.

The countdown to the awards has begun, as the announcement will take place on October 12 at 11:00 am.

Fr. Gervasios’ ministry for the release of indigent prisoners “Hosia Xeni” have made a huge contribution for 35 years.

They help to regain the freedom of people at the detention center for small offenses and cannot afford bail for their sentence.

But not only that.

“They offer the detainee clothing, footwear and cleanliness. Also financial assistance for basic needs, in dental and orthopedic care. Varied is the assistance to the families of prisoners. A monthly allowance of 300 euros is given to the children of those in prison abroad until they complete their university studies. They contribute to the cleaning of the mess and the heating of prisons of our country,” says “Democracy” of the ministry.

The money paid for the release of thousands of prisoners are from voluntary contributions of thousands of Greek philanthropists and expatriates.