Mother of God of Iveron

Feast of the Iveron Icon of the Theotokos.

The Iveron Icon of the Theotokos, the Portaitissa or Gate-Keeper, is one of the most venerated icons of the Mother of God. According to tradition, during the iconoclast persecutions a pious widow entrusted the icon to the sea; generations later it appeared in a pillar of light off Mount Athos and was received by the monks of the Iveron Monastery, where it has remained for a thousand years as protectress of the Holy Mountain.

Many miracles are ascribed to the Portaitissa, and copies of the icon are venerated throughout the Orthodox world. The Church commemorates the icon on this day with thanksgiving to the Theotokos.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Mother of God of Iveron is commemorated on March 20. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 2 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on March 20

• Fathers of Saint Savva

  Martyr, Αββάδες Μονής Αγίου Σάββα

  Holy Fathers slain by the Saracens at the Monastery of Saint Savva in Palestine.

• Myron of Crete

  Martyr, Μύρων ο Νεομάρτυς

  Holy New Martyr Myron of Heraklion in Crete.

• Niketas of Apollonias

  Hierarch, Νικήτας ο Ομολογητής

  Saint Niketas the Confessor, Bishop of Apollonias in Bithynia.

• Seven Virgin Martyrs of Amisos

  Holy Woman, Παρθενομάρτυρες Αμισού

  Holy Virgin Martyrs Alexandria, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, Juliana, Euphemia and Theodosia of Amisos.

• Rodianos, Akylas, Lollion and Emmanuel

  Martyr, Ροδιανός

  Holy Martyrs Rodianos, Akylas the Eparch, Lollion and Emmanuel.

• Cuthbert of Lindisfarne

  Venerable, Κούθβερτος

  Venerable Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, wonderworker of Britain.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.