The Nicea Icon of the Mother of God

Commemorated on May 28

      The Nicea Icon of the Mother of God was glorified in the year 304. During the time of a siege by Hamir of the city of Nicea, situated in Asia Minor, a certain Constantine, seeing the icon of the Mother of God, took hold a stone and threw it at the icon, and then began to trample it underfoot. By night the Mother of God appeared in a dream to the perpetrator of the sacrilege and said: "Thou hast committed grave insult to Me. Know, that thou hast done this to thine own perishing". Punishment followed forthwith. During the time of battle he was suddenly struck on the head by a stone and fell down senseless.
      This event was told of by the fathers of the First OEcumenical Council (year 325), and they established it to sing before the Mother of God: "Thine Holy Sanctuary Thou hast made the womb".

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.

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