The Icon of the Mother of God, named the "Stabbed" ("Zaklannaya")

The Icon of the Mother of God, named the "Stabbed" ("Zaklannaya")

Commemorated on January 21

The Icon of the Mother of God, named the "Stabbed" ("Zaklannaya"), is situated in the Batopedeia monastery on Athos, in a church in honour of Saint Demetrios of Thessalonika, built on next to the cathedral church. The icon was written on canvas, and its name of "The Stabbed" it received from the following instance. A certain ecclesiarch, a deacon of the Batopedeia monastery, was occupied during a long service with the arrangement of the order, and getting delayed, he was late for refectory meal. The annoyed cook reminded him, that it was necessary to come on time. Offended, the deacon flew into such a rage, that he went off again to the church, and standing afront the icon of the Mother of God, he said: "How much time must I put in at serving Thee, O Mother of God? I have toiled, and toiled, and for everything I have nothing to show for it, not even a morsel of bread!". And with these words he struck Her on the cheek with a knife and pierced right through the canvas. From the wound blood splattered, and the face went pallid. The terrified transgressor fell down right in front of the icon, blind, senseless, his limbs went weak, and he was trembling all over, like Cain, the murderer of old. The hegumen, making all-night vigil for mercy and the saving of the hapless one, prayed fervently for him and after three years received news of his forgiveness. And actually, the deacon came to his senses, recovered his sight, and deeply repented of his thoughtless transgression. Settling himself afront the place of the icon stabbed by him, in repentance he spent all the rest of his remaining life before it.
Before the death of the deacon, the Mother of God appeared to him and was gladdened by his repentance, but said, that his impudent hand should undergo censure until the Second Coming of Christ. And when, according to the Athonite custom, after three years time the bones of the dead were uncovered, an astonishing sight struck everyone: all the bones of the repentant culprit were bright, but the impudent hand was decayed and blackened. This hand is kept at the monastery in memory of the unfathomable love of the Mother of God, ready to pardon all the offences borne by Her, both voluntary and involuntary.

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