Trojeručica
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Bogorodica Trojeručica (Serbian Cyrillic: Богородица Тројеручица, Greek: Tricherusa, English: Three-handed Theotokos) or simply Trojeručica (Three-handed) is a famous wonderworking icon in the Serb Orthodox monastery of Hilandar on Mount Athos, Greece. It depicts Theotokos (Virgin Mary) holding young Jesus. It is the most important icon of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
[edit] History
Traditionally, the icon was painted by or for St. John Damascene and it is associated with his miraculous healing around the year 717. According to tradition, while he was serving as Vizier to the Caliph, he was falsely accused of treachery and his hand was cut off - alternatively this was by, or at the behest of, the Byzantine Iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian, who was indeed a great opponent of St John, though as John remained in Islamic Damascus, the Emperor was unlikely to have been able to reach him himself. Upon praying in front of an icon of the Theotokos his hand was miraculously restored. In thanksgiving, he had a silver replica of his hand fashioned and attached it to the icon.
Art historians think the style of the icon today is more likely from the 14th century, and it may be a copy or re-painting of an earlier prototype.[1] Another version brought to Moscow in 1661 became famous, and resulted in many Russian copies.[2]
John Damascene became a monk at Mar Sabbas outside of Jerusalem and gave the icon to the monastic community there. Later the icon was given as a present to St. Sava, who gave it to Hilandar when the Turks invaded Serbia. Until very recently the icon was formally the abbot of Hilandar, with monks elected to serve as its deputy.[3] A copy of the icon was sent to Russia in 1661, from which time it has been highly venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church. This icon has two feast days: July 11 [O.S. June 28] and July 25 [O.S. July 12] .
[edit] See also
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[edit] References
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