Panegyr vmch. St. George in the Athos monastery Xenophon
Panegyr in the Athos monastery Xenophon in honor of the memory of the Holy Martyr St. George was solemnly celebrated on November 16.
In this ancient Svyatogorsk monastery, the Cathedral Church which was consecrated in honor of St. great Martyr. George kept to honor a miraculous icon of the Saint, and part of his right hand, according to “Russian Athos.”
The celebrations were led by Metropolitan Kisenosky and Selinsky Amphilochius of (Antonakakis). Also in a festive Liturgy was attended by the Abbot of the Athonite monastery of Pantokrator Archimandrite Gabriel, representatives of other Svyatogorsk monasteries and numerous pilgrims.
After the divine Liturgy at the monastery was a festive community meal, for which Metropolitan Amphilochius thanked the Abbot of the monastery Archimandrite Alexy (Muziris) for the kind invitation to lead the celebrations.
In turn, hegumen Alexy thanked His Eminence for participation in panigiri.
The monastery of Xenophon is one of the oldest on mount Athos. According to legend, the site of the monastery in 520 year of Saint Xenophon was erected a temple. Later, in the tenth century, there was founded the monastery. The life of the PDP. Athanasius the Athonite says about healing “the elder Xenophon, Abbot” brother PDP. Athanasius – Theodore. In 998, the year world war the monastery was first mentioned in official Svyatogorsky acts.
In the old Cathedral Church (XVI century) are two revered mosaic icon of the XI century: vmch. George and vmch. Demetrius and the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria”.
The image of the great Martyr. George miraculously arrived in Xenophon of Constantinople. According to tradition, the iconoclasts threw the icon into the fire, but, fortunately, one Orthodox saved her and thrown into the sea to extinguish the flames. By the Providence of God, the icon came to the monastery of Xenophon. Chin Holy visible wound, inflicted with a knife, the Iconoclast, and from which, according to tradition, “flowed the pure blood, as if from a living body”.