Panagia Hodegetria

The Hodegetria icon

The Panagia Hodegetria or "Directress" icon depicts the Virgin Mary presenting her son on her left arm to the viewer and with her hand she is gesturing towards him, pointing to Christ as 'The Way'. Christ, on the other hand, has his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing with the index and middle fingers joined (to refer to the two natures of Christ) and his thumb locks over the other fingers (to signify the Holy Trinity).

The term 'Hodegetria' is Greek and translates to 'the One who Shows the Way'. In this icon, although the Virgin Mary is the largest subject, the principal image in the icon is Christ. His presence is like that of an adult.

Typical features of the Hodegetria include the starburst on one or both shoulders and on the part of the blue mantle that covers the forehead. The fringe on the mantle indicates imperial status, as does the throne that is occasionally included in the image. The Virgin Mary's frontal gaze is also a key feature of the Hodegetria type.

The odd letters on the left and right and level with the top of the Virgin's head appear to be an adaptation of the usual inscription that occupies this position in other Hodegetrias: "MP θY" -- the first and last Greek letters of the Greek words for "Mother of God."

The name Hodegetria also refers to the Hodegon Monastery in Constantinople, which has such an icon.

History

The prototype is said to have been written by the Apostle Luke and kept in Constantinople. According to one legend, the icon received its name by a miracle of the Holy Virgin. The Mother of God 'appeared' to two blind people and taking them by the hand, she guided them to the famous monastery and sanctuary of the Hodegetria where she restored their vision. Built by Michael III (842-867), this sanctuary was called the Church of the Guides because the army chiefs used to pray before this icon before they would leave for their campaigns. Since that time, the blind and all who suffer eye disorders would visit this church to wash their eyes so that they could be healed. This is one of the legends that has given this icon of the Mother of God the Hodegetria a priveledged place in not just the Eastern Orthodox church but also the Western world.

Hodegetria, Vatopedi Monastery, Mt Athos

The Mt Athos prototype measures approximately 19" high by 13" wide and has long been in the Katholikon of the Monastery of Vatopedi, on the column of the left choir. In 1730, however, it suddenly disappeared from its place, although the gates of the Monastery were locked, and was found at the Monastery of Xenophontos. Everyone thought that someone had secretly stolen it, and so the icon was brought back to its old place, while the Vatopedi fathers took stricter precautions and locked the church. A short while afterwards when the church was opened for service, the icon was again missing from its place, and soon afterwards news arrived from the Xenophontos Monastery that it was again in the same place in the katholikon there. The Vatopedi monks were now convinced that this was a miracle and determined to withstand the will of the Theotokos no longer. They hastened to Xenophontos to reverence the "hodeghetria," and for a long time afterwards used to send oil and wax for her in her new home.

See also

• Panagia Portaitissa icon
• Theotokos of the Passion icon
• Theotokos of Tikhvin icon