Panagia Blachernitissa

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The Panagia of Blachernitissa (Gr. Παναγία η Βλαχερνίτισσα, Turkish: Meryem Ana Kilisesi), also known as Blachernae, Vlachernae, or Vlahernon, is a 7th century Byzantine icon from Constantinople preserved in the imperial palace of Blachernai. The icon, according to tradition, was not written; rather, it was made from a composition of wax and the ashes of 6th-century martyred Christians.[1][2] A rare copy of the Blachernitissa icon is also located in Russia at the Tretyakov Gallery.

Name ambiguity

There are two places with the name "Blachernae/Vlachernae". The first location, and most recognised, is in Constantinople and is spelt with a B. The second, is a municipality in the prefecture of Arta, Greece. It is not so well known and is spelt with a V. It is therefore correct to refer to the icon and the church with "B".

Churches

  • The first Church of Blachernae in Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Church of Blachernae, Pontikonisi (Corfu, Greece)
  • Church of Blachernae, Peloponneso (Greece), a 12th century church decorated with beautiful frescoes of St. John the Baptist.
  • Isle of Dias, village of Kalligata (Kefalonia, Greece)

Monasteries

References

  1. Blachernitissa at Wikipedia
  2. The Eastern Orthodox Church tradition is that there is only one other icon of this type— the icon of the Archangel Michael of Mantamados.

See also

Sources

External links