Handmade Panagia Soumela Icon

The History of Panagia Soumela & Her Monastery
The icon of Panagia Soumela is one of the most sacred relics of Orthodox Christianity and a symbol of the Pontian Hellenism.

The Miraculous Icon:
According to tradition, the icon is one of the works of Luke the Evangelist. It depicts the Virgin Mary and was originally known as “Athiniotissa.” In 386 AD, following a vision, two Athenian monks, Barnabas and Sophronios, carried the icon to the steep cliffs of Mount Mela in Trebizond (modern-day Turkey).

The Monastery:
Perched 1,200 meters high on a sheer cliff, the Sumela Monastery became a spiritual beacon for centuries. It was not just a place of worship but a center of education and culture for the Greeks of Pontus. Despite the challenges of history and the forced exodus in 1923, the icon was buried for safety and later recovered, eventually finding its new home in the slopes of Mount Vermio in Greece.

Owning this icon is not just an aesthetic choice; it is a connection to centuries of faith, resilience, and the “Lady of Pontus” who protects and guides.

14x20cm / 5.5×7.8 inches