Theotokos Ktitorisa or Vimatarisa

Holy Monastery of Vatopedi

This famous icon of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi is located on the synthronon of its sacred Step of the katholikon (main church) . In the 10th century, when the arabs attacked the monastery, the hierodeacon Savvas caught up and hid this icon of the Holy Virgin together with the cross of Great Constantine and a lighted candle in front of the icon, in the well, which is between the synthronon and the Holy Table in the holy step.

The hierodeacon, who did not manage to escape, was arrested and sold as a prisoner in Crete. ῞When after seventy years he was freed and returned to the Monastery in old age, he instructed the abbot at the time to open the well, where they found the icon and the cross standing on the water and the lamp burning.

This candle, constantly supplied with new wax, burns sleeplessly to this day in front (to the right) of the miraculous icon. This icon is also called Ktitorissa (Founder), because it was found during the time of the three founders of the Monastery, Athanasios, Nikolaos and Antonios.