Virgin Mary icon Panagia Sumela, Handmade Greek Orthodox Icon, Mother of God Byzantine art wall hanging, Theotokos icon wood plaque

Bring the spiritual elegance of Byzantine art into your home with this exquisite, handmade Greek Orthodox icon of Virgin Mary Panagia Sumela. Crafted with reverence, this piece makes a profound addition to any prayer corner or a deeply meaningful religious gift.

Product Specifications

• Display: Can be hung on a wall or placed on a flat surface.
• Display: The item is sold without the stand depicted.

The Significance of Virgin Mary Panagia Sumela

A beautiful icon, crafted on naturally aged wood with Virgin Mary Sumela.

The Holy and wonderworking icon of Panagia of Soumela or Panagia Soumeliotissa was painted by the hand of St. Luke the Evangelist according to tradition.

The icon predates the historic Monastery of Panagia Soumela (386-1923), which was built at Trapezounta in Pontus, on a high rock, where the holy icon was kept for centuries.

The name “Soumela” comes from the Greek phrase “Stou Mela” (i.e. “at mount Melas”) and consequently signifies a particular locality in Pontus. In the Pontic Greek dialect it is pronounced “sou Mela”. Hence the meaning, “Panagia at Mt. Mela”.

The existing icon of Panagia Soumela was iconographed by the Evangelist Luke who was both a physician and an iconographer. According to tradition, whenever Luke drew icons of the Panagia, the Holy Mother was very pleased and blessed his works. Furthermore, she encouraged him to draw more icons. When Luke died, his disciple named Ananias, took the icon and transferred it to the Church in Athens that was dedicated to the Panagia. Here the icon was venerated as “Panagia Athiniotissa”.

This wonderful icon has been created with the technique of lithography. The creator of this icon has learned the canonization of iconography in workshops of the Monasteries of Mount Athos, where he was taught both the technique of lithography and the process of handmade artificial ageing, which bears the image with the representation of Virgin Mary / Panagia Soumela.