Athos Hilandar Monastery holds all-night vigil for Three-Handed Icon Feast
Photo: All-night vigil at Hilandar Monastery on the feast of the Three-Handed Icon of the Mother of God. Source: Hilandar Monastery / Facebook
The Serbian Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos celebrated the panigyri – the patronal feast of the wonderworking Three-Handed Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos – with a solemn overnight service. The monastery announced the celebration on its official Facebook page.
The service was led by Bishop Paisije of Dioclea, vicar to Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral. He was concelebrated by Archimandrite Methodije, Abbot of Hilandar, together with Athonite hieromonks, monks, and clergy.
In keeping with the authentic Athonite tradition, the celebration began in the evening with an all-night vigil and concluded in the early morning hours with the Divine Liturgy in the monastery's katholikon.
The Three-Handed Icon of the Mother of God is venerated as one of the greatest shrines of Hilandar and of Mount Athos as a whole. According to tradition, the icon was presented to the monastery by St. Sava of Serbia and has remained there ever since as the protector of the brotherhood. During certain periods of the monastery's history, the icon was even regarded as serving as the monastery's abbot.
As previously reported by the UOJ, Hilandar Monastery recently commemorated its founder, St. Sava of Serbia.
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