Saint Gennadios, Abbot of the Monastery

He was abbot of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi. The holiness of his life earned him the right to hear a voice from the icon of the Virgin Mary.

During a pirate raid on the monastery, the pious abbot heard a voice from the icon of the Virgin Mary, called Paramythia, telling him: “Do not open the gates of the Monastery today, but climb up onto the walls and drive away the pirates.” Astonished, the saint sees the holy icon, from which the voice came, transformed. The face of the Virgin Mary became alive, as did the face of Christ, whom she was holding. Christ stretched out his right hand to cover her lips and, turning his face towards her, said: “Do not, my Mother, do not say this to them, but let them be punished accordingly.” The Most Holy Theotokos, lovingly holding the hand of her Son, repeated the same words: that the gates of the Monastery should not be opened today because of the pirates.

The humble abbot, terrified by the extraordinary miracle, gathered the entire brotherhood and told them exactly what had happened. The monks, amazed at what they heard, noticed the change in the appearance and attitude of the Virgin Mary and Christ in the icon. Taking courage, they climbed the walls, chased away the pirates and were saved. Since then, the icon has been called Paramythia and the formation of the faces remains as the holy abbot saw it in the last voice of the Virgin Mary. The face of the Virgin Mary “expresses sympathetic love, and her gaze breathes clemency, gentleness and compassion, and on her lips rests a modest smile, an appeal and consolation”.

This icon is a 14th century fresco, which was formerly located in the exonarthex, in front of the chapel of Saint Nicholas and was later transferred to a shrine in the homonymous chapel, of Paramythia, which is located to the left and above the narthex. The monks keep a perpetual lamp, celebrate Divine Liturgy every Friday and chant daily prayers. In the past, there was a custom for the monks to have their hair cut in this chapel.

The memory of Saint Gennadius is honored on January 20 and November 17. The full service was written by the monk Gerasimos Mikrayiannitis.

source: Monk Moses of Mount Athos, Vatopedi Synaxarion, Published by: Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Mount Athos, 2007