Today, the Orthodox Church celebrates the appearance of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. Approximately in 1004 AD, a miracle-working icon appeared to the monks of Mount Athos.

The monks beheld a descending fiery pillar of light shining upon the sea. In fear, they reached the shore and saw an icon of the Mother of God floating on the surface of the sea. They tried to reach it, but the closer they were getting, the farther out to sea the icon was moving.

At the time, a righteous monk Gabriel from Iveria (nowadays known as Georgia) labored in the vicinity of the Iveron monastery of the Holy Mountain. The meek and humble elder tirelessly studied the Word of God, prayed Jesus prayer unceasingly, and was committed to strict fasting eating only wild herbs and drinking spring water.

The Most Holy Mother of God appeared to Fr. Gabriel and told him that the Lord bestows Her icon to monks and She takes their monastery under Her protection to help and defend them not only in this life but also in eternity. The Queen of Heaven commanded the monk to take the icon and deliver it to the brethren of his monastery.

St. Gabriel told Paul, the monastery’s hegumen, about his vision. Singing the triumphant hymns, the brethren of the monastery walked in a cross procession towards the seashore. As soon as the elder stepped into the sea, the icon drew nearer and he went upon the waters towards the holy image as though upon dry land. With great reverence, he took up the holy icon of the Most Holy Mother of God and brought it back to the shore. In name of the monastery, the icon also became known as the Iveron icon.

The right-side chapel of the Trinity Church at the Troitsky Skete of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery was consecrated to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. To mark the patronal feast, the Lesser Vespers with the akathist, Vigil service, prayer canon to the Most Holy Mother of God with the blessing of water and the Divine Liturgy were served at the church, followed by the procession with the cross around the church.

Hegumenia Sergiya took part in the festive services.