Procession of the Icon of the Theotokos at the Holy Monastery of Iveron on Mount Athos

Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.

April 26, 2025—At the Holy Monastery of Iveron on Mount Athos, during Renewal Week (the Bright Week following Pascha), and specifically on the feast day of the miraculous Iveron Icon of the Theotokos (known as the Portaitissa), the customary procession of the holy icon took place. The procession was conducted around the perimeter of the Monastery, along the shoreline, and around its walls, with the participation of monks and pilgrims from across Mount Athos.

Procession at the Holy Monastery of Iveron

The feast of the Iveron Icon of the Theotokos is celebrated annually on the Tuesday after Pascha. During these days, the joyful atmosphere of the Bright Resurrection of Christ is combined with deep reverence for one of the most venerated icons of Mount Athos.

Following the conclusion of the Festal Divine Liturgy in the Monastery’s Katholikon, the Abbot and the fathers of the Monastery carried the Iveron Icon in a procession. The procession moved along the beach in front of the Monastery, continuing around its outer walls with hymns and supplications for the protection and safeguarding of Orthodoxy. The event attracted pilgrims from various parts of Mount Athos as well as visitors from abroad.

A video of the procession is available, showing scenes from the transfer of the icon and the spiritual reverence of the participants.

This annual ceremony highlights the uninterrupted tradition and spiritual vitality of Mount Athos. The procession of the Iveron Icon during Bright Week stands as a model of devotion and unity for the entire Orthodox Christian community.

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