Description

This icon depicts two feasts. The first miracle is that of the apparition of the Mother of God is the Blachernen church in Constantinople. Mary holds her veil protectively raised. The second story is about the hymn poet Romanos Melodos. Melodos was a deacon but could not sing. Whenever it was his turn as cantor, the churchgoers cringed. When he heard that he had to sing on Christmas Eve, despair struck. But shortly before the service, Mary appeared to him in a dream and she gave him a piece of scroll to eat and he sang the stars from heaven.