Celebration in honor of the Kikk Icon of the Mother of God (08/01)

According to legend, the icon of the Mother of God «Merciful-Kikka» was painted by the Holy Apostle Luke. Along with two other images he wrote, he sent her to Egypt. From there, the image was transported to Constantinople (Constantinople) in order to preserve the shrine from the persecutors of the Christian faith.

Despite numerous attacks on the ship, the image reached the shores of Constantinople and was kept there in the royal palaces until the 12th century, after which it was solemnly transported to the island of Cyprus.

The events that preceded this were truly unique. One day, the ruler of the island, Manuel Vutomitis, was hunting in the mountains and lost his way. He met Elder Isaiah, who, not wanting to be recognized, tried to leave. Manuel was angry with Isaiah and severely beat him, after which he was punished from above with paralysis. He sincerely repented and asked the elder to pray to God for his forgiveness.

In one of the visions, the elder was told that the work of transferring the image of the Mother of God to Cyprus could save the ruler, which the latter hastened to do. Manuel left money for the elder to build a temple in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, and set off.

In Constantinople, Manuel hesitated for a long time to tell the emperor about the elder’s vision and hesitated. Seeing Emperor Alexei Komnenos once in inconsolable grief, he considered it necessary to announce the icon at that very moment.

The illness of the emperor's daughter was exactly reminiscent of Manuel's illness. He spoke about what happened to him on the island, about the terrible illness that he suffered after his sin, and about the salvation that could be given to his daughter after the emperor handed over the image of the Mother of God he kept.

Alexey Komnin did not want to part with the image. He made a list from the icon and invited Manuel to choose one image out of two. The emperor's daughter fell ill again, Alexei Komnenos no longer became cunning. According to legend kept in the Kikos monastery, Isaiah himself sailed to Constantinople. The day before, in a dream, the Mother of God appeared to him and said: «That icon on which a bee will sit and there is an original». Since then, the bee has adorned the coat of arms of the Cypriot monastery.

As soon as the ship miraculously landed on the shores of Cyprus, not only believers, but also trees, flowers bowed their «heads» to the Lady. A temple was erected for her, which marked the beginning of the life of the male Kikka Monastery.

Until now, people resort to the help of this icon, are healed of infertility, female illnesses, and through prayers to the Kikka image, rain falls to the ground in dry weather.

The faces of the Mother of God and the Infant of God on the icon «Merciful-Kikka», according to the custom established in ancient times, are closed from the gaze of people by a dense cover that is never removed. Even when monks change their cover due to dilapidation, they take the image out of the temple, raising and turning it to the sky. According to legend preserved in Cyprus, anyone who dares to open the veil a little can go blind.

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