Icon, Mother of God "Quick to Hear" - Wood - 19th century

Mother of God Quick to Hear, Skoroposlutsnitsa, Russian Old Religious Antique Church Icon, oil painting on wooden board, 19th century, size 80 x 56 cm. The Icon of the Mother of God, “Quick to Hear”, an ancient wonder-working icon, is located on Holy Mount Athos at the Dochiariou monastery. The monastery tradition suggests that it was painted in the tenth century, in the time of the igumen Saint Neophytus (November 9) . In the year 1664 the cook Nilus came to the kitchen at night with a burning torch. He heard a voice from the icon of the Mother of God which hung over the door, warning him in the future not to walk here with a torch and not to darken the icon with soot. The monk thought that this was a prank of one of the brethren, so he disregarded the warning and continued to walk into the kitchen with the sooty torch. Suddenly he fell blind. With fervent repentance Nilus prayed before the icon of the Mother of God, begging forgiveness. When the brethren heard what had happened, they placed a lamp before the icon, and censed it every night. Again he heard the wondrous voice saying that he had been forgiven, and that his sight would return. The All-Pure One commanded him to announce to all the brethren that She was the protector and guardian of the monastery. “Let them and all Orthodox Christians come to Me in their necessities, and I shall not forsake them. All their petitions will be granted by My Son, because of My intercession with Him. My icon shall be called ‘She Who Is Quick to Hear’, for I shall speedily fulfil the petitions of those who hasten to it. ” The Most Holy Theotokos then fulfilled and continues to fulfil Her promise of quick help and consolation for all those who come to Her with faith. Good condition with wear, losses and damages.