The Gatekeeper and Guardian (II)

The Holy Icon, placed by the monks on the altar of the monastery church, was soon found to have changed its place and to stand above the gates of the monastery. And every time the monks returned the icon to the place they had chosen, it miraculously moved back to the gates of the monastery. Finally it was revealed to the monks by the Mother of God through the same Gabriel that this was a visual sign that she wished to be their Gatekeeper and Guardian - not only in their present life, but also in the hereafter. Thus, at this special sign, the monks built a chapel for the icon by the inner gates of the monastery, where they worshipped zealously every day. The icon was called Iberian (or Of Iveron) after the monastery, and Portaitissa (or Gate-Keeper), after its place by the gates. One day, a blow dealt by a bandit left a mark on the cheek of the Holy Virgin. The sight of the blood that ran down the cheek terrified the robber. He turned to God and to the life of a holy ascetic. Since then all copies of the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God have depicted her with a scar and drops of blood on her cheek. The fame of the icon reached Russia through pious pilgrims. It became especially venerated in Russia in the 17th Century when two early copies were brought from Mt. Athos - one in 1648 and the other in 1656 - both being made at the order of Patriarch Nikon.