In the 10th Century, the great elder Athanasios established the Athonite monastery known as the "Great Lavra," to which a host of monastics came from all over the world. In a certain year in which the harvest failed, such a famine befell the lavra that all of the monks, one after another, scattered. Even St. Athanasius, an accomplished struggler, was unable to endure the temptation, and with great sorrow decided to abandon the lavra. Carrying his staff, he walked for hours along the road to Karyes, (capital of Mt. Athos - ed.), and being tired, decided to rest. Suddenly a woman wearing a sky-blue shawl came toward him. St Athanasius became frightened, and made the sign of the cross. Where did this woman come from, when entry into Mt. Athos is forbidden to women? The holy elder went towards her. She asked "Where are you going?" St. Athanasius answered "Why do you need to know where I am going? You can see that I am a local monk!". The woman said: "If you are indeed a monk, you should reply as ordinary people do; you should be trusting, direct, and humble." " St. Athanasius told her of his woe. " And you could not endure this? For a daily piece of bread, you are abandoning your monastery, which should be glorious unto generation and generation? Is this in the spirit of monasticism? Where is your faith? Turn around! I will help you: everything will be in abundance, only do not abandon your solitude." St Athanasius asked "Who are you?" She replied "I am the one whom you glorify in your monastery. I am the Mother of your Lord." St. Athanasius said:" I am afraid to believe, for the nets of the devil are many and various. How will you convince me that your words are true?" She directed him: "Strike this stone with your staff, and you will know who speaks with you. Know that from this moment I will always be the Establisher of the House for your lavra. Athanasius struck the stone, and as if struck by lighting and a thunderclap, the stone broke apart, and from the cleft noisily gushed forth a spring of water, and coursed down the hill towards the ocean. St. Athansius turned to throw himself at the feet of the Most Holy Lady, but She had disappeared. He returned to the larva and found that all of the containers in the storerooms were filled with everything needful. In commemoration of this miraculous appearance, the monastery has no steward, but only a helper to the "Ekonomissa.: An Icon of the Mother of God "Ekonomissa" was installed in the Monastery. On this icon, the Theotokos is depicted seated on a throne, in her lap is the Infant Jesus; on the right is St. Michael of Synnada, on the left, St. Athanasius, holding in his hands an image of his lavra. To this day, the life-giving spring continues to flow, and to bring healing. A small church dedicated to the Life-giving spring was build on the site of the apparition of the Mother of God. In this church there is an icon, with an eternal flame burning before it, depicting that miracle.