The "Popskaya" Icon

12/25 January

The “Popskaya” Icon of the Mother of God is at the column at the left kliros in the cathedral of the Serbian Chilandar Monastery on Holy Mt. Athos. At one time, a heretic priest who called himself Orthodox entered the Chilandar Monastery with evil intent and was punished for it. While carrying this Icon during a Procession of the Cross and Blessing of the Waters, he stumbled, fell into the sea, and drowned. Since then, all Processions of the Cross have been with this Icon. Because only a priest [a “pop”] may carry the Icon, the Serbs refer to it as the “Popskaya” Icon.