All-night vigil served at Hilandar on Athos in honor of the Theotokos icon of the Three-Handed
According to the ancient Athonite tradition, the festal service at the Serbian monastery lasted throughout the night and concluded in the morning with the Divine Liturgy.
At the Serbian monastery of Hilandar on Athos, a solemn service was celebrated on the occasion of the panegyris — the patronal feast of the wonderworking icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Three-Handed. The service is celebrated on the eve of the feast, as reported on the monastery's official Facebook page.
The service was led by Bishop Paisije of Diokleia, vicar of Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Joanikije. He was co-served by Archimandrite Metodije, Abbot of Hilandar, as well as the Athonite hieromonastic brotherhood, monastics, and clergy. The authentic Athonite vigil begins in the evening with an all-night vigil and concludes with the Divine Liturgy, celebrated in the early morning hours in the monastery's catholicon.
The icon of the Theotokos of the Three-Handed is venerated as one of the principal shrines of Hilandar and of all Athos. According to tradition, the icon was presented as a gift to the monastery by Saint Sava of Serbia, and has since remained in the monastery as the protectress of the brotherhood, and during certain periods of history even occupied the place of the abbot of the monastery.
As the Union of Orthodox Journalists previously reported, the monastery of Hilandar on Athos commemorated the memory of its founder — Saint Sava of Serbia.
