Wooden Icon of the Mother of God of Eleusa of Kykkos (All-Merciful Kykko)
The All-Merciful Kykko Icon of the Mother of God is believed to have been painted by the holy Evangelist Luke, according to tradition. It acquired the name "Kykkiotisa" from Mount Kykkos on the island of Cyprus, where it was placed in an imperial monastery. The monastery, funded by the Emperor, was dedicated to the icon and named after it. Prior to its arrival in Cyprus, this wonderworking icon of the Mother of God had been taken to various regions by the will of God. It was initially located in one of the earliest Christian communities in Egypt and later brought to Constantinople in 980, where it remained until the time of Emperor Alexius Comnenos.
During this period, the Elder Isaiah received a divine revelation that he would be instrumental in transferring the wonderworking image painted by the Evangelist Luke to Cyprus. The Elder labored tirelessly to fulfill this revelation.
When the icon of the Mother of God arrived on the island, it immediately began performing numerous miracles. The Elder Isaiah played a significant role in constructing a church dedicated to the Theotokos and placing the Kykko Icon within it. From ancient times until the present day, people afflicted with various ailments flock to the monastery of the Mother of God the Merciful, where they receive healing according to their faith. It is not only Orthodox believers who believe in the miraculous power of this holy icon, but also individuals of other faiths who pray before it in times of misfortune and illness.
The Most Holy Theotokos, as the Mediatrix for all those who suffer, exhibits inexhaustible mercy, and her icon is fittingly known as the "Merciful." The wonderworking Kykkiotisa Icon of the Mother of God possesses a unique characteristic: it has been covered by a half shroud from the upper left corner to the lower right, concealing the faces of the Mother of God and the Divine Infant. The depiction of the Mother of God appears to be of the Hodēgḗtria ("Directress") type, similar to the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The head of the Mother of God is adorned with a crown.
The icon is made by printing on a wooden board. Paints are mineral, do not fade with time. The thickness of the board is 2 cm. The board is covered with primer by hand. The image is covered with wax. Each icon has a metal mount on the back side so that you can hang the icon on the wall.
