A fabulous Enthroned Icon of ‘Panagia tou Harou’, St Vasilios Church in Greece

Panagia tou Harou is the name of the unique icon (above) which depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the crucified Christ, rather than the Christ child, hence its name (‘haros’ in Greek means ‘death’). This icon is found in the church of St. John the Theologian, Leipsoi (Greece). The annual commemoration of the icon takes place on August 23 when the island of Leipsoi fills with pilgrims from all over the Dodecanese group of islands, to witness the procession of the icon around the entire island and see the annual blossoming of the dead bouquet of lilies on the icon.