Economissa Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, Great Lavra, Mt. Athos, Macedonia, Greece
In the 900s, the unfinished Great Monastery on Mount Athos ran out of funds, and the starving monks had to leave. Finally the monastery founder, St. Athanasius, left too in search of help. On the road he met a woman in a long blue veil, who said, "Go back! You'll have everything you need if you don't abandon the monastery!" When Athanasius asked the lady's name, she answered, "I'm the mother of your Lord." The abbot asked for a sign. "Strike the rock with your staff," she said, and promised to be responsible for the monastery provisions herself — to be its steward. As water flowed from the rock, she vanished. Athanasius returned to find the building completed and stocked with supplies. Soon it was full of monks as well. To this day, the Great Lavra regards the Mother of God as its steward, helped by a monk with the title of assistant steward. In a shrine on the left of the entrance to the monastery church, the Economissa icon depicts many saints connected with the monastery. To Our Lady's right St. Athanasius the Athonite holds a model of the building. Down the road, the holy spring still flows. Some Orthodox churches honor Our Lady the Steward along with St. Athanasius on his feast day, July 5.
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