Saint Paisios on Devotion to the Most Holy Theotokos

– Tell us, Elder, something about the Panagia.

– What can I say? You put me in a very difficult position. To speak about the Panagia, one must first live and experience Her.

 

– Elder, does the name of the Panagia also have spiritual power, as does the name of Christ?

– Yes. Whoever has deep devotion to the Panagia hears Her name and is transformed. Or, if he sees it written somewhere, he venerates it with reverence and his heart leaps with joy. And when he venerates Her icon, he does not feel that it is merely an icon, but that it is the Panagia Herself, and he falls down overwhelmed, dissolved by Her love.

 

– Elder, tell us something about your pilgrimage to the Panagia of Tinos.

– What can I say? Such a small icon, and yet it is filled with so much Grace! I could not bring myself to leave it. I only stepped aside so as not to hinder the others who were waiting to venerate.

 

– Some people, Elder, are scandalized by the many offerings that adorn the miraculous icons of the Panagia.

– Let me tell you what once happened to a very simple and devout pilgrim. He went to Iveron Monastery and venerated the Panagia Portaitissa. There, the icon is covered with coins and offerings. On his way back, as he was going toward Stavronikita Monastery, he began to have thoughts: “My Panagia, I wished to see You in another way—simple, without all these coins.” And what happened then? Suddenly, he was seized by a sharp pain, he became dizzy, and he collapsed in the middle of the road. In distress, he began calling upon the Panagia for help: “My Panagia, please heal me, and I will offer You two coins!” At that moment the Panagia appeared to him and said: “This is how they brought Me the coins. Did I ever ask for them? Did I want them?” And immediately the pain ceased. You see, because he was sincere and had great faith, the Panagia helped him.

 

Sometimes, in my little cell, when I want to pray to the Panagia, I think: “How can I go before Her empty-handed to ask for help?” So I gather a few wildflowers, place them before Her icon, and say: “My Panagia, receive these flowers from Your Garden.” Before I ever went to Mount Athos, I used to hear people say that it is “the Garden of the Panagia,” and I expected to see flowers, fruit trees, and the like. But when I arrived and saw wild chestnut trees, I understood that the Garden of the Panagia is spiritual. And later, within that Garden, I came to feel Her presence.

– Elder, how will I be able to feel the presence of the Panagia, so that my heart may be warmed?

– Since you bear the name of the Great Mother of Christ, and by grace the Mother of all mankind, you should constantly call upon Her: “My Panagia, help me to live in a way that is pleasing to You. Others are moved just by hearing Your name, and what am I doing?” I pray that our Panagia will always remain close to you and shelter you, as a mother bird covers her little chicks beneath her angelic wings.